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Ramu NiCo Promotes Locals to Higher Roles

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Ramu NiCo Management Limited continues to uphold one of its commitments of employment in terms of promoting career and promotion opportunities for all staff by continuing to recruit local men and women from the surrounding and project impact communities.

The Health Safety and Environment Department of Basamuk Refinery is going through a hiring process for its Emergency Response Team, of which these local men and women are expected to start work this month.

Deputy HSE General Manager, Paul Thompson stated  “What we are doing first is internal promotions, so where people have shown initiative and have all necessary skills, we are promoting into higher roles.”

Thompson added “Four trainees have been promoted into officer positions and are all local young men. An officer is moving into a supervisory role, who has been here for a number of years and meets all the criteria and we’ll also be bringing in half a dozen new trainees, men and women from the local villages”

Requirements that the company expects from locals is that they have grade eight education, good work ethics, physically fit, and who are willing to take on new challenges.

Thompson added “Over time, these young men and women will learn how to wear breathing apparatus, how to use fire hoses, how to operate trucks, turn the pumps on and off on the trucks, operate road accident rescue equipment; which are hydraulically powered, they will also learn how to enter confined spaces and do height rescues with ropes and abseiling”

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Refinery Health & Safety Initiatives Re-energized

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Ramu NiCo Management Limited’s Basamuk Refinery has started re-energizing its Health and Safety initiatives; post COVID-19. The Health Safety and Environment Department has been depleted in terms of manpower during COVID-19 but situations are getting back to normal.

Deputy General Manager, Paul Thompson said the HSE Department has a big role to play in terms of the Operational Environmental Management Plan which the company reports to the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority, on a monthly basis.

“We are now putting together a rolling 12 month schedule for the OEMP Compliance, with our monitoring, reporting, consultations and initiatives both within and outside the refinery fence lines and within the neighbouring communities” Thompson said

New recruitments into the HSE team have brought fresh ideas and new skillsets to the department putting the team in a strong position going forward.

Employees are starting to get back into what was pre-COVID or safety normal, and are putting back in place some of the safety initiatives which the Occupational Health and Safety Team are in charge of. For this proper awareness has to once again be conducted prior to the re-introduction of safety initiatives like the breath testing or the Blood Alcohol Concentration Testing and employees self-testing before work if they are unsure.

The HSE DGM said, the OHS Team has gone out themselves and started using the speed guns on Company trucks and vehicles, spoken to the drivers of those vehicles and informing them on why there is a need for them to drive safely instead of giving warnings for breaches straight up.

“You cannot run safety from a desk. If you can’t see it, touch it, feel it, smell it, you can’t understand it and you can’t control, assess and or assist situations.” Thompson said.

He further noted that the safety teams at Basamuk Refinery have gone into using interactive platforms like Toolbox where they share ideas by giving updates of incidents in respective fields of work, measures put in place and what the outcomes were, and are then being given feedback from other participants.

Thompson added that the focus for OH&S right now is on education and awareness rather than enforcement and compliance, and after the safety programs in place are re-energized, then these measures can fully be put back in place.

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Training for Women Leaders

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Twenty Women Leaders from various provinces recently graduated from the Pacific Institute of Pacific and Leadership and Governance, after a six-month Leadership training.

The Women Leadership Academy training targets female ward councilors and women representatives from the sub-national level, with the aim to advance their political careers.

The training program was facilitated by PILAG, in partnership with UN Women, and supported by the Australian High Commission and New Zealand High Commission, through the Women Make the Change Program.

The six-month training covers six modules covering topics on Ward Development Plan, and Pubic Speaking among others, and this is the second cohort of Women Leadership Academy.

The women leaders saying appreciative of the program, saying the training has encouraged and motivated them to be good decision-makers in their local communities.

UN Women country representative Themba Kalua said women are significantly under-represent in decision-making and leadership positions, and there is a need for women’s political participation.

“The current statics shows that PNG is 184 out of 186 countries in the world when it comes to women’s representation in Parliament, so PNG is not doing very well,” Kalua said.

He said having women in leadership will help in development progress, and everyone must support women’s political participation.

PILAG CEO Michael Barobe said PILAG is committed to working in partnership with the UN Women Program, and the Women Make the Change Program to support women political leaders and ensure women are promoted as leaders.

“We would like to see more of our women, who have taken this training step up and face the challenge,” the CEO said.

The CEO said the government has been advocating for more women in Parliament, however, there is a need for action, to bring about this change.

He is calling for more government participation in this training program, to ensure women are well represented at the National and Sub-National Levels.

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Health

Rural Communities in Morobe to Benefit from WaSH and Solar

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More than 12,000 people across 20 communities in Morobe Province now have better health standards and livelihood opportunities, with the official opening of new solar systems and water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) facilities.

The new WaSH facilities in 20 communities across the districts of Finschhafen, Markham, Tewai-Siassi, Huon, Bulolo and Nawaeb include gravity-fed water supply for the communities, 80 laundry and shower areas, and 80 latrines, separated for males and females.

In partnership with the Environmental Health Development Agency, a PGK3.9 million grant through Incentive Fund helped to construct the new facilities.

The grant funded 310 kitchens and stand taps at 17 schools, 7 health posts and 28 churches. The new facilities have already had an impact on community health, with waterborne diseases reduced by over 60 per cent.

“Before this project, we had no reliable access to water,” said Mr Allan Siwas, WaSH Committee Chairman and Kuruwe Village leader.

“Now, we can be clean and healthy all the time and have so many options for new businesses and for our children to be safe in school. We are so grateful to the Government of Australia for these new facilities.”

Local communities supplied labour and transport for the projects, ensuring the skills and understanding for the maintenance of the infrastructure are kept close to the projects.

Vulnerable and marginalised members of the community were also engaged throughout both design and construction, building their skills and livelihood opportunities.

“The strong community engagement model used by this project serves as a model for other projects. With the support of the PNG-Australia Partnership, we have delivered training in sanitation and livelihoods, including food security, to community members,” said Ms Matilda Kuahen, EHDA’s WaSH Manager

Australian High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Jon Philp joined the community in Nasing, Finschhafen District, Morobe Province at the opening ceremony.

“I was hugely impressed at the contributions and commitment from the participating communities across Morobe, and I am confident the benefits of these new facilities will be felt for years to come,” said High Commissioner Philp.

The provision of solar lighting at the WaSH stations also improves the accessibility of the infrastructure leading to improved personal hygiene, safety, and health outcomes.

The PNG-Australia Partnership is supporting reliable, safe WaSH and solar facilities for communities all over PNG, including ensuring women and girls have privacy and security when using facilities or collecting water.

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PM Keen on Major Law Reforms by 2025

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The National Government will be working closely with the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) to address critical questions on the Constitution, the Laws and the systems that the country has been using since Independence.

This according to Prime Minister James Marape charts a new course for PNG heading into 50 years of Independence.

The PM made this known when appointing Okapa MP Saki Soloma as the new Chairman of CLRC.

“Our role specifically is to ask those critical questions and to conceptualize them into policies, and CLRC can further promulgate them into Law and hopefully Parliament can pass if it is in the wisdom of Parliament,” Marape said.

The PM highlighted the need for a review of the system of governance in the country and how a Prime Minister should be elected by the people and the Judiciary.

“Any substantial constitutional change we want to do must be with and by the people,” he said.

Another key question is the Autonomy of powers to Provincial Governments. The PM highlighted the experience of the Bougainville Referendum as a key point in history that CLRC can build on for future use.

Moreover, the Prime Minister did not brush aside the foundations set by past leaders. He said these laws have been with the country for 47 years, however, it is up to the current leaders to work on and improve them for future generations.

MP Soloma will work closely with CLRC Secretary Dr Mange Matui who said work has already begun on the development of the underlying law, the colonial laws and a major review of the form of Governance.

PM James Marape is the 1st Prime Minister to visit the office of the CLRC. He is flanked by MP Soloma and Secretary Matui (far-right). Picture by CLRC Media
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Vehicles for NCD Police Station Commanders

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New Police Vehicles for NCD Police Station Commanders

EIGHT new vehicles were presented to the National Capital District Command to be handed over to station commanders for official police work at their respective stations.

Deputy Police Commissioner Administration, Joanne Clarkson made the official presentation last week Wednesday.

“These new police vehicles have been purchased to support the station managements and enable PSCs to provide leadership at the stations during and after working hours to ensure their officers are there conducting their duties.” she said.

She said the Constabulary is empowering the NCD command to conduct their duties in a manner that reflects the RPNGC’s Corporate plan.

“Working in partnership with the divisional commanders all around the country, is what we can do to strengthen the first two pillars of our corporate plan, maintaining public safety and our investigation and prosecutions.” she added.

Clarkson urged that the vehicles were purchased from funds saved and must be well cared for.

In addition, RPNGC Transport Director, Chief Superintendent, Joseph Joe stressed on the importance and use of the vehicles, saying, resources acquired through public funds must be well administered for the interest of the citizens.”

He urged the PSCs to value these assets, work together as a team and serve the interest of the public.

Meanwhile, NCD Metropolitan Superintendent, Gideon Ikumu who received the vehicles on behalf of the Station Commanders within the city acknowledged receipt of these resources and urged all PSCs to step up and effectively pursue their duties.

“As station commanders and section heads, you sit in between ACP-NCD/Central and Metsupt and the police personnel assigned and are directly responsible for the command and control of daily activities that occur at your stations.”

“These new vehicles will ease your burden to ensure you (PSCs) are inspecting your stations during and after hours to ensure your officers are working.” Ikumu added.

The ceremony concluded with a documentation signing between the Deputy Police Commissioner and NCD Metsupt to officiate the handover of the new vehicles.

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Journalists Complete Investigative Journalism Workshop Part II

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Second Investigative Journalism Workshop by TIPNG

JOURNALISTS from various media houses in Port Moresby recently attended an Investigative Journalism Workshop facilitated by Transparency International PNG at the Loloata Island Resort outside of Port Moresby.

The workshop aimed to equip journalists with essential online researching tools to aid in journalistic work.

TIPNG as a Civil Society Organization and a very vocal anti-corruption body, brought together a group of journalists to impart knowledge and share insights into reporting about corruption and ways to carryout their (journalists’) research around the topic.

Yuambari Haihuie, TIPNG Deputy Director of Partnership and Policy, in his presentation, stated that media workers play a crucial role in upholding one of the important pillars of democracy.

With one of the media’s roles being to provide citizens with relevant information about important political processes, TIPNG hopes that this imparted knowledge will be part and parcel toward the way journalists carry out their research on topics of National importance and lead them to delve into areas of journalism that are most lacking today; one being, long form journalism or investigative reporting.

Journalists participate in interactive exercise during Investigating Journalism Workshop.
Journalists participate in interactive exercise during Investigating Journalism Workshop.

Throughout the course of the workshop, discussions and concerns were raised around the challenges faced by media workers and the lack of support from certain newsroom editors or managers of media houses.

Concerns were also raised on the availability of welfare frameworks through Civil Society Organizations such as the TIPNG, and bodies like PNGMC for media workers, post workshops.

PNG Media Council Secretary, Belinda Kora challenged reporters to report without bias, especially in political reporting.

She urged reporters to use the line ‘it was a paid trip or job’ in their scripts if the story comes from the sponsorship of a politician or a person in power. She urged all media workers to observe and uphold the media code of ethics.

Journalists who attended were encouraged to utilize the learnings of the workshop to enhance their research capabilities in order to improve the standard of reporting in the country.

In his closing remarks, President of the PNG Media Council, Neville Choi, stressed the importance of Investigative Journalism by encouraging journalists to improve their style of reporting as well.

“You have to improve the way you cover your story; improve the way you research it and improve the way you present it”.

Neville Choi, PNGMC President

He said PNGMC in partnership with TIPNG and other relevant agencies will continue to support media workers; and workshops such as this will help to strengthen the code.

Mr Choi also stated that the PNGMC is currently pushing for proper recognition of media workers at the national level.

Picture of journalists at the TIPNG's Investigative Journalism Workshop part II
Picture of journalists at the TIPNG’s Investigative Journalism Workshop part II

The workshop is a follow up of TIPNG’s first workshop which was focused on “Promoting Anti-Corruption and Integrity Strategies” with the aim to build the media’s capacity in investigative reporting and impart an understanding of the media as an integral part of the integrity system.

It was facilitated by TIPNG in collaboration with the PNG Media Council and United Nations Development Program, funded by the European Union,

PHOTO FILE: Courtesy of TIPNG Facebook Page

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Delivering Services for Samarai-Murua

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A barge load of goods and services for the people of Samarai Murua District in Milne May Province has left Port Moresby for Misima Island.

The barge was loaded with building materials, vehicles and other goods that will be delivered to the district.

The goods include building materials for the Misima High School, a Baptist Church in Misima and vehicles to be used as PMVs and water tanks.

Other goods transported include a Genset for a guest house, eight copra dryers and eight bales of copra bags for farmers in the District, and the barge will return to bring more supplies for the district.

Local MP Isi Leonard said Samarai Murua is a maritime District, and they have been using this mode of transportation to deliver goods and services to the district.

“This is part of an ongoing program that we started in the last Parliament, and I continue to pursue the same paths again, in delivering goods and services to the people of Samarai Murua.” the local MP said.

The barge has made over four voyages to the district in the last five years, and this is the first for this term, costing the district over K500 000 to charter a badge.

Transportation of goods and services has always been a challenge, and the government has pledged to deliver a barge for the district.

“In this Parliament, I am asking them to deliver the boat immediately because it has been approved, the fund was already made available, so this time I want them to give me the money so I can purchase a barge to deliver goods and services to my people,” the local MP said.

The MP was grateful and appreciative of the people for their patients and understanding, especially in a very challenging district like Samarai Murua.

He also thanked the District administration for their corporation, to ensure goods and services reached the people.

Local MP Isi Leonard inspected the barge before it departed for Milne Bay.
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Protecting Traditional Knowledge

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For the people of Aronis village along the North Coast of Madang, it is difficult to measure the rate at which their cultural practices are being lost every year.
 
Like many communities in Papua New Guinea, traditional knowledge is held by the older generation and passed on to the young through word of mouth.   It is ‘living’ knowledge and ever-evolving.
 
But these days, knowledge is passed on only to those willing to listen and that number is dwindling.   

When Barbara Gigimat, an Aronis elder initiated the Food and Culture Festival in August, she brought together people who were custodians of different kinds of knowledge.  It was the first time in many years that the richness and diversity in the small community were presented and appreciated.
 
“Previously, we thought our culture was dying out slowly. But now, we realize that the decline is happening very quickly,” she says.  “Many of our old people are dying and they’re taking their knowledge and wisdom with them.”
 
On the road leading to the main village, many of the young men are drunk on cheap homemade alcohol.  They represent part of a bigger problem. The breakdown of traditional systems of governance and family units over half a century has seen a rise in social problems.
 
The young men and women are not being guided as they would have been in the past. Many come from families who have returned to the villages after their parents retired from active employment. They are forced into an unfamiliar environment and many bring back influences common in the lower social classes of Papua New Guinea’s burgeoning urban population.
 
Others are absorbing the full brunt of development coupled with poor education and a lack of opportunities.
 
“We initiated this festival because of the young men and women.  We are tired of having to deal with alcohol abuse and the troubles associated with it. We have to pay compensation when our boys fight with people in neighbouring villages,” Barbara says.
 
“We realized that if we don’t address these problems, they will continue to worsen.”
 
At a small in the middle of the village square, Andrew Fei, a food security trainer explains the traditional cropping calendar that is still in use today.
 
He teaches people about the seasons and weather patterns. He is reviving aspects of traditional knowledge lost over the years.
 
“Traditionally, our ancestors didn’t live on the coast. They lived in the hills. This was so they would observe the sun and plan their planting cycles.  They didn’t just plant all year round.”
For this festival, Barbara and the planning committee wanted it to be a local affair without any tourists.

“If we brought in tourists, we will be obliged to look after them. They would be a distraction.  Many of the participants will not be actively passing on the knowledge they possess to the kids.”
 
Barbara hopes to have more people join future festivals.
 
“The need to pass on knowledge and to document the wisdom we have had become critical. As the older generation passes on, we will be left without the guidance that young people need. It is, therefore, crucial that more people are involved in this effort.”

Barbara Gigimat – Organizer, Food and Culture festival.
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Concerns raised over Log Exports to Malaysia

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Nearly 70% of Papua New Guinea’s round log exports between 2019 and 2021 were concentrated in the hands of just ten groups of companies, all with strong links to Malaysia, according to new research by Act Now! and Jubilee Australia Research Centre.

Over those three years, PNG saw a staggering 9.5 million cubic metres of round logs shipped overseas – enough logs to fill over 124,000 large shipping containers. PNG has been the world’s largest exporter of tropical round logs since 2015.

Although over 80 separately registered companies were involved in the log exports from 2019-21, the research found that many of these companies are linked to each other through complex networks of directors and shareholders, making the export of logs from PNG much more concentrated than it appears.

The research found that each of the top ten log exporting groups has strong links with Malaysia, either through individual shareholders or directors who are Malaysian nationals, or links to a Malaysia-based parent company.

Act Now! Campaign Manager, Eddie Tanago, said: “The Marape government has said it will put an end to round log exports by 2025 at the very latest. Despite this, the PNG Forest Authority has continued to issue new logging licences and the equivalent of 113 shipping containers of logs are leaving PNG each day. It’s time for the government to rein in the Forest Authority and ensure it puts an end to the destructive round log industry.”

The research highlights how complex and murky corporate structures make it difficult to work out who is responsible for logging into a particular concession area. This poses challenges for landowners who want to hold companies to account for their environmental and human rights obligations.

PNG’s Forestry Act 1991 requires the PNG Forest Authority to keep a public register with information about logging concessions and the holders of logging licences. While the Act came into force more than 30 years ago, no such register has ever been put in place.

Jubilee Australia Policy Director, Fyfe Strachan, said: “Mapping the corporate networks behind PNG’s round log exports took months of painstaking research. This information is meant to be publicly available, but communities are left in the dark about who is cutting down their forests.”

The logging sector in PNG has been criticised for its environmental and human rights record. In 2018, PNG’s Internal Revenue Commission announced a partnership with the OECD to crack down on tax evasion in the natural resource sector and, in 2021, revealed it was auditing 20 logging companies for tax non-compliance. Yet, to date, no fines or other enforcement actions have been announced. Meanwhile, the log exports continue at a rapid pace.

Round Logs ready to be exported. Picture by Act NOW PNG.
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