Kapis yet to receive medical attention
By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
PRISON escapee William Kapis is lying in pain at the Boroko cells, National Capital District, without receiving medical attention.
Kapis was allegedly shot in the legs during his apprehension by police last Friday.
Metropolitan commander Supt Fred Yakasa yesterday directed that Kapis be given medical attention.
As at 6pm yesterday, The National confirmed that no medical workers had visited Kapis. However, duty police officers at Boroko assured The National that Kapis would be attended to later on in the evening.
Kapis and 26 others, including a woman, are at the Boroko cells. They were not allowed visitors since their arrest last Friday just after 2am.
They are set to appear before the District Court today.
Kapis and his friends were on their way to Aroma village, Central province, in three vehicles when they apprehended them. Police also confiscated bags containing about K100,000 in cash.
Kapis is also a prime suspect in the K3 million robberies of the Kerema (May 18) and Madang (July 5) Bank South Pacific branches.
Police also want to question him over the robbery of K2.7 million worth of gold bars belonging to Metal Refinery Operations last February, the alleged killing of a policeman in Kimbe, West New Britain province, in 2002 and the attempted murder of another policeman in Lae, Morobe province, in 2003.

Women among six confirmed to top posts
By SAMSON KENDEMAN
TWO women were among six departmental heads who signed their work contracts with the State at Government House yesterday.
Betty Palaso had been appointed commissioner-general of the Internal Revenue Commission while Nellie James will head Mineral Policy and Geo-hazards.
Joseph Leland was made Secretary for National Planning and Monitoring, Joel Luma as Works Secretary, Manasupe Zurenouc as Secretary for Provincial and Local-Level Government Affairs and Frederick Punangi as Secretary for Defence. Apart from Ms Palaso, who has been appointed to a five-year term, all the others will serve for four years.
This will also be Mr Punangi’s second term as Secretary for Defence.
He was first appointed in 2002.
Their appointments were officially signed by Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane and acting Chief Secretary Margaret Elias.

Kavieng wakes up to black Sunday
By ELIZABETH VUVU
THE Kavieng town in New Ireland province woke up to a black Sunday on July 20 to find a male youth brutally murdered after a night out partying.
Police said the youth was stoned to death after a dance at a nightclub in town at about 2am.
Police identified the deceased as Joe Joseph, in his 20s, from Mongol village on the outskirts of Kavieng town.
Provincial police commander Chief Supt Ephraim Tomonmon said according to reports, Joseph was allegedly chased by a group of men and stoned to death. His body was then dumped into a ditch in the heart of Kavieng town.
Early indications were that the deceased had been bleeding from his nose and ears and the left side of his face between his ears and eyes contained the scar of a three-cornered picket fencing post, Mr Tomonmon said.
He said police found five big stones at the scene of the crime. A picket fence post was also missing.
Relatives of the deceased and other villagers mobilised that same day and turned up at the nightclub demanding K100,000 and 100 pigs as compensation.
However, police said such demands would not be entertained. Instead belkol money would be more acceptable.
Police are at present guarding the nightclub premises.
Police, provincial government representatives, the acting provincial administrator, Village Court officials and ward leaders met on Sunday and resolved that the nightclub meets the deceased’s funeral expenses.
Four suspects have been detained at the Kavieng police cells awaiting questioning.

City Hall saves K18m in first 12 months
By ISAAC NICHOLAS
THE National Capital District Commission has saved more than K18 million in the first 12 months since the general election.
Governor Powes Parkop yesterday attributed the success to tight expenditure control measures put in place by the commission.
He noted that in the past, a huge amount was spent on entertaining false claims because there were no proper controls. Also, he said the culture of spending was rampant at City Hall.
Since Mr Parkop took office, policies were changed where the management would decide on expenditure items and commitments up to K10,000 while anything above had to go through him.
“We will maintain control until the city management shows it has changed its spending culture,” Mr Parkop said.
He cited an example where K6.8 million was wasted on the commission’s parks and gardens every year with no work done.
The function had since been sourced out to private firm PNG Gardener for K7 million and the results speak for themselves with an improved image throughout the city.
PNG Gardener is owned by Justin Tkatchenko, who used to run the Botanical Gardens but set up the company after he was fired.
“Tkatchenko is a professional.
“He has a reputation to protect, and he is delivering,” Mr Parkop said.
He said he would maintain the expenditure process now in place with the savings to be used for road maintenance and to upgrade health and educational facilities.
He indicated that there would be a mid-year budget review to farm out whatever was saved into those priority areas.

Kokoda body gets tough on trekkers
By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
SOME overseas and local companies have been trekking the Kokoda between Central and Oro provinces without proper permits.
Kokoda Track Authority chief executive officer Warren Bartlet said rangers were monitoring 20 companies using the Kokoda and would stop the defaulters from continuing their activities.
The rugged and mountainous 96km World War II track stretches between Kokoda and Ower’s Corner near Sogeri.
Mr Bartlet said fees collected from the trekking permits would be used on approved community development projects.
He said as soon as a new board was appointed pending a proclamation submission now before Cabinet, the authority’s staffing situation would be dealt with followed by the trekking permit issue.
The ministers for Environment and Conservation Benny Allen, Inter-Government Relations Joe Pomat and Culture and Tourism Charles Abel and Sohe MP Anthony Nene met with Kokoda leaders and landowners at Kokoda and at Kovello village.
“At those meetings, landowners said they liked the KTA concept but want completely new people appointed to its board,” Mr Bartlet said.

Clothes vendors argue over new proposed site
By ZARA KANU
THERE has, over the weeks, been much debate among the evicted clothes sellers of the Boroko Market area as to who will actually move to the new proposed site.
Last Sunday evening, the footpath from the St Mary’s clinic towards the Jack Pidik Park was blocked off with vehicles as there was a heated argument between vendors as to who were the rightful users of the site.
There had been speculation among the sellers that other small business operators were moving in to claim a spot on the proposed site located in the Five-Mile area.
When contacted by The National, spokesman for the second hand sellers Allan Yaku said that he was not aware of the argument.
He made it clear that no other decisions had been made without the consent of Governor Powes Parkop and himself as he had recently been appointed as market manager for the new site.
He said: “As far as we are concerned, there is no one apart from the listed evicted sellers that are to move to the new proposed site.
“We are only following the governor’s directives.
“It seemed that some people want to take advantage of the situation for their own benefit but that should not be the case as the land has been set aside for the evicted sellers,” he said.
Mr Yaku said the vendors should also look at the big picture because there was a much bigger project in store for Port Moresby.
He said the Mr Parkop was considering putting up a flea market for second hand vendors which would push other business vendors to move into the designated area.
An exact date has not been set for the vendors to move in to the area.
Mr Yaku said as soon as the semi-permanent buildings were completed, vendors could move in and commence their business activities.

NCD and Motu-Koita residents in for dry spell
By ALISON ANIS
RESIDENTS of the National Capital District and Motu-Koitabu villages may experience low water pressure or no water at all in their homes for the next 12 days.
Papua New Guinea’s main power supplier PNG Power Limited (PPL) has shut down Rouna 2 power station at Sogeri.
This has forced Eda Ranu to close Mt Eriama’s water treatment plant and cut water supply to houses in NCD and surrounding areas.
“We get most of our raw water supply from Rouna 2 but have decided to shut down the Eriama plant due to high turbidity (dirt water) from flash floods from work going on up at Rouna,” an Eda Ranu spokesperson said yesterday.
High turbidity occurs when there are disturbances in the water like heavy rainfall or human activity going on upstream.
He said Eda Ranu workers at Eriama were usually on alert and quickly stepped in to close the plant to prevent dirty water to mix with treated water.
He added that PPL was carrying out maintenance work on Rouna 2.
Eda Ranu has issued a public notice advising NCD and Motu Koita villages to store water for use until Aug 3, “when work on Rouna 2 is expected to be completed”.
“It is also equally important that residents boil water 12 hours after water is restored to avoid consuming contaminated water that could lead to health problems,” the spokesperson said.
The water situation is expected to continue until maintenance work on Rouna 2 has been completed by PPL and the plant can be opened.

Punaha reappointed Pangtel chief
THE National Executive Council (NEC) has re-appointed Charles Punaha as director general of the Telecommunication
Authority, Pangtel.
In a gazetted notice published on July 16, Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane re-appointed Mr Punaha on the advice of the NEC.
The appointment was backdated to April 29 last year for a period of five years.
Mr Punaha’s previous five-year contract expired on April 27 last year but Department of Personnel Management secretary Margaret Elias appointed him acting CEO in a letter dated May 11 last year “until Cabinet formalised the acting appointment”.
Mr Punaha said at the time (April last year), there were elections and Cabinet was suspended.
The acting appointment of Mr Punaha is being queried before the National Court, instituted by Pangtel’s former legal officer Paul Amaiu, who had been sacked. He said although Pangtel was governed by a different Act, the Director General’s position was deemed as head of department and Ms Elias stepped in for the sake of the institution.
The acting appointment of Mr Punaha is being queried with a legal challenge currently before the National Court, instituted by Pangtel’s former legal officer Paul Amaiu who has been sacked.

Downsized Defence Force endangers national security
By NELSON K PHILIP
WHILE Papua New Guinea’s population is increasing at 2.7%, the Defence Force has been downsized to 2,000 soldiers posing a threat to the security of the nation.
The recent border incursion by Indonesian troops is a wake-up call for the Government to consider setting up a combat force within the Defence Force to provide efficient border patrols and security on the country’s economic resources.
Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga queried Defence Minister Bob Dadae as to why the force had been downsized.
Mr Olga suggested that a combat force should be created to look after the border areas and also the resources of the country.
Mr Dadae responded that a combat force had been considered and before any creation or recruitment was carried out, the soldiers’ welfare needed to be ensured.
He said another factor that needed to be addressed was the affordability and efficiency so as to give a professional outlook to the force.
“We need an army which is educated, efficient and affordable so that it will provide excellent security for the people and resources of the nation,” Mr Dadae said. He admitted that the population was increasing and there was a need to scale up the force but the social and professional welfare of the force needed to be considered first.
Mr Dadae said that the PNG Defence Force was one of the best in the Pacific and it needed to be maintained by looking after the well-being of the personnel.

PNG delegates take part in Singapore orchid show
By SAMSON KENDEMAN
A DELEGATION from the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the Orchid Society of PNG (OSPNG), led by president Justin Tkatchenko, left for Singapore yesterday for an orchid exhibition.
The delegation will showcase Papua New Guinea’s unique and beautiful orchids at the orchid show of South East Asia.
The 14-member Orchid Society team will display cut flower orchids and plants.
The society’s patron, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, said the display would also depict PNG’s unique culture and traditions.
Sir Rabbie said the OSPNG had also sponsored two selected orchid growers from Lake Kutubu and Mt Hagen to give them an experience of a life time to broaden their knowledge on how to grow and look after orchids.
“Singapore is one of the world leaders in orchid-growing and this trip will help forge a new foundation and relationship between both countries,” he said.
Sir Rabbie said they invited people from the DEC as their participation would create a new working relationship on how to preserve and promote orchids in PNG and overseas.

Funds slow: MP
MARKHAM MP Koni Iguan told Parliament that funds budgeted for rural local level governments were either reaching the districts late or not reaching at all.
Mr Iguan informed Minister for Treasury Patrick Pruaitch that Markham district had all documentation in place and they were still waiting for the funds.
Mr Pruaitch said the funds were transferred automatically every month to the provincial treasuries and then to the LLGs and urged all governors to facilitate the transfer of funds.
He said if districts had their project documentation and budgetary paperwork in place the transfer of funds would be automatically activated.
Mr Pruaitch also urged all governors to facilitate the transfer of funds or track down any delays or hold-ups in their treasury offices and report to Waigani so that measures could be taken to avoid delays.
However, Western Governor Bob Danaya refuted the suggestion, claiming that funding was a problem and the system of transfer from Waigani to provincial treasuries and to the districts was very slow.

UN to fund fight against firearms
THE United Nations would make available up to US$5 million to combat and eradicate illegal guns in Papua New Guinea, Internal Security Minister Sani Rambi said at the Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby yesterday.
Mr Rambi, Police Commissioner Gari Baki and PNGDF officer Capt (navy) Max Aleale had just returned from an international conference on small arms and light weapons in New York.
Mr Rambi said PNG was among 140 nations that attended the meeting as a follow-up to a Geneva forum convened two years ago.
“For us to buy back guns, we need to know where the guns are coming from,” he said.
Commissioner Baki also admitted that accountability of firearms within the police force was still a major problem.
Mr Rambi and Mr Baki also held talks with UN officials on the possibility of deploying PNG troops on peace-keeping duties.

Firm supports OOH project
SUPREME Industries Ltd recently pledged K5,000 towards Operation Open Heart (OOH) 2008 in Port Moresby. The company’s general manager Sanjay Gosalia said it would continue to support the
programme in the coming years. He said the
donation was for this year’s OOH. Dr Simon Mete of the Port Moresby General Hospital thanked
company marketing manager Nizar Isani for taking such initiative. Mr Isani said the company also supported other community activities such as Little Miss World of PNG, Chesire Homes and many other organisations. “We want to be part of the community and help the people of PNG to improve their living standards and alleviate poverty,” he said.

Hospital to get HSIP funds
GOROKA Base Hospital is the first referral
hospital in the country to enter into an agreement
with the Eastern Highlands provincial health division to obtain funds from the health services improvement programme (HSIP). Funds from the
programme were used to conduct a rural programme in the eight districts. Hospital chief executive officer Dr Joseph Apa said it was an effort ofpartnership for efficient health service deliveries to the rural population. Provincial administrator Munare Uyassi and health services director Ben Haili commended Dr Apa and his team for complying to requirements of the Public Finance Management Act while expending the money.

Students attend programme
THE University of Goroka is gearing up for its most challenging period of the year, the annual teaching practice (TP) programme. A record number of 463 fourth year Bachelor of Education students will
shortly be dispatched to 19 of the 20 provinces.
The students will be assigned to 120 institutions around the country from primary, secondary, technical, vocational to nursing schools. Gulf is the only province that is not taking part in the programme as it did not respond to UOG’s invitation for trainee teachers. The programme will last six weeks starting on July 28 until Sept 5. An allowance of K135 per week has been allocated to each student.

PJV repairs bridge
SOUTHERN Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru has thanked Barrick Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) Ltd for repairing a bridge that collapsed along the Mendi to Tari section of the Highlands Highway. Criminals allegedly dug up the foundations of
the Kasu River bridge at Nipa, preventing access by heavy trucks to the Hides Gas project site and the Hela districts. “I wish to thank PJV team in Tari for responding swiftly to repair the bridge. PJV has been serving the people of Hela for the past eight years and it continues to do so. This shows the company’s long standing partnership in the development of the people and province,” Mr Agiru said.

Avoid nepotism:
LLGs told UNGGAI-Bena MP and Environment and Conservation Minister Benny Allan has called on the 29 members in the three local level governments to avoid favouritism. He told them to share resources of the electorate equally among all the people in their respective council wards and LLG area. He also urged them to tell the people the truth, especially about the K10 million to the districts.

Councillor makes history
COUNCILLOR David Maip made history in the Hagen rural local level government council by retaining his seat for the fifth consecutive term.
Mr Maip beat four other candidates to retain his Kenta ward 34 seat. He was declared winner after scoring more than 50% votes in the first preference vote count at Kapal Haus. Mr Maip is an appointed member of the provincial assembly and director of the Wamp Nga Group of companies.

Enga lauded for free polls
THE people of Enga have been commended for trouble-free local level government elections. Provincial police commander Chief Supt Michael Chare said only Porgera and Teremanda had some minor problems during polling. Peace prevailed throughout, a change never experienced before, he said. Mr Chare said people voted with a clear conscience. He also praised police personnel for maintaining peace during polling and counting.