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Okay of ’08 fiscal plan today
THE Parliament is expected to pass today the Government’s fiscal plan for next year.
The debate on the budget began last Tuesday when the Opposition was given the chance to respond.
Yesterday, the debate continued with back benchers, Opposition and ministers participating.
Forest Minister Belden Namah, Commerce and Industry Minister Gabriel Kapris, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu, Madang Governor Sir Arnold Amet, Morobe Governor Luther Wenge all heaped praise for Treasury and Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch for the biggest budget since independence.
Mr Kapris thanked the treasurer for allocating K10 million to co-operative societies which was a way to unite the people and for the Government to monitor them effectively.
Minister Namah said the overall aim of the Government was to provide the necessary infrastructure and services that will empower the people, particularly in the rural areas, to work towards improving their own welfare and future.
He said in his maiden speech to Parliament, he informed the house of lack of basic services in his electorate.
“There was a lack of health facilities, schools were barely functioning, communication was non-existent, women and children were suffering from malnutrition and birth mortality was very high.”
Mr Namah said infrastructure services such as roads and bridges needed to be upgraded in many areas while in others, new construction was required to link isolated rural areas to urban centres.
“I join the other members in commending the budget, particularly the key focus to bring development to the 89 districts throughout this country.”
Madang Governor Sir Arnold had mentioned the breakdown of basic services and infrastructure and praised the Government for taking steps in addressing the problems.

Royalty-fed budget criticised
RURAL Development Party (RDP) leader Moses Maladina cautioned the Government yesterday in Parliament not to rely completely on royalties and taxes from non-renewable sectors for budget support.
Mr Maladina challenged the leaders to channel the benefits from the non-renewable sectors to sustainable sector such as agriculture.
He said this in supporting the budget during debate yesterday in Parliament.
Mr Maladina said the 2008 Budget must provide incentives to help industries and rural farmers access domestic and international markets.
“How can we push our farmers to grow if they do not have markets for their produce?
“How many rural people can come in and borrow money from commercial banks to support their projects?” he asked.
Mr Maladina said Government intervention in this area was crucial because it was here where the nation could prosper.

MAF lends a helping wing to Oro
THE Mission Aviation Fellowship is now in the third day of daily flights bringing fresh vegetables, mainly from Mt Hagen, to Oro province this week.
Over 1,000kg of kaukau and cabbages have been delivered each to Tufi, Itokama and Safia so far.
MAF is providing these flights as its donation to the campaign, valued at approximately K150,000.
The company said it was able to receive donations at local MAF offices to offset these flight costs.
The vegetables have been provided free of charge by the Anglican church in Mt Hagen and by several businesses following MAF’s initiative to use its aircraft to supply fresh food.
“One trucking company has also assisted by transporting vegetables to Goroka and Lae at no charge to connect with our aircraft and thereby reducing wasted flight time,” MAF said in a statement.
“With our headquarters in Mt Hagen, supplying vegetables seemed an appropriate way to lend a helping wing,” Mr Mike Jelliffe, MAF PNG general manager said.
Today, MAF expects to commence doing Twin Otter shuttles between Girua and outlying airstrips with relief supplies in conjunction with the Australian defence force and relief authorities.
“Our concern is to assist in getting supplies out to those who are still waiting for them as soon as possible, particularly locations to the east of Girua,” Mr Jelliffe said.
MAF has also brought in a former pilot and flight operations controller to coordinate its relief efforts.

Ample jet fuel for relief flights: InterOil
INTEROIL has contacted Australian High Commissioner Chris Moraitis and assured him that there will be enough jet fuel to keep Australian defence force aircraft, involved in relief operations in Oro province, in the air.
This followed media reports that InterOil was threatening to cut off fuel supply because the Government is refusing to grant price rises for fuel.
“We had also been in contact with Mr Moraitis and assured him that there would be adequate jet fuel on hand to keep the rescue aircraft in the air,” Mr Phil Mulacek, chairman and CEO of InterOil said.
“There are thousands of people who had suffered loss of limb and life, seen their belongings taken away by the storms and must surely be feeling very distraught and exposed. We cannot, for a moment, imagine what they must now be feeling but as a company with a longstanding and good relationship with Papua New Guinea and its people, we believe that it was our duty to assist with the recovery effort.”
Mr Mulacek also announced that the company would be allocating their helicopter, which is currently being used at their Elk-4 drill site, to assist in relief work in Oro province.

Lae police cells in darkness
THE risk of breakouts at the Lae police station cells has been increased following an earthquake last Thursday.
The quake rocked the police station, rattling the old electrical wirings in a light bulb.
Sparks and black smoke prompted the police to call in the fire brigade to contain a possible electrical fire.
Acting commander senior Insp Bob Neneo said the cells were now in darkness until the wirings were fixed.
Police, in the meantime, are keeping a close watch on the cells at night.
He said the detainees were safe but there was an increased risk of breakouts.
Another breakout will not bode well for Lae police considering two mass breakouts in the past months.

Six ACE students graduate
SIX children graduated with ABC certificates at the ACE school in Lae last Tuesday.
ACE school principal Joseph Geparo congratulated the graduating children, welcomed their parents and visitors and, said the students had successfully completed 13 weeks of schooling under the ACE programme, a programme adopted from the Australian school curriculum.
“There are two complementary programmes offered by the ACE curriculum. The first is called reading development programme which offers preschool with ACE and Christ. The programme is developed with activities designed to facilitate effective learning and helps children read,” Mr Geparo said.
“Speaking English with ACE and Christ is also designed for the children whom English is a second language. It provides the means for the young school-aged children who do not speak English as a first language to become sufficiently acquainted with spoken English to prepare them to read the English language,” he added.