Anglo reshuffles board, appoints CFO

James Assan 

ANGLOGOLD Ashanti has shuffled its executive team in an attempt to streamline its business, with changes ahead for its Australian division.

Richard Duffy has been appointed as chief financial officer, replacing former CFO Srinivasan Venkatakrishnanm, who has been promoted to chief executive officer.

In addition, Duffy, who has been with AngloGold since its inception in 1998, will be made an executive director of the company.

Duffy, who is executive vice-president of Continental Africa, held an EVP role in business development from 2004-08 and was accountable for merger and acquisition activity as well as greenfields exploration.

He began his career with Anglo American in 1987.

Other changes to the company’s leadership structure were announced, with the new executive committee structure aimed at streamlining the business to deliver long-term benefits to shareholders.

The changes include bringing the company’s operations under a joint chief operating officer model, with Ron Largent taking on the role of co-COO while Mike O’Hare will retain his leadership role of the South African operations as co-COO.

Largent’s role will see him combine his current responsibilities under his Americas portfolio with the Continental African operations and Australian operations once the Tropicana gold project in Western Australia comes online later this year.

Largent will head his team with the goal of removing $US500 million ($A509.2 million) from AngloGold’s operating cost base within 18 months.

AngloGold said by linking the groups operating regions under two COO’s, decision making and integration would be more seamless while maintaining strong technical checks and government oversight.

The shuffle will see Venkatakrishnan lead a team of nine executives, down from 12.

Venkatakrishnan said the streamlined structure played to each individual’s strengths.

“These leadership changes … will ensure a seamless transition period as the business is reorganised and management continues to act aggressively on its strategy to maximise sustainable free cashflow from a high-quality portfolio, while maintaining the integrity of the business, which is especially important in these difficult times,” he said.

The changes to be completed by the third quarter will also see Charles Carter transition the Colombia business to Largent, and will take on the role of EVP of strategy and business development. He will also deputise for the CEO in his absence.

Meanwhile, David Noko will continue as sustainable development EVP, while Italia Boninelli will continue as people and organisation development EVP.

Graham Ehm will continue to lead the company’s Australian arm until Largent takes over the Sunrise Dam and Tropicana operations.

Ria Sanz takes on the role of EVP in addition to her current position as group general counsel and company secretary while Yedwa Simelane becomes EVP of stakeholder relations and marketing.

AngloGold said strategy and business planning EVP Michael MacFarlane had decided to return to Canada to be with his family.

The company produced 899,000 ounces of gold in the March quarter and was targeting 900,000-950,000oz in the June quarter.

Shares in Anglo were unchanged at $A3.62 after gaining 2.3% in yesterday’s trade.

Coffee our Concern !

Parliament was told there are about three million Papua New Guineans who produce coffee but there are no incentives for the simple farmers, a concern highlighted by the Member for Goroka, Bire Kimisopa.

It’s one the country’s biggest industry, in fact the coffee industry contributes about K520 million, one that directly benefits coffee growers in the country. But at the end of the day, simple farmers are only paid about K5 per kilo for green beans with no incentives to subsidize the cost of getting these bags to the coffee buyer in the first instance.

With all these issues at hand, the Member for Goroka enquired if the Agriculture Department had incentives in place. He asked what the government was doing to assist growers and the industry itself.

Agriculture Minister, Tommy Tomscoll said the problems faced by the Coffee Industry are the same ones faced by cocoa, and copra producers. He said inaccessibility to markets, landowner issues contributes to the problems.

The Agriculture Department is currently working on a formula to price all cash crops. This means farmers will be able to sell their cash crops using the fixed price set by the line department. 

Em TV News

POLICE FAN-BELTS WOMAN

 A young woman was severely beaten by a police officer after she was caught verbally abusing the general public in the National Capital.

The young woman, believed to be heavily intoxicated, used foul language in Downtown Port Moresby.

She was physically manhandled and whipped with a fan belt several times, before being taken to the back of the police station,

She was released a few minutes later without being charged.

This is a case of police brutality in the spotlight again.

In another incident, two young men were forced to perform indecent acts when police caught them allegedly drinking and watching porn.

Internal investigations into that matter are still underway.

Em TV News 

NARI grants license

BY PEARSON KOLO

THE Highlands Agriculture College in Mt Hagen was granted a license by National Agriculture Research Institute to import seedlings of any variety of crops from anywhere in the world.
This license enables the college to research what other crops they can grow and produce in the country. College Principal Philip Senat said: “The college is growing rice after the government of PNG and the government of Republic of China went into an understanding in 2009 to plant rice in the country.
“Through this research, the college has proven that a variety of rice can grow very well in the country and we will be harvesting more than 20 tonnes of rice next month.”
College Farm Manager Gibson Simon said yielding of the seedlings brought in from was high.
The College thanked NARI for granting them the license and said the college will continue to assist the Government of Papua New Guinea to research crops that are imported from overseas to find out which ones can be grown here.

Tribes to lay down guns

BY PEARSON KOLO

FOUR warring tribes in the Kerowaghi district of Chimbu province will surrender their guns on Saturday to end a long tribal fight.
This is after the youths from the warring tribes came together to end the fight which flared up during the 2012 national general elections.
The youths will also surrender marijuana and other illicit items in the ceremony to mark peace in the area. The tribes include Damba, Kombukane, Mingaku and KumanKane.
 
This program is facilitated by pastors from all the Christian churches in the Kerowaghi together with Chimbu and Jiwaka Police.
One pastor said the youths from the affected area have negotiated peace with their leaders themselves and have agreed to surrender guns and marijuana.
Many people died including a 16 year old girl who was burnt alive inside a house.
The pastors of the church who are facilitating the gun surrender will lead the program.
 

prepared to be a “one-man opposition” if all MPs leave

PORT MORESBY, PNG --- There are seven MPs left in the Opposition bench and leader Belden Namah says he is prepared to be a “one-man opposition” if all MPs leave.
He was commenting on the defection this week from the Opposition bench to the government of Kandrian-Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang and a statement in Parliament by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill telling Namah “I will undo you slowly”.
Namah told a media conference Thursdaythat if O’Neill’s statement was to lure all opposition MPs to cross the floor, he could go ahead because he (Namah) would be happy to be a one-man opposition.
“If I’m alone, I’ll be happy but we are lucky we have seven members, a special God’s number,” he said.
“People must understand that it is not about my ego to become prime minister but it is about me exposing corruption.
“He must understand that I made him to become prime minister when he had five members and I had 38.
“I was responsible and now I will be the one to get him down although there are (only) seven of us. His days are numbered.”
It was wrongly reported in this newspaper yesterday that only six MPs remained in the opposition. The seven MPs are Belden Namah (Vanimo Green), Sam Basil (Bulolo), Dr Allan Marat (Rabaul), Madang Governor Jim Kas, Tobias Kulang (Kundiawa-Gembogl), Ross Seymour (Huon Gulf) and Lauta Atoi (North Bougainville).
Immediately after the 2012 elections, 22 MPs attended the Opposition’s Kokopo camp.

Hot Gossip , Have Your say !

 

 ( Hela Political Forum FB )

 Tarali Hibuya Tarzii Hibz 

 The decision for the court battle between JAMES MARAPE and JOHNNY PHILIP will be handed down in Tari on the 6th June 2013 during the Opening of LLG Council and Presidents Wriths and nominations. From an inside source I heard about the outcome, but wanna keep it secret. Thus, I'd like to ask the HELA POLITICAL FORUM Members, if you were aware of that. And coincidently,Marabe implicitly revealed yesterday at Tari that he's visiting his supporters next week. He told his supporters that this time he'll visit them in their respective areas instead of them (supporters) visiting him in his house, Paibali. This visitation method and plan by him is a new as he never did such during his previous 5 yrs term. Further, his visit is very soon after he's re-elected! Therefore, his supporters, you better get ready as he may bring two bags: money and news! top nait...

Govt vehicle causes accident

By LLANE MUNAU

THE loss of an innocent life to drink driving on the Kabiufa section of the Highlands Highway in Eastern Highlands on Friday afternoon has greatly angered locals in the area.
On Friday afternoon a 10-seater vehicle belonging to the Chimbu provincial government crashed into a PMV bus, claiming the life of the driver and bus owner, local Kabiufa businessman, 47-year old Jim Takis.
According to eyewitnesses, the 10-seater was speeding when approaching Notofana 7 Mile corner near Kabiufa.
The PMV bus had just dropped off passengers and was slowly gaining momentum on the corner when the speeding 10-seater cut onto the PMV’s lane, crashing into the PMV driver’s side, causing the bus to flip.
Mr Gonase said when the locals ran to the accident site to help, the 10-seater passengers weren’t badly injured but the PMV passengers were in shock and the driver was squashed between the front engine and his seat.
He said those in the 10-seater were drunk and there were beer cans in the vehicle.
Mr Gonase said it took the locals one and a half hours to free the bus driver.
“We used crowbars, iron rods and axes to cut open the front of the bus to free his legs, which were stuck in the engine,” Mr Gonase said.
The driver was taken to Goroka base hospital but died at midnight from internal bleeding and blood loss.
Late Mr Takis’ death has greatly shocked his kinsmen, who are now calling on the EHP authorities to take action on reckless drivers, especially those from the upper Highlands provinces.
The Kabiufa community leaders raised their concerns yesterday that reckless drivers with don’t-care attitudes have claimed the lives of many Eastern Highlanders from Daulo Pass to Kassam Pass, causing much pain to families and communities along the highway; and nothing has been done about this carnage on the roads.
The Kabiufa community leaders said they will be petitioning Eastern Highlands provincial authorities on Thursday to talk about road safety issues and ways to tackle the problem of reckless driving in the province.
They will also be presenting their grievances on the loss of their brother and tribesman, late Mr Takis, to the Chimbu provincial government since the 10-seater which claimed the life of their kinsmen belongs to the Chimbu provincial government.

Mt Hagen to host Skills program

Post Courier


The Digicel PNG Foundation has partnered with the Mt Hagen Catholic Archdiocese and with generous support from Ela Motors to run the Life & Business Skills program in Mt Hagen.
The Life & Business Skills (L&BS) program is a two-week program conducted with a holistic approach to address domestic violence.
The program is an extension of consciousness, coupled with training and certification and following the successful Port Moresby program which was funded by Digicel Foundation and facilitated by Ginigoada Bisnis Foundation.
The L&BS program will now be implemented in Mt Hagen, targeting the rural based farmers to improve their small agriculture-based businesses.
The program will be piloted from May through to December 2013 with a review scheduled for the end of December.
This is the first time Digicel Foundation has taken the program out of Port Moresby to give interested participants access to free basic business training to strengthen their small income generating activities and medium enterprises.
At the launch, the Archbishop of Mt Hagen Catholic Arch Diocese Douglas Young, commended Digicel PNG Foundation of the successes the program has had on the lives of many people in and around Port Moresby settlements.
Archbishop Young said: “We are grateful to Digicel Foundation for recognising the Mt Hagen Catholic Archdiocese in having the potential and capacity to facilitate the program here in Western Highlands.
“We value this partnership and therefore, will work closely with Digicel Foundation to ensure the program is facilitated well to meet the expectations of the participants”. Digicel Foundation CEO, Beatrice Mahuru thanked Archbishop Denis Young for the partnership with the Catholic Arch Diocese of Mt Hagen to deliver the L&BS Program.
“In Port Moresby, our L&BS program was facilitated in partnership with Ginigoada. Last year, we ran the program in 17 settlements and three indigenous villages.
“We witnessed 2,269 participants graduate with a Basic Business Skills Certificate, and with requests flooding from people from other regions to expand, we are delighted to partner with you to replicate this program here in Mt Hagen.”
“It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the partnership we had with Ps Mike Field and especially Robert Favave and Robert Evah who brought knowledge, benevolence and commitment to our program in Port Moresby”.
 

Mt Kare LO’s query exclusion

By Ramcy Wama

ONE landowner and a major clan member of the Mt Kare Alluvial Gold mine are questioning why they have been dumped from the upcoming Summit Development and Land Study programs.
 
The Haja Etape Clan have asked for an immediate explanation and also want an inclusion into the programs.
Haja Etape clan chiefs Philip Wale, Waraja Igipe, Tamita Lai and Greg Timangu warned yesterday that if they do not get a proper response from those involved they will go to the courts to take legal action against those responsible.
“We want to ask the mine executives and we also want to ask the other clan members,” the clan chiefs told the Post Courier. “This will not end, and we mean our fight to get us back on track will not stop as we sacrifice for the well being and rights of our Haja Etape clan members.”
The Chiefs claimed yesterday that they have a clan membership of more than 30,000 and for the responsible authorities to exclude them from the program would be a disaster.
 
But Mt Kare Alluvial Gold mine executives advised they had nothing to do with this issue and haved asked that the Haja Etape clan members sit down with their other colleagues and responsible leaders, including the National MPs to work through this so that they sort out their grievances.
Mt Kare is an alluvial gold mine located between Enga and Southern Highlands provinces in Papua New Guinea.
The mine has a long and colourful history as recorded in the book, 'Gold, treachery and warfare' see below.
Ace Mining of Australia announced an agreement with local landowners to start mining.
 
The MT Kare landowners will have a 47% stake in the mine with Ace Mining holding the other 53%.
Ace Mining still has to obtain government approval through the Mineral Resource Authority for a special alluvial mining lease.
 
Under the agreement with the landowners, when it starts operations, Ace Mining will build roads and bridges, schools, health centres and a hydro-power system to light up the local areas and supply the new Hela province.
This will be paid for from the landowners equity in the project which will also fund school fees for children attending elementary, primary and high schools in the project area.
 

LOs want airfield to be facility

THE principal landowners of Komo Airfield, block 1787 have petitioned the State to declare Komo Airfield as a facility just as portion 152 within 14 days.
The petition was handed over to Minister Maru by Philip Tukuyawini on behalf of the leaders, landowners, educated elites and youths from Komo Airfield, saying Komo landowners would not allow Antonov 124s carrying components of the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant to land on their land until their demands were met. Komo district is a host to Hides PDL1, Kutubu PDL2, Moran PDL5 & 6, South Hides PDL7 and Angore PDL8. As a result, Komo District would have been one of the best country side city in Papua New Guinea. However, this is not reflected as witnessed by Minister Maru.
Briefly, the petition contains the following demands:
* Recognition of Komo Airfield as facility similar to portion 152 through a supplementary agreement.
* Proper social mapping and landowner identification to be carried out to identify the principle landowners and fairly distribute benefits.
* State and developer to honor their outstanding UBSA and LBSA commitment with respect to Komo Airfield ring road; Komo-Tari highway; Komo township funding; water supply; rural electrification; and
* Revisit resettlement package and other outstanding issues and compensate the landowners accordingly.
 

Heavy floods flash Enga

By PHILIP KEPSON
THOUSANDS of people in Enga province are stranded with a number of key bridges worth millions of kina washed away by heavy flooding last Tuesday night.
Members of the Provincial Disaster and Emergency Committee took an aerial tour of the affected area. They said they were shocked to see the extent of the damage in all the six districts.
The seriously affected areas include Pilikambi in Lagaip-Porgera, Lai valley in Wabag and parts of Tsak Valley and Wapenamanda.
Provincial civil works director Charles Bannah who is currently working closely with committee chairman and provincial administrator Dr Samson Amean said the value of damage to private and public assets including bridges and roads would run into millions of kina. He said a detailed report would be presented to stakeholders including Governor Peter Ipatas and the national government. Education authorities said students, ranging from secondary, high, primary and elementary schools from Sari, Kamas, Sakarip, Kiwi and nearby villages as well as those in Wabag district including Kopen Secondary School had also been affected.
Those who were forced to remain on one side of Lai River that flows in the middle of the Lai valley as it flooded from Surunki in the far west to Wapenamanda in the east were stranded as a result of the damaged bridges.
The people do not have clean water and experiencing shortage of food. District government authorities said Ambum,Tale and Lagaip rivers in Kompaiam/Ambum, Wapenamanda and Laiagam burst their banks, carrying away houses, trade stores, piggeries, poultry, food gardens and coffee trees worth thousands of kina. The bridges that were reportedly swept away include Kiwi bridge in Wabag, Kaekin-Amusa in Wapenamanda, Tale in Tsak Valley, Talyokos-Pompabus in Wapenamanda.
It was also reported that heavy landslides in Wapenamanda, Wabag, Kandep, Kompiam, Porgera-Paela due to two weeks of continuous rain had caused a lot of damage and disruption to public travelers.
 

Rubbish pile up at Banz

BANZ town is proposed to become the capital for Jiwaka Province because people from all walks of life from Jiwaka and even Dei Council that share the provincial boundary with Jiwaka and Western Highlands flock to Banz to do their business, especially shopping because Mt Hagen is far from them.
However, the face of Banz is filthy because people are littering everywhere and are not taking care of their rubbish.
They need to change their mindset to contain their own rubbish.
in this picture a heap of rubbish is piled up in the heart of the town which stinks and is unhygenic for public.
The pile of rubbish is painting a bad image for public commuters and relevant authorities need to be responsible and remove the rubbish as soon as possible.

Ex-inmate forms firm

By MALLISON TAIME

AN ex-prisoner from Jiwaka Province realised the error of his ways, formed a building construction company and won his first contract worth K90,000.
And he has engaged vocational training students to give them practical training.
Simon Pengie, 34, comes from Warakar village in North Wahgi District of Jiwaka. He is managing director of Komsek Builders Ltd, which he has formed and had it registered with Investment Promotion Authority (IPA). He received the company’s certificate of incorporation on April 6.
“Komsek” stands for Kombulno and Sekaka, the two major tribes of Warakar village.
Mr Pengie has called on the Jiwaka Provincial Government to support technical vocational training by allocating funds to schools in the province to educate and help build the province.
“Without the input of technical people this province will stand still and not progress. Technical people play a vital role in development,” Mr Pengie said.
The company won a first K90,000 contract recently and has engaged students from Fatima Technical Vocational Education Training centre to do their practical training as there are no funds available to employ carpenters.
Mr Pengie completed his studies at Fatima Vocational Centre in 1991 and received his carpentry certificate. He is also the President of Jiwaka Ex-Prisoners Association.
He said many prisoners deserved to be punished but after serving their term, it was up to them to grasp whatever opportunities come their way to help themselves become good citizens.