Tourists brought in K960m

TOURISTS brought in K960 million to Papua New Guinea last year.This was an increase of K60 million from the previous year. Culture and Tourism Minister Charles Abel announced this at a press conference yesterday.Mr Abel said PNG had recorded a total of more than 120,139 short-term visitor arrival last year.He said this was an increase of 15 per cent or about 16,000 additional visitors compared to 104,122 in the previous year.

He added in 2007 it was estimated that about K880 million was spent by tourist traveling to the country.According visitor arrival summary 2008 the number of had increase from less than 60,000 in 2003 and 120,000 in 2008.The report showed that last year about 45 per cent came for business, 1 per cent education, 34 per cent holiday and 18 per cent employment. Since the global financial crisis hit most parts of the world in the last quarter of last year, Mr Abel said the number of tourist visiting the country had fallen.

However, he said PNG had positive growth compared to many destinations around the world.He added tourism numbers increased from all of PNG’s major markets sources with ancestral Australian market increasing by 21 per cent from 2007 which accounted to 50 per cent of the total arrival in 2008.Other tourist were from United States (+67 per cent), Japan(+66 per cent), Germany(+54 per cent),United Kingdom (+15 per cent), France (+7 per cent), Canada (+44) and New Zealand(+14 per cent) all had positive growth of tourist visiting the country.Mr Abel said this year would be challenging because of the world financial crisis.

He said he had talks with Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal to have incentives to improve tourism market in PNG during the world financial crisis.He said physical incentives such as reducing taxation on visas and having identification forms for visitors to fill during their visit so they could improve data and market in the country.

Meanwhile TPA chief executive officer Peter Vincent said United Nations Development Program (UNDP) had selected three 5-year pilot project tourism provinces in the country.He said the provinces were Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Milne Bay and Eastern Highlands provinces.

By CALDRON LAEPA of the Post Courier


*** Among political, social, and economic issues affecting our country and worldwide, there is light at the end of the dark tunnel for Papua New Guinea. The above news not only brings hope to the government but the ordinary people of Papua New Guinea, especially; those in the remote areas of PNG. The news is indeed a positive one for such people as craftsmen; motel/lodge/guest house owners, registered sing sing groups, and churches.

These people will directly meet these tourists and exchange their gifts/provide their services. It provides a right avenue for them to sell/provide where the government have failed miserably to provide proper markets for some of the best products produced by the people in the villages where there is no road excess. Whatever they make out of that will sustain their lives and that of their families and that's why it is a good news for everyone who is involved in the tourism industry.

My advice to the people in the rural villages of PNG is simple: Put those guns, gambling, going to towns; especially, on Fridays and Saturdays without any purpose, fighting, and threw away the mentality of compensation on anything and get to work. Make a living in a honest way. I know God will bless you abundantly after you sweat your guts to make a living.

Tourists brought in K960m

TOURISTS brought in K960 million to Papua New Guinea last year.This was an increase of K60 million from the previous year. Culture and Tourism Minister Charles Abel announced this at a press conference yesterday.Mr Abel said PNG had recorded a total of more than 120,139 short-term visitor arrival last year.He said this was an increase of 15 per cent or about 16,000 additional visitors compared to 104,122 in the previous year.

He added in 2007 it was estimated that about K880 million was spent by tourist traveling to the country.According visitor arrival summary 2008 the number of had increase from less than 60,000 in 2003 and 120,000 in 2008.The report showed that last year about 45 per cent came for business, 1 per cent education, 34 per cent holiday and 18 per cent employment. Since the global financial crisis hit most parts of the world in the last quarter of last year, Mr Abel said the number of tourist visiting the country had fallen.

However, he said PNG had positive growth compared to many destinations around the world.He added tourism numbers increased from all of PNG’s major markets sources with ancestral Australian market increasing by 21 per cent from 2007 which accounted to 50 per cent of the total arrival in 2008.Other tourist were from United States (+67 per cent), Japan(+66 per cent), Germany(+54 per cent),United Kingdom (+15 per cent), France (+7 per cent), Canada (+44) and New Zealand(+14 per cent) all had positive growth of tourist visiting the country.Mr Abel said this year would be challenging because of the world financial crisis.

He said he had talks with Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal to have incentives to improve tourism market in PNG during the world financial crisis.He said physical incentives such as reducing taxation on visas and having identification forms for visitors to fill during their visit so they could improve data and market in the country.

Meanwhile TPA chief executive officer Peter Vincent said United Nations Development Program (UNDP) had selected three 5-year pilot project tourism provinces in the country.He said the provinces were Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Milne Bay and Eastern Highlands provinces.

By CALDRON LAEPA of the Post Courier


*** Among political, social, and economic issues affecting our country and worldwide, there is light at the end of the dark tunnel for Papua New Guinea. The above news not only brings hope to the government but the ordinary people of Papua New Guinea, especially; those in the remote areas of PNG. The news is indeed a positive one for such people as craftsmen; motel/lodge/guest house owners, registered sing sing groups, and churches.

These people will directly meet these tourists and exchange their gifts/provide their services. It provides a right avenue for them to sell/provide where the government have failed miserably to provide proper markets for some of the best products produced by the people in the villages where there is no road excess. Whatever they make out of that will sustain their lives and that of their families and that's why it is a good news for everyone who is involved in the tourism industry.

My advice to the people in the rural villages of PNG is simple: Put those guns, gambling, going to towns; especially, on Fridays and Saturdays without any purpose, fighting, and threw away the mentality of compensation on anything and get to work. Make a living in a honest way. I know God will bless you abundantly after you sweat your guts to make a living.

Tourists brought in K960m

TOURISTS brought in K960 million to Papua New Guinea last year.This was an increase of K60 million from the previous year. Culture and Tourism Minister Charles Abel announced this at a press conference yesterday.Mr Abel said PNG had recorded a total of more than 120,139 short-term visitor arrival last year.He said this was an increase of 15 per cent or about 16,000 additional visitors compared to 104,122 in the previous year.

He added in 2007 it was estimated that about K880 million was spent by tourist traveling to the country.According visitor arrival summary 2008 the number of had increase from less than 60,000 in 2003 and 120,000 in 2008.The report showed that last year about 45 per cent came for business, 1 per cent education, 34 per cent holiday and 18 per cent employment. Since the global financial crisis hit most parts of the world in the last quarter of last year, Mr Abel said the number of tourist visiting the country had fallen.

However, he said PNG had positive growth compared to many destinations around the world.He added tourism numbers increased from all of PNG’s major markets sources with ancestral Australian market increasing by 21 per cent from 2007 which accounted to 50 per cent of the total arrival in 2008.Other tourist were from United States (+67 per cent), Japan(+66 per cent), Germany(+54 per cent),United Kingdom (+15 per cent), France (+7 per cent), Canada (+44) and New Zealand(+14 per cent) all had positive growth of tourist visiting the country.Mr Abel said this year would be challenging because of the world financial crisis.

He said he had talks with Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal to have incentives to improve tourism market in PNG during the world financial crisis.He said physical incentives such as reducing taxation on visas and having identification forms for visitors to fill during their visit so they could improve data and market in the country.

Meanwhile TPA chief executive officer Peter Vincent said United Nations Development Program (UNDP) had selected three 5-year pilot project tourism provinces in the country.He said the provinces were Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Milne Bay and Eastern Highlands provinces.

By CALDRON LAEPA of the Post Courier


*** Among political, social, and economic issues affecting our country and worldwide, there is light at the end of the dark tunnel for Papua New Guinea. The above news not only brings hope to the government but the ordinary people of Papua New Guinea, especially; those in the remote areas of PNG. The news is indeed a positive one for such people as craftsmen; motel/lodge/guest house owners, registered sing sing groups, and churches.

These people will directly meet these tourists and exchange their gifts/provide their services. It provides a right avenue for them to sell/provide where the government have failed miserably to provide proper markets for some of the best products produced by the people in the villages where there is no road excess. Whatever they make out of that will sustain their lives and that of their families and that's why it is a good news for everyone who is involved in the tourism industry.

My advice to the people in the rural villages of PNG is simple: Put those guns, gambling, going to towns; especially, on Fridays and Saturdays without any purpose, fighting, and threw away the mentality of compensation on anything and get to work. Make a living in a honest way. I know God will bless you abundantly after you sweat your guts to make a living.

ELC-PNG honors PNG women

Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman inspires Lutherans to challenge their cultures. Zau Rapa calls them “dynamite women.”Rapa, acting head bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea, was referring to the 1,500 women who gathered Sept. 13-19, 2008, at the Baitabag Lutheran girls’ school outside the northern village of Madang.Rapa saw God’s power as “dynamite” within them, which they took back to their villages after six days of worship, Bible study, singing and drama under the theme “Jesus Liberates Women in Papua New Guinea from Male-dominated Cultures."

Bonnie Arua and other women from the Papua District lead those attending a September conference of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea in song and dance at the closing night’s worship service.

Yes, that’s “cultures.” Plural. A Papua New Guinea folk saying puts it this way: “For each village, a different culture.” In a country the size of California, more than 850 languages are spoken. Many of its coastal and island villages are only accessible by boat, and many highlands villages only reachable by plane. Such a diversity of cultures has bred a long history of intertribal conflict and violence.

Some of the women traveled three days by cargo ship to join their Lutheran sisters. They ran out of food when the journey took longer than expected. Others traveled days by truck on overland roads full of potholes. They represented 16 church districts and hundreds of traditional cultural practices. They united as Lutherans to confront a common challenge: the status of women in Papua New Guinea.Rapa believes they’ll be the dynamite to ignite change in their villages—their cultures—of which the U.S. State Department says “women generally are considered and treated as inferiors” and “gender violence is endemic.”

The justification for violence against women begins with the bride-price, said Rose Pisae, secretary of the Papua District women’s organization.Across Papua New Guinea, a new bride’s family is compensated for the loss of her agricultural and household labor. Pisae said a bride-price in her district (which includes the capital, Port Moresby) can bring the woman’s family as much as $20,000. After paying so much in a country where the average per capita income is $900, Pisae said the husband’s family feels like they own the bride and can place demands on her, such as how many children she should bear. Pisae has two daughters—16 and 5. She also has a 12-year-old son. She admits she’s strict with her daughters, expecting them to cook, clean and mind the house.“Now that I’ve come here,” she said, “I’m thinking that I should have my son do a little work too.

Ibarias Yabon of the Madang District consults her Bible for further insight into the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea spent two hours each day of its convention studying John 4:4-42 for parallels to their own lives.

“I tell my two girls: ‘I will not accept the bride-price and I’ll make sure your husbands are good to you.’ I think a lot of women are beginning to understand, to say ‘no’ to the bride-price and to report any violence to the police or the community counselor.”On Friday, March 6, women worldwide will unite in prayer for Papua New Guinea as part of World Day of Prayer. Women of the ELCA is a denominational representative on the World Day of Prayer USA committee.Other dynamite women include Jane Henry, director of a Lutheran vocational center in Mount Hagen that trains women in music, theology, church administration, agriculture, nutrition, counseling and computing. Part of the training includes a six-week practicum in which the women share the skills they’ve learned with other women.“I think the ladies who are here will go back and teach other ladies to speak out,” Henry said. “We can pray to God that it will happen in God’s way.”

Another is Seba Benag, a midwife in Biliau who is training men to be present at childbirth and participate in early child care, despite taboos to the contrary. Such taboos are something familiar to Bible study leader Michael Wan Rupulga. “I struggled along with my mother my whole life,” he said. “I know how it feels."

Michael Wan Rupulga, a recipient of an ELCA international scholarship and lecturer at Martin Luther Seminary in Lae, Papua New Guinea, led a two-hour daily Bible study based on Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well (John 4:4-42).

The son of the second wife of a village “big man,” Rupulga refused to follow traditional highlands practices regarding the separation of sons from mothers at age 6, when boys become susceptible to the perceived uncleanliness of their mothers.He was mocked by other men in his village for refusing to avoid contact with menstruating women. They would ask him: “Do you have your period too?”He’s gone against his culture, he said, but asks: “What’s more important? God’s word or the culture? If there is a barrier, God’s word will break it down.

It is like dynamite.”Rupulga’s mother died in 1997, but she was the inspiration for him to do his master’s thesis at Pacific Theological College in Suva, Fiji, on Jesus’ reaction to the Samaritan woman. Rupulga received an ELCA Global Mission international scholarship to pursue his degree.“If there’s anything in a culture that suppresses women, that hurts women, that makes women suffer their whole lives, it doesn’t come from God,” Rupulga said. “It comes from the devil.”

At the end of the week, Rapa told the women he was proud of them. “Go home and talk to your husbands about what you deserve and expect in your relationships,” he said.Will their husbands be receptive?“If their husbands are involved in church activities, it will be easy to relate what they’ve learned about here,” Pisae said.

By Amber Leberman of The Lutheran

ELC-PNG honors PNG women

Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman inspires Lutherans to challenge their cultures. Zau Rapa calls them “dynamite women.”Rapa, acting head bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea, was referring to the 1,500 women who gathered Sept. 13-19, 2008, at the Baitabag Lutheran girls’ school outside the northern village of Madang.Rapa saw God’s power as “dynamite” within them, which they took back to their villages after six days of worship, Bible study, singing and drama under the theme “Jesus Liberates Women in Papua New Guinea from Male-dominated Cultures."

Bonnie Arua and other women from the Papua District lead those attending a September conference of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea in song and dance at the closing night’s worship service.

Yes, that’s “cultures.” Plural. A Papua New Guinea folk saying puts it this way: “For each village, a different culture.” In a country the size of California, more than 850 languages are spoken. Many of its coastal and island villages are only accessible by boat, and many highlands villages only reachable by plane. Such a diversity of cultures has bred a long history of intertribal conflict and violence.

Some of the women traveled three days by cargo ship to join their Lutheran sisters. They ran out of food when the journey took longer than expected. Others traveled days by truck on overland roads full of potholes. They represented 16 church districts and hundreds of traditional cultural practices. They united as Lutherans to confront a common challenge: the status of women in Papua New Guinea.Rapa believes they’ll be the dynamite to ignite change in their villages—their cultures—of which the U.S. State Department says “women generally are considered and treated as inferiors” and “gender violence is endemic.”

The justification for violence against women begins with the bride-price, said Rose Pisae, secretary of the Papua District women’s organization.Across Papua New Guinea, a new bride’s family is compensated for the loss of her agricultural and household labor. Pisae said a bride-price in her district (which includes the capital, Port Moresby) can bring the woman’s family as much as $20,000. After paying so much in a country where the average per capita income is $900, Pisae said the husband’s family feels like they own the bride and can place demands on her, such as how many children she should bear. Pisae has two daughters—16 and 5. She also has a 12-year-old son. She admits she’s strict with her daughters, expecting them to cook, clean and mind the house.“Now that I’ve come here,” she said, “I’m thinking that I should have my son do a little work too.

Ibarias Yabon of the Madang District consults her Bible for further insight into the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea spent two hours each day of its convention studying John 4:4-42 for parallels to their own lives.

“I tell my two girls: ‘I will not accept the bride-price and I’ll make sure your husbands are good to you.’ I think a lot of women are beginning to understand, to say ‘no’ to the bride-price and to report any violence to the police or the community counselor.”On Friday, March 6, women worldwide will unite in prayer for Papua New Guinea as part of World Day of Prayer. Women of the ELCA is a denominational representative on the World Day of Prayer USA committee.Other dynamite women include Jane Henry, director of a Lutheran vocational center in Mount Hagen that trains women in music, theology, church administration, agriculture, nutrition, counseling and computing. Part of the training includes a six-week practicum in which the women share the skills they’ve learned with other women.“I think the ladies who are here will go back and teach other ladies to speak out,” Henry said. “We can pray to God that it will happen in God’s way.”

Another is Seba Benag, a midwife in Biliau who is training men to be present at childbirth and participate in early child care, despite taboos to the contrary. Such taboos are something familiar to Bible study leader Michael Wan Rupulga. “I struggled along with my mother my whole life,” he said. “I know how it feels."

Michael Wan Rupulga, a recipient of an ELCA international scholarship and lecturer at Martin Luther Seminary in Lae, Papua New Guinea, led a two-hour daily Bible study based on Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well (John 4:4-42).

The son of the second wife of a village “big man,” Rupulga refused to follow traditional highlands practices regarding the separation of sons from mothers at age 6, when boys become susceptible to the perceived uncleanliness of their mothers.He was mocked by other men in his village for refusing to avoid contact with menstruating women. They would ask him: “Do you have your period too?”He’s gone against his culture, he said, but asks: “What’s more important? God’s word or the culture? If there is a barrier, God’s word will break it down.

It is like dynamite.”Rupulga’s mother died in 1997, but she was the inspiration for him to do his master’s thesis at Pacific Theological College in Suva, Fiji, on Jesus’ reaction to the Samaritan woman. Rupulga received an ELCA Global Mission international scholarship to pursue his degree.“If there’s anything in a culture that suppresses women, that hurts women, that makes women suffer their whole lives, it doesn’t come from God,” Rupulga said. “It comes from the devil.”

At the end of the week, Rapa told the women he was proud of them. “Go home and talk to your husbands about what you deserve and expect in your relationships,” he said.Will their husbands be receptive?“If their husbands are involved in church activities, it will be easy to relate what they’ve learned about here,” Pisae said.

By Amber Leberman of The Lutheran

ELC-PNG honors PNG women

Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman inspires Lutherans to challenge their cultures. Zau Rapa calls them “dynamite women.”Rapa, acting head bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea, was referring to the 1,500 women who gathered Sept. 13-19, 2008, at the Baitabag Lutheran girls’ school outside the northern village of Madang.Rapa saw God’s power as “dynamite” within them, which they took back to their villages after six days of worship, Bible study, singing and drama under the theme “Jesus Liberates Women in Papua New Guinea from Male-dominated Cultures."

Bonnie Arua and other women from the Papua District lead those attending a September conference of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea in song and dance at the closing night’s worship service.

Yes, that’s “cultures.” Plural. A Papua New Guinea folk saying puts it this way: “For each village, a different culture.” In a country the size of California, more than 850 languages are spoken. Many of its coastal and island villages are only accessible by boat, and many highlands villages only reachable by plane. Such a diversity of cultures has bred a long history of intertribal conflict and violence.

Some of the women traveled three days by cargo ship to join their Lutheran sisters. They ran out of food when the journey took longer than expected. Others traveled days by truck on overland roads full of potholes. They represented 16 church districts and hundreds of traditional cultural practices. They united as Lutherans to confront a common challenge: the status of women in Papua New Guinea.Rapa believes they’ll be the dynamite to ignite change in their villages—their cultures—of which the U.S. State Department says “women generally are considered and treated as inferiors” and “gender violence is endemic.”

The justification for violence against women begins with the bride-price, said Rose Pisae, secretary of the Papua District women’s organization.Across Papua New Guinea, a new bride’s family is compensated for the loss of her agricultural and household labor. Pisae said a bride-price in her district (which includes the capital, Port Moresby) can bring the woman’s family as much as $20,000. After paying so much in a country where the average per capita income is $900, Pisae said the husband’s family feels like they own the bride and can place demands on her, such as how many children she should bear. Pisae has two daughters—16 and 5. She also has a 12-year-old son. She admits she’s strict with her daughters, expecting them to cook, clean and mind the house.“Now that I’ve come here,” she said, “I’m thinking that I should have my son do a little work too.

Ibarias Yabon of the Madang District consults her Bible for further insight into the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea spent two hours each day of its convention studying John 4:4-42 for parallels to their own lives.

“I tell my two girls: ‘I will not accept the bride-price and I’ll make sure your husbands are good to you.’ I think a lot of women are beginning to understand, to say ‘no’ to the bride-price and to report any violence to the police or the community counselor.”On Friday, March 6, women worldwide will unite in prayer for Papua New Guinea as part of World Day of Prayer. Women of the ELCA is a denominational representative on the World Day of Prayer USA committee.Other dynamite women include Jane Henry, director of a Lutheran vocational center in Mount Hagen that trains women in music, theology, church administration, agriculture, nutrition, counseling and computing. Part of the training includes a six-week practicum in which the women share the skills they’ve learned with other women.“I think the ladies who are here will go back and teach other ladies to speak out,” Henry said. “We can pray to God that it will happen in God’s way.”

Another is Seba Benag, a midwife in Biliau who is training men to be present at childbirth and participate in early child care, despite taboos to the contrary. Such taboos are something familiar to Bible study leader Michael Wan Rupulga. “I struggled along with my mother my whole life,” he said. “I know how it feels."

Michael Wan Rupulga, a recipient of an ELCA international scholarship and lecturer at Martin Luther Seminary in Lae, Papua New Guinea, led a two-hour daily Bible study based on Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well (John 4:4-42).

The son of the second wife of a village “big man,” Rupulga refused to follow traditional highlands practices regarding the separation of sons from mothers at age 6, when boys become susceptible to the perceived uncleanliness of their mothers.He was mocked by other men in his village for refusing to avoid contact with menstruating women. They would ask him: “Do you have your period too?”He’s gone against his culture, he said, but asks: “What’s more important? God’s word or the culture? If there is a barrier, God’s word will break it down.

It is like dynamite.”Rupulga’s mother died in 1997, but she was the inspiration for him to do his master’s thesis at Pacific Theological College in Suva, Fiji, on Jesus’ reaction to the Samaritan woman. Rupulga received an ELCA Global Mission international scholarship to pursue his degree.“If there’s anything in a culture that suppresses women, that hurts women, that makes women suffer their whole lives, it doesn’t come from God,” Rupulga said. “It comes from the devil.”

At the end of the week, Rapa told the women he was proud of them. “Go home and talk to your husbands about what you deserve and expect in your relationships,” he said.Will their husbands be receptive?“If their husbands are involved in church activities, it will be easy to relate what they’ve learned about here,” Pisae said.

By Amber Leberman of The Lutheran

The law, the police and the judiciary

The following article by Peter Donigi will make you cringe but that is the reality of how the judiciary system works these days in a place non other than Papua New Guinea - the nation that is tantamount to "The land of the Unexpected" where anything can happen that could blow your mind off. It seems to me that there are no laws in Papua New Guinea. If there are laws, are they being followed and those who don't being brought to justice? Growing up in Papua New Guinea, I know laws do exist.

The sad part of having these laws is that only ordinary citizens are abiding as well as following the rule of law (well in most areas in PNG) while the well-to-do and affluent are not. In other words, most writers and ordinary citizens would often refer to as Papua New Guinea having "two sets of laws - one for the grassroots and another for the big fish".

If ordinary people can follow the laws and those that are not are being prosecuted, what about the rich who steal from the people's coffers? Somare's recent cases, for example; will never be heard let alone him being prosecuted. Mark my words. That to me smells corruption at it's worst. That's why it will make you cringe when you read the article below.


The law, the police, and the judiciary - the Papua New Guinea way: By Peter Donigi


WHY did I cringe when I read The National (Dec 18) and have this feeling of foreboding?The headlines on the front page read: “Met Supt lays down the law – six arrested … in Sir George’s murder”. Page 2 headlines read: “Chamber calls for Tete to be razed”, “Settlement’s future under the spotlight”.The Page 3 headlines read: “Yakasa slams soft judiciary”, “PM mourns loss of good friend”, “Simbu villagers await K5 million compensation”. And Page 6 read: “Kali – Lupari’s claims quadruple dipping”, “Police question Yawari over assault on landlord” and a condolence message from Global Construction on Sir George’s untimely passing.Let me now deal with each item and show why I have this sense of foreboding.All statements calling for action against the Tete settlement are charged with emotion. That is allowable. But we must remember that we have a Constitution and this country is founded on democratic principles and the rule of law.

It appears, however, that certain sections of our community have decided to appoint themselves as police, prosecutor, judge and executioner all rolled into what was once a questionable act in the deep south of the United States – the lynch mob.It is not my place to defend the judiciary. That is a task that is best reserved for the president of the PNG Law Society.My sense of foreboding stems from the fact that the law enforcement agency is now challenging the judiciary while it is rightly the role of the law enforcement agency to collect, analyse, collate and present the evidence before the court of law. The failure is not entirely with the judiciary. In fact if one is to carry out an appropriate research as to why cases are thrown out of court, one will be surprised to find that they were thrown out because of the lack of performance by the members of the law enforcement agency.

The frustrations experienced by the police and expressed by metropolitan police commander Supt Fred Yakasa is not a creation of the judiciary. He is now engaged in what those schooled in psychology will call “projection”.This is the projection of guilt towards another person and creating a facade which will be perceived as correct and justifiable. It is a prelude to justifying one’s failure by projecting that failure onto a third party. I cringe because Yakasa’s statement that he has “set down the law – no bail for indictable offences” is a public statement that attacks the integrity of the judiciary. It portrays to the public at large that he is the one who has the right and ultimate power to lay down the law or to determine whether or not accused persons are entitled to the benefit of doubt until proven guilty and, until that happens, that person is entitled to protection of the law including the right to bail. In reality, Yakasa does not have to the power to determine bail conditions.

That power is reserved for the committal courts. So Yakasa, in his outburst, is projecting his ignorance of the law. His statement that “the judiciary and the law and justice sector thought that they were an island on their own” is also a mis-statement of reality – by being a member of the police force, he is also a member of the law and justice sector.Yakasa’s outburst signifies his ignorance about his role, as a member of the law and justice sector.He then went on to suggest that people steal millions of kina and are allowed back on the streets. What about all the white collar crimes that we, the public, are still waiting for to be investigated by police and prosecuted?Everything in court falls on the evidence produced by members of the police. How many times have we read about police witnesses not appearing in court to give evidence resulting in the dismissal of cases?

How many times have we read about missing evidence resulting in the release of prisoners?Courts alone cannot act without the appropriate evidence secured in accordance with law and presented in accordance with law before a court of law. Then we are confronted with the evidence about Lupari’s alleged “quadruple dipping” supported by the former solicitor-general and we are left with awe.Are we to believe there is no conspiracy to defraud the State? l From Page 50Then again we read about police questioning Yawari about an assault on his landlord and the former governor’s statement to the victim in the following words “And, don’t use police to help you to move me out.

You can go to the higher court to order me out. You can even charge me for contempt of court but I will not move out”.That statement creates a perception that Yawari has influence with the police and will not obey a court order to move out. So you see why I now cringe and have this sense of foreboding? When leaders appear to have influence over the law enforcement agencies against the rights of ordinary citizens and when leaders will not obey court orders and when police refuse or are reluctant to enforce court orders, we set the foundation for failure of the rule of law in our community and bring in the law of the jungle. No wonder, investors and business community refuse to enter into contracts with Papua New Guineans because they say we never honour their contracts.

The Yawari case justifies investor concerns about the rule of law in this country and their reluctance to enter into contracts with Papua New Guineans. The case also serves as a warning against leasing properties to people who think like Yawari. He is a leader and should be seen to be acting within the law and not challenging a court order by using illegal means. There are legal ways of challenging the eviction order. He should resort to those methods.What about the Simbu compensation claim for the road? Compensation is becoming a generational issue. Parliament should pass a law whereby compensation is paid only once for land acquired for public roads. And the rate should be K1 for one sq metre.Secondly, roads should be constructed only to areas where landowners have agreed to give up their land. Thirdly, the Government should impose monetary penalties to be drawn from sales of all produce generated by members of a community that blockaded a public road.

The penalty cannot be imposed unless there is an identity card system introduced in this country where all citizens are required to carry. The ID card will also be used to control movement of people in and out of towns and cities. Peruvian economist Hernando De Soto once said the difference between a developed country and a developing country is that in a developed country, everyone has an address. In a developing country only the dogs know the boundaries of their master’s house or property.

For PNG to progress from a developing country to a developed country, we must include in our national development plan, the objective of creating an address for every citizen of this country. It is only by having an address, that we can require the members of the police force to obtain a search warrant to enter our homes.We have a system of government that is based on the Westminster model. This model is founded on the rule of law and Section 32 states that a person can do anything that does not interfere with the rights of others or that is not prohibited by law. We cannot hope to bring this to fruition without creating an address for every person. An address gives dignity to an individual and facilitates application of the rule of law in an even handed manner.

Note: The writer is a consultant with a legal firm.

Source: Opinion: My say, The National

The law, the police and the judiciary

The following article by Peter Donigi will make you cringe but that is the reality of how the judiciary system works these days in a place non other than Papua New Guinea - the nation that is tantamount to "The land of the Unexpected" where anything can happen that could blow your mind off. It seems to me that there are no laws in Papua New Guinea. If there are laws, are they being followed and those who don't being brought to justice? Growing up in Papua New Guinea, I know laws do exist.

The sad part of having these laws is that only ordinary citizens are abiding as well as following the rule of law (well in most areas in PNG) while the well-to-do and affluent are not. In other words, most writers and ordinary citizens would often refer to as Papua New Guinea having "two sets of laws - one for the grassroots and another for the big fish".

If ordinary people can follow the laws and those that are not are being prosecuted, what about the rich who steal from the people's coffers? Somare's recent cases, for example; will never be heard let alone him being prosecuted. Mark my words. That to me smells corruption at it's worst. That's why it will make you cringe when you read the article below.


The law, the police, and the judiciary - the Papua New Guinea way: By Peter Donigi


WHY did I cringe when I read The National (Dec 18) and have this feeling of foreboding?The headlines on the front page read: “Met Supt lays down the law – six arrested … in Sir George’s murder”. Page 2 headlines read: “Chamber calls for Tete to be razed”, “Settlement’s future under the spotlight”.The Page 3 headlines read: “Yakasa slams soft judiciary”, “PM mourns loss of good friend”, “Simbu villagers await K5 million compensation”. And Page 6 read: “Kali – Lupari’s claims quadruple dipping”, “Police question Yawari over assault on landlord” and a condolence message from Global Construction on Sir George’s untimely passing.Let me now deal with each item and show why I have this sense of foreboding.All statements calling for action against the Tete settlement are charged with emotion. That is allowable. But we must remember that we have a Constitution and this country is founded on democratic principles and the rule of law.

It appears, however, that certain sections of our community have decided to appoint themselves as police, prosecutor, judge and executioner all rolled into what was once a questionable act in the deep south of the United States – the lynch mob.It is not my place to defend the judiciary. That is a task that is best reserved for the president of the PNG Law Society.My sense of foreboding stems from the fact that the law enforcement agency is now challenging the judiciary while it is rightly the role of the law enforcement agency to collect, analyse, collate and present the evidence before the court of law. The failure is not entirely with the judiciary. In fact if one is to carry out an appropriate research as to why cases are thrown out of court, one will be surprised to find that they were thrown out because of the lack of performance by the members of the law enforcement agency.

The frustrations experienced by the police and expressed by metropolitan police commander Supt Fred Yakasa is not a creation of the judiciary. He is now engaged in what those schooled in psychology will call “projection”.This is the projection of guilt towards another person and creating a facade which will be perceived as correct and justifiable. It is a prelude to justifying one’s failure by projecting that failure onto a third party. I cringe because Yakasa’s statement that he has “set down the law – no bail for indictable offences” is a public statement that attacks the integrity of the judiciary. It portrays to the public at large that he is the one who has the right and ultimate power to lay down the law or to determine whether or not accused persons are entitled to the benefit of doubt until proven guilty and, until that happens, that person is entitled to protection of the law including the right to bail. In reality, Yakasa does not have to the power to determine bail conditions.

That power is reserved for the committal courts. So Yakasa, in his outburst, is projecting his ignorance of the law. His statement that “the judiciary and the law and justice sector thought that they were an island on their own” is also a mis-statement of reality – by being a member of the police force, he is also a member of the law and justice sector.Yakasa’s outburst signifies his ignorance about his role, as a member of the law and justice sector.He then went on to suggest that people steal millions of kina and are allowed back on the streets. What about all the white collar crimes that we, the public, are still waiting for to be investigated by police and prosecuted?Everything in court falls on the evidence produced by members of the police. How many times have we read about police witnesses not appearing in court to give evidence resulting in the dismissal of cases?

How many times have we read about missing evidence resulting in the release of prisoners?Courts alone cannot act without the appropriate evidence secured in accordance with law and presented in accordance with law before a court of law. Then we are confronted with the evidence about Lupari’s alleged “quadruple dipping” supported by the former solicitor-general and we are left with awe.Are we to believe there is no conspiracy to defraud the State? l From Page 50Then again we read about police questioning Yawari about an assault on his landlord and the former governor’s statement to the victim in the following words “And, don’t use police to help you to move me out.

You can go to the higher court to order me out. You can even charge me for contempt of court but I will not move out”.That statement creates a perception that Yawari has influence with the police and will not obey a court order to move out. So you see why I now cringe and have this sense of foreboding? When leaders appear to have influence over the law enforcement agencies against the rights of ordinary citizens and when leaders will not obey court orders and when police refuse or are reluctant to enforce court orders, we set the foundation for failure of the rule of law in our community and bring in the law of the jungle. No wonder, investors and business community refuse to enter into contracts with Papua New Guineans because they say we never honour their contracts.

The Yawari case justifies investor concerns about the rule of law in this country and their reluctance to enter into contracts with Papua New Guineans. The case also serves as a warning against leasing properties to people who think like Yawari. He is a leader and should be seen to be acting within the law and not challenging a court order by using illegal means. There are legal ways of challenging the eviction order. He should resort to those methods.What about the Simbu compensation claim for the road? Compensation is becoming a generational issue. Parliament should pass a law whereby compensation is paid only once for land acquired for public roads. And the rate should be K1 for one sq metre.Secondly, roads should be constructed only to areas where landowners have agreed to give up their land. Thirdly, the Government should impose monetary penalties to be drawn from sales of all produce generated by members of a community that blockaded a public road.

The penalty cannot be imposed unless there is an identity card system introduced in this country where all citizens are required to carry. The ID card will also be used to control movement of people in and out of towns and cities. Peruvian economist Hernando De Soto once said the difference between a developed country and a developing country is that in a developed country, everyone has an address. In a developing country only the dogs know the boundaries of their master’s house or property.

For PNG to progress from a developing country to a developed country, we must include in our national development plan, the objective of creating an address for every citizen of this country. It is only by having an address, that we can require the members of the police force to obtain a search warrant to enter our homes.We have a system of government that is based on the Westminster model. This model is founded on the rule of law and Section 32 states that a person can do anything that does not interfere with the rights of others or that is not prohibited by law. We cannot hope to bring this to fruition without creating an address for every person. An address gives dignity to an individual and facilitates application of the rule of law in an even handed manner.

Note: The writer is a consultant with a legal firm.

Source: Opinion: My say, The National

The law, the police and the judiciary

The following article by Peter Donigi will make you cringe but that is the reality of how the judiciary system works these days in a place non other than Papua New Guinea - the nation that is tantamount to "The land of the Unexpected" where anything can happen that could blow your mind off. It seems to me that there are no laws in Papua New Guinea. If there are laws, are they being followed and those who don't being brought to justice? Growing up in Papua New Guinea, I know laws do exist.

The sad part of having these laws is that only ordinary citizens are abiding as well as following the rule of law (well in most areas in PNG) while the well-to-do and affluent are not. In other words, most writers and ordinary citizens would often refer to as Papua New Guinea having "two sets of laws - one for the grassroots and another for the big fish".

If ordinary people can follow the laws and those that are not are being prosecuted, what about the rich who steal from the people's coffers? Somare's recent cases, for example; will never be heard let alone him being prosecuted. Mark my words. That to me smells corruption at it's worst. That's why it will make you cringe when you read the article below.


The law, the police, and the judiciary - the Papua New Guinea way: By Peter Donigi


WHY did I cringe when I read The National (Dec 18) and have this feeling of foreboding?The headlines on the front page read: “Met Supt lays down the law – six arrested … in Sir George’s murder”. Page 2 headlines read: “Chamber calls for Tete to be razed”, “Settlement’s future under the spotlight”.The Page 3 headlines read: “Yakasa slams soft judiciary”, “PM mourns loss of good friend”, “Simbu villagers await K5 million compensation”. And Page 6 read: “Kali – Lupari’s claims quadruple dipping”, “Police question Yawari over assault on landlord” and a condolence message from Global Construction on Sir George’s untimely passing.Let me now deal with each item and show why I have this sense of foreboding.All statements calling for action against the Tete settlement are charged with emotion. That is allowable. But we must remember that we have a Constitution and this country is founded on democratic principles and the rule of law.

It appears, however, that certain sections of our community have decided to appoint themselves as police, prosecutor, judge and executioner all rolled into what was once a questionable act in the deep south of the United States – the lynch mob.It is not my place to defend the judiciary. That is a task that is best reserved for the president of the PNG Law Society.My sense of foreboding stems from the fact that the law enforcement agency is now challenging the judiciary while it is rightly the role of the law enforcement agency to collect, analyse, collate and present the evidence before the court of law. The failure is not entirely with the judiciary. In fact if one is to carry out an appropriate research as to why cases are thrown out of court, one will be surprised to find that they were thrown out because of the lack of performance by the members of the law enforcement agency.

The frustrations experienced by the police and expressed by metropolitan police commander Supt Fred Yakasa is not a creation of the judiciary. He is now engaged in what those schooled in psychology will call “projection”.This is the projection of guilt towards another person and creating a facade which will be perceived as correct and justifiable. It is a prelude to justifying one’s failure by projecting that failure onto a third party. I cringe because Yakasa’s statement that he has “set down the law – no bail for indictable offences” is a public statement that attacks the integrity of the judiciary. It portrays to the public at large that he is the one who has the right and ultimate power to lay down the law or to determine whether or not accused persons are entitled to the benefit of doubt until proven guilty and, until that happens, that person is entitled to protection of the law including the right to bail. In reality, Yakasa does not have to the power to determine bail conditions.

That power is reserved for the committal courts. So Yakasa, in his outburst, is projecting his ignorance of the law. His statement that “the judiciary and the law and justice sector thought that they were an island on their own” is also a mis-statement of reality – by being a member of the police force, he is also a member of the law and justice sector.Yakasa’s outburst signifies his ignorance about his role, as a member of the law and justice sector.He then went on to suggest that people steal millions of kina and are allowed back on the streets. What about all the white collar crimes that we, the public, are still waiting for to be investigated by police and prosecuted?Everything in court falls on the evidence produced by members of the police. How many times have we read about police witnesses not appearing in court to give evidence resulting in the dismissal of cases?

How many times have we read about missing evidence resulting in the release of prisoners?Courts alone cannot act without the appropriate evidence secured in accordance with law and presented in accordance with law before a court of law. Then we are confronted with the evidence about Lupari’s alleged “quadruple dipping” supported by the former solicitor-general and we are left with awe.Are we to believe there is no conspiracy to defraud the State? l From Page 50Then again we read about police questioning Yawari about an assault on his landlord and the former governor’s statement to the victim in the following words “And, don’t use police to help you to move me out.

You can go to the higher court to order me out. You can even charge me for contempt of court but I will not move out”.That statement creates a perception that Yawari has influence with the police and will not obey a court order to move out. So you see why I now cringe and have this sense of foreboding? When leaders appear to have influence over the law enforcement agencies against the rights of ordinary citizens and when leaders will not obey court orders and when police refuse or are reluctant to enforce court orders, we set the foundation for failure of the rule of law in our community and bring in the law of the jungle. No wonder, investors and business community refuse to enter into contracts with Papua New Guineans because they say we never honour their contracts.

The Yawari case justifies investor concerns about the rule of law in this country and their reluctance to enter into contracts with Papua New Guineans. The case also serves as a warning against leasing properties to people who think like Yawari. He is a leader and should be seen to be acting within the law and not challenging a court order by using illegal means. There are legal ways of challenging the eviction order. He should resort to those methods.What about the Simbu compensation claim for the road? Compensation is becoming a generational issue. Parliament should pass a law whereby compensation is paid only once for land acquired for public roads. And the rate should be K1 for one sq metre.Secondly, roads should be constructed only to areas where landowners have agreed to give up their land. Thirdly, the Government should impose monetary penalties to be drawn from sales of all produce generated by members of a community that blockaded a public road.

The penalty cannot be imposed unless there is an identity card system introduced in this country where all citizens are required to carry. The ID card will also be used to control movement of people in and out of towns and cities. Peruvian economist Hernando De Soto once said the difference between a developed country and a developing country is that in a developed country, everyone has an address. In a developing country only the dogs know the boundaries of their master’s house or property.

For PNG to progress from a developing country to a developed country, we must include in our national development plan, the objective of creating an address for every citizen of this country. It is only by having an address, that we can require the members of the police force to obtain a search warrant to enter our homes.We have a system of government that is based on the Westminster model. This model is founded on the rule of law and Section 32 states that a person can do anything that does not interfere with the rights of others or that is not prohibited by law. We cannot hope to bring this to fruition without creating an address for every person. An address gives dignity to an individual and facilitates application of the rule of law in an even handed manner.

Note: The writer is a consultant with a legal firm.

Source: Opinion: My say, The National