NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

Officers from KIK and DPI with Tambolema Copra Exporters conducting awareness on the best ways of producing Export Quality Copra in NumaNuma, Wakunai

100415ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS AFFECTED
BY JENNIFER NKUI

All secondary and technical vocational schools in the region have been hit hard as a result of late funding under the New Free Education Policy of the O’Neill Government.
New Dawn Fm was told over the phone today by the Principal of Buin Secondary school that as Chairman of the Bougainville Principles and Headmasters Forum, Martin Takali aired this worry through media on behalf of them.
He said they have written a letter to the Autonomous Bougainville Government before the campaigns started and they have received no response as yet.
He added that they have even alerted the Bougainville Education Division on this issue of funding and the senior officers there have not even acted upon their requests.
When asked if Buin Secondary will not go into the second term, Tony Malamo revealed that education for students for Buin Secondary school for the second term will not be disrupted because the school has food supply for the whole of second term.
He explained that the school has a good relationship with the business houses in Buin who are willing to give the school food on credit.
But according to Mr. Malamo there are also other costs that they have to take into consideration and that include the costs for fuel for the school generator.
He said this problem is being faced by all schools nationwide but all he wants is for the Bougainville Education department to act upon their requests and for the ABG to respond to their letter.

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201214 AROPA FIRST FLIGHT SUCCESSFUL
By Aloysius Laukai
The First Commercial flight into Aropa airport by the Air Niugini’s Q 400 named KIETA was hailed as success and now paves the way for increase in flights into Aropa.
New Dawn FM talked to ZHON BOSCO who said that his security officers from Aropa airport reported two flights, firstly direct from Port Moresby then it went to Rabaul and returned before returning to Port Moresby via, Rabaul.
Reports we received from Aropa was that although there flights were in order the AIR NIUGINI office needs to set up its ground staff in Aropa instead for using ground staff based in Buka which would be costly for the Airniugini in the long run.
A landowner who wants to remain anonymous told New Dawn FM that AIR NIUGINI must have separate ground crew in Aropa and reduce the operating cost in Central Bougainville.
He said operating from Buka could make the Aropa Passengers boot the cost of their operation in Aropa.
Our attempts to talk to the AIR NIUGINI officials in Buka regarding this story were unsuccessful.

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060514 WOMEN IN BUSINESS MOVING
By Aloysius Laukai

The secretary for the Bougainville Women in Business, ANGELA KOVOHO says that the Bougainville Women in Business association continuous to encourage more women to get into business and tap into the opportunities that are available to Bougainville women doing Business.

She told New Dawn FM today that the Association was established in 2009 and has been growing its members since.

MRS. KOVOHO said that since 2009 it has been a slow growth to 2012 but in 2014 because of the establishment of the NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANK and the women’s desk, the women are given the opportunity to do business.

She said that her association encourages women and girls to go into business, however only one Grade Ten girl who is currently doing matriculation studies at the UNI CENTRE has become a member.

MRS. KOVOHO said this is very encouraging as the girl does market and uses these monies to pay for her fees.

She encouraged more girls to become a member as they benefit in the long run.

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060514 COPRA PRICE INCREASES

By Aloysius Laukai

 

Copra prices have gone up as of this week according to the Publicity Officer of the Pristine Copra Mill in Buka, JOSEPH WATAWI.

 

MR. WATAWI said that the Pristine Copra mill has increased the price from the previous ONE KINA TWO TOEA to the new price of ONE KINA TEN TOEA.

 

He was speaking on New Dawn FM’s Talk show on New Dawn FM this afternoon.

 

MR. WATAWI also revealed incentives for truck owners delivering copra to the mill and that  they will be paid TWO KINA for every copra bag they deliver to the mill.

 

And the TWO KINA will be increased if up to 50 bags of copra is delivered to the mill.

 

MR. WATAWI said that the mill is also replacing Copra bags depending on the number of bags a farmer sells to the mill.

 

 

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Pictured  are copra sold to Pristine 101

 

PUNGHAU Comments on Musingku’s Currency
Anthony Kaybing

The Autonomous Bougainville Government will not sanction the use of the so called Bougainville Kina (BVK) nor does it recognize it as legal tender in Bougainville.
The ABG’s Minister for Finance Albert Punghau made this statement following the apprehension of an American national at the Jackson’s Airport with a brief case filled with the phony currency amounting to BVK1.6 last week.
The currency is sponsored by illusive money scam boss and self-proclaimed king Noah Misingku’s U-Vistract organization under itssubsidiary the International Bank of Mekamui.
Mr Punghau said the ABG does not and will not condone the actions of the Mekamui Faction headed by U-Vistract.
“Bougainville is still under the jurisdiction of the PNG Government and the BVK is in breach of the country’s laws and monetary policies” Mr Punghau said.
He said that despite Bougainville’s autonomous arrangement, under the Bougainville Peace Agreement Bougainville cannot have its own currency and must still use the PNG Kina as legal tender.
With reports of the BVK already in circulation in parts of South Bougainville, Mr Punghau made it clear that the currency has no value as it is not recognized by the ABG and PNG Government.
He explained that in any country only a Central Bank has the authority to mint a country’s currency under the backing of their Governments.
Mr Punghau further explained that until such time as Bougainvilleans decide to become independent through the referendum then can Bougainville be granted the right to mint its own currency and formulate its own monetary policies.
“Right now the legal tender in Bougainville is the PNG Kina and nothing else,” he said.
He said Bougainvilleans who are using the BVK must refrain from doing so as business houses in Bougainville will not accept it following the advice of the PNG Central Bank that denounced the use of the currency last year.
He added that in the case of the American national, Barry Keith would face the full brunt of PNG’s migratory laws as well as having to face other charges on violating the country’s monetary policies.
Reports from sources within Noah Misingku’s camp in Tonu, say that U-Vistract has distanced itself from the scandal saying they were unaware of Mr Keith’s illegal entry into the country.

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Pictured is AKA KING PEI (ii) Picture at his King's Palace, Tonu City by Aloysius Laukai

180214MICHA SAYS AROPA WILL TAKE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM OPENING DAY
By Aloysius Laukai

The Minister for State Enterprises, BEN MICHA has promised Aropa airport returning to International Airport.
He made these remarks at the meeting with the AROPA Airport landowners in Arawa yesterday.
Minister Micha said that on the Opening of Aropa airport the Government of Papua New Guinea will invite the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands to also attend the ceremony.
He said that this will allow the return of SOLOMON AIRLINES to fly between Aropa and Honiara giving Bougainville Passengers other flying options rather than flying to Port Moresby.
The State Minister said that AROPA was in a strategic location and will make sure Customs and Quarantine Officers are stationed in Arawa to clear Passengers and Planes at the Aropa airport.

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180214 FORMER FIGHTERS GUARANTEE SAFETY OF AIRCRAFTS

By Aloysius Laukai

 

The Former Bougainville Revolutionary Commanders, ISHMAEL TOROAMA and SAM KAUONA yesterday guaranteed the safety of aircrafts and passengers if the AROPA International Airport is re-opened again.

Speaking at the meeting with AROPA AIRPORT landowners in Arawa yesterday, MR. TOROAMA said that time for fighting is over and now is time to rebuild.

He said that they are looking at development throughout Bougainville and really support the restoration of Government services into the island.

MR. TOROMA said that he and his boys will make sure that the area is safe and conducive for business activities to return once the airport is re-opened.

 

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Meeting with Aropa landowners in Arawa Yesterday

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170214ARAWA POST OFFICE OPENS

By Aloysius Laukai

ARAWA was packed to capacity again this morning when the people gathered to see the re-opening of the Arawa Post office and an AIR NIUGINI sales office.

The ceremony was witnessed by Ministers from the National Government and leaders of Central Bougainville.

In his opening remarks, the Minister for State Enterprises, BEN MICHA said that the National Government was committed to supporting the ABG to build her capacity.

MR. MICHA said that building Airports and bridges and now the Arawa Post office will definitely new window of opportunity for local Businesses.

He said that it has been more than twenty years for the people of Central and South Bougainville to travel all the way to Buka for postal services.

The Minister for Communication, JIMMY MIRINGTORO became the first person to pay for a Post Office Box after the ceremony.

 

 

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Caption

Arawa Post Office opened this morning and pictured is State Enterprises Minister Ben Micah in Arawa this morning.

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070214 PRESTINE 101 EXPORTS FIRST SHIPMENT

By Alex Munme

PRESTINE 101 Copra Mill is now preparing to export its first shipment of crude oil to Asia and Europe.

The Copra Mill’s Consultant, Joseph Watawi said this on New Dawn FM Top Show this morning in Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Mr. Watawi said since coming into full operation on December 19, 2013, 10 containers weighing 20 metric tones each and totaling upto about 200 Metric tones of Crude Oil has been produced and is now being prepared to be shipped to overseas markets.

He said Stock Feed out of copra is another product and the first shipment has been exported in January to Markham in Morobe Province and New Zealand although they planned for March or April 2014.

Mr. Watawi said Copra Price now stands at 85 toea per Kilo or K85 per bag and the price is expected to increase depending on the outcome of the first Crude Oil export.

He is strongly appealing to farmers to properly dry their copra as well as not to add foreign matter in the bags when coming to sell so that quality is maintained

 Discussions are underway for price stability when Copra Price drops, Mr. Watawi said.

The Consultant said ABG benefits from the 10 percent General Sales Tax or GST from the purchase of Spare Parts to operate the factory.

He added that Export levy fee unfortunately goes to KIK as ABG has no Commodity Board to regulate this but KIK will pay some money back for research and extension work.

 

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Pictured are Ten Containers of Crude Oil from the Buka Copra Mill ready for Export to Europe and Asia