Hero’s welcome for Francis Kompaon in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

Torchbearer Francis Kompaon displays the torch during the Beijing 2008 Paralympic torch relay in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 6, 2008.

(Photo credit: Xinhua)

Francis Kompaon (centre) at a rousing welcome in Goroka.
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Hero’s welcome

By ZACHERY PER
PARALYMPIC silver medallist Francis Kompaon was treated to a rousing hero’s home coming in Goroka yesterday after he touched down at the Goroka airport.
Staff of the National Sports Institute (NSI) and the University of Goroka (UOG) where Kompaon is a second year pre-service student, turned up at the airport in large numbers to receive him and his coach Peter Aglua.
Staff and students of UOG arranged a motorcade and took Kompaon and Aglua around the main streets of Goroka town before going to the campus.
At the campus, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Dr James Yoko told Kompaon that he had set a milestone for Papua New Guinea to better his achievement at the Olympic level.
“UoG is happy you made us proud by being the first to receive an Olympic silver medal,” Dr Yoko said.
He said the university would organise a formal gathering to comprise interested stakeholders to recognise the achievement of the disable athlete.
In a brief welcome luncheon at NSI, acting director Kaylie Martins said for Kompaon to train on grass track and go on to win silver on synthetic tracks was a milestone achievement.
She said it was the dividend for the dedication of coach Aglua, his support staff and Kompaon himself.
“Everyone was involved in one way or another towards getting Kompaon to achieve this milestone.
“He had been running on the grass track and to win a medal on synthetic track sends a message that despite of disabilities, dedication and commitments can pay off,” Martins said.
Kompaon said he was overjoyed when he finally knew that he had won a medal for his country.
He said whether he won gold, silver or bronze, it would not have mattered but he was overwhelmed because at least he won an Olympic medal for PNG.
“I already knew that I would win a medal because others were way behind the Australian (Heath Francis) and me.
“He was in lane seven and I was in lane three when we got to the finish. I celebrated wildly and that confused the Australian who thought I won gold,” he said.
He said he was the first person in the Pacific to win a silver medal at the Olympic level and described it as a great feeling.
His coach Aglua said Team PNG went as unknowns but were recognised after winning a medal in the T46 class 100m sprint and raising the PNG flag at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing.
“The win was not only for PNG but also for three-quarters of the black African nations, who did not win any medals at all at the Paralympic Games,” Aglua said.
Celebrations in Goroka are likely to continue for sometime this week before Kompaon is taken to his home province in East New Britain, where a bumper provincial celebration to be hosted by the ENB provincial government is planned.

Source: The National Newspaper [23rd September 2008]

Sea-Level Rise In Papua New Guinea - The Carteret Islands

In one of my previous posting I highlighted the problem of sea-level rise in Papua New Guinea. The video below shows the impact of sea-level rise on the Carteret Islands of the Bougainville Province of Papua New Guinea.

[Video Source: Journeyman Pictures ]

Papua New Guinea (PNG) Olympics Dream 2008 and Beyond

[ Photo: Ryan Pini leading the PNG Team in Beijing 2008 Olympics. Photo Source: The National Newspaper]

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Papua New Guinean athletes currently in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games deserves some kind of official recognition from the government of Papua New Guinea whether they win any medals or not. Without doubt the few Papua New Guinean athletes in Beijing have done their best by giving their time, talents and effort to make it to the Olympics representing the country they love. It will be shameful if the country they are representing has not invested and given them the best available opportunities to complete at the highest possible level internationally. What saddens me and probably a number of other Papua New Guineans too, is that, Papua New Guinea as a country has not made any serious impact on the Olympic scene. Since 1974 when the PNG Sport Federation (PNGSF) became affiliated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Papua New Guinea had its first Olympic game exposure and opportunity in 1976 in Montreal, Canada. Up until recently, through the work of the PNGSF, many Papua New Guinean sportsmen and women have had the opportunity to compete internationally with some success especially in the Commonwealth and the South Pacific games but, what Papua New Guinea needs now is to focus in making some kind of breakthrough in the Olympic games in 2012 and beyond.

Interestingly, one only needs foresight to realise the immense opportunities that exists to improve Papua New Guinea's tourism potential and its international image abroad. Papua New Guinea as a country needs to improve its image abroad and sports can play a significant role in that endeavour. When many Papua New Guineans are given the opportunity to train and compete abroad, it can only work for the good of the country. When we begin to see Papua New Guineans making the necessary breakthroughs around the world in sports, it can only bring more positive media coverage of Papua New Guinea as a country.

As one look beyond the Beijing 2008 Olympic games, one can only hope that the government of Papua New Guinea and the PNGSF, as partners in nation building, will seriously evaluate the funding, management and development of sports in Papua New Guinea in a more pragmatic, determined and proactive manner with the view of promoting sports within the country and abroad. It is through evaluation that mistakes of the past can be rectified for the collective benefit of the future. I am predicting that one day, Papua New Guineans will say that Olympic golds are no longer dreams but realities.....for now, good luck to Ryan Pini and the Papua New Guinea athletes in Beijing for the Beijing 2008 Olympic games.

Reviewing of the Dual Salary System in Papua New Guinea

From the National Newspaper [02 July, 2008]

Time to review pay structure, says PM

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare told Parliament yesterday it was time to review the dual salary system adapted during the colonial era.
Sir Michael said after the review, a single and equal salary structure would be proposed.
This, the Prime Minister said, would hopefully lure back PNG professionals now working abroad.
He said the dual structure was adapted before Independence when PNG did not have specialised and qualified people in the workforce. Expatriates were then recruited on a higher salary package to train Papua New Guineans.
He said Papua New Guineans have excelled and it was time to review the salary system.
“The time has come for PNG to have an equal salary structure. We can afford it.” The single salary structure is across the board for locals and expatriates alike in the both the public and private sectors.
The Prime Minister was responding to queries in Parliament by Western Governor Bob Danaya.

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The Dual Salary structure in Papua New Guinea has forced many professional Papua New Guineans to work abroad where conditions are far better. It surely has taken a while for Sir Michael to realise that professional Papua New Guineans cannot be treated as second class citizens in their own country.

There are many other issues in Papua New Guinea that also need urgent attention. Most importantly, Sir Michael must work hard to create more jobs for many unemployed people in Papua New Guinea. When there are many people in employment, crime rate will certainly decrease and the living standard of many ordinary Papua New Guineans will improve. Things can only get better for the country when there is political will and determination by the leaders of the country to work for the collective good of its people.

The current standard of living and economic climate in Papua New Guinea is not conducive to stimulating economic growth and prosperity of the country and certainly many ordinary folks and citizens of the country are struggling to make ends meet for their families. What is really disheartening is that for many years qualified and highly skilled Papua New Guineans were discriminated against by a colonial salary system that is still in existence to this very day and age!

However, what Sir Michael is now proposing is something worth commending even if it is long over due. Lets just hope that his proposal will become law and reality.
[John B Nirenga- 02 July, 2008]
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Papua New Guinea Gas Project Deal

[Report from the PNG National Newspaper 23rd May, 2008]

K38 billion gas project sealed

With a consortium that includes one of the world’s largest companies, Exxon Mobil, placing PNG on the global commercial scene.
The project will underpin the PNG economy for the next 40 to 50 years, as it has the potential to earn more than K130 billion in income for the Government and landowners over a 30-year period once LNG export begins.
The gas agreement was signed by the Governor-General, Sir Paulias Matane, and Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma and the project’s joint venture participants which include ExxonMobil, Oil Search, Santos, Nippon Oil, MRDC and Eda Oil.
The agreement outlines the fiscal and legal framework by which the LNG project will be regulated through its lifetime.
The agreement was formally presented to the Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, at a ceremony in Parliament yesterday where executives of the joint ventures, members of the diplomatic corp, Members of Parliament and invited guests attended.
The Prime Minister said the agreement is a major achievement and provides a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to the project.
Sir Michael said its potential impact is significant as it could double the GDP of PNG and provide a big boost to the average income of the PNG workforce.
“Papua New Guineans should be proud.
“We have now become the 16th nation in the world to have a substantial LNG project in place,” Sir Michael said.
He said the PNG LNG project is of world class and will show the global community that PNG is an ideal place to invest and do business.
ExxonMobil project executive Peter Graham said the gas agreement has set out the fiscal regime and legal framework by which the PNG LNG project will be regulated.
Mr Graham said ExxonMobil, which has a 41.5% interest in the project, is pleased to have the gas agreement executed.
“We look forward to working with the PNG Government and our joint venture participants to maximum the value of the resource and long-term sustainable benefits to the community,” Mr Graham said.
The project is set to enter front end engineering and design (FEED) stage.
The FEED team will comprise personnel from ExxonMobil, the joint ventures and the FEED contractors based in PNG, Australia, the United States and Japan.
The FEED stage will pursue LNG sales agreements, secure necessary permits and licences, and undertake the financial planning necessary for investment decision.
Oil Search managing director Peter Botten said they were happy that the agreement has been executed. Oil Search has a 34% stake in the project.
The PNG LNG Project includes all development components including the processing facilities, pipelines and LNG plant facilities.
Other stakeholders are Santos 17.7%, AGL 3.6%, Nippon 1.8%, landowners 1.2%, and Eda Oil 0.2%. Interests will change when the PNG State’s nominee join as an equity participant at a later date.

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare opens a gift box watched closely by ExxonMobil project executive Peter Graham and executives of joint venture partners and government officers at the presentation ceremony at Parliament House yesterday. – Nationalpic by WILLIAM WILLIANDO

Comments from J.B. Nirenga [May 23, 2008]

The signing of this gas deal between the government of Papua New Guinea and joint venture partners of Exxon Mobil is clearly historic but Papua New Guinea as a country, and more so the landowners from which this natural gas is located may not benefit a great deal in terms of infrastructural and socio-economical development. I may not be absolutely correct here, but I perceive that many of these so called resource development deals and agreements are done by the government of Papua New Guinea without any of its own tangible long-term plan for the country for creating an economy within the country that will create jobs and improve the standard of living of its people. After over thirty years since independence from Australia, Papua New Guinea has a growing population with high illiteracy amongst its population, and the standard of living has consistently dropped over the years. Crime and criminal activities are on the rise simply because there are no jobs for school leavers and many young people are just frustrated of a system that is working against them and their aspirations. I am hoping that when politicians and bureaucrats start thinking less of themselves and begin to serve their people, and their country maybe, just maybe..... the future will be bright again for Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea and Australian governments yesterday agreed to preserve Kokoda

[Article from the Papua New Guinea National Newspaper, Dated: 24 April, 2008]

Kokoda to be preserved
THE PNG and Australian governments yesterday agreed to preserve Kokoda, putting an end to plans by an Australian company to develop a gold mine there.
Environment Minister Benny Allen announced that a Government task force had managed to convince the landowners to place the benefits to the nation and Australia above their aspirations.
He said the landowners will be given all infrastructure including schools, clinics and roads.
They will also be helped to sustain their livelihood, he said.
Mr Allen was speaking with his Australian counterpart Peter Garrett by his side.
Garrett said that the Kokoda trail had lured tourism from a mere 50 to 80 people a year to more than 1,000 in the last five years.
He said it was hard for Australia to see a heritage of iconic war-time value lost.
Under an agreement signed between the two governments, no mining will take place in Kokoda and the Owen Stanley Ranges of the Central and Oro provinces.
Mining Minister Dr Puka Temu told The National from Madang yesterday it is unlikely that the exploration licence currently held by Australian mining company, Frontier Holdings, will be renewed now that the agreement has been signed.
Dr Temu said he will be advising the mining advisory council against further mining exploration activities in the area.
Dr Temu, who is also deputy prime minister, described the agreement as well negotiated and “good news” for the landowners.
He said he will be meeting landowners of Kodu to explain the long-term benefits that will be gained as a result of the agreement.
Australian minister for environment, heritage and the arts Peter Garrett said in a statement after the signing that the Australian government has committed A$14.9 million to assist the PNG government in its efforts to improve the livelihoods of local communities along the track.
Garrett said Australia and PNG have agreed to preserve the historic values of Kokoda Track and maintain the integrity of the track.
He said the fund will assist to establish effective management arrangements so the track is protected and delivers increasing benefits to local people.
“Those funds will also be used to conduct a feasibility study into a world heritage nomination,” Garrett said.
He added that the department of veterans will administer A$1million of funding to develop educational materials to increase awareness of the special importance of the track.
“The Australian government is committed to following through with real resources and real action to assist the government and people of PNG in their efforts to protect the Kokoda Track and Owen Stanley Ranges while improving the people’s livelihoods.”

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I view this landmark agreement between the governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia as truly significant and historic. Developing countries like Papua New Guinea at times succumb to the pressures of resource developers under the guise of creating "development" in remote and isolated communities and I may add that sadly such "developments" carries huge human and environmental costs. Kokoda may be a special case however, it is worth pointing out that Papua New Guinea is a country blessed with bountiful natural resources but careless exploitation of its natural resources will be at the expense of its future generation. Exploitation of resources can be done in a more pragmatic and sustainable manner. It only needs the government and its leaders to have a realistic long-term developmental plan for the country that requires foresight and takes into consideration the future needs and aspiration of the next generation. [John Nirenga, 24 April, 2008]
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El-Nino blamed for poor harvest in Papua New Guinea

[Article from the Papua New Guinea National Newspaper - Wednesday April 23, 2008]

El-Nino blamed for poor harvest
DESPITE PNG recording low agriculture outputs during past national election years, election and politics are not to be blamed for these poor crop harvests, an Australian academic has said.
Dr Roderick Duncan, a marketing lecturer at the Charles Sturt University in Australia, in a recent Pacific Economic Bulletin issue, said his study has found that there had been declines in the production for PNG’s four main tree crops coffee, cocoa, oil-palm and copra during election years.
The election years covered in the study include 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2002.
However, based on calculations using models with data from PNG sources, Dr Duncan found that the four tree crop harvest declines in those years were not related to politics and the national elections, but were coincidently caused by the weather phenomenon known as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) during those election years.
ENSO results from the seasonal air pressure difference between Tahiti and Darwin, Australia, with high air pressure over Australia and low air pressure over Tahiti.
This brings weak trade winds resulting in droughts to countries in the Pacific like PNG.
Major ENSO episodes, he said, occurred in those years, which resulted in low rainfall during those years, affecting coffee, cocoa, oil-palm, and copra harvests.
“By estimating the supply functions of PNG cash-crop producers, what was discovered was that blame more likely lay with the ENSO episodes that occurred recently and coincided with low values with the elections of 1982 and 1997,” Dr Duncan said.
“It is this coincidence that could have led some observers to believe that harvests and elections were linked,” he said.

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The above claim by Dr Duncan is quite interesting as reported in the Papua New Guinea National Newspaper today [Wednesday 23 April, 2008].

Where there is a lingering high atmospheric pressure system over an area, drought conditions can easily develop. One would most likely observe that air moisture and humidity will tend to decrease or is reduced dramatically. Furthermore, the sky usually have less cloud cover so there will be increased evapo-transpiration [evaporation from ground surfaces and from plants and vegetation]. Ground surface temperatures also increases during the day as insolation [incoming short-wave solar radiation] from the sun is not hindered by cloud cover. In the night, especially in areas like Kandep in the Enga Province of the Highlands of Papua New Guinea and other high attitude areas such as Togoba area of the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea, night time temperatures will drop quite dramatically giving rise to early morning frosts which can be quite severe at times. As moisture in the air and soil continues to be reduced over an area by a lingering high atmospheric pressure system, one would generally observe that in such an area droughts can become established. [John Nirenga, April 23, 2008].
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