Opposition slams Govt over fuel crisis
The Opposition has slammed the Government for its lack of initiative and haste to ease the impact of the escalating price of fuel.
“The rising cost of fuel is really hurting ordinary Papua New Guineans who are direct consumers or attempting to make ends meet in small businesses ventures,” deputy Opposition leader Bart Philemon said in a statement yesterday.
He pointed out that:
* The Government is making 24% or 98 toea out of each litre of petrol sold (at K4.06) through excise duty (K0.61) and goods and services tax (K0.37);
* InterOil has insulated itself through the interim Import Parity Prices; and
* Wholesalers and retailers simply pass the additional fuel costs onto the consumers.
“Just who does this Government of Sir Michael Somare serve if it is not addressing the plight of 85% of our people?” Mr Philemon said.
He proposed that the Government’s response to this escalating fuel prices must be threefold:
* To ease the immediate burden by subsidising the cost of fuel;
* In the medium term, to fast-track the review on the Import Parity Prices; and
* Find a way to refine Kutubu Crude, possibly through another refinery which cuts away international freight costs and excise duty, and provides competition to InterOil to force prices down.

Highlands PMV operators hit hard by fuel rise
By ELIAS LARI
The increase in the price of fuel products is badly affecting public motor vehicle (PMV) operators in the Highlands regions who are doing their best to keep their fleets on the road.
Some bus and vehicle owners in Mt Hagen city told The National yesterday that National Government must intervene and subsidise fuel cost.
Solo Makap, a PMV operator said he was seriously thinking of quitting operations along with other PMV operators because whatever money they make during the day went back to buying fuel, living them with nothing to take home.
He said, when they raised fares, passengers were reluctant to pay and threatened to take them to police.
“Some operators have had encounters with police, and feel helpless.”
He said he would take his buses off the road until the National Government and the Land Transport Board offer subsidies or raise fares.
John Pora, another PMV operator in the province, also expressed similar sentiments.
Mr Pora said the cost of filling up their tanks and transporting passengers between provinces has doubled, but the fares have not changed.
Peter Aris and Paul Ropra, who own small vehicles, said the days of driving their families to shops, and then to the market, with a bit of driving around in between, was now over.
They said their vehicles were now reserved for emergency purposes only.

Agreement not for personal gains:Agiru
SOUTHERN Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru has appealed to people not to use the LNG Gas Agreement to pursue their personal interest.
Mr Agiru was responding to comments by general secretary of the Hela Gimbu Association Jacob Sekewa in The National last Friday that the additional profit tax on the PNG LNG project was an illusion.
“I call on Jacob Sekewa not to use Hela Gimbu Association for his personal interest. Secondly, I do not recall an election to elect him as general secretary,” he said.
Mr Agiru commended the Ministerial Gas Committee that had done a good job to re-introduce additional profits tax to the LNG project.
He said in addition to the 30% corporate tax rate, the LNG consortium will be required to pay an additional 7.5% when the project’s internal rate of return exceeds 17.5% and an additional 10% when it exceeds 20%.
“The safety net is in place and I have every confident that the rate of return will exceed 20%,” Mr Agiru said.
He said Mr Sekewa should not use the Hela Gimbu Association for his personal interest to come up with baseless arguments.

SDA Church opens new building in Lae
By DOREEN POLOH WAIM
THE Seventh-Day Adventist Church officially opened its new administration building at Top Town, Lae – a hundred years to the month it first arrived in the country.
Special guests included Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane, president of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in the South Pacific Dr Barry Oliver, and Morobe Governor Luther Wenge.
In his official address, Sir Paulias said the office complex represented “the blood, sweat, tears and prayers of those who have gone before”.
“We are all aware that 100 years ago this month, the first Seventh-Day Adventist missionary set foot on the Central coast of Papua. Since that time, the Adventist Church has grown to become one of the main churches in our country.”
He added that the church had contributed to the development of the country through its educational and health programmes and many other humanitarian deeds.
The two-level building was constructed in 14 months. It has 32 offices, a conference room that can fit 72 people, a printing press, training rooms, large storage room and two work stations.
It was designed by David Stafford of New Castle University, Australia, and is built mainly of concrete, steel and glass.
Many gathered along the Coronation Drive to witness the official opening.

Road users to be charged fees
ROAD users in the country will soon be charged minimum fees similar to those applied in other countries but tailored to suit the local environment and the private sector.
This was revealed by Works, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye in his speech at the National Roads Authority (NRA) board meeting last Friday.
Mr Polye said the NRA had begun collecting 0.4 toea per litre of fuel of users which go toward mantaining all the roads in the country.
“A minimum of K100 million per year will be generated for NRA so that it can run as a self financial entity to fund its existing road maintenance programme in PNG,” he said.
Mr Polye told the new NRA board that this would be critical to avoid creating extra burden on the vast majority of rural populations and low income earners.
“The Government through the Department of Treasury, National Planning and IPBC are developing the regulatory and legal framework for public and private partnership to utilise private sector resources and enhance public sector capacity in the development of infrastructure.”
“The board is encouraged to consider the applicable and best options for applying to road maintenance treatments,” Mr Polye said.
The two key functions of NRA is to carry out cost effective and efficient transport services and sustain road funds in the transport industry.
The new board members’ apointments were made effective on April 30.

Parents seek help for safety of missing daughter
By IRENE GILICHBI
PARENTS of a five-year-old girl who went missing in Lae are appealing to the general public for her safe return.
Belinda Helen Mondia went missing at about 4pm on May 23 at the Asu Block at Kamkumung in Lae.
Belinda is the first of a set of twins to parents John Mondia of Biwat in East Sepik and Linda John of Baiyer River in the Western Highlands.
Belinda is of fair complexion and brown hair and was last seen wearing a red dress.
Belinda had gone out to buy candy from a neighbour at around 4pm when she went missing.
Her parents did not realise her absence until about 7pm when she failed to return home.
Messages have been aired over the local radio station and a missing persons report already filed with the police but, to date, no information has reached the parents.
Parents have been searching everywhere since Belinda went missing, including a visit to the mother’s village in the Western Highlands.
Her worried father is now appealing to anyone with any information to come forward.
The parents are offering a reward of K5,000 for her safe return.
They do not intend taking legal action.
Anyone with information on Belinda’s whereabouts can contact her father on mobile number 699 2786.

SDA president visits PNG
THE president of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church in the South Pacific arrived in PNG on Monday.
Dr Barry Oliver is visiting PNG to attend the mid-year meeting of the church where regional leaders meet to make major decisions.
Dr Oliver and Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane will be the special guests at the official opening of the new SDA head office in Lae next Tuesday.
Dr Oliver first came to PNG in 1978 where he was district supervisor and evangelist in Port Moresby and was also the chaplain for Adventist students at the University of Papua New Guinea.
After serving in Port Moresby, he was transferred to Rabaul where he was president of the church in New Britain and New Ireland.
That appointment enabled him to travel extensively within the three provinces.
After his term in PNG, Dr Oliver joined the theology department at the Avondale College, Australia, as a lecturer.
He earned his PhD at Andrews University, USA, and returned to the theology department at Avondale.
Dr Oliver was appointed as president of the South Pacific division last year when the then president, Pr Laurie Evans, retired.
SDA churches in PNG were excited when they heard that he was chosen as president because he is familiar with the challenges and dynamics facing the church in PNG.
The SDA churches were also happy that Dr Oliver along with Sir Paulias was able to officiate at the opening of the new head office administration building yesterday.

Ministers cannot engage their own lawyers, says judge
By JOSHUA ARLO
ACTING Supreme Court judge Paliau Pomat said ministers taken to court cannot engage their own lawyers but must be represented by State lawyers.
He made the comment during a matter involving Minister for Public Enterprise Arthur Somare, the National Gaming Control Board and the State.
State lawyers told the court that Mr Somare’s lawyer was not present and that “most ministers engaged private lawyers” to represent them.
PNG Lotteries Association Inc, PNG Amusement Ltd, Gold Merchants Ltd, Numbers Lotto Ltd, Pacific Loto Ltd and Fortune (PNG) Ltd are challenging Mr Somare’s advice to the Head of State to declare the high-low lottery game as illegal and the subsequent declaration to that effect by the Head of State under section 5(3) of the Gaming Control Act 2000.
They are also challenging subsequent actions taken by the board against the operators.
They applied and obtained interim orders restraining the authorities from investigating and confiscating machines used in the game.
On May 19, the defendants successfully applied to have the interim orders set aside.
Yesterday a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Ralph Saulep, told the court that he was seeking orders for parties to complete service of certain documents on each other before their next appearance.
In particular, he said the defendants in this matter had failed to serve his clients a copy of the ministerial advice and that the time allowed for it had lapsed.
Mr Saulep also told the court that Mr Somare was not sued in person but in his capacity as the minister and the State should therefore provide him with legal representation.
The State lawyer said he was not aware of that order referred to by Mr Saulep and that, in any case, the time given to provide the advice was too short.
“The orders were obtained without the State’s notice and that in itself was prejudicial in their case,” he said.
Justice Pomat directed Mr Somare’s office to provide advice to the plaintiffs and further directed that parties complete service on each other before returning on June 16.

Madang settlers in court over eviction notice
SETTLERS of the Dylup plantation along the North Coast area of Madang province last month stopped owners, Nowra No. 59 Ltd from evicting them from the land they have occupied for the past 80 years.
The Madang District Court issued an eviction notice under the Summary Ejectment Act on April 13, 2005, stating that the settlers did not have any licence or title to occupy the land as it rightfully belonged to Nowra No. 59 Ltd.
Settlers’ representative Tony Yagon and 175 other persons used three grounds to appeal.
They said the district court erred in law and by fact not taking into consideration their equitable interest in the land. This was upheld by the National Court.
Presiding National Court judge Justice David Cannings quashed the eviction notice issued by the District Court and directed both parties to commence fresh proceedings in the National Court.
He said this was because the District Court had no jurisdiction to determine equitable interests.
Justice Cannings ordered that the company not interfere with the settlers and pay the costs for both parties in the appeal.

Counting in Sandaun LLG election ends
By GABRIEL FITO
A FORMER local level government (LLG) president in the Lumi district of Sandaun province has successfully retained his West Wapei LLG seat.
Peter Filfil was the former transport, education and finance chairman in the Yuni/Gubon government.
Filfil was declared member elect by assistant returning officer Michael Saip at 3:30pm at the Lumi Education Resource centre on Sunday.
He polled 1,884 votes to beat his nearest rival John Rodney who collected 1,145 votes.
In the East Wapei LLG, a former ward member Robert Kasong from Buluwo village was declared president elect on Monday.
Kasong polled 1,111 votes beating his nearest rival Anton Robsi who settled for second spot with 905 votes.
Deputy district administrator of Lumi sub-district Lewis Warike paid tribute to Dominic Sumei, a former councillor and president of East Wapei LLG who was unseated by Robsi.
He said Sumei was a strong member of the Sandaun provincial government, member of the provincial executive council and held many chairmanships, the last being the chairman of finance and treasury in the Yuni/Gubon government.
Counting for all 15 wards of the East and West Wapei LLG have been completed and the returning officers are finalising results for forwarding to Vanimo.

Female candidate speak against corruption
By ELIAS LARI
THRESIA Bain, the only female candidate contesting the Nondugl Council Ward one in the Western Highlands province, is urging voters to say no to bribery and corruption when voting begins this Saturday.
Mrs Bain a widow and mother of five said voters would be making a very important decision when casting their vote.
She said in the past many candidates promised to deliver goods and services in the rural communities but when they get elected they are never seen.
Mrs Bain said that is the reason why people must say no to corruption and bribery and elect leaders on merit.
She said that there are some good women and men candidates contesting the council elections and urged the people to pick the best one.
Mrs Bain who has been living with her kids back at her village in Nondugl for the last 18-years said that services back in villages have deteriorated because of bad leadership.
She said the people should be blamed for making the wrong choice.
Mrs Bain also encouraged women to unite and fight corruption starting at the village level to the national level.
She said if people abuse and become careless with their votes, they will suffer.
The Western Highlands, Enga and Southern Highlands provinces go to the polls on Saturday.

Pre-feasibility test for vanilla
By JASON SOM KAUT
VANILLA production is being rejuvenated under a partnership between Mainland Holdings Limited and Uvan Limited of Uganda, Africa.
Mainland Holdings through its coffee division is running a pre-feasibility trial on vanilla purchasing and processing.
The coffee division will be purchasing fresh green vanilla pods no more than seven days old during the first half of July 2008.
This will then be sent for market testing at Uvan’s export markets in Europe and the United States.
Upon meeting export market requirements the two will venture into full scale processing to supply quality PNG vanilla to the world market.
Under the deal all vanilla grades A-D, including split beans will be purchased as green beans at K3 per kilogram, providing vanilla farmers an opportunity to earn money for their beans.
Last Friday at MHL’s Goudie Training centre at 6 Mile, the Morobean company announced it intended to construct a manufacturing plant that processes fresh green vanilla pods to produce a high quality product for export.
Uvan Ltd has been using this rapid processing method for several years and were the leading exporter in Uganda, supplying top quality products.
They will bring their processing and marketing skills to the partnership with Mainland Holdinmgs.

Seven escape from Kokopo cells
SEVEN convicted men escaped from the Kokopo police cells in East New Britain early on Monday morning.
They removed four glass panes and some iron bars from a window to escape at about 2.30am.
As they fled, dogs in the area barked at them, alerting station commander Insp Samuel Niba who lives at the barracks.
He rushed to the police station and ordered the policemen on duty to go after the escapees who had fled to the Raniolo settlement and bushes nearby.
New Guinea Islands commander Francis Tokura said two later surrendered to police at a village near Rabaul.
He appealed to the public to keep a lookout for the remaining five.
He also ordered Insp Niba to investigate the incident and whether there was any negligence.

Court rules on directors of Raikos Holdings Ltd
THE Madang National Court last month ruled that the duly appointed directors of Raikos Holdings Ltd are Andrew Sallel, Asangun Balifun, Batteng Puto, Gawan Kuyan, Usum Mai and Yanam Mul and directed the Registrar of Companies to rectify their records to that effect.
The ruling by National Court judge Justice David Cannings stems from two originating summons filed by Gawan Kuyan and Andrew Sallel seeking declarations of who would take control and ownership of Raikos Holdings Ltd.
Justice Cannings, in his ruling, stated that the removal of Mr Sallel as managing director of Raikos Holdings Ltd and transfer of its shares to new directors was in direct violation of the Companies Act.
“Directors of a company are, unless provided by company’s constitution are only to be removed and appointed by shareholders.”
Transffering and transaction of shares must be done by recognised law and only whenit is deemed fair and resonable by the company,” Justice Cannings said.

Villagers rob local businesses
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
MORE than K170,000 worth of goods and materials was looted in the South Waghi district, Western Highlands province last weekend.
Lamb flaps and hard ware materials transported by East West Transport were stolen by Pepeik villagers in the South Waghi district. A refrigerator container filled with lamb flaps cartons for Kwik Meat trading costs about K100,000 while the hardware container for Tininga Trading was between K60,000 to K70,000. The two companies are based in Mt Hagen.
The villagers looted goods after the truck overturned and slept side ways beside the road on Saturday morning around 10am.
East West Transport officer John Wapi based at Kagamuga confirmed the incident yesterday.
Mr Wapi said that the villagers removed the windscreen, lights, tyres, wirings, drained the fuel and destroyed the truck.

NDB backs copra exporter
By KEVIN PAMBA
THE National Development Bank will continue to support agriculture and people must make use of the services at the bank.
This invitation was put out by NDB’s executive manager lending, Rodney Hoffman when he delivered a cheque for K148,000 to a local copra exporter, Madang Agro Commodities Ltd, in Madang last week.
The money was loaned to Madang Agro Commodities for two Daihatsu dump trucks delivered to the company by Ela Motors the same day.
Mr Hoffman said: “NDB wants to grow with the small business people like Madang Agro, and they must make use of the services it offers.”
He said agriculture is still the main business for NDB and will continue to support this sector.
Mr Hoffman commended Madang Agro Commodities proprietor, John Kambual for his copra buying business and for his involvement with NDB.

Counting begins in Motu Koita
MOTU Koita local level government (LLG) elections ended yesterday at 5pm.
Counting started yesterday evening and will continue until Friday with the likely announcement of the new Motu Koitbu assembly.
NCD metropolitan commander Supt Fred Yakasa said counting for the women representatives and chairman will begin today. Counting for the other councillors already started.
Police said the two- day elections ran smoothly, with only two polling stations, Laurabada and Mahuru, were suspended last Saturday because long-term residents who are non- Motuans wanted to vote as well.

Three new buses for UPNG
THE University of Papua New Guinea last week took delivery of three brand -new 25-seater buses valued over K300,000. In a small ceremony, the buses were blessed by Catholic chaplain Fr Peter Kobakin in front of staff and students. The buses will be used for students’ trips related to their academic programmes and by staff in the delivery of services to the university. They were purchased from the university’s rehabilitation fund. Vice-chancellor Professor Ross Hynes appealed for great care of the buses and discouraged a repeat of burning incidents of university vehicles in the past. He said he wanted to see the buses go through their full life span and provide a service for students and staff. The three buses are the first of 24 other vehicles in a re-fleeting programme of university vehicles and will be managed by the transport section at a new location on the Waigani campus.

Women suffer due to pressure
MANY women in the country suffer from pressure put on them by their husbands. Ruth Iangalio, the technical adviser for Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health from the Department of Health, said this during a workshop in Mt Hagen last week. The workshop aimed to educate men on the safe health of the family and reduce the death rate among mothers in the country. Mrs Iangalio said while men in many households take good care of their wives and family, there are others who treat their wives like slaves and second-class citizens. She said some women go to the extent of committing suicide as they cannot stand the pressure put on them by their husbands.The aim of the workshop was basically to teach men how to respect their wives, daughters and how to share responsibilities in the household.

Rotary donates to GG
IN support of the fundraising initiative by Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane to climb Mount Wilhelm next week, the Port Moresby Rotary Club has given
him K 5,000 for his HIV/AIDS Trust Fund. The fund was set up by Sir Paulias to raise money to help children in PNG who have been affected in one way or another by HIV/AIDS and in particular those who have been orphaned by the killer epidemic. Sir Paulias received the donation from Rotary assistant district governor Paul Coleman and his wife Kym who is the Port Moresby Rotary Club secretary. Sir Paulias thanked all rotarians throughout PNG for the valued support, saying that they had contributed to a worthy cause.

Landowners push for benefits
PRINCIPLE landowners of Porebada, Boera and Lealea have started organising themselves to push for benefits from the multi-billion LNG gas project development. Chairman Igo Meauri said the objectives of the landowners were to cooperate with the Government and developer to bring forth the LNG facility in their area to reality. He said the group would also prepare for the benefits-sharing agreement forum with the Government in future.
Mr Meauri said other objectives of the landowners included preparing a business development plan to present to ExxonMobil and the Government and take full advantage of the impacts of LNG development.

Elementary education vital
ELEMENTARY education has taken a top priority in East Sepik province as education authorities conduct training to enhance elementary teachers’ qualifications. East Sepik acting provincial education adviser Joseph Ouyoumb said the ongoing training was conducted by qualified persons in training and inspections under the new education curriculum. He said plans were also underway to convert high schools into technical high schools so that students are trained to sustain themselves. Mr Ouyoumb was speaking at the graduation of 85 elementary teachers in Nelikum village in Maprik last week.

Women form group
A GROUP of women from the Vadavada settlement in Moresby Northeast has formed a group called the Soko Mama’s group. President and founder Easter Jericho Pan said “soko” in the Goroka local dialect means “good” and therefore good (soko) women’s group was formed . She said the group was launched by mostly single or unemployed mothers, widows, destitute women and young girls. Ms Pan said although most of the mothers were illiterate, that did not hinder their determination to see the group launched.