PNGBLOGS

BEGA DISTRICT NEWS BEGA doctor Duncan MacKinnon at the end of the week is heading off again to bring more medical relief to those living in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is a country of extremes, rich in natural mineral deposits on the one hand and struggling with extreme poverty and lack of basic infrastructure on the other. Dr MacKinnon has experienced first hand the inadequacies and hardships Papua New Guineans face, particularly in relation to the availability of health services in a country that has the highest incidence of HIV and AIDS in the Pacific region and widespread malaria, an infectious disease commonly associated with poverty. This month Dr MacKinnon will be making his fifth visit to a hospital in Mount Hagen, located high in the western highlands of PNG, where he is gradually improving operating theatre practices within the hospital and generally assisting in any other way he possibly can. “Mount Hagen is a beautiful area with a nice

PNGBLOGS  Speaking at the opening of the 8th Forum Education Ministers' Meeting in Port Moresby this afternoon, Prime Minister of PNG, Sir Michael Somare said: "PNG is committed to playing its part in ensuring that Pacific youths are equipped to compete in today's globalised environment. I therefore have the pleasure of announcing on behalf of the government and the 6.5 million people of Papua New Guinea, 20 full scholarships to be made available each year for youths and students in the Pacific region including PNG to attend tertiary institutions in Papua New Guinea," Sir Michael explained: "Students will be trained in science and technological subjects such as chemistry, biology, physics, geology, mathematics, marine and environmental science, agricultural science, communication, ICT and medicine." "The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat will implement the scholarship and organise bidding from Pacific countries for scholarships to study in

PNGBLOGS  Speaking at the opening of the 8th Forum Education Ministers' Meeting in Port Moresby this afternoon, Prime Minister of PNG, Sir Michael Somare said: "PNG is committed to playing its part in ensuring that Pacific youths are equipped to compete in today's globalised environment. I therefore have the pleasure of announcing on behalf of the government and the 6.5 million people of Papua New Guinea, 20 full scholarships to be made available each year for youths and students in the Pacific region including PNG to attend tertiary institutions in Papua New Guinea," Sir Michael explained: "Students will be trained in science and technological subjects such as chemistry, biology, physics, geology, mathematics, marine and environmental science, agricultural science, communication, ICT and medicine." "The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat will implement the scholarship and organise bidding from Pacific countries for scholarships to stu

PNGBLOGS   The   Wau Bulolo District Joint District Budget Planning and Priorities committee under the Chairman of the local Member Sam Basil has endorsed the social mapping study to be undertaken at by Social Environmental Research and Consultancy Services (SERACS) Ltd, a research and consultancy group specializing in anthropological, social and environmental research. The project is an initiative of the local member Sam Basil and villagers that have been affected over the year.  Wau Bulolo MP Sam Basil, said that “I want to be proactive in addressing land related issues, and social mapping is the way forward in my electorate as there is a lot of mineral resource development and exploration taking place, and if we are not proactive in addressing this issues, law and order problems arising from land disputes are likely to happen, and has already happened in the Wau Bulolo District”. The Wau-Bulolo District JDBPPC has approved K250,000 Funding of the project with the first trench paym

PNGBLOGS   The   Wau Bulolo District Joint District Budget Planning and Priorities committee under the Chairman of the local Member Sam Basil has endorsed the social mapping study to be undertaken at by Social Environmental Research and Consultancy Services (SERACS) Ltd, a research and consultancy group specializing in anthropological, social and environmental research. The project is an initiative of the local member Sam Basil and villagers that have been affected over the year.  Wau Bulolo MP Sam Basil, said that “I want to be proactive in addressing land related issues, and social mapping is the way forward in my electorate as there is a lot of mineral resource development and exploration taking place, and if we are not proactive in addressing this issues, law and order problems arising from land disputes are likely to happen, and has already happened in the Wau Bulolo District”. The Wau-Bulolo District JDBPPC has approved K250,000 Funding of the project with the first trench pa

SOUTH PACIFIC POST Minister Tony Aimo, implicated in the BSP robbery, also Minister responsible for CIS, do we see a pattern? Correctional Services officers employed around the Beon jail in Madang to guard high profile bank robbery suspect William Kapris have been withdrawn, sparking fears that another Bomana style escape could be staged to free the man. Officers from Port Moresby who were deployed in the high profile operation to guard convicted prisoner and the alleged bank robber have been ordered to return to Port Moresby. The Order was issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Operations Henry Wavik who cited financial problems as the main factor to recall the guards back to Port Moresby. This means that the high profile security operation for the most expensive prisoner has now come to an end and normal guard duties by Beon based officers will commence. But the recall order has been questioned by some officers on the ground in Beon saying the withdrawal of CS Bomana staff will mean that

SOUTH PACIFIC POST Minister Tony Aimo, implicated in the BSP robbery, also Minister responsible for CIS, do we see a pattern? Correctional Services officers employed around the Beon jail in Madang to guard high profile bank robbery suspect William Kapris have been withdrawn, sparking fears that another Bomana style escape could be staged to free the man. Officers from Port Moresby who were deployed in the high profile operation to guard convicted prisoner and the alleged bank robber have been ordered to return to Port Moresby. The Order was issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Operations Henry Wavik who cited financial problems as the main factor to recall the guards back to Port Moresby. This means that the high profile security operation for the most expensive prisoner has now come to an end and normal guard duties by Beon based officers will commence. But the recall order has been questioned by some officers on the ground in Beon saying the withdrawal of CS Bomana staff will m

STEVE ZWICK On Monday, an article attributed to the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported that Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare has officially denounced voluntary carbon schemes as being too risky.  The article – widely replicated in blogs and news outlets – said that Somare was encouraging forest owners to wait for a formal UN REDD regime before preserving their forests to earn credits for saving rainforests.  The message, however, is not posted on Somare's web page , and the voluntary programs he's denouncing were never verified to any recognized standard. It's just the latest in a series of weird signals to come out of PNG, which is under fire on both the compliance and voluntary carbon fronts. On the compliance front, PNG's handling of the REDD+ Partnership drew fire at UN Climate-Change talks in Tianjin, where scores of participants accused their negotiating team of stifling efforts to bring small landowners and indigenous groups into t

STEVE ZWICK On Monday, an article attributed to the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported that Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare has officially denounced voluntary carbon schemes as being too risky.  The article – widely replicated in blogs and news outlets – said that Somare was encouraging forest owners to wait for a formal UN REDD regime before preserving their forests to earn credits for saving rainforests.  The message, however, is not posted on Somare's web page , and the voluntary programs he's denouncing were never verified to any recognized standard. It's just the latest in a series of weird signals to come out of PNG, which is under fire on both the compliance and voluntary carbon fronts. On the compliance front, PNG's handling of the REDD+ Partnership drew fire at UN Climate-Change talks in Tianjin, where scores of participants accused their negotiating team of stifling efforts to bring small landowners and indigenous groups

DR. SAMUEL MAIMA IN the recent weeks, professionals and individuals have expressed outrage against the Pacific Medical Centre. Some of the equipment in the proposed PMC will boast of the latest in cutting edge technology. I take this opportunity to enlighten the poorly informed public on the evolution and planning of the PMC. Two years ago, several American doctors had lively meeting and discussion with the current director of accident and emergency department of PMGH, Dr Sam Yockopua. Through him and certain concerned civil and corporate American citizens started a massive fund raising drive having seen the very plight and poor condition of the PMGH. Even US president Barack Obama was brought into the equation of raising US$4 billion. The decision to invest US$500 million was not initiated by the PNG government. The remaining US$3.5 billion is for training and bringing the most recent medical equipment and technology to PNG. Such a huge capital investment will create a massive job

DR. SAMUEL MAIMA IN the recent weeks, professionals and individuals have expressed outrage against the Pacific Medical Centre. Some of the equipment in the proposed PMC will boast of the latest in cutting edge technology. I take this opportunity to enlighten the poorly informed public on the evolution and planning of the PMC. Two years ago, several American doctors had lively meeting and discussion with the current director of accident and emergency department of PMGH, Dr Sam Yockopua. Through him and certain concerned civil and corporate American citizens started a massive fund raising drive having seen the very plight and poor condition of the PMGH. Even US president Barack Obama was brought into the equation of raising US$4 billion. The decision to invest US$500 million was not initiated by the PNG government. The remaining US$3.5 billion is for training and bringing the most recent medical equipment and technology to PNG. Such a huge capital investment will create a ma

PNGEXPOSED The International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank, has recently published an information sheet about its support for the development of Special Economic Zones in Papua New Guinea. The information sheet concludes with remarks about the proposed Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang. “Is IFC involved with the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone? No” says the information sheet Then, to make it quite clear, it reiterates “IFC has not been involved with any of the arrangements for the PMIZ.” This is a far cry from the information the  IFC was putting out in June 2009 when it confidently declared its SEZ strategy for PNG… will also address the government’s plan to establish the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone promoting investment in onshore processing of regionally caught tuna.  The project made an important step forward yesterday when the PMIZ project’s National Management Committee and Technical Working Group, along with IFC representatives and members of t

PNGEXPOSED The International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank, has recently published an information sheet about its support for the development of Special Economic Zones in Papua New Guinea. The information sheet concludes with remarks about the proposed Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang. “Is IFC involved with the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone? No” says the information sheet Then, to make it quite clear, it reiterates “IFC has not been involved with any of the arrangements for the PMIZ.” This is a far cry from the information the  IFC was putting out in June 2009 when it confidently declared its SEZ strategy for PNG… will also address the government’s plan to establish the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone promoting investment in onshore processing of regionally caught tuna.  The project made an important step forward yesterday when the PMIZ project’s National Management Committee and Technical Working Group, along with IFC representatives and members of

Papua New Guinea's prime minister and deputy prime minister appear to be at odds with each other over controversial voluntary carbon trade schemes (VCS) that have plagued their country with scandal. Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare issued a media release at the weekend claiming the VCS were risky and premature. Sir Michael wants to pursue forest protection and reduce greenhouse gases through the complex United Nations plan known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD). "The voluntary trading of forest carbon is inadvisable at this time," Sir Michael said. But on September 23 this year Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye wrote a letter to carbon trade developer Kirk Roberts saying the PNG government supported and endorsed his VCS projects. Roberts, through the VCS projects, has been promoting carbon trade to PNG villagers as an alternative income to logging. Polye's letter, supported by another letter from the prime minister's legal advi

Papua New Guinea's prime minister and deputy prime minister appear to be at odds with each other over controversial voluntary carbon trade schemes (VCS) that have plagued their country with scandal. Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare issued a media release at the weekend claiming the VCS were risky and premature. Sir Michael wants to pursue forest protection and reduce greenhouse gases through the complex United Nations plan known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD). "The voluntary trading of forest carbon is inadvisable at this time," Sir Michael said. But on September 23 this year Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye wrote a letter to carbon trade developer Kirk Roberts saying the PNG government supported and endorsed his VCS projects. Roberts, through the VCS projects, has been promoting carbon trade to PNG villagers as an alternative income to logging. Polye's letter, supported by another letter from the prime minister's lega

NATIONAL Newspaper MEMBER for Vanimo-Green Belden Namah is the new leader for PNG Party. He takes over from founder and former prime minister Sir Mekere Morauta. A handover ceremony for the media took place last Friday. Namah, former forest minister and a central part of the National Alliance party, defected to the opposition with former deputy prime minister Sir Puka Temu and former culture and tourism minister Charles Abel in July. A plot to remove Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare during the July sitting did not succeed. The PNG Party suffered defections to the government recently before Namah’s arrival. Imbonggu MP Francis Awesa, Chimbu Governor Fr John Garia, and Henganofi MP Ferao Orimyao recently announced they were leaving the party to join the United Resource Party. Sir Mekere told reporters at the handover ceremony that PNG Party was a national institution, and, therefore, the party wanted to make a change in the political landscape in the country by giving away the leadersh