TOURISM

Natural wonders of Ialibu-Pangia

By JACK NOAH YAMAHA
PAPUA New Guinea is home to authentic ancient culture and spectacular exotic bird species. Add to these other natural wonders of the country PNG can easily match other tourist destinations around the globe like Dubai in the Emirates, if promoted well.
Tourists and adventurers come in droves from all over the world for many reasons including sightseeing, bird watching, filming, photography or art and craft collections, and to take home a piece of Papua New Guinea as souvenir to commemorate their visit to this fascinating country.
The country’s pristine rain forests which make up the third largest tropical forest in the world.
Southen Highlands has a huge chunk of untapped and dense forest area, much of which is not explored due to it density. Large fast-flowing rivers also prevent casual adventures from visiting these parts of the province’s landmass. For decades, these have remained untouched.

The province has the most part of the region surrounding the country’s second highest mountain, Mount Giluwe which is ideally located along the Okuk Highway. Part of it stretches from Imbongu and Mendi-Munihu electorates to Tambul district in Western Highlands.
Under the canopy of the dense tropical forests is home to a spectacular bird of paradise which one may never forget after seeing it during its courtship dancing with a fascinating display of colour.
Mystical waterfalls and forbidding rivers crisscross the entire landscape which creates impassable steep gorges that can’t be easily forgotten by visitors.
The populous highlands region is also the agriculture hub of this country and holds the country’s existing gas and oil reserves. The region therefore is important to the country’s economy.
The Highlands region sits at the pinnacle of cultural diversity with splendid array of traditional body decoration and head dresses. Some of these can be seen at annual cultural extravaganzas at the famous Goroka, Enga and Mount Hagen shows.
Te region’s difficult topographical setting prevents full scale exploitation of areas which are rich in natural resources, hence, small trekking routes and lodges are now seen to be established in the area.

Few years ago, British scientists and film makers from BBC and Discovery Channels ventured into the impassable jungles and uncovered many unknown species in the Mount Bosavi area which is also in the Southern Highlands.
The team also explored mystical caves in New Britain in the New Guinea Islands.
Some sites behind Mt Ialibu along the large Kaugel River can be developed into fascinating places for tourists and or scientific researchers.
These can compliment tourism development with different concepts that can be tailored to the niche tourism market and that will definitely give some advantages besides trekking and adventure tours.
That would give established tour operators an extra challenge and at the same time it will create a wide range of opportunities to tourists to choose from.
PNG’s diverse and distinct traditions of over 800 ethnic cultural groups and languages, as well its natural beauty and untapped environment can give tourists experiences that are second to none and worth their money.
This part of Southern Highlands alluded to above can lurescientists who would like to study some of the endangered species and mystical phenomena such as the extraordinary strength of a river system in the area, a huge frog rarely seen, snakes and many more endemic creatures.
The area has two possible entry points; one through Kaupena near Paunda hydro power station along the Okuk Highway and other one through east Pangia area.
The locals of the area believe that some undiscovered and strange things unknown to the outside world and occurrences of paranormal activities in their forests are beyond their own explanation but can only be explained or revealed through scientific researches.

• Jack Yamaha is a freelance writer.

Usino-Bundi enjoys rapport with miner

By JAMES G. KILA
A CORDIAL working relationship between a multi-national resource developer and a district administration has been the key ingredient in the success to tangible infrastructure development in Madang.
This is happening in Usino-Bundi district in Madang under the leadership of the local MP and Education Minister, Jimmy Uguro and the DDA under the command of Steven Biko, who hails from West Sepik but has served the Usino-Bundi and Gama people for years.
It was through Uguro that Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited, the developer of PNG’s first nickel/cobalt mining project in Madang on Saturday, Jan 9 displayed its corporate generosity when it presented a new suction apparatus worth over K20,000 to the new Usino Health Centre in Usino-Bundi district.
DDA Chief Executive Officer, Steven Biko and the Usino LLG Ward 32 councilor, Fred Maliupa were present to receive the specialised medical apparatus from the officers from the company’s community affairs department.
Ramu NiCo (MCC) also assisted a medical engineer from V-Med Technology, Samuel Moka based in Madang to travel to Usino for the installation of the new medical equipment.
During a demonstration at the occasion, Moka said a suction machine was life-saving and very handy during emergencies when it is used to suck out blood cloths, mucus and other wastes in the body.
Biko on behalf of the local MP was so thankful and appreciative of the worthwhile donation by Ramu NiCo and said the donation by the company would greatly boost medical services provided by the new health centre.
He added that the new Usino Health Centre was strategically located at a central place and would assist the people from Bundi and those travelling the Madang-Ramu highway as well as those using the Ramu River.
Biko said Ramu NiCo was a valuable development partner in the district and has been very supportive in many areas since the mining operations commenced.
In July 2020 Ramu NiCo also made a generous donation of specialised medical beds and clinical equipment to the Usino health facility worth over K56,000. Other equipment donated that time included a pulse oxymeter to test oxygen saturation and blood pressure, a baby scale and digital thermometer and stethoscopes.
Uguro was there on Saturday, July 25 to witness the delivery of specialised medical beds and medical equipment by the miner to the health post.
He appreciated the worthwhile donation by Ramu NiCo which was a boost to his development aspirations for his Usino-Bundi and Gama people.
The MP said Ramu NiCo as a partner in development in his district has also hugely assisted in the purchase of metal sheet rolls from China which were used in the new roofing iron factory at Usino station. It is one of the major impact projects which the MP has initiated during his first term to assist the people of his district.
Ramu NiCo Community/Government Liaison Supervisor, Kuipa Tonny challenged the local people to take ownership of the facility so it could last long to provide medical help.
Tonny said the company enjoyed a cordial working relationship with the Usino-Bundi DDA and MP Uguro in providing tangible services and development to the people in the district which is impacted by its mining operations.
A couple of weeks ago the people in Usino LLG witnessed the completion of two new community health posts which would benefit several thousand people. The two new community health posts were funded by Ramu NiCo under its Community Development Fund (CEF) at a cost of over K260,000 of which the Inland Pipeline Landowners Association was the first recipient.
Community leaders at both Naru and Kawawar expressed their gratitude and appreciation upon seeing the completion of work by a contractor engaged by Ramu NiCo and supervised by the Madang National Works Department.
Naru community leader Nigoni Waipa said the health post was a New Year 2021 gift to his people.
Tonny said the Inland Pipeline Landowners Association in Usino-Bundi district of Madang made history as the first landowner group in a mine impact area to receive nearly K257,695 recently under the community development funds (CDF) allocated by developer Ramu NiCo.
He clarified that the Inland Pipeline LOA executive had agreed on spending the CDF to purchase two pre-fabricated buildings from PNG Forest Products at a cost of K128,847.40 for the establishment of the two health facilities at the two locations respectively.
Tonny said the remaining funds were used to transport the kits from Lae to Madang and a local contractor was engaged to assemble the kits. Supervision of the project was done by MCC community affairs officers and the Department of Works to issue completion certificates.
He said Ramu NiCo Management Ltd on March 28, 2019 had agreed as per the revised “Ramu Nickel/Cobalt Project Compensation Agreement” to establish a Ramu NiCo Community Development Fund to support community development initiatives within the immediate project impacted communities. Under this initiative each LOA would receive K300,000 per year.
Tonny explained that the Ramu NiCo community affairs department had developed a CDF policy on July 1, 2020 to be used as a guideline to implement projects approved by the four LOA chairmen representing Kurumbukari, Maigari Inland Pipeline, Coastal Pipeline and Basamuk. This was endorsed by MCC on Sept 15 for immediate implementation.
Chairman of Maigari Inland Pipeline LOA, Jacob Winis thanked Ramu NiCo for coming up with such a scheme to boost LOAs to deliver tangible projects within the mime impact areas.

• The author works as a supervisor with the Public Relations Section of Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Ltd in Madang.