Hikes a rip off: Paska
THE PNG Trade Union Congress has denounced the hefty tariff increases proposed by PNG Power and other sectors using fuel price increases as an excuse.
PNGTUC general secretary John Paska said yesterday that the tariff increases were well above the fuel hikes and there was no justification by PNG Power, Air Niugini and other companies to unilaterally increase tariffs and prices of basic goods.
“This is profiteering and it’s near criminal to rip off the people of Papua New Guinea,” he said, adding, that the Government should intervene as it was a very serious matter.
Mr Paska said that it was completely unthinkable for a government instrumentality to consider imposing “a very hefty” tariff increase, which placed an extra burden on ordinary people.

East Sepik PNGTA may take action
The East Sepik branch of the PNGTA is considering legal action against the East Sepik provincial government, the Teaching Service Commission and the State for denying some of their teachers their leave fares entitlements.
President of the PNGTA East Sepik branch Michael Aimos said Section 130 of the Teaching Services Act entitled them to leave fares, but a good number of them were denied.
“The authorities have failed to effect section 30 subsection 4 (of the Act) and this has been affecting our teachers in the past years,” he said in a statement.
Mr Aimos said industrial action including withdrawal of labour was an option in the 2008 school year.

Ceremonial sitting for late Jalina
The Waigani court house is expected to have a ceremonial sitting of the court today to farewell the late Justice Moses Jalina.
The ceremonial sitting session begins at 7am inside one of the biggest court rooms at the court house before it proceeds to the actual funeral service in the later part of the morning.
The funeral service will be held at the Sione Kami Memorial church at 5 Mile at 10am.
Last Monday, the body of the late judge was flown to Wabag, Enga province, for a funeral service.
The late Justice Jalina was the residential judge in Wabag and was into the end of his seventh year when he passed away at Mt Hagen on Dec 18.
He was on his way to Wabag and was waiting with his family for his flight at the airport in Mt Hagen when he reportedly collapsed suddenly and later died.
His body was flown into Port Moresby later the same day where he was received by members of the legal fraternity amongst family and friends.
The cause of his death is still yet to be established.
He is survived by his wife Kessie and their five children.

Call for new judge
ENGA Governor Peter Ipatas and Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal have called on the acting Chief Judge Justice Sir Salamo Injia and the National Judiciary Services to immediately appoint a new residential judge for Enga province.
They made this call during the funeral service of late Justice Moses Jalina in Wabag town last Monday.
Mr Ipatas said Enga had lost a great man who was not only the judge but a humble man and brother to many.