12 Days to Sir Julius Chan Resignation - 1997 Sandline Crises

The year was 1997. Sir Julius Chan was prime minister for almost 32 months. Bougainville crisis was in its 9th year. His Story – Sir J’s 12 days to his resignation as the PM of Papua New Guinea.

Recommended read: Sir Julius Chan Life in Politics - A Review of His Book ' Playing the Game

1. 16th March: Beginning of Operation Rausim Kwik. On the night of 16 March 1997, the revolt began. By the time the night was over, the entire band of Sandline mercenaries had been disarmed and arrested. Prime Minister Chan did not find out until the next morning.

2. 17th March: PNG Defence Force Commander, Brig. Gen. Jerry Singirok demanded Sir Julius Chan (PM), Chris Haiveta (DPM) and Mathias Ijape (Defence minister) resigned within 48 hours (2 days); The prime minister Sir Julius Chan reacted by sacking BG J. Singirok, replacing him with CONTROVERSIAL Colonel Alfred Aikung.

3. 18th March: A boycott of classes began at the University of Papua New Guinea, in support of Singirok. Crowds of civilians blocked the roads around the barracks, and bomb hoaxes closed down government departments.

4. 19th March: 48th hour ultimatum expired, the protests turned violent, and some looting began. The situation grew darker for Chan when the Governor-General, Sir Wiwa Korowi, took out a newspaper advertisement that also accused the government of widespread corruption.

5. 20th March: The Australian government sent emissaries to Port Moresby, and threatened to withdraw financial aid altogether if the Sandline deal was not cancelled.

6. 21st March: All Sandline's personnel, with the exception of Tim Spicer, who remained to give evidence to the inquiry, were withdrawn.

7. 22nd March:  Civil strike continued, UPNG students met at forum square every day; Speaker of Parliament and former Prime Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu met with Chan and Singirok, and advised the latter (JS) that two of his demands had been met, and that Chan would resign only at the wish of Parliament.

8. 23rd March: Major Walter Enuma, a key Singirok supporter, said "We would like to see this thing off the streets and back into the political arena."

9. 24th March: Chan’s grip on power was fast eroding; 5 NEC ministers resigned, Sir Wiwa Korowi (GG) and Church leaders reiterated call for Chan to step aside pertaining to CoI into Sandline Crises.

10. 25th March: March Parliament session began, Bill Skate was ready to bring forth a motion calling on Chan to RESIGN. Sir Michael Somare amended Skate's motion, so it only called upon Chan to STEP DOWN for the period of the inquiry.

11. March 26th: Demonstrators celebrated the news that Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan had just "stepped aside."

12. 27th March: Chan realised that his position was hopeless.  John Giheno appointed acting PM.

The success of Operation Rausim Kwik was a victory for every Papua New Guinean from Buin to Bewani and Manam to Yalibu.

NRL Players Playing in Intrust Super Cup Final Games 2022

The NRL (National Rugby League) players had been called up to play in the Intrust Super Cup (ISC) final games in the past. These players potentially changed the outcomes of games at the ISC level.

The argument of teams taking on the challenge and either win or lose is one thing. But, is it fair?

Here are 5 reasons why the NRL players should not play any ISC final games:

1. The NRL fultime players have not played a single ISC game all season. They are slotted in last minute to just win a game. Fact.

For NRL players to qualify to play, the players must play some ISC games during the 2017 season. Probably 5 or more games. It is not late yet for the Intrust Super Cup management to come up with some control measures if the management does not have one yet. 

2. The NRL players are from eliminated teams - their teams have not made it to NRL finals. That means that they have rested well for several weeks. The players should not be included in ISC final games as it is not fair on players who have been leading the team to this stage.

3. The NRL players have experienced top level games all year. The level of competitions at NRL and ISC is different. Just getting an NRL player into a team to win the final is not fair competition.

Understandably, you want to get your NRL players to win a crucial game for you.  But you also want to give the player who shone in his absence a fair go. When it comes to choosing a player to play in the final games, NRL players are not an option as far as being fair to players is concerned.

4. The NRL players have had their chances to prove their worth in top division. If they had not proven to their coaches and teams that they can bring their teams to the NRL finals, why including those NRL players at ISC level? And would they have played if their teams had been in the NRL finals? 

Let them take their time off and prepare for next year. This is the best thing they must do.

5. The NRL players inclusion is damaging to teams' moral. From past experiences,  these players tend to leave vacuum in their teams when they aren't around. This can lead to the teams led by overlooked players who think they are not good enough.

In retrospect, it is okay to have the NRL players around during the preliminary rounds.  And also have them around in the finals.

What's not right is using an NRL player, in the final games,  who has not even played a single ISC game. An NRL player who had not played a single ISC match must not be allowed to play in the ISC finals.

Intrust Super Cup competition 

The Intrust Super Cup competition should have control over inclusion of NRL players especially in the final games. It is important that this happens to keep the integrity of the competition at the ISC level.

PNG Kumuls likely to play England and New Zealand in the Finals

The Rugby League World Cup, RLWC

• 14 Countries
• 6 weeks
• 28 games (21 pool games, 7 final games)
• 1 Winner

Source: Adapted from Fox Sports (accessed 28/10/2017)

Check out the finalists here.

In the pool games (weeks 1 – 3) six bottom teams will be eliminated. Obviously, eight teams go through to the quarter-finals: three teams from Pool A, three teams from Pool B, one team from Pool C and one team from Pool D.

WATCH THE RLWC GAMES LIVE ON 2021 RLWC APP

PNG Kumuls makes the Quarter Finals (QF)

If the team PNG Kumuls makes the Quarter Finals (QF), the Kumuls will play (the team that comes 2^nd in Pool A) in the 4^th QF in Melbourne, Australia. The second *hot* team in Pool A in England, after Australia. Team PNG Kumuls may, most likely, meet England in the 4^th QF on Sunday, November 19th.

The team that wins the 4^th QF will play the team that wins the 3^rd QF in the 2^nd Semi-Final. A closer look at Pool B teams would reveal that New Zealand is likely to top the pool matches and play in that 3^rd QF and proceed to the 2^nd Semi-Final.

The PNG Kumuls team survives 4 weeks of competition and will see the team go head-to-head with the New Zealand Warriors in the 2^nd Semi-Final match in Auckland, New Zealand.

RLWC FIXTURES

 
Week 1

Friday, October 27

1. Australia (WON) v England at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, 8pm (AEDT)

Saturday, October 28

2. Papua New Guinea (WON) v Wales at Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, 4pm (AEDT)

3. New Zealand (WON) v Samoa at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 6.10pm (AEDT)

4. Fiji (WON) v USA at Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 8.40pm (AEDT)

Sunday, October 29

5. Ireland (WON) v Italy at Barlow Park, Cairns, 3pm (AEDT)

6. France v Lebanon (WON) at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 4pm (AEDT)

7. Scotland v Tonga (WON) at Barlow Park, Cairns, 5.15pm (AEDT)

Week 2

Friday, November 3

1. Australia (WON) v France at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 8pm (AEDT)

Saturday, November 4

2. New Zealand (WON) v Scotland at Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, 3pm (AEDT)

3. Samoa v Tonga (WON) at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 5.30pm (AEDT)

4. England (WON) v Lebanon at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, 8pm (AEDT)

Sunday, November 5

5. Papua New Guinea (WON) v Ireland at Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, 5pm (AEDT)

6. Italy (WON) v USA at Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 5pm (AEDT)

7. Fiji (WON) v Wales at Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Week 3

Friday, November 10

1. Fiji (WON) v Italy at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 7.40pm (AEDT)

Saturday, November 11

2. New Zealand v Tonga (WON) at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 3pm (AEDT)

3. Samoa (draw Samoa through to QF) v Scotland at Barlow Park, Cairns, 6pm (AEDT)

4. Australia (WON) v Lebanon at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, 8pm (AEDT)

Sunday, November 12

5. Papua New Guinea (WON) v USA at Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby 4pm (AEDT)

6. Wales v Ireland (WON) at Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth, 5.30pm (AEDT)

7. England v France at Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth, 8pm (AEDT)

Week 4 Quarter Finals

Friday, November 17

1. First quarter-final at Darwin Stadium, Darwin, 8pm (AEDT)

    1^st Pool A vs 3^rd Pool B

Saturday, November 18

2. Second quarter final at Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, 3pm (AEDT)

     2^nd Pool B vs 1^st Pool D

3. Third quarter final at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, 5.30pm (AEDT)

     1^st Pool B vs 3^rd Pool A

Sunday, November 19

4. Fourth quarter final at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, 4pm (AEDT)

     2^nd Pool A vs 1^st Pool C

QF Finalists

Week 5 RLWC Semi finals

Friday, November 24

1. First semi final at Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, 8pm (AEDT)

     Winner QF 1 vs Winner QF 2

Saturday, November 25

2. Second semi final at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 4pm (AEDT)

           Winner QF 3 vs Winner QF 4

Week 6 RLWC Grand final

Saturday, December 2

Final at Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, 8pm (AEDT)

For more info, check out the Fox Sports website.

Teaching Service Fixation Agreement (2014-2016) - PNG Public Service Pay Scale

New teachers and those who do not know how you are paid, you are paid up Scales of 1 - 12 (TS1 – TS12) and across Grades 1 - 7. In other words, you move up the Pay Scale and along the Pay Grade. It can happen simultaneously or one at a time.

Salary Fixation Agreement 2014 – 2016 Teachers Pay Scale and Pay Grade

Click on the link to see the latest pay increase for PNG Public Servants 2022 - 2024

PNG Public Service Pay Scale

A review of teachers’ salaries conducted in 2013 agreed to a 33% rise in base pay over three years, 2014 - 2016. The increment came at the back of an increase in the number of students and teachers increased workload; as well as the increasing prices of goods and services. The increment was, in fact, an agreement set in stone and effective as of the first pay of 2014. 

By now all teachers, from preprimary to primary and secondary schools, should be paid the agreed salaries at 2016 rates.

An additional Service Allowance of 10% was also accorded to teachers and matured in 2016. This additional increase means that between (and inclusive of) 2014 and 2016 teachers’ total salaries (TOTAL SALARY = BASE SALARY + SERVICE ALLOWANCE) increased by 43%. 

Teachers, perhaps it is important to know your pay scale and pay grade. Knowing the two will help you to determine whether you are receiving the right salary or not. The diagram shows the increase – take particular note of 2016 salaries.

#PNG teachers' salary scale: by now all teachers nationwide should be receiving the correct pay package according to the agreement. pic.twitter.com/nVVCBP9NdY

— PNG Insight (@PNG_Insight) May 27, 2017

PNG teachers pay increase

The Teaching Service is now accountable to teachers after the three years, 2014-2017. The TSC has got to do its work right. At the moment, two questions needed answers from the commission, TSC:

1. Are the teachers paid at 2016 pay grade?

This is a serious question and only teachers and school administrators know whether they received the promised increase or not. Make it your agenda in school staff meetings. Confirm your pay scale and pay grade. Make sure you are paid your dues. 

If you are sitting on a confirmed position (by this I mean a confirmed pay scale and pay grade); and not paid the right amount, raise it immediately and asked for a back payment.

Note: Do not waste your time if you are acting on a substantive level. Do not try to claim at that pay scale as you will not be entertained.

2. When is another review due?

According to the Teaching Service Fixation Agreement 2014-2016, another review was due on the 1st of January 2017. I hope TSC has not gone to sleep on it. 

This review has to be considered urgent. It is already overdue. The TSC, Education Secretary and Education Minister (in the new government after the June elections) must make it their number one priority. 

Having said that, the TSC commissioner and Education Secretary should initiate the review NOW. They shouldn’t wait. Another 3-year review (2018-2020) has to be swiftly done and submitted to the new education minister as soon as s/he is appointed to the role in the new government. 

All in all, increasing the price of goods and services and overcrowding in classrooms; capped off with a mountain of work, teachers deserve another pay increase. TSC must think right – take the lead, and urgently initiate a review of teachers’ salaries, service allowance and leave entitlements.