How I learnt about affordable solar lighting

 It was dark as we sailed into the ox bow lake at Tipas village, Namea LLG in West Sepik. 

We had travelled in from Magleri down a tributary of the Sepik River called Wanipe.

It meanders and reaches the mighty Sepik River around the border of East Sepik and West Sepik at May River.

We then travelled westward to Tipas and the skipper realising bits of log floating down and the froth also on the water meant there was rain and thus a minimal flood. 

Before we reached Ellimolie logpond it was pitch dark already but rowing on the Sepik powered by an outboard motor engine is safe and fun.

The skipper only had to watch for huge logs that may be floating down stream.

We didn't encounter any.

As we emerged into the lake at Tipas then approaching the village I could see the village so lit up along the banks that are about three metres high.

My first impression was they had a village electricity.

But as we anchored and settled into one of the homes, I learnt it was solar powered lights. 

Depending on a villagers set up, it can be at the lounge room or the the front and back yards.

These very high post homes, sago thatched roofs and "pangal" wallings look just magnificent at night lit by the solar energy.

I felt embarrassed living in the city and knowing little about these lights.

They have different power ratings and connect straight to solar placed at the sago thatched roof top and with sufficient tropical sunshine all day the battery stored at the back of the light is charged adequately  everyday.

And using a remote the owner sets the light to come on and light the place for three, five, eight or twelve hours of LED lighting.

It's just bright and beautiful and one can enjoying reading a book very clearly.

So after learning about that and with Port Moresby frequently encountering long black outs I have invested in that solar lighting.

The light now comes on automatically at 6.40pm and goes off at 6.08am.

If PNG Power goes off I still have light to dine or read in the evening.

It costs about K199 for the solar and the 40W light with inbuilt battery.

You can check the shops at Erimart in Port Moresby.

Port Moresby based comic magazine- Lover Boy

 Congratulations to the guys behind the development, design and production of Lover Boy.

Disclaimer: This is not a design from the magazine

Graham Ainui Jnr is the guy behind the storyboard, illustration and he is the writer.

Michael Arifeai of Tribe FM at the NBC interviewed the guys about how it all started. 

But essentially their comic magazine which has a few stars is now on sale at K35.00 a copy.

Among the characters is a female named Linda.

Mr Ainui told Tribe FM it was a project that started two years ago and while they were working to find a platform to monetise their content online, this idea to print was suggested to them and now it is on sale.

Here below is the interview the producers had with the NBC and it starts with the producer outlining the characters in the comic.

The story theme is about everyday life of students and the struggles they go through.

The story is about school life, mental health and self appreciation, Anui said.

He pointed out some of the expressions are stuff that high school students face but they hardly bring home to their parents.

"There are some things you can't bring home to your parents," Ainui told Tribe FM.

He has been looking at several comics to grasp how to design and already visualises a long story board so we are looking for a lasting content that is locally produced.

Check Lover Boy on social media and reach out to them for a copy.

Promoting respect and love among the young in Madang

Hospital staff needs contact for ICU patient relatives

"Seeking assistance from the public  to locate family of ICU patient"

Port Moresby General Hospital is appealing to the general public to help locate the immediate family or relatives of a patient who is currently admitted at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

The elderly patient who is currently admitted at the Port Moresby General Hospital Intensive Care Unit (PMGH ICU)

The patient, whose personal details are still unknown, is a female believed to be in her 60s who had sought treatment at the hospital on Monday, 6th of February, 2023.

The patient was found to be in severe distress with shortness of breath and collapsed soon after arrival at the Emergency Department.

She was intubated at the Emergency Department and later transferred to the ICU where she is currently being managed.

The patient had no guardian with her when she came to the hospital and had no form of ID on her.

The patient was diagnosed with severe asthma at the time of admission and although she is stable, she has still not regained consciousness.

 

The Medical and Social Works Department had been consulted to locate the immediate family or relatives of the patient. However, staff could not do much as there is very little or no information to help in the search for the patient’s family.

PMGH is appealing to the public to come forward with any information if you recognize the elderly patient and to contact the switchboard on 324 8200 or 324 8100.

Woman suffers from sorcery related violence in Goroka

 Watch how a medical doctor is making a difference in Goroka

How the PNGDF quelled the Vanuatu uprising in 1980

 

This article was created Saturday, 04th April, 2015. This is a reblog.

BY CYRIL GARE

Among our first class servicemen, is military legend, Brigadier General Tony Huai (Retired) (pictured) from Rapa village in the Bereina district of Central province. Not once but twice he was Commander of the PNG Defence Force; 1985-88 and 1993-95. 

“I really enjoyed my time in the military. If I had a choice, I’d go and do it again. It’s a discipline life but it’s very good. It’s in my blood”.

Huai had a family history. He uncle, a six foot two, served in the Royal PNG Constabulary during colonial days, his other uncles served as “carriers” during World War II while his father was a Councillor after the war.  

Tony Huai (retired)

On Holy Thursday, I caught up with this military hero at the haus win of the Police Southern Command headquarters at Konedobu after enquiring to write a story about the Kumul force in Vanuatu. He openly availed himself and charmingly told about his experience as Commander that led the Kumul force to Vanuatu in 1980 that quelled the Coconut War or Coconut Rebellion and quashed the self-style independent State of Vemarana that was proclaimed by Jimmy Stevens on May 27, 1980, eight weeks before Vanuatu’s Independence.  

The record held more for him when he was recalled to become the PNGDF Commander for the second time by the Julius Chan Government to oversee the Bougainville conflict.   

In 1963 charismatic Jimmy Stevens formed the Nagriamel movement. Prior to Vanuatu's independence, the islands were known as the New Hebrides. The New Hebrides were governed by a condominium of France and the United Kingdom. In 1980, France and the United Kingdom agreed that Vanuatu would be granted independence on 30 July 1980.

In that year, Jimmy Stevens, head of the Nagriamel movement, led an uprising against the colonial officials and the plans for independence.  The uprising lasted about 12 weeks. The rebels blockaded Santo-Pekoa International Airport, destroyed two bridges, and declared the independence of Espiritu Santo island as the "State of Vemerana". Stevens was supported by French-speaking landowners and by the Phoenix Foundation, an American business foundation that supported the establishment of a libertarian tax haven in the New Hebrides. 

On 8 June, 1980, the New Hebrides government asked Britain and France to send troops to quell the rebellion. France refused to allow British to deploy troops to defuse the crisis, yet French soldiers who were stationed on Luganville (town) took no action. As Independence Day neared, the Prime Minister to be, Fr. Walter Lini asked Papua New Guinea for intervention. Sir Julius then Prime Minister directed Ted Diro, then Commander of the PNGDF to prepare for Vanuatu. Tony Huai, who was then Director Land Operations was tasked to establish an operational plan and battle procedures.  The operation was code named Wantok Durua or Operation Helpim Wantok. 

As Papua New Guinean soldiers began arriving in Espiritu Santo, the foreign press began referring to the ongoing events as the "Coconut War".

The Vanuatu engagement is held today as one of country’s most successful military operations in our time attributing to zero loss of lives and zero destruction of assets and properties. 

By mid-June, 1980 a PNGDF “advance party” left for Vanuatu on PNGDF DC3’s and Air Niugini charters. Their mission was to establish communication with the Vanuatu Government, collect intelligence, set administration and logistic bases.  

Maritime squadrons including patrol boats HMPNGS Lae and Madang captained by majors Mathew Efi and Eric Ani respectively and landing crafts HMPNGS Salamaua and Buna also sailed out. 

“South easterly wind was very strong and pushing back on our maritime fleets only to arrive at Port Villa after three weeks”. 

About mid-June, the main body of the troops flew into Port Villa via Honiara, Solomon islands. “When we arrived, we were well established”. 

From Port Villa, several reconnaissance flights were taken over Fanapo, the base of Jimmy Stevens where he lived with his 25 lives and children and some 40 active members of his rebel group on the island of Espiritu Santo.   

Furthermore, intelligence coming in from Vanuatu police and the wider community indicated weapons including US army carbines (automatic rifles) left behind from World War II and tailor made dynamites with fuses were in rebel hands.

In addition, a PNGDF reconnaissance team comprising six brave parachutists led by a Madang Sergeant had returned with vital intelligence and detail sketch of Fanapo after five days inside Fanapo undetected.  

Troops’ preparation –to enter the rebel camp at Fanapo and flush them out - intensified with focus on marksmanship “making sure troops are zeroing on their individual rifles”. 

On the second week of August, 1980 at 4:30 am the troops departed for the rebel held island of Espiritu Santo. The instruction was to secure the airfield and other strategic facilities at Luganville. “It was an emotional moment,” Huai recalled, “as we walked down to the Port Villa airport, the three DC3’s were ready, doors open, troops move in, all overloaded, what we call “military overloaded” meaning fully equipped soldiers for battle. 

“The three air crafts took 120 men. The two Nomads (aircrafts) carried my Command group. As we took off, we could see the morning sun rise coming up…it was beautiful, very clear sky. First aircraft took off, second aircraft took off, third aircraft took off, and my aircraft took off and we circled and then we came into a formation, a beautiful formation, what we call Arrow Head; a lead DC3 in front, a second DC 3 on the left and third DC 3 on the right, while my Nomad was behind the lead DC 3 followed by the second Nomad of my Command group behind, forming an arrow head, just like the shape of a flying aircraft.

“When we arrived at Luganville at about 6:30 am, the 42nd Commando unit of the British army was relaxing, sun bathing top naked. Their Commander saw me, saluted me and acknowledged our presence. I said to him sir, you ready to leave, he said yes, they were waiting for their Hercules C130 to arrive. He wished me luck”.

Within 15 minutes the airport at Luganville was fully secured. Huai led the troops to town where the French troops were stationed and the message was the same that they were also leaving. By 5 pm Luganville was fully secured. 

At Luganville, arrangement was courted for Huai to meet with Jimmy Stevens. Record set when Huai personally met Jimmy Stevens in the jungle half way between Luganville and Fanapo. There they hugged and greeted each other before Huai relayed the message of Prime Minister Lini to Stevens. The talk took place on a log fell across the road by the rebels to signify the meeting spot for the two men that day.

The message was simply: surrender and enjoy pardon or succumb to military confrontation. Stevens never adhered.  

Days later, Jimmy Steven’s son was killed by PNGDF snippers after ramming through a military block at Luganville where the Kumul force was stationed and maintaining a State of Emergency 24/7 guarding strategic public facilities such as water supply, hospital, airport, fuel depots, electricity, and communication. A “no go” 12 miles economic zone over the Espiritu Santo domestic waters was also imposed by Huai that “anything within this range will be shot and sunk”.  

Two days after the death of Jimmy Steven’s son, the troops invaded Fanapo only to find the “white flag” waving at them depicting the surrender of Jimmy Stevens and his rebel group. There was no challenge. 

At Stevens' trial, the support of the Phoenix Foundation to the Nagriamel movement was revealed. It was also revealed that the French government had secretly supported Stevens in his efforts. Stevens was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment; he remained in prison until 1991. 

“The Vanuatu experience was an eye opener for us”, Huai said. At the time of deployment, Huai was Lieutenant Colonel and Director of Land Operations. After the successful Operation Santo Pax, he was promoted to full Colonel, a rare occasion in military history where an army officer is promoted while in conflict. Huai’s clocked 28 years of distinguished service in military. He turns 64 in August and a good father of 9.   

“As you complete your article please, include my most sincere and humble appreciation to all officers and men of all land, maritime and air elements for their magnificent and professional performance of all military skills to achieve a task in time and without loss of life. I salute them all and God bless them all,” Huai said in late text message last night. 

Placards depict messages for PNG

 I drove past this street in Port Moresby and spotted these messages on a road side.

It was during a public holiday in remembrance of late Sir Michael Somare's passing.

This was not in a popular and up market Port Moresby setting 

What intrigues me is the level of energy and thought put into producing and displaying this.

Surely there are concerns by the producers and they want to be heard.

Please read each placard and work out if there are genuine messages behind them

By Arthur Smedley. An account by Kiap George Oakes

 Starting a DC-3 at Palmalmal, New Britain, Papua New Guinea.  About 1961.  

Courtesy of George Oakes.  Here is George's story of what happened.

In about 1961, when I was the Patrol Officer at Pomio, on the south coast of New Britain, we would go over to Palmalmal to meet the DC3 on its flight from Lae to Rabaul every fortnight. On one occasion the plane landed and had over 20 passengers on board. After the pilot had organised people getting off and on and unloading cargo for us they all boarded the plane to go to Rabaul. The pilot went to start the motor: nothing happened. The battery was flat.

The pilot got out and asked if we had a long rope which the plantation manager at Palmalmal soon found. The pilot then twisted the end of the rope around one of the propellers like starting a top then got back in the plane and when he gave the signal about a dozen of us pulled hard on the rope: nothing happened.

We then attached the end of the rope to the tractor and the tractor driver waited for the signal from the pilot and then drove as fast as possible away from the plane: the engine started to everyone's relief. Once the pilot got one engine going it was no problem to start the second. He was then able to take off for Rabaul.

The pilot told us he had a party in Lae he wanted to attend. We people on the ground heaved a mighty sigh of relief as we did not know how we could look after over 20 passengers for the night if the pilot had to wait for another battery to be delivered.

The pilot said no photos please, however, several months later I was sent some photos of what had happened. I had not realised a DC3 could be started this way.

Australian High Commissioner observes polling in Hela

 

Australian High Commissioner Jon Philp was in Hela yesterday where he joined the international observer election teams observing polling at Piribu, Kupari and Tari.

Polling commenced yesterday in the country with several provinces commencing polling and this included a one day polling for the whole of Hela Province.

In a statement the Australian High Commission says Australia’s participation reflects Papua New Guinea and Australia’s shared commitment to democracy and the democratic process.

Australia assisted Papua New Guinea to print millions of ballot papers and assisted with transportation of sensitive election materials throughout the country using its Royal Australian Air Force aircrafts.

The United Nations is coordinating the international observer mission and their observer report will be presented to the PNGEC to improve the transparency and credibility of the election process.

 

Central Province women listen to Governor Robert Agarobe

 It is now time for the people of Central Province to use their democratic right to make a choice on who should be their Governor.

So many candidates are on the campaign trail.

Robert Agarobe meets people at Yule Island, Kairuku District

As for me, my campaign has taken place in the last five years and today, my team and I are having meet and greets with people to explain to them about what we have done so far.

“They will not be doing a campaign but awareness,” Hon Robert Agarobe told over one hundred Central women who gathered to see video news clip reports about few of his achievements in passing legislations.

“It’s about making you aware of a lot of things you are not aware off.”

He told the women if they thought they knew politics they would by lying just like himself.

He admitted he picked up after two years in Parliament and made bold decisions to ensure Central Province benefits.

“Being an aircraft engineer I am a fast learner,” he said this assisted him to quickly see how politics worked and he became part of the government that overthrew PNC and for the first time Central Province is recognized.

“I fought a battle behind the scenes,” Agarobe said.

Robert Agarobe MP

 The women gathered to watch some of his achievements in making legislative changes that will essentially support development progress for the province in the longer term.

These are like the nuts and bolts his team and has put together and soon other parts will make it complete and Central will prosper.

Agarobe said he was impressed by the reaction from these women who saw the TV news clips and cheered and gave an applause.

I invite my people of Central to see our achievements without a biased view.

An important legislation that we have amended and passed is the NCDC 2001 Amendment Bill.

We will now have access to 10 percent of GST generated in Port Moresby paid directly to us by the Internal Revenue Commission amounting to K3.2 million every month.

What does that mean, we will have more revenue to increase the size of our budget and respond to our sector development needs.

Aside from that and empowered by the Act, I as your Governor will sit on the NCDC board.

This was never realized before.

The women were also made aware that the Lands Department has also given the land title for the land at Konedobu to the Central Provincial Government.

Important to note, I have decided that our headquarters will be built on the Konedobu land with few other important infrastructure like lecture theatres for teaching, learning and preserving our history and heritage.

You may wonder why I changed my mind not to build at Bautama.

Basically this is strategic.

Encroachers are land grabbing our land and denying us the rights to legitimate benefits on our Central land that Port Moresby is built on, and if we moved to Bautama, it means we have been defeated and kicked out of our Central land.

We must build on our land in Port Moresby and make a statement that Port Moresby is still ours.

“I talk a lot about our land and history and I sound like a broken CD,” Agarobe said.

The national government has pledged to support infrastructure development at Konedobu.

The women were also made aware that another important development progress the Pangu led government has supported Central is the establishment of the Provincial Health Authority and the subsequent launch of a provincial hospital to be built at Bautama.

It will be to the tune of K700 million and expected to be completed in 2025.

The development will be the hospital and a commercial hub.

That is a huge milestone again supported by Prime Minister James Marape’s government and I had to be vocal to have the hospital built at Bautama rather than at Gerehu in NCD.

People with vested interests have wanted it to be constructed at Gerehu.

Once that 330-beds hospital with specialist health care services are in operation our people will be so relieved.

 We will ensure the services are sustained and there is high quality service delivered.

They do not need to queue at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Agarobe told the women, being an aircraft engineer he was about sustaining projects and infrastructure.

“It’s about building and sustaining it and for us to do that we need money,” he said.

The latest legislative changes aim to grow the economy so there enough money to respond to basic needs and build enabling infrastructure.