Pantumari to lead NACS
MINISTER for Health and HIV/AIDS Sasa Zibe has directed senior medical adviser to National AIDS Council Secretariat Dr Joachim Pantumari to lead the caretaker management team in ensuring the smooth-running of the secretariat until investigations into allegations of funds and administrative abuses are completed.
Last week, Mr Zibe asked five senior NACS officers along with acting director Romanus Pakure to step down from office as a result of the allegations and directed that investigations be carried out immediately.
Health Secretary Dr Clement Malau announced the six-member caretaker team yesterday in the presence of the media and added these were “senior officers who have not been implicated in the allegations”.
The caretaker team is composed of Dr Pantumari, Frank Mitel, David Pasirem, Karl Indistange, Julie Airi and Phillip Tapo.
They will oversee the day to day functions of the secretariat until such time a director and a full member council in line with the amended NACS Act 2007 is appointed.
Dr Pantumari said he was confident with the team and was looking forward to taking the lead in the upkeeping of NACS.

Corrupt cops risking the lives of comrades, community safety: Sete
CORRUPT police officers who deal with criminals are risking the lives of their colleagues, National Capital District (NCD) central police commander Chief Supt Awan Sete said yesterday.
Mr Sete said when corrupt officers “lent” their police issued firearms, uniforms, leaked out confidencial information, received bribes to destroy evidences or help suspects to escape from police custody, they were obstructing police work and placing the lives of their colleagues at risk and at the same time making the community unsafe.
Mr Sete spoke at his first parade outside Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby.
“The colleagues will be more concerned over their safety and it is not good to always look over your back when conducting investigations,” he said.
He added such personal concern might casue innocent officers to do their work half-heartedly, resulting in incomplete work.
“Such incomplete work will then potray a bad image for the police force,” he said.
Mr Sete had urged his officers during the inspection parade to look after their available resouces, like uniforms and vehicles.

NEC approves K44 million ADB loan
THE National Executive Council (NEC) has approved a proposal for a US$15 million (K44 million) supplementary loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the financial management improvement programme (FMIP).
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said the loan would enable the rollout of the integrated financial management system (IFMS) to all national departments and one pilot province this year.
Sir Michael said NEC had been briefed and is satisfied with the progress made so far.
The FMIP aimed to address financial management issues raised in a 1997 report.
The Government had approved the proposed terms and conditions of the loan, and was also endorsed a team, led by the Department of Treasury, and comprising representatives from the departments of National Planning and Monitoring, Justice and Attorney General and Finance, to negotiate this loan.

Milne Bay airport upgraded
THE K6.6 million upgrading of Gurney airport in Milne Bay province is said to be a step closer to making it an international airport.
 Milne Bay Governor John Luke Crittin said last Jan 6 that major changes to security and extensions to the international and domestic terminals would pave the way to international acceptability.
 He said it was ideal that security standards were being raised through the installation of equipment including a K1.4 million conveyor belt and x-ray machines worth K4.4 million.
 The upgrading to be completed by March was expected to boost the provincial tourism industry and it is part of the governor’s development plans for this year.
 Mr Crittin said he anticipated the resumption of international flights linking Cairns, Gurney, Tokua and possibly Guam by April would facilitate this.
 He also hoped Milne Bay would become a tourist destination.

Police confiscate 12 buckets of home brew in Lae
Lae Police in working on a tip-off confiscated two cookers, three 12 litre buckets, copper pipes and hoses used to produce home brewed alcohol last Sunday.
The brew was made with pineapple and ready for cooking when the police confiscated it.
Reserve constable Tom Mollo along with his two reserve officers Philip Pakuk and Roy Hulava who were armed with only a pump action shot-gun confiscated the illegal items at Biwat block in Bumbu compound.
“It is a major contributor to social and law and order problems and we urge the youths not to get involved in such activities,” Mr Mollo said adding the law will catch up with such people.
“Biwat is a major distributor of homebrew as we have confiscated homebrewed alcohol there many times,” Mr Mollo said.
He revealed that the community was fed-up with such illegal activities and had reported the matter.
Many unemployed youths ventured into the trade for a living.
The street price of the brew commonly known as “steam” was about K10 for a 500ml bottle.

Three remanded in alleged killing
Three Eastern Highlanders have been remanded at Bomana prison for allegedly killing a man at Morata, Port Moresby last week.
Waigani Police station commander Insp Sengi Laki said the three men had gone to the assistance of a boy who was punched in the face by a man believed to be under the influence of liquor.
Mr Laki said the intoxicated man was sleeping at the community hall at about 10am when the boy with two others removed one of his shoes.
The boys were in the process of removing the other shoe when the man woke up and punched the boy.
The boy with his nose bleeding cried to his wantoks, and three of his relatives attacked and killed the man with knives and a bow and arrow.
Police rounded up the three suspects following a complaint.

Croc attacks boy
A crocodile dragged a 15-year-old boy into a creek last Saturday in Gulf province, police said yesterday.
The boy was collecting fruits from a tree that was leaning across the bank near Mariki village at Bamuru district when the crocodile about three metres long sneaked in from behind and dragged him into the creek.
His father, while fishing, watched halplessly and later blocked off the creek with the net to stop the crocodile from taking his son into the river.
The father then ran to the village and returned with other villagers to block off the creek by adding more nets to reinforce his net.
The crocodile was then seen after the tide went down and was killed.
However after cutting up the crocodile they found no signs of the boy in its stomach.
They then reported the matter to the police and the provincial disaster and emergency committee and a search was now being conducted.

Highway opens to traffic today
By ZACHERY PER
THE landslip at that blocked off the Daulo Pass section of the Highlands Highway in Eastern Highlands province would be cleared by today.
Mr John Tumungo, the community environmental liaison officer with the Covec Construction company that is undertaking the clearance work told The National at Daulo Pass yesterday that they would work overnight to clear the landslip that has blocked the highway for the past two days.
The company started work at midday yesterday, after negotiations with landowners.
Traffic along the highway was brought to a halt on Tuesday night.

Bal returned to Simbu’s hot seat
By ZACHERY PER
THE tussle for the top public service post in Simbu province took a new twist yesterday when the National Court in Goroka ordered that Joe Bal be reinstated.
Justice Timothy Hinchliffe granted an interim order staying a previous court order by Justice Bernard Sakora, which ousted Mr Bal and returned Mr Joe Kunda Naur.
The decision prompted wild celebrations outside the Goroka courthouse by supporters of Mr Bal, who journeyed from Simbu to hear the case.
Mr Bal is to resume office immediately, but on an interim basis, until the court case is heard in full.
Justice Sakora had nullified the appointment of Mr Bal as provincial administrator last Jan 14 at the Waigani National Court.
Mr Copland Raurela of Elemi Lawyers, acting for Mr Kunda Naur was not in court yesterday to respond to the application and the interim orders.

Morobe knight dies
THE people of Finschhafen and Morobe have lost an outstanding leader with the death of Zibang Zurenuoc.
Local businessman Nathaniel Poya, who knew the late Sir Zibang while he was working with the Lutheran church and later Namasu Holdings Ltd, described him as “a very good man”.

Govt to check currency flow over border
Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch has admitted to great trade imbalance at the border between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia resulting in huge amounts of PNG currency going over the border.
Mr Pruaitch said the PNG Government was aware of it and steps are being taken to monitor the flow of PNG currency at the border.
He said he had raised it at Government level and the government would be taking necessary action.
He said in 2007, the National Government allocated K20 million in the Budget for border development, which would see Customs and Internal Revenue Commission offices built at the border at Wutung in Sandaun and in Western province.
He said the authority would monitor not only currency but other trade aspects between people of both countries.

Jiwaka province by end 2009
THE proposed Jiwaka province would be commissioned by the end of 2009, Parliament was told yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu said the proposed Jiwaka province was a commitment made by the Government and will ensure necessary ground work are done before moving into the next stage.
Dr Temu said the National Executive Council had made a decision to push the provincial boundary commission to map out the proposed province with its electorates.
He said Inter government relations minister Job Pomat would provide leadership in getting the boundaries defined.

Hijack suspect flees for second time
By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A SUSPECT in hijacking a plane to rob K4.7 million belonging to Bank South Pacific has escaped for the second time in Port Moresby last Monday, city police commander Supt Fred Yakasa said last Wednesday.
Peter Biari, 40, from Tari of Southern Highlands province, escaped from the police while en route to the Port Moresby General Hospital for treatment.
Mr Yakasa has ordered an investigation into his escape and officers involved are to be dealt with.
Last Nov 22 , Mr Biari escaped from the lock-up at Waigani National Court and a police prosecutor accused of aiding his escape is now facing committal proceedings.
Mr Biari is the fifth suspect to be arrested and charged for the foiled robbery incident.
They were all remanded at Bomana prison when Biari escaped.
The BSP money was bound for Kiunga and Tabubil in Western province after taking of f from Jackson airport.

Aropa airport to re-open
Autonomous Bougainville Government president Joseph Kabui is happy with the present condition of the now - abandoned Aropa airport in Kieta.
Mr Kabui drove the length and breath of the airport and was satisfied with its present condition and planed to work in partnership with the civil aviation authority to re-open air services into the region.
National member for Central Bougainville in the National Parliament Jimmy Miringtoro had already engaged a contractor to build a terminal building at Aropa airport.
Discussions were being held at top Government and private sector level that would greatly help passengers from mainland Bougainville, who have to travel for hours to get flights from the Buka airport.

PM asked to suggest post of MD for NRDC
The Mineral Resources Development Co (MRDC) has been without a managing director for too long and concerned resource owners say this very important entity of the landowners and State cannot be left for this long.
The MRDC haD advertised the position for a second time and were calling on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to only recommend candidates short-listed and submitted by international accounting firm Deloitte.

Call to back-date allowances
THE Lae urban local level government council has called on the inter- Government Relations Minister Job Pomat to back-date allowances and entitlements for the post of council presidents that were ceased last September.
The call follows the Electoral Commission’s statement that LLG elections would be held in April. Until then, all LLG presidents are to remain in office until the return of writs.
Lae city Lord Mayor James Khay said he was “still in the dark” on whether the council presidents were still allowed to collect their monthly allowances and council ward budgets.
“If the commissioner wants us to continue till April, we will still hold our full council meeting and prepare our council ward budget,” Mr Khay added.
He was raising the issue because of its “sensitivity”, adding that the issue was affecting the lives of the leaders who were also mandated by the people.