BSP empowers Garaina people with bank accounts

By SAMPSON BONAI in Garaina

People of remote Garaina in Morobe are turning up in droves to open Bank South Pacific accounts.

Two Bulolo-based BSP officers Javen Malcolm and Joseph Teiva are in Garaina to assist the people to open bank accounts.

"We came here this week to instal cash agents and ETPOS machines, and
open new bank accounts for the people from Wards 10 and 11 in Waria LLG," Malcolm said.

Enoki Tumei from Bapi village in Ward 10,  Waria LLG in Bulolo District, opening her bank account with Bulolo Bank South Pacific tellers Joseph Teiva and Javen Malcolm in Garaina yesterday (despite it being a public holiday).  This coincided with the Waria Valley Independence celebrations and Unity Cup Soccer Tournament sponsored by PNG Cocoa Board chairman Boto Gaupu.~Pictures by SAMPSON BONAI

"We are also checking on the existing SME business accounts with the people.

"A few people with the existing bank accounts are eligible to obtain loans from the bank to strengthen their existing SME Business activities."

The bank is offering four bank accounts for children and adults.

 Many children accompanied by their parents opened up bank accounts.

Young people also took the opportunity to open their accounts as well.

BSP officer  Joseph Teiva said the bank fee for the children was K2.50, school children K5 and adults K10.

Health worker Henry Gabia turned to opened three bank accounts for his children.

Garaina health worker Henry Gabia assisting his five-year-old daughter Rael to open her BSP bank account with teller Javen Malcolm in Garaina stationyesterday (despite it being a public holiday). This coincided with the Waria Valley Independence Soccer Tournament.

"We thank BSP for bringing rural banking services right through to our doorsteps here in the rural areas," he said.

Historical buildings decay in Garaina

By SAMPSON BONAI in Garaina

The old Returned Services League (RSL) Club House in the heart of  Garaina Station has deteriorated over the years.

The old RSL Club House in its deteriorating state in Garaina Station today.~Pictures by SAMPSON BONAI

No maintenance work has been carried out on it for many years.

The old fibro walls, roofing iron and interior of the historical building are slowly falling apart due to years of continuous neglect.

The nearby old Waria Council Chamber that was burnt down in July 2001 by arsonists still has its iron structure standing.

Material for the two historical buildings was carried through the bush track from Morobe coast by people of Garaina to the station in the 1950s.

Due to lack of funding support from the Government to carry out maintenance work on the buildings over the years, the old RSL building has deteriorated over the years.

A memorial plague for late retired Sergeant Major Seka Biritoh stands outside the old RSL building.

The memorial of Sergeant Major Seka Biritoh, a policeman whose efforts during Pacific WWII resulted in him being awarded the American Bronze Admiral Star for Gallantry while serving in the US Army in Bougainville.

Wau PMV operators chip in to help police

By SAMPSON BONAI in Wau

WAU-based PMV operators have made a commitment to contribute funds to police to purchase materials for construction of a reliable water supply to connect into the condemned police cells.

PMV trucks along Wau/Bulolo route at Makoni Market.~Pictures by SAMPSON BONAI

The operators resolved at one of their meetings for all PMV owners to contribute K50 towards supporting Wau police to restore water supply back into the cells.

Wau/Bulolo Urban LLG manager Angkas Kopa said they had raised K500 so far and said they needed another K1000 more to reach K1500 to be handed to Wau police.

Three Wau-based PMV operators listening attentively during the meeting last week.

"The Wau and Bulolo police station cells have been condemned by National Court acting-judge John Numapo during one of his court circuits to Bulolo two months ago," Kopa said.

"The remandees are now being transported to Zenag police station cells to wait for their court apoearance.

"The court order is still in force to restore water back to the condemned police cells.

"We will contribute towards funding of materials for the construction and reconnecting of water back to the police cells."

PMV Owner Anna Yabi, who chaired the meeting,  urged all PMV owners to hand over their K50 to Kopa Trading at ADO Compound.

Wau-Bulolo Urban LLG manager Angkas Kopa and PMV operator Anna Gabi talking to PMV operators at their meeting in Wau last week.

A receipt will be given to them as proof of their payments.

"It's part of our community activities to support a worthy cause," she said.

"We want to enable police to perform their law enforcement more effectively to minimise law-and-order problems in our town."

All PMV operators who attended the meeting assured Yabi that they would contribute to the worthy cause of  supporting Wau police.

Wau students urged to read more books

By SAMPSON BONAI

Students in Wau have been urged to read more books and refrain from spending quality time on mobile phones.

They have been encouraged to read more books to improve their understanding of English rather then spending time on mobile phones.

Harmony Gold Exploration community affairs manager Anthony Naguwean had this message for students of Wau Primary School when delivering library books to the school during  Literacy Week.

 

Harmony Gold exploration manager Bernard Kavanamur (left) and community affairs manager Anthony Naguwean presenting library books to Wau Primary School head boy while students and teachers look on during Literacy Week.-Pictures by SAMPSON BONAI

"The more time you spend on browsing through mobile phones will destroy your learning and proper understanding of English," he said.

"I encourage all of you to read more books and newspapers to increase your knowledge on the important issues around the globe, and most importantly to improve your English vocabulary."

Haus  Pikinini children browsing through reading books presented to them by Harmony Gold exploration manager Bernard Kavanamur and community affairs manager Anthony Naguwean during Literacy week.

Exploration manager Bernard Kavanamur urged students to study hard and make use of the opportunity in school "to enable you to excel in your academic performance and to enter universities to accomplish your purpose in life".

"I have studied hard and excelled in my academic performance and entered university to become a geologist," he said.

"You can do the same if you take your studies seriously and refrain from indulging yourself in illicit activities such as marijuana and home brew."

Head teacher Mathew Humango thanked Harmony Gold for the donation of library books to the school.

Wau Elementary teacher-in-charge Jokie Kusunan and Haus Pikinini manager Donna Harvey Hall joined hands in thanking Harmony Gold Exploration for donating library books to their schools.

PM highlights importance of agriculture and tourism in Independence message

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has emphasised the importance of agriculture and tourism in his Independence Message.

He said this in his message themed 'Embracing the Future'.

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill receiving a gift from East Sepik Governor Allan Bird in Wewak on Thursday. He is flanked by Maprik MP John Simon, Civil Aviation Minister Alfred Manase and Police Minister Jelta Wong.

"Our country has products that the world wants and needs to buy," O'Neill said.

"This is not just our oil and gas resources, but we have renewable resources that are in high demand.

"Our agriculture sector should be the food bowl of the region.

"We have vast expanses of land, with rich fertile soil that is purely organic.

"We have some of the most amazing tourism sites that people from around the world want to visit.

"But all of this potential is worth nothing if we do not believe in ourselves.

"We must continue to invest in our nation and in our communities.

"This means building the roads that we need to transport our goods to market, to build the airports for our people to travel and to construct the schools that will educate the next generation.

"The only people who can deliver a stronger Papua New Guinea – are Papua New Guineans ourselves.

"As a country we have many friends who are helping us to advance, and we value this support, but we must do things for ourselves and chart our own course.

"We have to have confidence in our potential, we have to make firm decisions on our future and we have to stand by those decisions all the way.

"I give you every commitment, on behalf of our Government, that we will not let your down.

"Each and every day, we will continue to do our best to advance the interests of Papua New Guinea, and continue to deliver real change for our nation."

O'Neill said PNg must prepare its communities to adapt to changes in the modern world.

"This includes dealing with natural disasters brought about by climate change so we can protect our people," he said.

"We must better adapt to the evolving global economy, so that we not only insulate ourselves from economic shocks – but we must take advantage of economic opportunity for our people."

A very special day for Lae

Lest We Forget:September 16 2018 is the 75th anniversary of the recapture of Lae by Australian troops in 1943 from the Japanese. 

This makes this year's Independence celebrations in Lae very special.

We hope Australia, Papua New Guinea, Lae and Morobe will make that day a memorable one. 

Our young people must know the rich and colourful  history of our hometown. 

A place with no past has no future.

Below is the article in The National Weekender of Sept 14  on the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Lae on Sept 16, and Salamaua on Sept 11 (please click to enlarge)

Standard Based Education reintroduced in Wau

By SAMPSON BONAI

THE reintroduction of Standard-Based Education (SBE)  will improve the education of the school children at a young age,says Bulolo school inspector Mufuanu Zurete.

He said this when launching the SBE curriculum syllabus at Wau Primary School on Tuesday Sept 11.

Bulolo school inspector Mufuanu Zurete (centre) cutting the ribbon to launch  the Standard Based Education curriculum syllabus at Wau Primary School on Tuesday.Looking on is head teacher Mathew Humango and school board chairman Maru Bati with Wau Lutheran Day Elementary teacher-In charge.~Picture by SAMPSON BONAI

"The standard of education has dropped in the past 15 years when SBE was phased out with the introduction of Outcome Based Education (OBE)," Zurete said.   

"The Government realised the mistake it had created due to the decline in the standard of education in PNG.

"It will reintroduce SBE in 2020 to improve the standard of education in this country.

"The standard-based education  system will be rolled out throughout the country in 2020."  

Zurete said many students who passed through the OBE could not write and speak  English and understand basic mathematics.

He said that was the reason why the Government had to remove OBE and reintroduce SBE back into education system in PNG.

Zurete said the Education Department would also implement the new structural change of 1-6-6 system in all the schools in 2020.

Wau Primary School head teacher Mathew Humango thanked Zurete for  launching the SBE curriculum syllabus.

He said an in-service training for all teachers would be conducted from Sept 24-28 to train teachers on the SBE system.

The launching was witnessed by all teachers and students during opening of the three-days sports carnival on Tuesday.