What a waste of 200 tonnes of rice
THE shipment of about 200 tonnes of rice reportedly sent to the Popondetta warehouse last Tuesday have turned bad.
A recent media report claimed that the rice was sent as relief supplies destined for the main distribution centre at the Oro campus of the Vudal University and that had reportedly turned bad after being exposed to water.
A staff from the Trukai Industries in Port Moresby, while speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was the normal Trukai Industries consignment being sent to its warehouse in Popondetta.
The staff said the bags of 10kg Roots rice were not relief supplies.
The bags of rice were transported by a vessel operated by the Laurabada Shipping belonging to Steamships Shipping Ltd.
The company, when contacted, said how the bags of rice were loaded onto the vessel was reportedly the responsibility of a non-governmental organisation that the National Disaster Centre reportedly engaged to load and pack the goods.
While the issue of how much was lost and who was responsible was yet to be established, Controller of the Oro disaster State of Emergency Col Vagi Oala is frustrated that such food supplies have been wasted.
“The fact of the matter was rice went bad,” he said, adding that he himself did not know if the shipment was relief supplies or the normal distribution by Trukai Company.

Food gardens in villages still under water
It has been almost a month since the floods swept Oro province but some food gardens are still covered by water.
Some of the villagers who managed to escape the floods are now experiencing a shortage of food supply as their food gardens had been destroyed and are now covered by mud and silt.
Villagers at Gona, about 30 minutes drive from the Oro provincial capital of Popondetta, were lucky to have escaped.
Although they may have lost their properties, its loss of their food gardens that are unbearable.
Justice Baupo, a police officer attached to the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, visited his village in Gona last week.
His main task was to distribute 80 bags of rice that were purchased from Popondetta with funds that were contributed by members of the Gona community in Port Moresby.
Controller of State of Emergency Col Vagi Oala said relief supplies were being sent to areas hit by Cyclone Guba on Nov 14.
Mr Baupo agreed that this was the case and the National Disaster Centre had to make sure that families affected by the floods had some food supply.
Mr Baupo took the opportunity to visit his home village and discovered that some food gardens were still covered by water.
Silt and mud deposits caused the garden produce such as taro, corn and kaukau, among others to rot.
The 80 bags of rice were distributed last Saturday to four clans and 17 sub clans from the villages of Napo, Kausada, Kurou and Jaunga among others.

Xmas presents for the sick
THREE-month-old Felix Ungai and six-month-old Robin Kemago were in another world, smiling nonetheless, when getting a present from Carol Weber of KK Kingston.
Miss Weber, the northern regional promotions manager, was at the Angau Memorial Hospital Children’s ward with Ponchiam Cholai, the promotions’ boss.
Their presence brought a smile on the faces of the sick when they handed out Christmas presents to patients at the children’s TB, paediatric and surgical wards.
“We want to show the patients that we care for them at this special time of the year,” Ms Cholai said.
KK Kingston also gave cleaning detergents to help clean the hospital besides presents to the patients.
Angau’s director of nursing Freda Makanda is delighted with the gifts.

Government must boost tourism industry
More funding is needed to turn the country into a tourist’s destination.
Chairman of the Kudjip Culture and Tourism Centre Andrew Kewa challenged the Government to put more money into the training of cultural groups, tour operators and other organisations that deals with tourists.
Mr Kewa said that various groups dealing with tourists must know how to approach tourists and treat tourists in more a professional manner.
He said that the way different groups treat the tourists coming into the country would determine whether or not they would visit the country again in the future.
Mr Kewa said tourism industry in the country was gradually picking up and more tourists visited the country this year but needed to do more in order to get more tourists.
He said the Government must help such groups and boost their morale to improve in efforts to provide quality services to tourists.
Mr Kewa said if people involved in tourism industry had skills and knowledge needed, they would bring in more tourists using the resources and different culture and traditions.

Money was payment for building dorm: Manager
A victim who was allegedly bashed up by Kagua-Erave MP James Lagea for withdrawing K232,000 from electorate funds claimed he deserve the money.
Phipere Construction Ltd and Ialibu Security Services manager Horns Kale told The National that he withdrew the money because the signatures were genuine and not forged as claimed.
Mr Kale alleged that together with three of his relatives, they were bashed with bush knives and other metal objects by Mr Lagea and nine others outside Bank South Pacific Port Moresby branch.
“I went to the bank to withdraw the remaining balance of K222,000. I have already withdrawn K10,000 on Dec 6.
“The money is payment for building the boys’ dormitory and mess hall for Sukuvaku High School, two medical staff houses at the Subra health centre, renovation of district administrator’s house and the renovation of the police barracks,” he said.

Education a priority for WHP: Olga
By ELIAS LARI
EDUCATION will be a priority for the people of Western Highlands province under Governor Tom Olga’s administration.
Governor Olga made this known during a provincial education board (PEB) meeting last Tuesday in Mt Hagen.
Mr Olga said that he would replace all bush material classrooms in schools throughout Western Highlands province with permanent buildings over the next five years.
The governor said that he was also looking forward to establishing another university centre in the province.
He said this would ensure that students who were not selected to go to universities due to space limitation would have the chance to further their education at tertiary level through the university centre.
The PEB board that met was a newly appointed one.
It was chaired by chairman Hans Gima.

Subsidies only for top 5% and poor Engans
WITH school fee subsidy now scrapped in Enga, only the top performing students will continue to enjoy this benefit from the provincial government under a new scheme announced by Governor Peter Ipatas.
He said only Enga’s under-privileged children including orphans and the top 5% of students will continue to receive education subsidies.
Governor Ipatas said the focus now was to provide quality education including the recruitment of overseas teachers, computer labs for schools and libraries.
He also appealed to the Enga people not to touch properties during tribal fights which would now be the main focus of the province.
“Tribal fights are not new and because of inaction by police, we have lost schools. Now we have a new police management team including a new provincial police commander and station commander, we will focus our attention on law and order.”
He explained that Enga had spent K68 million in the last 10 years for education subsidies because Porgera Joint Venture came on stream and there was a lot of money to be shared by people.
Mr Ipatas said there was not much opportunity and with the pyrethrum and coffee factories now in place, it was time parents work the land to educate their children.
He would consider school fee subsidies in later years.