Gav Stoa settlers ask for 6 months

Source: 

The National, Friday, June 10th 2011

COMMUNITY leaders from the Gav Stoa settlement in Madang have asked the Madang provincial government to consider letting them stay until the end of this year.
In a June 3 letter to the provincial administrator Ben Lange, the ward councillors and village court magistrates asked that their plea be favourably considered on humanitarian grounds.
Two weeks ago, provincial government officials, escorted by police, had issued eviction notices, asking for voluntary eviction.
The eviction notices came about after continuous harassment and attacks on staff and students of the three major institutions in the area – Madang Technical College, Divine Word University and Maritime College.
The three institutions were forced to stage a peaceful protest march to the provincial government headquarters giving an ultimatum to either have the settlers move or they would take matters into their own hands.
The eviction deferral request, according to the community leaders, was because, more than 500 children from Gav Stoa settlement at school were nearing their mid term exams; employed residents needing employers approval for alternate arrangements; and that their natural justice has been denied.
They pleaded for a time extension until the end of the year while they organised themselves.
In the meantime, they had given their full support to the provincial government, police and others involved in the eviction exercise of their full cooperation, even scolding their youths to surrender homebrew making equipment to police.
The Gav Stoa leaders also asked that the provincial law and order committee behind the evictions target specific problematic families and leave genuine settlers alone.
Provincial station commander and head of the law and order committee, Chief Insp Steven Kaipa said yesterday that the provincial administration was yet to consider and respond but was pleased with the progress and cooperation of the Gav Stoa settlers so far.
“This whole exercise is for the benefit of the three institutions,” he said.

Basamuk work halted

Source: 

The National, Friday, June 10th 2011

RAMU NiCo, developers of the multi-million kina Ramu nickel and cobalt mine in Madang, has stopped work at its Basamuk refinery site on instructions from the mine inspector with the Department of Mining..
The company’s general manager corporate office Wu Xuefeng said last night the order to stop work was effective from Wednesday and covered welding-related work.
He said the mining inspector also ordered Ramu NiCo to improve the project’s safety and health management procedures.
Wu said the mine inspector made a recent visit and issued the order after inquiring into a Chinese worker’s death due to heart attack at the Basamuk processing plan.
“Immediately upon the receipt of the notice, Ramu NiCo confirmed with the inspectorate that it will comply with the instructions.
“Ramu NiCo is now taking rectification measures at all sites across the project covering all contractor personnel, while at the same time putting together a comprehensive plan to address areas highlighted by the mine inspector and to ensure problems are fixed before the full commissioning of the pro-ject,” he said.
Details of the accident were not disclosed.

Madang league referees in promotion

Source: 

The National, Thursday, June 9th 2011

LAE Biscuit Company has extended its “no referee, no game” campaign to Madang with the sponsorship of rugby league referees there.
The sponsorship came in the form of 11 sets of uniforms, carrying the campaign slogan, that were presented to the whistleblowers of Madang.
Lae Biscuit’s Madang and Sepik representative, Samuel Koyomu presented the gear to the president of the Madang rugby league referees association, Peter Elavo last week.
Koyomu said Lae Biscuit supported grassroots participation in sports but also expected good conduct from players, officials and supporters in sporting venues.
He said the company considered referees as a very important part of any sport and decided to come up with the “no referee, no game” campaign for rugby league matches as violence against match officials in this sport was endemic.
Koyomu said if people continue to attack and mistreat referees, Papua New Guinea might as well forget the lofty agendas such as the PNG NRL Bid.
“How can PNG develop its players and make them better footballers to play in the NRL when referees who control local matches are mistreated and, as a result, matches are poorly controlled or abandoned?” Koyomu said.
“That is why Lae Biscuit thinks it is better for players, officials and supporters to start respecting referees if PNG is to develop in the game of rugby league,” he added.
Former referee and  Madang league president Paul Poka thanked thanked Lae Biscuit and endorsed the ideals of the company as expressed by Koyomu.