National Housing Estate company accused of failing to file tax returns for 10 years

The National Housing Corporation and its subsidiary, the National Housing Estate Limited have been criticized by affected tenants who were evicted from their lodgings, for lack of compliance to business practice. 

Some evicted tenants lived at these places for more than a decade.

The allegations come at the back end of the both organizations wielding their authority, with the full backing from Housing and Urbanisation Minister Justin Tkatchenko to “pay up or move out.”

Household stuff for families evicted this week in Port Moresby

Displaced tenants have raised concerns that the National Housing Estate has not been fully operational having effective systems in place and worst as a company, it has not filed annual returns for more than a decade.

A check with the Internal Revenue Commission yesterday, an official confirmed the NHEL incorporated in 2010 has not filed annual corporate tax since then.

The company has not filed salary and wages tax as well.

The acting managing director is Madeline Paulisbo and Internal Revenue Commission records say she is the current contact person.

Their office and their public relations department were contacted but they could not be reached.

The IRC official said the company should file tax returns even if it was not making profits.

Five families around the 5 Mile, Henao Drive area in Port Moresby were this week evicted as a result of defaulting their rentals, one had arrears up to K30,000.

The unit chained and locked

The family of nine, including father and mother, humbly moved out and the mother admitted guilt of failing to pay and in several circumstances paying by cash to company employees who produced stamped receipts a day later.

She now realised the money never went to the company.

Minister Tkatchenko on Tuesday said: “The national executive council (NEC) has changed the ownership and shareholding of NHEL and NHC is now the major share holder and will be working together under one umbrella and not separate anymore.”

“They are now working together to develop and maintain all the properties owned by the two entities as it makes it easier to develop housing in PNG,”

The concern from affected tenants at 5 Mile, Henao Drive was that most have outstanding arrears that could not be settled immediately and the company was not functioning orderly and complying with tax compliances, they could work out something mutual, beneficial and keeping all records clean.

“We have been paying rent, and we have already discussed these issues with NHEL, yet we are continuously bullied and harassed by police and NHEL staff,” said committee leaders.

“Minister for Housing Justin Tkatchenko promised no evictions, yet we have been thrown out of our homes again,” they said.

“NHEL has continued to be in breach of its tenancy agreement as well by failing to maintain these properties. It cannot be always a one sided affair with NHEL, they need to step up and play their role as the landlords and maintain the properties.”

Committee Leaders have called on the Metropolitan Superintendent for Police Perou N'dranou, Member for MoresbyNorth East John Kaupa Minister Housing Justin Tkatchenko, and CEO Madelin Paulisbo to meet with them.

Unitech professor says women enjoy privileges and opportunities as men

  Papua New Guinea University of Papua New Guinea senior lecturer Dr Racheal Orake sys in every society and community around the world, women folk have struggles yet they survived and thrived.

This was her opening remarks during a celebration marking the Women's International Day at the Taraka Campus on Sunday under this year’s theme “Equal For All”.

“Despite every struggle and suppression in the communities and societies, the women folk have survived and we must recognize them the endurance they encountered in their lives because of their gender.”

“Unlike today, most of our women folks were denied, ignored and suppressed due to differences in cultural settings but over time they have overcome these disadvantages,” she said. 

Professor Garry Sali cutting the cake

The Head of Communication and Development Department, Associate Professor Garry Sali said that unlike in the past where women’s rights have been suppressed and ignored, women today enjoy the privileges and opportunities as their male counterparts.

“We must understand that it’s the cultural perception and makeup of each society that has played an important role in the differentiation of social makeup of the societies.”

“The gender differentiation which denied the women folks their rights were the making of the type of culture that they lived in.”

Professor Sali said that this has now changed over the years and now women in PNG are well protected by the law where they are enjoying privileges as the males.

He pointed out that at the back of a successful man, there is a woman and women play an important role just as the man.

“The women must be recognized as equals in our society and also as important players in our nation building.”

“Together with women working with us side by side, we can build this young nation where gender equality and gender balance needs to be balance in all socio-economic and political domain of the country to develop positively,” said Professor Sali.

NBC managing director wants board and management to work within their responsibilties

National Broadcasting Corporation managing director Kora Nou says the organisation and the board were at loggerheads recently, moving in and out of the courts.

This has adversely affected the oldest broadcaster's operations.

Apart from that, the NBC and the whole of the ICT sector in a short space of time when there was a change in government had five ministers.

The recent one being Hon. Timothy Masiu.

Minister Timothy Masiu speaking when the board members took oaths and affirmations of office

“That’s a record of some sort,” he said during the board members took oath and affirmations of office last Friday.

The organisation also did not have a functioning board for a year.

“We had a start stop situation,” Nou said.

In welcoming the board headed by Pius Tikili, he said he was content there was a seamless transition now with the installation of a new board and they would be inducted in due course.

But Nou has stressed what Minister Masiu also emphasised that the board and management should be clear about their roles and responsibilities.

“The demarcation are to be clear,” he said.

“The board provides the strategic directions and the management and staff has to implement.”
“I also pledge loyalty and dedication to the new board,” he said.

He said the staff and management looked forward to “bring it (NBC) back to the glory it used to have.”

Former board chairman Timothy Tala and member Ps Babani Harry has been retained to ensure continuity at the board level guiding the new members on many projects and initiatives the NBC has embarked on.

The other members are deputy chairman Emil Tenoa and only female and lawyer Zinnia Dawidi.

Bangladeshi national deported from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea deported a Bangladeshi national last Thursday.

He was identified as Belal Hossain who was seen off by Taskforce team of the Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA).

This is the fifth deportation in recent weeks as the new Marape Steven government clamps down on illegal immigrants.

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Belal Hossain

Hossain was detained at the Bomana Immigration Detention Centre for over a month  and was presented with his deportation order at the Jackson’s International Airport by the Immigration Taskforce Team during his departure.

Hossain was operating a tucker shop business, Adil Holdings Limited at 9 mile Kela Mountain in Port Moresby was found to have breached labour and IPA laws and consequently immigration laws.

Hossain and the four others deported last week where all part of a Human smuggling racket that is now being investigated by authorities.

He was  part of the twenty men who were apprehended and interrogated by a team made up of Immigration, Labour and Police during a joint operation in Port Moresby  in February this year.

Women in Hela Province still facing family and sexual violence issues

With International Women’s Day coming up on Sunday, March 8, it’s worth noting that the Family Support Centre (FSC) at Tari Hospital is busier than ever before.
Proudly supported by Oil Search Foundation (OSF) and operated by Hela’s Provincial Health Authority (PHA), the Centre saw an 85% increase in clients throughout the course of last year.

In total, more than 1,100 new women and girls came through its doors in 2019 who received more than 2,720 free and confidential services.
“We have been very busy lately,” confirms the Nurse Unit Manager, Sister Claire Lembo. “Every month, we are seeing around 100 survivors of sexual, family and domestic violence, and sometimes general violence and child abuse. Fortunately, we can offer them a with a wide range of services, from medical care, counselling, and contraception, to clothes, books and a safe place to shelter.”
“If they are sexual violence cases, we are also careful to provide medication to prevent women from being infected with sexual transmitted diseases like HIV,” she adds.
The FSC also provides medical and social assessments to assist in the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators. Such assessments can also help District Courts decide whether to issue protection orders.
Many may wonder whether the recent surge in clients reflects an increase in family and sexual violence across Hela, or just a greater willingness to seek help?
“It is impossible to say without more baseline data,” says Hela PHA CEO Dr James Kintwa, “but the fact that more survivors of violence are coming definitely shows that they are more aware that there are services that they can access, and that is definitely a good thing.”
Part of this increasing awareness may be due to the ongoing community outreach campaigns being conducted by the Hela PHA Public Health and FSV teams with support of OSF. “Our province-wide program of awareness raising-activities reached more than 8,000 people over the course of last year’ Dr Kintwa confirms.
OSF Chief Executive Stephanie Copus-Campbell expects that with increasing awareness the Centre’s caseload will increase yet again throughout 2020 and grow still more in the decade to come.
“The PNG Demographic Health Survey estimated that around 58% of PNG women experience violence at some point in their lifetimes. These sorts of statistics are simply not acceptable and we will continue to work with our partners at the national, provincial and district levels of government to address funding needs and support for services that meet the needs of survivors, including support  for perpetrators who are seeking assistance to change behaviour.”
 “But in the meantime, I think that this Sunday is a great time to celebrate people like Sister Claire and her team - who, no doubt, will be hard at work!”
Established by Medicines San Frontiers in 2009, and restored by Oil Search Foundation in 2016, the Family Support Centre was the first one of its kind in Hela province. Two more have since been set up in Magarima and Koroba.

-Oil Search Foundation

National Broadcasting Corporation is on life support

 The National Broadcasting Corporation is on life support needs immediate help to ensure it functions at an exceptional level.

 

Minister for Information and Communications Technology Timothy Masiu said this prior to NBC’s new board members took oath of office this morning.

“Let’s not deny this fact,” he said.

“Various organs of the NBC body are either failing or non-functioning and has been on decline for the past years.”

He challenged the new board chaired by Pius Tikili, business man behind the successful Mapai Transport to resuscitate the NBC.

They board has to watch over these three major projects during its three year term.

Mr Masiu noted staff realignment exercise, nationwide asset review and register and the analogue to digital TV migration project.

“I am certain that the incoming board will further deliberate on these and other past projects and initiatives,” he said.

He was a former NBC broadcaster and board member.

“Under my watch there will be clear demarcations of roles and responsibilities of a minister, board and management will be sustained,” Masiu said.

A point managing director Kora Nou also echoed.

“The demarcation are to be clear if we are to move NBC forward,” he said.

The board members are chairman Pius Tikili, his deputy Emil Tenoa and members Zinnia Dawidi a lawyer by profession and the only female, Pastor Babani Harry and Timothy Tala.

The Upe votes

We had protruded into a hamlet setting from our track with less than five houses, surrounded by few odd betel nut trees.

Teua women, top naked and in their grass skirts and betel nut stained red mouth very striking against their natural black beauty danced.

Teua women dancing

Men wore a lace decorated with scented leaf on it around their necks and blowing the conch shell and kaur (wind instrument made from bamboo) producing a charming bass sound.

We were told to stand in line across the track entering the hamlet.

From left to right, I can’t recall whether it was Jeremy Miller or Ben Bohane but I vividly remember Wayne Coles-Janess was on my left and I was on far right as we stood.

John Sisiesi, a local and the assistant returning officer, told us it was a welcome gesture.

Far beyond 20 metres, the Bougainville flag is hoisted on a bamboo mast and not far from it, a polling booth has been set.

People danced around the flag

The boundary set by green leafy coconut fronds.

The women dancing were holding bamboos as long as a metre and the top end had some leaves folded beautifully like a squared paper and shutting the hollow top.

Some women came close to each of us and placed the scented lace around our necks.

And with a surprise the next group removed the leaves covering the hollow top of the bamboo and they tipped it down to our feet, there came out water from a tap.

Our shoes and pairs of socks were wet.

I wasn’t prepared for this. I knew though in Buka it’s called the Tsutsu or the washing of feet to welcome a person who first visits a place.

I could sense a feeling of contentment and peace among the community- the day they have been longing and waiting for has finally arrived, the day to vote in a referendum for Independence from Papua New Guinea.

With a wet feet, we pulled video and photography gears out-it’s time to capture whatever we can because we will be there for less than 30 minutes before we leave.

We moved to the centre place where the Bougainville flag was hoisted and the men, women and children danced around the flag.

A man was dancing and blowing the Kaur and every time he comes to my side, he would wave at me.

I recognized him as Martin Sibo, 53, year old betel nut trader I interviewed him in Buka a week prior.

We caught up soon after and I gave him a packet of noodles and biscuit and a pop drink sachet.

Martin Sibo

He told me, “God bai lukautim wokabaut bilong yu.”

( God will protect you in your journey back)

While the dancing was going on, the Upe were in the forest.

They were supposed to dance and show off their liveliness and ability but we were informed that the sun was already up and high and they couldn’t perform.

And if they did, women were to be secluded in their homes. They are forbidden from seeing the Upe.

Information was passed to the Upe and with their teacher Sam Manu, their protruded from their hiding in line.

They wore the Úpe headdress, one of the designs found on the Bougainville flag, bare top, but they wore sports shorts and holding wooden javelins- beautifully decorated. It indicates a weapon traditionally crafted.

The Upe

One of skills an Upe should muster after spending about three years in the forest going through various initiations is to be able to go to war or protect his family.

The Upe were given special preference. Those who were 18 years went through the polling booth and voted but those who were ineligible on passed though the Bougainville referendum polling booth,  a sign of embracement and endorsement of the referendum vote.

Before they voted, their teacher Sam Manu told us through an interpreter that the Upe initiations and training promotes successful and happy societies and they existed hundreds of years ago.

He wanted the government to recognize and fund them-a deed he believed is a token of appreciation for having their design on the Bougainville flag.

Manu and his Upe students retreated into their jungle college after they voted.

For me and the Australian journalists, it was an experience seeing the Upe after hearing and reading about them.

We had a chat with the people there under a shelter.

Their area is regarded as the neglected backwaters of Bougainville.

They want a road to connect with Buka so that their cash crops, subsistence farming produces and the green gold ‘betel nut’ can be transported to markets.

As it is, using the sea costs a trader: K60 return passenger boat fare to Buka. K10 to pay a carrier to carry a bag of betel nut to the coast, almost two hours walk. Another K10 is needed to get the bag on a boat.

Martin Sibo and his betel nut in Buka

Health, education and telecommunication were their priority needs as well.

It was history the Upe took part in a political vote, the people were excited and like many rare moments in Bougainville the, referendum vote was a period of feasting and celebration.

The Upe in polling booth

It was historical, momentous, and we hope the story and plight of the Teua (Kunua ) people is heard and they are included in development planning, budgeting and delivery of services.

We bid them farewell and trekked back to our truck, then drove to our boat and arrived in Buka, after lunch sailing past high seas before Saposa Island.  Reflections over a lunch and a cold drink at Reasons Restaurant and Bar ended our reporting adventure.