Tammur officially takes on new role
MINISTER for Public Enterprises Arthur Somare handed over the Information and Communication portfolio to Minister Patrick Tammur yesterday.
Mr Somare said Mr Tammur had a tremendous challenge in handling the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) policy issue, which would benefit PNG in the next 20 years.
The National Executive Council’s recent decision of NG13 had refined the policy to provide room for Telikom PNG’s transformation, he said at a brief hand-over ceremony at Somare Foundation.
Mr Tammur thanked Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare for appointing him and Mr Somare for guiding him through the mobile phone issue over the past few weeks.
He said he would work closely with Mr Somare to continue to refine the ICT Policy through the implementation of Phase One, which begins on Feb 14.
He said Phase One would run for six to 12 months for the transformation of Telikom PNG.
After Phase One, the market will open to full competition.
Mr Tammur expects to see the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission as the economic regulator and Pangtel as the technical regulator to implement Government policy.
“It means that all stakeholders should work together to deliver telecommunication services to the people,” he said.

Trio killed in car crash
THREE persons heading for a swim were killed when their vehicle went off the road and overturned on the outskirts of Goroka, Eastern Highlands province.
One died on the spot while the other two, including the driver, died at the Goroka Base Hospital.
Several others were admitted to the hospital, some in serious condition.
Eastern Highlands police commander Supt Philip Solala said the incident occurred at the Kamaliki section of the Highlands Highway at about 11am last Saturday.

K870,000 earmarked to improve gender equality and leadership
THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Papua New Guinea has earmarked a total grant of US$300,000 (K872,093) through the Department for Community Development towards improving gender equality and leadership in the country.
Department for Community Development Secretary’s office on Tuesday said in a statement that the 15-month UNDP project was to design and plan a UNDP gender equality programme in support of the UN Country Programme for 2008-2012.
The project is expected to come into effect by next December with functions to deliver:
*Local capacity is built for at least 120 leaders (women and men) across PNG;
*100 women’s skills in leadership and management are enhanced;
*Capacity development for the gender focal points at Department for Community Development and the National Council of Women;
*Greater understanding of the challenges facing men to achieve gender equality; and
*Development of a UNDP gender project.

Tourism website for ENB
A WEBSITE specialist has been engaged to develop a tourism website for East New Britain in order to showcase the various tourism products the province has to offer.
This is an initiative of the ENB Commerce and Tourism Division to further promote various tourism products and attraction sites in the province.
Provincial tourism executive officer Nelson Paulias said that the tourism office had engaged the local website specialist, Gordon Gaius, to develop the site.
During the three-day tourism awareness workshop in Open Bay, he said the cheapest way of marketing the tourism attractions in the province was through the internet.
Therefore, his office has sought the services of Mr Gaius.
Mr Paulias added that rather than spending so much money on other marketing ventures such as advertisements, pamphlets and tourism expositions, the tourism office had opted to set up the website.

Ex-PPC commended
THE chairman of the community policing in East Sepik Christopher Moninara has commended outgoing Provincial Police Commander Chief Supt Leo Kabilo for his outstanding contribution towards eradicating lawlessness in the province.
Mr Moninara said there had been a drastic decline in serious crimes such as rape and armed robbery along the Sepik Highway when Mr Kabilo took over as PPC and his effort must be highly commended.