Shameful Jackson's Airport war

It's a very shameful act by security personnel who rampaged and caused fear, even disrupting flights in and out of Port Moresby on  Monday, 22 March, 2021.

The government must ensure the personnel are severely penalised together with the employer-the security firm.

Papua New Guinea's repute has been tarnished internationally.

This happened at the international gateway to the country, it's uncalled for.

There may be versions from parties attempting to clear ones name and blame the other, the means do not justify the end.

Rationally, no one should be attacking each other at the airport terminal and into the tarmac area chasing people and damaging airport equipment and machines.

Even at the departure terminal, glasses were damaged.

A National Airports Corporation vehicle was chased down as it was reversing at the departure drive in.

The lands cruiser vehicle was damaged. Severely damaged that is.

All actions were captured on people's mobiles phones in the form of video and pictures and widely shared on social media.

It is all public knowledge.

Prime Minister James Marape the public is watching and you will need to make a call where it calls.

The security company contract should be terminated as per your media announcement and do not forget to clean the NAC.

Turn a portion of your yard to a garden

If you crunch the numbers about how much you spend at the main Gorden's Market and or these black markets on road sides in Port Moresby buying vegetables and greens- you'd be amazed how expensive they are making you dig deeper into your wallets every now and then.

Since moving to a place more than 12 months ago, we have turned a car park lot that is not used to a garden.

Its helped us save about K10 a day for greens and vegetables.

Here we grow pumpkin so we get the leaves and the pumpkin vegetable.

We grow 'aupa'.

We grow banana, this banana from Morobe is so delicious.

We also grow onion, pawpaw, moringa and mangoes should be ready in the not too distant future.

These vegetables save us a lot and when harvested from from your garden, you can taste the freshness and so love it.

Save money, turn your background into a garden and eat organic food.

People will need positive messages from people in authority

It's  a beautiful Palm Sunday in Port Moresby.

Families attended church adhering to Covid-19 protocols.

Papua New Guinea  has received 8,000 AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines from Australia.

Front line workers are expected to be the first to be vaccinated.

This is despite purported myths or misinformation against the vaccine about side effects.

There appears to be dissent on the importation and vaccination on citizens. 

Opposition Leader Belden Namah has been frank against the government to pause the importation and vaccination until when there is a bi-partisan support for the vaccine following a clearance from a medical authority. 

Madang Governor Peter Yama says the vaccine would not be welcome in his province.

The dissenting views appear because of reports from international media about side effects of blood cloth and protests in other countries.  

Prime Minister James Marape in welcoming the vaccines from Australia said the good friends from Australia would not provide to PNG anything that is not accepted medically world-wide. 

He said vaccination is though voluntary. 

Papua New Guineans however feel messages delivered by people in authority, government  and health professionals must not create fear and anxiety among citizens.

The country has a health system that cannot meet any demand in health crisis with shortage of manpower, medicine and lack of appropriate specialist medical equipment. 

The best assurance people would like to hear is despite our challenges, the health workers would do everything they can to save the people- like a military would defend the state from foreign military invasion.

Need chicken or egg call this Bus Wara farmer

Matthew Dawa who lives at Bush Wara in Port Moresby is your choice for chicken and egg.

I met him at 9 Mile Shopping Centre carry four layer chickens.

He was selling one for K20.

The weight is about 3kg so I feel there's plenty meat for a good feed. 

If you want chicken or eggs call him on Mobile 70698523

What must Papua New Guineans do after the burial of Sir Michael Somare

Today Papua New Guinea farewells the founding father Sir Michael Somare into his life after death.

He is laid to rest at a tomb and at a place he chose when he was alive- Kreer Heights, Wewak.

Unlike previous Prime Ministers in late Sir William Skate and Sir Mekere Morauta- Somare was not laid to rest at the precincts of Parliament in Port Moresby.

His wish was honored to be buried at Kreer Heights with his long time wife-Lady Veronica Somare.

She has also been down with one side paralyzed as a result of stroke.

So much has been said about Sir Michael from within Papua New Guinea, across the Pacific including Australia and New Zealand and the world over.

He has been hailed as the peace maker.

A name that is synonymous with the traditional name-Sana.

In his autobiography Sana- he remarked that if enemy tribes plan a war with his tribal group, they would invite they to a feast and after that, pronounce they were ready to go to war and each faction can take each side and fight.

Profoundly, this remark indicates someone who is not in for war.

He prefers dialogue and consensus.

And one of the highest values of instilling peace is to forgive the person who wrongs you.

In the country's history in August 2, 2011, he was wrongfully removed as Prime Minister and Peter O'Neill was installed.

The Supreme Court, not once but twice, ordered that the election of Peter O'Neill was unlawful.

But with strong dissent from politicians and public- Sir Michael humbled himself and allowed the controversial government of Peter O'Neill to continue.

He believed in peace and harmony and in order to reach that, one party must humble himself.

For Papua Ne Guinean's who are between the ages of 35 and 45, the best we would do to acknowledge the life of this great father of the nation is to emulate his values.

We must promote unity and peace through our deeds.

We must be ready to humble and submit ourselves to an opposing team in order to ensure there is peace.

Thank you Sir Michael Thomas Somare. Rest in Peace.

Change of guard at the Ministry of Defence

 

Member for Telefomin Solan Mirisim today assumed the role as Minister for Defence replacing Member for Okapa Saki Soloma.

In the recent reshuffle by Prime Minister James Marape, Soloma heads the Ministry of Rural Development and Energy.

It was a beautiful parade displayed this morning by the PNGDF personnel at Murray Barracks headquarters to farewell and welcome the ministers.

PNGDF parade personnel

 

Mirisim previously served as the Defence Minister so it was not a new ministry to head except that the ministry has other government heads of Fire Services, National Volunteer Services and National Disaster Office now under the ministry.

“It is fitting for someone who is a former minister knows the challenges to progress it,” Soloma said.

PNGDF Commander Brigadier Gilbert Toropo after the parade also shared similar sentiments.

He said if anyone is able to manage the Defence organization with the other line agencies, they should be able to do well in other ministries.

Soloma took over the ministry in May 2019 and he carried on from what Mirisim had left off.

Some of the defence strategic policy developments they have progressed are the Manus naval base re-development.

Soloma said the project is in two parts and the first is to do with the support facilities for the new Guardian Class Patrol Boats that are being gifted to PNGDF by the Australian Government.

This basically is to upgrade the current facilities so that it can support the four new Guardian Class Patrol Boats which are bigger than the current Pacific Class Patrol Boats.

The second part he says is a project with the US is still in the concept phase where studies are being conducted to see if it is feasible before any announcement can be made for any US support.

He said the PNGDF was also able to deploy Kumul17 Force Element personnel to Australia to help with relief efforts.

The other operations they did was supporting operations of Covid-19 where their health personnel were deployed with operational troops along the international land border making sure movement between PNG and Indonesia were monitored, controlled and action taken where needed.

Commander Gilbert Toropo gifts a sand painting to Saki Soloma

Soloma also noted security operations in the highlands and national building and civic work projects.

 

Mirisim said he knows well that 2022 is election year and he has limited time to introduce new policy initiatives.

“My intention is to ensure outstanding priorities and government directives to the defence organization is completely implemented,” he said.

He has commended Soloma for restructure of the Department of Defence and the Department of Personnel Management has approved and they have completed the corporate plan for 2020 to 2030.

Mirisim said the current legislation requires the government to seek parliamentary approval for any international engagement as in the case of assisting the Australians devastated by bush fire.

“During emergency, recalling of Parliament is not feasible. Therefore the International Obligations Act, 2010 is amended to allow government to send troops through an NEC approval,” he said.

Mirisim said today there will be no general enlistment in the PNGDF.

“This will allow PNGDF to take stock of its resources including infrastructure  and the future PNGDF organization structure.”

“PNG Defence Organisation will now work with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Science and Technology to ensure all future general enlistments are done through school leaver forms and directly from our educational institutions.”

Minister Mirisim concluded in saying the governments policy intention is to see the PNG Defence Organisation maximise its value using its dead assets to raise additional income to fund its shortfalls in the budget.

“The Commercial Support Program was created to transit to the Defence Commercial Company consistent with NEC decision number NG:71/2012.

“ Currently CSP has been in operation for over a decade. It is clearly my intention to ensure CSP migrates to a commercial company which is able to have a balance sheet and conduct itself in the global business environment,” Mirisim said.

 

I'm a Jive Market Agent

Happy  New Year 2021

What's happening with your life and plans for 2021.

Today I am officially unemployed after 22 months at Post Courier as Digital Editor.

I have decided to create myself a job and keeping busy so I have registered as a Jive Market Agent. 

What's good here I am still employed. 

Jive Market pays a 4 per cent commission for EasyPay sales and 5 per cent commission for the mobile phone credit sales.

If you need power reach out to me on Facebook or 71853522

Thank you