The WeekOut (Pictorial)

Sunday, April 5, 2015 (Sunday Weekly Magazine)

The WeekOut (Pictorial)

Sunday, March 29, 2015 (Sunday Weekly Magazine)

Azzimbah comeback tour

By Matthew Vari

Sunday, March 29, 2015 (Sunday Weekly Magazine, PNG)

The WeekOut (Pictorial)

Sunday, March 22, 2015 (Sunday Weekly Magazine, PNG)

Recognizing PNG Music, and the work of a Legend

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 22, 2015 (Sunday Weekly Magazine, PNG)




THE Year 2015 is set to mark the 11th YumiFM Music Awards, to be held in April, recognizing the performance of PNG artists in 2014 year. However, the real story behind the radio show that gave birth to the awards initiative, takes us back before the 11 official award shows to humble beginnings in a studio under the helm of the Legend of PNG Radio and a Guru of local music in the country in the Late Justin Kili (affectionately known simply as JK) who passed away early this year.

This week, Sunday Magazine caught up with the man that has taken on the role of JK, and well known radio personality Kasty Turner Arifeae or (Kasty on the air) to trace the roots of the PNG Music Awards and the journey it has taken in being the first and only platform in recognizing the country’s musical talents and the art of PNG music as a whole.

“We started back in 2005 with just nine awards, nine categories- but as the years have gone coming up to last year, after 10 years, we have managed to come up with 18 categories,” Kasty recalls.

“The awards came about through the Late Justin Kili. The Legend of PNG Radio and a PNG Music Guru, his main purpose was the vision to recognize PNG artists and musicians.”

“When he was at Kalang FM (now FM100), he brought about the Top 20, and from that show when he moved from Kalang FM to YumiFM he maintained the show (National Weekly Hit Parade) that is the basis of which we rate our artists.”

He said that up until 1999, JK unofficially introduced the YumiFM Music Awards. During that time there were four initial categories he announced, in time to usher in the new millennium in 2000. For the first unofficial awards announcement on the air- Quakes were chosen as the Group of the Year, with their Song ‘Lulu O’ becoming the Song of the Year, which was where Patti Potts got the tag of ‘King of Pacific Music’ and the Rookie of the Year tag going to a young Gedix Atege.

“From 2001, 2002, and 2003- we unofficially announce the winners of the categories on air. By 2005 JK called us together to take the awards seriously to the next level.”

“So in 2005 we started the first YumiFM PNG Music Awards and that was the time when we started off with nine categories.”

“In fact there were eight but I pushed that we recognize Justin (JK) with a category so we asked if we could introduce an award to recognize him, and that is the Justin Kili Lifetime Achievement Award.”

The 2015 PNG Music Awards ceremony will pay tribute to Justin Kili with two categories of the JK Lifetime Achievement and the Hall of Fame. Kasty further recalled the fact that JK chose both award categories before he died as significant itself. When asked about what it was like to take over from the ‘Voice of PNG’ up till today- he confessed that the transition was not without difficulty.

“In fact, it was a challenge when he asked me to take on the Top 20 host role in 2003. I felt that it was huge shoes to wear, but he guided me through with the wisdom he had of something that he started-and revealed that he wanted me to take over,” Kasty said.

“When I took on the responsibility to host the countdown, he wanted me to understand how he rated PNG music- once I got the hang of it, with his guidance of identifying the potential of songs and artists in the country; just by listening to them and keeping an ear out to what was being heard in the streets.”

“Sometimes my predictions are spot on; some times I let the listeners react to it so that it is a collective assessment of where we see the track.Not only on air but as I go around outside the studio when I am with friends or family I am always on the job and the show never ends.”

With 11 years of crediting the works of PNG artists through the awards concepts- Kasty professed to the shift in the mindset of the Papua New Guinean artist and their recognition of their true self-worth.From something that had not been done in PNG, they introduce it in successive years through the staunch support of YumiFM station company, PNGFM Limited.

“We had artists and listeners really following it, and the artists have changed their mentality in acknowledging their worth in being recognized.”

“Every year all the artists look forward to the event- whether they make it through or not, or how long they are on the countdown or whatever position- they are always excited on the prospect of making it to the top for their hard work,” added Kasty.

He pointed out that the forever changing music landscape will give rise to more awards categories to be introduced. Last year’s awards saw the introduction of the Listeners Choice category and the Song of the Year, Group of the Year and the Artist of the Year categories also. This year will see the same 18 categories maintained- but plans are underway to introduce two more for gospel and the rap genre that has now influenced new artists and their music coming through.

“Because of the influence of overseas artists, and they young artists coming thorough are mixing the blend of music we have with more of a western influence,” explained Kasty.

“Changes like the influence we had before on our Pacific island neighbors have now shifted and they are the ones influencing us.So when we hear that what they are doing- our artists are now going a step ahead to give their listeners something different.”

With the awards set to bring a whole new experience altogether, due to the exciting list of live performances from various acts. Artists and groups both past, present, and the future will all bring the diverse mixture of PNG culture and creativity to the stage set to host the event, at the Lamana Gold Club on April 18, in Port Moresby.

"Veteran and popular Simbu rocker come pastor, Tom Lari, will make a special appearance, along with experienced hands like Pati Potts Doi, Anslom, and the ever consistent Jokema band and others.”

“Last year Jokema dominated, but this year it could go anyway, with artist like Daniel Bilip who was introduced last year, but this year he should be in a different position considering his consistency on the charts in 2014.”

“Anslom, Bilip, and Ricky Kali could fight it out for who will walk away with more awards,” Kasty grinned without giving too much away.

To the point of recognition and the protection of artist property rights, Kasty had nothing more but strong support for more protection of PNG music. He called for those in authority to put themselves into the shoes of artists- something he said the Late Kili was an advocate for.
“I feel for them because their hard work always goes for nothing. In fact, in the thoughts of the late Justin Kili, he pushed for a music body in the country.”

“He actually tried to make a difference in registering the PNG Music Association under IPA (Investment Promotion Authority), but up till now we do not know what is happening.”

“It is true that the work of our artists have not been fully recognized. When I am in the clubs I hear their songs being played I feel sorry for them- even in building lifts, ringtones, and radio stations.”

He made a point for the three PNGFM radio stations in YumiFM, NauFM, and LegendFM affiliations with APRA in Australia that the organizations pay royalties to for music being played across all three stations. With a proper body established- he said that the reports they send to APRA could then be sent to the body here, from which local artists can be compensated from for the air time they get.

“At the moment we do not have a music body so when they register with APRA they are paid direct.”
“Seriously we have to protect our artist- if one copies the songs used without their permission they are getting free airplay.”

“Even night clubs are supposed to send playlists to the body established on the number of songs played on the night to pay them accordingly.”

Finally, in a call to fans planning to attend the 11th awards- the countdown maestro assured them of a show even bigger and better, to tick off the start of another decade in recognizing the best of the best in PNGmusic. Adding that show will go on as the legend in JK intended it to do so.

“This is year is a special night for all fans of PNG music- you miss out on the night, you will miss out big time. You must come out to see a great show with a special tribute on behalf of PNGFM to music Guru JK.”

And quiet nicely said for a celebration of PNG Music and those that have cherish it all their lives- Long shall live the legend of JK through the YumiFM PNG Music Awards in 2015.

The WeekOut (Pictorial)

Sunday, March 15, 2015 (Sunday Weekly Magazine)

Making music with Owa Unit

Caption:  Joseph, Rodney, and Robin (front).

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 15, 2015 (Sunday Weekly Magazine, PNG)

THE end user of produced music has by far the easiest job as the consumer in pressing the play button to digest melodies that resonate for years in their hearts and minds. Little is known about the struggle and process involved in making music in the country. The average artist in PNG has a rough ride ahead, with the age of file sharing and duplication rife in the country, most or even all just scrape it through the business.

This week Sunday Magazine decided to bring to our readers the realities of making music in PNG and the costs involved- we also bring you a story of how a small band of brothers in 2003 up in the mountains of Ialibu could have given the country more hits to its existing body of music.

Owa Unit was formed as a means to make a point and that was that everyone has potential to be somebody. Coined out of the a reference to of being unproductive and menaces to their society back in Pangia, Southern Highlands- the founding four consisted of band leader Rodney Tonge along with younger brother Robin, Joseph Koas, and Wesley Karaiye.

The band begun with tragedy before they even started- which was when Wesley Karaiye tragically passed away in a vehicle accident before they recorded their first demo that brought to us much loved tracks like “O Mama”, “Sori Perendo”, and “Souths Mix” in their first album.

“The incident did not dampen our spirits, but motivated us to complete what the four of us started out in our kunai (bush) hut back home,” Rodney Tonge recalled.

“How we started was that we used to play the guiter under our kunai hut, and that is how the interest came from there.”

“Then we brought Joseph in and we started writing songs and from there on we made our first demo, which I then brought down here in Port Moresby giving it to music producer Emmanuel Muganaua from Cyclone Studio.”

“He accepted the demo and worked on it, and in 2006 we first released a first track titled ‘O Mama’.”

Their first album came out in 2006 recorded through Cyclone and produced by Chin H Min. Their title track ‘O Mama’ entered the Top 20 countdown on Yumi FM on 16th place and after a week there we jumped to number one place.

“We held the number one position for 14 weeks; with our other track ‘Sori Perendo’ holding an additional 9 weeks on the countdown also,” Rodney said.

When asked about how piracy has affected their music, they revealed how bad it has been for them since 2008. As a band in 2008 to 2010, their royalties dropped, down to even less than K50 every two month for their music sales. Because of this they ceased producing music through album sales for years and concentrated on live performances where they said money was to be made. With new plans now in 2015 to get their second album, the band revealed the method that they would use to get real value for their work, along with calls for more protection of local music.

“Since then till now we have not recorded and this is the first we have come back as a group. Our music played on various mediums there aren’t any royalties given for our music,” Tonge added.

“In terms of protecting local music, we know about APRA but the thing about it is that it is an Australian based organization that is not well established here and we cant that meet them easily- we should have one under the Arts and Culture Department looking after our properties and monitoring the use of it.”

The band is now hosting a fundraising dance this Friday with the proceeds aimed at funding the costs involved in making their second album with dates being finalized for recording. With many fans not understanding fully the process involved- Rodney explained why they needed funding for their project.

“We do the demo recording at home, and after that it goes to the recording studio, especially with well established studios like Cyclone we have to pay some fees, before everything was done at CHM, but during that time piracy was not huge so we got royalties through sold cassettes,” he said.

“Today that is not the same, so now we just get our music played over the radio and play live to get some financial gain out of our work.”

“The selling of cassettes and CDs is no longer viable for us as musicians to gain anything out of- now in order for us to benefit we do that through playing live, the other way is for us to produce our own CDs and organize our own launching in an open air place for the general public to attend and to sell to them our CDs.”

A total of 10 songs will be recorded, and when completed around June this year- three to four weeks after completion, they announced that two tracks would hit the airwaves on radio for fans to sample.

“We want all our fans to come out and support us for this fundraising dance. Most of the time they have remained with us wherever we played even when we went quiet, but this is the time where we are asking them to come in and support. “

“During the fundraising night (this Friday March 20th) we will play the whole first album with a live performance of two tracks from the new album we are to make.”

“Our new album will not be much different from the old one, but the difference was that the old one was rushed and we as young musicians we used it as a practice run that turned out well for us.”

He added that with the new album their experience of the first Owa Unit album would nurture every song for a good experience for their fans. The title track for the new album is called “Innocent”.

“O Mama was dedicated to our mother, but this title track is dedicated to the children, where they are not mistakes born into the world.”

“Parents bring them into the world but sometimes don’t take their responsibility right and the innocent child suffers as a result,” they said.

The venue for their fundraising night is at Sports Inn I nPort Moresby, with presold tickets going at K25, K30 at the gate. Those interested to support the band can call Rodney Tonge for presold tickets on his cell number on 70754420, and those willing to donate can also get in touch with him.

Rigo councilor waits on MP to address community needs

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 15, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)




DESPITE the fact the village of Daroakomana is 3 hours out from the hustle and bustle of the nation’s capital- women, men a children of the Rigo Central LLG village still walk an hour out to receive the simplest of government services and transportation.

This is due to the deplorable state of the road leading into the village which is clear comparison to some of the most remote road areas in the country that do not have the luxury of being connected to Port Moresby.

Daroakomana Ward Councilor Roger Kie, while very pleased with the opening of their new solar farm power plant by the Officer of Climate Change last week, affirmed that they were still awaiting any tangible development through their local Member and Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Ano Pala and their LLG President Fred Silona.

“This service is the first time we have seen some form of development help from government through the office of climate change assistance in close to 20 years since our former member DibaraYagabo upgraded the track leading to our village into a road that has since deteriorated badly,” Kie said.

“We only have an elementary school with no aid post, with the road you have seen driving in.We have made requests to the district government but I do not know what is happening but I don’t know what the member and our LLG president for Rigo Central are up to.”

“In terms of any impact on our lives from our member we have yet to see anything.The governor of the province gave us K30,000 in November last year for the church and the building of the pastors residence which we are about to complete, but that does not address the real pressing needs of my people.”

He said that the ward profile he did four months after his election into office was given to the MP’s office with their needs all captured in the paper.

“Whenever we want to go to Kwikila it is a one hour walk to Boregaina carry our goods and catch a PMV there to sell our produce in Kwikila- we had a PMV (10 to 15 years ago) but the road conditions did not help,” he said.

In a interview with Sunday Chronicle, Rigo Central LLG President Fred Silona, agreed that the Daroakomana road needed urgent maintenance, however, elaborated that the process was a long one that has caused the delay.

“When we look at it the submission or ward profile done there is a process to be done- for Daroakomana’s case I’ve already secured the area, under funding from the provincial government who want to open up Boregaina (main road to the Daroakomana feeder road) properly,” Mr Silona said.

“I already spoke to the Provincial Administrator and the governor of the province and the project was approved last year, but because of no funds it was held back to this year.”

“With that particular road all documentation is in place already, works people are already in place. I do not know how that council to happened to do what he wanted to do.”

He added that there were instances of councilors trying to jump overriding LLG President.

“Nowadays those areas you have to come through us presidents to gain the services to go in, but I do not blame him, if he has good relation with either the Governor of the local Open Member it will happen.

Professional organizations told to play bigger role in development

Caption:  Don Polye

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 15, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

LEADER of the Opposition Don Polye has called on professional organizations like the Institute of Engineers PNG (IEPNG), and PNG Institute of Architects (PNGIA) to play more of a role in current development project taking place in the country.

Mr Polye, an Engineer by profession, raised his concerns during a conference that State contracts awarded by the Central Supplies Tenders Board should be checked and verifed by reputable organizations when awarded to public companies.

“One of the institutions (IEPNG) responsible under the law to check and verify the scope of work and the costing attached to it, the work that is ongoing, should be verified by independent engineers.”

“If the Department of Works and other state agencies are carrying out their functions well, health, and education- the institute of Engineers PNG should verify those works.”

“I would like to call on the Institute of Engineers to do some work because what is happening is that there are engineers out there who are doing jobs at exorbitant costs to the nation,” Polye claimed.

He said that engineers should also take note that they have a duty to make sure that the work is of high quality but done to the right market price.

“At the moment my observations is that these work are not being done to market price, but have got 200 to 300 percent inflated cost and so called profits made by these companies are made beyond business,” he said.

“IEPNG should initiate investigation into the scope of works and designs the monies paid and they should take appropriate action through the act they are under as a duty to the nation as engineers and professionals.”

He said that the average classroom of a normal design of about 150 to 160 square meters should cost in the most rural parts of PNG, K300,000.

“When you build a classroom in some place like Kandep taking into consideration the cost of transportation and the materials that you will bring in, the lack of supplies of other materials the cost should be up by another 50 to 60 percent- so the market price of approximately K300,000should be the right amount paid for such a classroom,” Mr Polye said.

“But you will find that there are classrooms built in this country throughout Papua New Guinea within the urban and rural cost beyond K500,000 per classroom to even K600,000 to K700,000 per classroom.”

“As far as the buildings are concerned the architects go in check and verify the work that goes on there because it is costing the state a lot of money for a classroom that is built at K500,000 the State can build two of them.”

Proposed ESP referral hospital get land nod: Maru

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 15, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)





MEMBER for Yangoru Saussia and Minister for Trade Commerce Industry Richard Maru announced that the Catholic Church in the province had indicated in principle to the selling of prime land at Wiruwi in East Sepik for the building of a major referral hospital for the province.

In a recent visit to East Sepik by the Minister for Health and HIV and AIDS, Michael Malabag, they visited the proposed site for the new hospital.

“I am happy to say that in principle the bishop has agreed to sell 50 hectares of prime land in Wiruwi, we will be bringing to cabinet a submission this year to build a new referral hospital for East Sepik and Sandaun province to be built in Wiruwi that would replace Boram and in that complex there will be a new school of nursing for the East and West Sepik provinces,” Minister Maru said.

“For the record we do not have enough nurses in the province- I was quiet amazed when we were there with the Minister for a lot of the old retired nurses to be engaged by Allan (Boram Hospital Chairman) and his board because we simply do not have nurses.”

“The big problem was the closing of the Boram School of Nursing and it important we build this new hospital which is to be a part of the Divine Word University.”

He said once the nursing college is established under the new hospital, the training girls from East and West Sepik pursuingnurserywill be trained locally.

“A number of our girls have been turned back from other nursing schools due to space shortages,” he pointed out.

“I met with the Prime Minister yesterday and he was generous to say that he is willing to support the funding of the (Boram) hospital rehabilitation program and also the new hospital and the school of nursing.”

“I would like to put on record our appreciation to the Catholic Church for approving in principle to begin our surveys- we have been talking about this land for three years and the Catholic Church has finally come good.

Maru assured the church that the Valuer General’s Office would be used and the state would be paying the church on the current market values for the land.

“NEC will appropriate funding in next year’s budget so we can get the work underway through the National Department of Health.”

Boram Hospital Board Chairman Allan Bird confirmed the staffing constraints currently experienced in the province.

“Right now the whole province is short about 500 health workers, that include both nurse and doctors, and community health workers.”

“I am sure the situation is not only isolated to us with other provinces also in the same boat, but we all need to solve our own problems.”

“If we get our own nursing college that will go along way in reducing our manpower capacity issues,” Mr Bird said.

Sustainable energy finally reaching rural PNG (feature)

Caption:  OCCD ED Varigini Badira ready to switch on the main, to signal the opening of the solar farm at Daroakomana.

Caption:  Paramana solar farm installment.

Caption:  Signing to begin construction of three solar farms funded by the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 15, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

TUCKED away hidden in the heart of the Rigo Central LLG area, at the foothills of the highlands of the Rigo District Central province- another small village having stood the test of time saw for the first time the benefits of electricity when they switched on their solar farm power plant on last Wednesday (March 5). Thanks to the pilot initiative of the Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD), Daroakomana, with a total of 30 homes housing over 200 people located 3 hours drive away from Port Moresby- the villagers were in awe of the being lit up via electricity for the first time in their history.

Indeed there are many parts of the country that have not come yet into the fold of the modern 21st century. Such has been the direction of OCCD in filling the void in terms of tangible sustainable development under its climate change mitigating approach that aims to bring in environmentally friendly technology throughout the forgotten isolated corners in the country that are vulnerable to the effects of the changing climate.

With fully funded solar farms being piloted in the Central province- positive stories like the successful running of the Paramama Solar Farm in Abau District of Central have signified the viability of such a bold initiative. With 35 solar panels producing 18 kilovolts-amps electricity for the community the for over a year now with nil running cost- OCCD is positive of the concept being taken on board in various provinces and companies and institutions going into biomass energy generation.

Turning on the main switch to signal the supply of 3,000 watts of sustainable power generation to Daroakomana village, OCCD Executive Director, Varigini Badira, said that climate change was one of the biggest challenges for the rural population in the country.

“We are aware that many of our people live in rural areas, and it takes a lot of effort to bring power to our people,” Mr Badira said.

“One of the ways we can bring power to our people is through clean energy where it being through solar farms, ocean currents, biomass- it is always the clean energy’s perspective of that.”

“We are also known as the children of the sun which we depend on our sun and people from the equator have much of the solarity, so it is fitting that much of the power is done through solar means.”

He said that the advantage of setting up a community solar farm is the communal ownership of solar panels- adding that they were intentionally not set up on individual roofs where maintenance will be difficult.

“If you bring solar panels together to a communal setting like this- the whole community is responsible for the protection of the solar farm.”

“If you break one solar panel it is now a law enforcement issue where the police can be involved- if you put solar on a house and it breaks then it becomes an issue for that individual house, but as a communal setting it is the responsibility of community.”

“In terms of sustainability, the initial cost of setting up a farm whether it be in PNG or globally is the initial capital expenditure to build the solar farm, put in the batteries, and to put in distribution lines which is where the cost comes in,” Badira said.

He compared the sustainability cost of the setup to conventional fossil fuel powered electricity generation at almost nil. Badira explained the limitations from the country’s current power provider PNG Power Limited where everything after 10 kilometers from their main lines are not in their jurisdiction.

An initial cost K39,000 was spent by OCCD on its latest solar farm project, which when sustained over a long period of over two to three years is an economically sound investment considering the cost of burning conventional fossil fuel for energy needs. Current moves by provinces like Eastern Highlands in the highlands and that of oil palm producing provinces using biomass sources for energy generation in impacted communities have raised the standing of the country to an extent that needs a wider approach in cutting the country’s emissions footprint.

The target of the office in developing the concept aims at showing the viability of the concept and in practicality in developing rural remote communities which the director said was a major criteria by his office in rolling out the concept.

“As you were driving in the community (Daroakomana) you would have realized how remote it is- and the remoteness of the community increases the climate vulnerability of our people,” he said.

“When I say that, it means that their ability to respond to the impacts of climate change like heavy flooding, extreme rainfall, drought, those are the vulnerabilities we are talking about.”

The Executive Director pointed out that If you have such system would build the community’s capacity. That will contribute to a dominoes effect to bringing other a vital service to the communities.

“Where other government services can come in to assist and utilize the service in order to progress the community’s development.”

“The technology has always been here that is an important innovation. Communities interested in the concept can contact the office of Climate Change just like the Eastern Highland provincial government, Southern Highlands, Enga has done with feasibility studies taking place in each of these provinces.”

“They all come under what we call a Clean Development Mechanism under the United Nations Convention on Climate Change.”

Currently OCCD has 11 affiliated energy projects- five with New Britain Palm Oil biomass projects in Milne Bay, Oro, and East New Britain which now feed into the PNG Power Limited grid, and another project with Oil Search Limited with a Gas Flare Venting conservation project.

Climate Change Office Mitigation Manager, Danny Kekitel, reiterated that up till a few weeks ago all solar farm pilots have been funded through the OCCD, and with the involvement of provinces such as Eastern Highlands now with K1 million allocated- the initial outcome of involving greater provincial support is finally being realized.

“At this stage Central Provincial Government and districts have not come on board, at this stage we are trying to showcase what can be done,” Mr Nekitel said.

“Most people think that this type of projects may not work and are impossible so we are just trialing it to encourage other places to apply.”

“All these rural communities that we are targeting all have a similar story where they have never see any government presence. The important thing is to maintain it. At this stage we will slowly support the farm in whatever way we can and then maybe train them on how to sustain it in a little way, once they have that knowledge they will maintain it.”

With the increased changes in climatic patterns experienced consistently over the last decade- communities cut off from development by the common geographical constraints in the country now face a greater threat posed by climate change. Making green eco friendly technology paramount in bringing remote communities up to speed with the development trend and not falling back beyond a time and place caused by the ever changing phenomena.

16 percent increase in rainfall to by 2030: OCCD

Caption:  Flooding along the Magi Highway during the week.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 15, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

OFFICE of Climate Change and Development Executive Director, Varigini Badira revealed that by 2030 the country would have increased rainfall by as much as 30 percent.

He raised his concern that the global climate change phenomena was no longer a theory and its effects were so obvious and is a constant global topic of discussion.

“As we sit here there are major governments who are debating within government and legislative circles to reform current practices, current policies, and current regulation so that they can better address the impacts of Climate Change.”

“I guarantee you 150 percent that what you see here today is an additional impact of climate change.”

“16 institutions globally have done global climate modeling from London all the way to the US, Japan, China, and they found out that rainfall in Papua New Guinea is going to increase by a factor of 6 to 16 percent by 2030,” Mr Badira said.

He said that it means that with more extreme more rainfall expected in the future- droughts will be equally extreme.

Badira said that the National Government and country needs to position itself for the future in terms of climate proofing its development.

“If we spend K100 million on a bridge we do not have to spend that amount again in the next 10 years,” he said.

“If we do not plan for climate change that means that the bridge you build today will be destroyed in 5 years time.”

“Now you have to plan for climate change- if the rainfall increases by 6 to 16 percent that means flooding will also increase along with sea level rise, our temperature will get a little bit hotter and when it gets cold our temperature will be colder.”

He said by 2030, sea levels are to rise by 0.6 meters to 1.2 meters.

“Once that happens some of our flat areas will have sea water incurring like what happening in some of our coastal areas- and everyone has to take the leadership and we cannot say wait tomorrow.”

“The government, through the Ministry of environment and conservation, has gone ahead and approve the National Climate Compatible Management Policy of our country.”

“This is the blueprint on how all provincial governments and how all districts and local level governments must address Climate Change.”

“If it is half a million to K1 million you are spending- we must climate proof that development. That is why the government calls it climate compatible development under the National Responsible Sustainable Strategy that was also approved by the government.

Climate change initiatives launched

Caption:  (Center) OCCD Executive Director Varigini Badira planting mangroves to signify the launch of the Mangrove Foundation.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 15, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

IN the country’s response to the extreme climate changes currently experienced in the country- the Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD) in collaboration with the Central Provincial Government through the Rigo Central LLG launched the National Mangrove Foundation and PNG Climate Change Adaptation Small Grants Program during the week at Manugoro village along the Magi Highway.

Despite the absence of important guests like the Minister for Environment and Conservation John Pundari and the matron for the Foundation and wife to the PM, Linda Babao O’Neill due to the heavy downpour that flooded the highway, Executive Director for OCCD, Varigini Badira, told villagers and other guests that the conditions were right to launch such initiatives.

“The Mangrove Foundation is a very important foundation that the country is setting up- the global community recognizes the importance that mangroves plays in a coastal eco system,” Mr Badia said.

“Mangrove is a very unique plant, because of its ability to grow in salt water and stay up on land as well, growing between the terrestrial and marine environment.”

“Science has proven that mangrove physiology, the way they have evolved is very unique- to live in harsh environment taking in four times more carbon than its terrestrial counterparts.”

He said that basis of climate change is global warming, and the basis of global warming is too much excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

“Our country does not see it and we in the community can’t see it, but developed countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia who base their country’s generation on burning fossil fuels have contributed so much to it.”

“Mangrove absorb four time more carbon than other plants, you plant more and look after them we will save our planet.”

“Not only that but the climate within the communities close to the trees will benefit from increase marine life for their livelihoods and consumption.”

He said it was vital for the communities where the mangroves are to be supported, and the foundation is the very reason it has been established to support our people to make that change happen.

“Matron of the foundation is our first lady Lynda Babao O’Neill who along with our minister will hand over some resources along with the mangrove planting.”

“Those are the aim of the foundation to garner the global support of not only the work of our people- it is the international asset that we are trying to look after.”

“The mangroves here not only belong to the people of Manugoro but also belong to the global community as we are providing that clean air,” Badira added.

Mangroves in the country are some of the most bio-diverse found anywhere in the world. Of the 47 recognized species found, 38 of them are found in PNG- garnering interest from NGOs coming in to support conservation efforts in 7 other provinces in the country.

Mr Badira also launched the PNG Climate Change Adaptation small grants program that his office and the ministry recognizes a lot of people that need support to do small environment conservation projects.

“The program will support the existing traditional knowledge systems that can be used to implement adaptation measures.”

“People using traditional knowledge to identify a season for a particular activity to happen, and we need to now start incorporating our old traditional systems and knowledge, how to manage land.”

He concluded that the village will also be home to the country’s first Mangrove Educational Park for educational trip for school children from the nation’s capital to learn about the ecology of mangroves.

Up close with PNG comedy king Elton Kili

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 8, 2015 (Sunday Weekly Magazine, PNG)

THE name Elton Kili and the name of his ‘Burukim Bus’ (lets go into the bush) Show has been associated with comedy for the last few years. From the rare breed of known comedians in the likes of Kanage and Daure Lohia, Elton is now well known in the country through his jokes that have gone viral throughout the country via the odd flash drive and various media sharing platforms.

His famous notable jokes that draw laughter to many in the country include the classics like ‘Yes no, yes no’, ‘Tonight you are dead’, ‘Haus lotu’, ‘Virgin driver’, and ‘Wabag announcer’, just to name a few. Sunday Magazine reporter, Matthew Vari, caught up with the funny man to find out what he has been up to and to get a glimpse of the real man away from the comedy stage.     

Sunday Magazine:   What’s Elton Kili doing now?

Elton:  Basically I am at home working on new comedy materials plus my music as well. This was long coming, I’d say in the making of roughly 14 to 15 years but I did not rush things. I told myself that when the time is right it will happen. Two years now I have been with CHM (Chin H Min) as a contracted employee where monthly I go in and give new jokes.

We started off just doing jokes on Drive Time called ‘Brukim Bus’ (Lets go to the bush with Uncle ET) Rait FM 99.5 where we started the idea of jokes for the road and eventually one thing led to another. We now have moved into video production of my jokes, and now currently we are now working on a plan to set a platform for comedy in PNG and the Pacific.

Sunday Magazine:   You mentioned music as part of your skill base, and everyone associates your name with laughter, fun, and jokes. What have you done in music?

Elton:  Music was there before my comedy career. For jokes it is a natural thing that started in High school. Back in the days when I started with NauFM I just used a couple of jokes on the air, but after that I trained to be a sound engineer and for those who know me I am a sound engineer, producer, song writer. I have worked with the like of some of the big names in PNG like dAdiigii, Straky, O’Shen, Hausboi, Scholastic, South Tribe, to name a few.

Sunday Magazine:   Where do you get your inspiration from for your jokes and what is the process

Elton:  Eddie Griffin, Eddy Murphy, Bill Cosby, and a lot of African American movies- because I am blessed with the talent of imitating almost anything I hear, I watch these things and I imagine local situations and if I see something that happens that relates to what I have observed on television I try to relate in into the PNG perspective and language and add my own flavor to the characters to make them more relatable and that’s where the fun begins.

Sunday Magazine:   You have been known to crack jokes of stereotypical themes, certain segmented groups, marginalized groups, the average politician, and the typical Asian satirical mimicry. Are there anymore groups to target?

Elton:  There is plenty, but you have to start somewhere so it’s a stepping stone, and now that everyone knows me and my work it is now time to take it to the next level. They may think I only know how to pick on the Chinese community here, but the next I could do the Philippines or Indian and they may not expect it. Basically the characters I build are the ones that are around and in the country.

Sunday Magazine:   Is Elton the same or are there two of you either on or off stage?

Elton:  To be honest there are two sides, as you and those that know me, on one hand I am that typical normal grassroots man that doesn’t talk that much- but as soon as I get on stage and hold onto the microphone that is a totally different person all together. That person does not look for words.

Sunday Magazine:   You are probably one of the first to take the art of standup comedy to a profession scale in the country, and Papua New Guineans have that cultural tendency of always making fun in everyday conversation. What motivated you to take it to the next level?

Elton:  Coming from a musical background- there are too many of us in music, and the subject of entertainment is so huge. I decided to move into comedy because I saw that only Daure Lohia came out with the first comedy album called the Katim Kona Joke and he was it, and also for video it was only Kanage and the Watete group more drama and theatrical based, so I decided that I might as well take up from where they stopped, blend them all and add into one and take it to the next level. Since Daure and Kanage have gone quiet I decided to come out to take up where they left it, and when I started it spread like wildfire.   

   

Sunday Magazine:   The name Brukim Bus has been around for a while now. When are you going to release an album?

Elton:  I am still working on it, which is in the process where we are trying to compile a DVD the first of its kind in the South Pacific where the same person is the artist, his songs and video clips, the comedy jokes, and the standup part all in one. I have given a lot of thought about it.

Sunday Magazine:   The word is out that you are performing alongside dAdigii this month.

Elton: Yes that will be on the 27th of March for the “dAdigii and Burukim Bus”, shows at Sports Inn with two concerts both day and night. The day concert is for schoolies and the general public which is from 2pm to 4pm, and the night event from 7pm till late. It will not just be a regular show like singing and jokes- we are going to incorporate beat boxes, breakdance, songs, comedy, plus feature a couple of up and coming artists in the lieks of Meriani Masani, Tez, and Sampson.

Sunday Magazine:   What would be your advice for someone going into your line of work?

Elton:  I’ll be straightforward with this. It is a talent to imitate, or act like someone else must be used in the right way. If you want to tell my jokes sounding like me- you can never be me. I try my best not to copy other people’s jokes, with 90 percent of my jokes are original trying to create my own stuff.

I am more than willing to assist anyone interested and my advise for you is to just be yourself and try not to copy too much of another person. You can try to imitate but do not try to be like them.

Sunday Magazine:   Everyone likes a good joker to entertain a crowd at events. How can they get in touch with you if they require your special services?

Elton:  Through Rait FM and ask for Renata Mari, or Braden Chin in regards for Brukim Bus.              

Stolen funds cashed in time for Christmas

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 8, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

BORAM General Hospital Chairman Allan Bird pointed out the efficient, cunning way at which funds of K1.2 million meant for the people of Sepik were stolen in time for Christmas in 2014 last year through a bogus claim processed through the provincial administration and others involved.

The frustrated chairman said that the money that belonged to the women and children of East Sepik, was supposed to be used for their benefit.

“Some people have decided to use this money so they can drink and have a party- and they cashed all these cheques on the 24th of December last year,” Bird said.

“Just before Christmas and they could have used the money for a big party at the expense of women and children of East Sepik.”

“This is the kind of teamwork that is at play in East Sepik unfortunately, and I really want the national fraud squad to deal with it.”

He said that if they could work so well to do something wrong and take money out so quickly, why it wasn’t the same thing when legitimate projects are taking place trying to do the right thing.

“Why is it when you try to do the right thing it is so difficult it take so much time and you wait for legitimate payments for works with the provincial government with outstanding payments stretching up to the last 6 months,” he said.

“And when they want to do something like this all the parts just fall into place and flows really smoothly.”

“Our primary role as the hospital board is to ensure that those involved are accountable for the people of East Sepik and the government of East Sepik.”

He added that there had been great support from all elected representatives from the province and thanked them for the support.

“Somehow you have this public service in the province that nobody can touch- the East Sepik Provincial public service is accountable to nobody.”

“The governor cannot hold them accountable and I do not know if the Department of Personnel Management can hold them accountable- they basically can do whatever they want.”

“I think somewhere, someone needs to hold them accountable- we really need help from the national government imply because these are national government funds and not provincial government money.”

Investigations are being undertaken in province with police and government agencies set to uncover the truth, currently on the ground.

Boram hospital Chair wants thieves to rot in jail

Caption:  Boram Hospital Board Chairman Allan Bird.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 8, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE stealing of K1.2 million from K2 million in funds given through the Prime Minister for the upgrading of Boram Hospital in the East Sepik Province clearly baffled the hospital Chairman Allan Bird during the week at a conference held in Port Moresby.

Referring to Post Courier’s front page story on the stealing of the parked hospital funds within the East Sepik Provincial Administration through a bogus claim to fix a toilet block - the chairman said that process to steal the funds had broken all records in terms of cheque processing time to disappear in a matter of a day.

“The thing I find incredible is at no point did anyone receive authorization from anybody in a position of authority to expend these funds. Secondly no one from the hospital authorized the use of these funds,” Mr Bird said.

“That decision was taken in secrecy in some secret place within the provincial administration, and I expect that the investigation will be swift and put them away.”

“If we can put Paul Tiensten away for 8 years, I am sure that we can send these people away for the same amount of time because they deserve to rot in jail because this was money they should not have touched.”

He referred to the situation being revealed to the board of the hospital about two weeks ago prior to the visit from the Minister for Health and HIV and AID, Michael Malabag.

“Prior to his arrival we had a board meeting that Friday, and it was during the board meeting that we were informed that this particularK2 million intended for work at the hospital had disappeared.”

“When these funds were allocated to Boram by the PM, there was no board in place so the funds were actually entrusted to the provincial administration never under the care of the hospital itself.”

“That was fine with us, but unknown to us during that period, certain individuals conspired together to remove those funds,” the chairman explained.

He said that while scoping was taking place on what was required to rehabilitate the hospital and its level of deterioration the funds were already being processed in December of 2014.

“While the scoping was going on we discovered that the funds were taken- now we were all shocked because we did not expect that to happen,” he added.

“I cant understand why people could do that because these are the same people who themselves have used the facilities at the hospital through their wives children and even relatives also access the hospital and they saw fit to remove these funds.”

“What has to be made clear is that as far as I am concerned as chairman of the hospital board- we never gave a contract to anyone to fix a toilet for that amount of money.”

He said that their powers allowed the board to only approve payments as high as K500,000 as per the authorization levels under the Public Finance Management Act.

“To date we have only issues contracts through the CEO that were worth less than a K100,000 for maintenance.”

“We have no powers to give a contract to anyone for K1.2 million, as far as we are aware the provincial administration never called a tender through the provincial tenders board to fix these same facilities.”

“There was no scope done, with no call from the hospital to use the funds and the fixing of this particular toilet. If we had done the scoping we would know that this particular toilet does not require K1.2 million to fix it.”

Bird said that they found out when they used part of the funds to buy a new X-ray machine to replace the existing machine in the hospital.

He presented a letter to the acting provincial administrator and documents showing that a total four cheques were drawn with two written to Pins Construction Limited with separate Internal Revenue Commission cheques for both given to the named company.

“We wrote a letter to the Acting Administrator to ask him to explain what happen to these funds- to date we have not received a response from the acting provincial administrator,” Bird pointed out.

“I have personally reported this to the governor of the province Grand Chief Sir Michael Someare who is also upset that this has happened- expressing his anger that people within the provincial administration are able to do this.”

“You can see the level of creativity they had to make sure the payment was made.”

The hospital new board was appointed 18 months ago and for almost two years the hospital didn’t have a board.

Parkop assures residents of no hikes in land rates

Caption:  NCD Governor PowesParkop.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 8, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

FOLLOWING the presentation of the valuation rolls from the Valuer General this week- NCD governor PowesParkop did not rule out increases in land rates however, assured residents that there were no plans to increase the percentage charged of 3.5 percent for Commercial and 2.3 percent of residential properties.

He said that with the up to date rolls now in the current rate would stand, but due to increase in the value of land in the city, and the past charging of rates for 20 years based on the 1992 valuation rolls, eventually by 2016 the new rates will apply.

“This is not to say that immediately after this if the rate goes up we will increase the rates, but we will have to note the value so that we collect the appropriate rate,” Governor Parkop said.

“Even if the rate is retained like 3 percent or 2 percent it has the rate of the actual current value of that property and not of the 1992 value because that not being honest.”

“Some people are getting a lot more money and value out of their property and they are paying less to the municipal government.”

He assure that if the rolls say that the value has gone up, which he said everyone could agree that it has- that did not mean that they will immediately put rates up to 5 percent.

“There are properties with high values running as guest houses, hotels, but we charge only one particular value, now we need to value that.”

“I am hopeful now that the record given to us will give us a very objective assessment of the real values of the properties in the city so we can charge the appropriate rate.”

“With this rate if we increase it we get more either by increasing the rate or by charging the current value and getting more income or revenue to provide more services.”

NCDC receives valuation rolls from Lands

Caption:  (Lands Secretary Romilly Kila Pat), Governor Parkop, Valuer General Gabriel Michael, and City Manager Leslie Alu.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 8, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE Lands and Physical Planning Department through the Office of the Valuer General, Gabriel Michael, presented the National Capital District valuation rolls for 2014 to the NCD Commission on THursday, close to 20 years since the last valuation rolls was reviewed and produced.

Mr Gabriel thanked all stakeholder involved for their funding assistance in the 3 month exercise, namely NCDC and the Department of National Planning and Monitoring for a combined counter funding of K800,000.

“Valuation Rolls is a statutory requirement by the Office of the Valuer General under the Valuation Act that we are able to produce the valuation roll every five years,” Mr Michael said.

“Why is it done every five years to keep up with the market changes, but unfortunately for NCDC the rolls were not reviewed for the last 20 years until the time when I took office.”

“This roll is purposely done by the Office of the Valuer General not only for NCD but towns and centers throughout Papua New Guinea.”

He said the exercise was done for the local authorities to collect their rents and taxes from leaseholders for them to then provide vital services like sewerage and sanitation infrastructure and other services, also the Department for Lands and Physical collect annual rents from leaseholders.

“With the new rolls there will be an increase in the rates due to the number of years that it has not been updated.”

“We researched that the demand for city land here in Moresby is alarming and increasing and that demand alone will add on to the value of land in the city.”

Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning Romilly Kila Pat applauded the partnership created to achieve the outcome before them of realistic data values for properties in the city.

“Not only do these rolls affect the Valuer General’s role but also affects the very important development issue in terms of physical planning, surveying, are all connected.”

“The valuer general’s office plays a very important role of assessing land values so authorities like NCDC can use the rolls to collect revenues from the rolls to give important services in a growing city.”

“The important lesson to learn is the partnership that those how have contributed through the various stakeholders.”

He said the delivery of rolls would send a message to urban authorities in other parts of the country with plans to roll out similar exercises in Morobe and other centers in the country.

“I am hoping that provincial administrations take this as an important priority for their resource as this is where they can collect their revenue from,” the secretary added.

Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Governor for NCD Powes Parkop thanked the department along with the Valuer General’s Office for the timely delivery of the rolls.

“In any municipal government in anywhere around the world the manuciple government is challenged to provide essential services to the residents to make the city function,” Governor Parkop said.

“From running the markets to providing transport, running schools, health services, maintaining parks, even in our case we also provide other services that do not come under our jurisdiction like bus stop wardens that we are challenged to provide.”

“Right now in our capital city we get the main revenue from GST, but for this tax not a lot of it comes to NCDC- for the airports and seaports 100 percent goes to the national government.

“We have inland GST which is 60 percent with another 40 percent goes to national government, with the 60 percent that comes to us we have to share it with Central Province and the Motu Koita Assembly so the pie gets smaller and smaller.

He said that the bottom-line was that NCDC can’t provide the type of services that residents expect to the highest level and quality without effective revenue.

“Up till now NCD has been charging about 2 to 3 percent of the total value of properties, and there are not a lot of properties that we get rates from as it is a big challenge.”

“We collect nearly K8 million from the land rates every year at 2 to 3 percent of properties, but not all properties are within the valuation zone.”

“Right now we should 25,000 registered legal property in the city, we are only charging about 19,000 properties in the city.”

dAdiigii spreads West Papua freedom message

Caption:  Armstrong Gomara (dAdiigii)

Caption: Track producer Roy Waloloki.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 1, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle Weekly Magazine, PNG)

“MUSIC has always been a medium of self expression and emotion- added to that music has no borders and is free, it is a pure representation of what it means to be free.”

Those are the words of Armstrong Gomara (famously known as ‘dAdiigii’), who is about to release his fourth album under the Chin H Meen recording label.

A special track included in the new album, some would say is about to be released at the right time, will feature the plight of the country’s close neighbor West Papua and their fight for freedom from Indonesia.

“I have been in the industry since 2002 up till now, and within those years I have three albums, two of which have been released under the CHM recording label,” Mr Gomara said.

“When I came into the music industry there was a goal, aim, and purpose I had to fulfill, and there was a friend of mine, Airi Ingram, who shared with me the plight of our brothers and sisters in West Papua,” he said.

“When he took me down to play in Melbourne at the Australasian Music Festival, he also launched his own album and had a strong connection with the West Papuan community in Melbourne and in PNG as well.”

“He helps them use music as a weapon of choice to help spread the cause, and when I saw this I saw that his music was much more than himself, and after I thought about it I knew that at least I could do something during my time instead of just doing what I was doing.”

Titled “Till the kingdom comes”, Gomara said that it was morale support on his part- with initial thoughts of making the song in 2012, he added that that the time was needed to be right so he held it off till 2014.

“I saw that the music scene had changed and I saw that it was a good time to write the song, which I titled “Till the kingdom comes”, (West Papuan Anthem),” he said.

“In the song it features prominent artists in Meriani Masani and Prote-J in the song- it talks about what West Papuans want, which is to be free in their own land.”

“The song does not beat around the bush or goes deep into history but is straightforward. Their fight has been a long one, and I am sorry that they have not received that- every man needs to be free.”

He said that I hoped that the song, sung in English and Pidgin, will travel far and wide for the message to be heard.

“My main aim to spread my own contribution to the struggle, and apart from that I have done four other songs.”

The song itself is a reflective one that emanates the frustrations of the people of people in their struggles for independence.

The album produced by Roy Waloloki (DJ rEsQ), has not named yet, but will be released in March.

Increased occurrence of landslips

Sunday, March 1, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

Caption: Office of Climate Change Executive Director Varigini Badira pointing at the increased occurrence of landslips along the Daulo Pass road along the Okuk Highway, Eastern highlands- where changing climate patterns have caused the permafrost (top frozen soil layer) that is structurally important to melt causing erosion, disappearance of lakes, landslides, and ground subsidence (Picture by Matthew Vari).