‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’

RH GROUP NEWSLETTERIssue: 2 July - September, 2005

Editor’s Note....

Published byPublic Relations Department

Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group

EditorJ.K.Balasubramaniam

Sub-EditorsMathew WerigiAnnette Obed

Layout and designAnnette Obed

Ruby Kaur

Inside this issue: Page 2.. Landowners win court

Page 3..Wawoi Guavi Signing

Page 4..Landowner opinion

page 5..RH Nasfund Database Page 6.. Staff Profile

Page 7..RH Sports Club

Page 8.. RH Netball

The Rimbunan Hijau Group of Com-panies welcomes our readers to the second issue of the newsletter. The committee has decided to have this published as a quaterly issue. Our aim is to inform and entertain our employees, their families and other stakeholders about latest issues and happenings within our Group of Companies.

We hope you all have enjoyed the last issue which was the first of it’s kind the group has published. In this issue, we bring to our readers news and happenings from our operations around the country and other inter-esting stories you will find as you read on.

WNB Consolidated Projects Signing Ceremony

Stakeholders were urged by the Minister for Forest Mr Patrick Pruaitch to give special attention to the agree-ment to maintain sustainability during the signing of the Project Agreement for the Asengseng Consolidated FMA Project.

The Execution of the Project Agreement was the 26th step in ob-taining permission to carry out logging operation in the Asengseng, Agulu and Asirim area of the South Coast of West New Britain Province.

The official signing ceremony took place on the 12th of September 2005 at the National Forest Service of-fice in the presence of Forest Minister Mr Patrick Pruaitch, other government and company representatives including landowners and Forestry officers.

Mr Pruaitch congratulated all stakeholders and urged them to work together to achieve a win-win situation. The developer‘s Managing Director, Mr James Lau through its subsidiary Niugini Lumber Mer-chants thanked the Government and landowner representatives in accepting and supporting the project and said that the project agreement paved way for an immediate investment level of more than 100 million kina.

He added that such a challenge is an example of Rimbunan Hijau’s continued long-term commitment to future economic growth and pros-

perity of PNG. Some benefits of the project

include direct payment of royalties, business and agriculture development levies, scholarships, wages and em-ployment opportunities. Landowner spokesperson, Peter Arul thanked the Government for allowing the signing ceremony to take place which would make way for much needed services to the people of Kandrian Glouces-ter.

Mr Arul stated that there were hardly no services in their area since PNG got its Independence. “We have been independent for thirty years now but the people of Kandrian are not ready to be independent,” Mr Arul said.

He added that with the agree-ment signed, there would be better services in the next 30 years.

Valentine Kambori, Chairman of PNGFA during the signing of the agreement, congratulated everyone who had worked hard to come up with the agreement that would see logs now harvested in Asengseng area.

He said Niugini Lumber Mer-chants and its parent company Rim-bunan Hijau is a reputable corporate company that has many investments in the country.

Mr Arul, Mr Ivan Lu, Mr James Lau and Forest Minister Patrick Pruaitch having a toast after the

ceremony.

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ ‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ 2

The Gulf Provincial Land Court handed down its decision and declared the Kaura Tribe, the legitimate customary landowners of the land on East West Bank and Vailala Blocks 2 and 3.

The land disputed stretches along the East West Bank of Purari Delta and Vailala in the Gulf Province where Frontier Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of RH opeates. The logging project started in 2000 and the dispute in 2003.

In July 7 2004, the Kerema Local Land Court made an ex-parte order and declared Iare Tribe as the customary landowners of the land in dispute. The Kaura tribe appealed to the Provincial Land Court and argued that the Local Land Court did not have any power under the Land Dispute Settlement to make an ex-parte order and was successful.

In accepting the decision of the court, Mr Alois Koivi a land owner said that, “I am happy with the de-cision of the Provincial Land Court because true justice has prevailed today. Evara villagers have suffered for more than two (2) years because of the dispute, royalties could not be paid out by the developer to them.” He further mentioned that, “the development of forest in my tribal land plays a major role in the economy of the country and the dispute has affected the smooth opera-tions of the developer.”

KAURA TRIBE WINS LAND CASE

As a responsible corporate citizen, the Rim-bunan Hijau Group has sup-ported the Women Doctors Association of PNG (WDAPNG) in purchasing a new radiotherapy machine for the treatment of cancer in PNG.

The company pur-chased four (4) tickets for K2, 000.00 at K500.00 each for four of its staff members to attend the fundraising dinner at the Crown Plaza Ball room on August 27, 2005.

RH joins fundraising drive for cancer machine

Our PR Officer, Mathew Werigi presented with the Certificate of Appreciation for RH Group by Dr Mary Ponifasio.

Nearly 30 business houses and government statutory organizations supported the fundraising by purchasing tickets in which K 70,000 was raised and will be added to the K 100,000.00 raised last year.

President of WDAPNG, Dr. Mary Ponifasio officiated at the ceremony and thanked those who participated. Also present was his Excel-lency, the Governor General Sir Paulias Matane with his

The RH Group donated a total of 150 T/Shirts worth of K 9, 262.00 to the Papua New Guinea Events Council as its contri-bution to support the 30th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

The T/shirts were used by volunteers and their staff during the celebrations over long weekend. All our national staff at the head office were given a t/shirt to wear during the inde-pendence celebrations.

Independence Contribution

Peter, our staff wearing a sample of the T/Shirt.

Staff at the Rim-bunan Hijau head office, Parts and Services and RH Trading donated a total of 45 bags of blood on the 7th of Sepetember.

According to Sr. Rosemary Munaga, who is in charge, “there is a major shortage of blood” right after the Operation Open Heart Surgery”. The blood bank is also preparing for the Christmas period; it depends a lot on schools who donate a lot of blood during school time.

“We need at least 100 bags a day to cater for Port Moresby General Hos-pital” said Sr. Munaga, and therefore the blood bank is appealing to government

Staff Donate Blood

A staff of RH Parts and Services donating blood dur-ing the blood donation appeal.

departments and private organizations for their em-ployees to donate blood.

In May, the staff do-nated a total of 31 bags of blood which were used for the Operation Open Heart Surgery. This is the third

time, the blood bank has received blood donation from the Rimbunan Hijau Group and will back in early December get more. In total the company had donated more that a hun-dred bags of blood.

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ ‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ 3

started operation in 1998.

Eric Fitzgibbon Secretary (political) to the Australian High Commissioner visited Kamusie and Panakawa in Western Province in August.

He was accompanied by Mr

Balasubramaniam (RH Group Com-pany Secretary), to the company’s timber extraction facility in Kamusie and the veneer mill in Panakawa.

During the visit, Mr Fitzgib-bon was impressed with the localisa-tion program in the timber extracting camp and the veneer mill.

In addition, he was also impressed with the significant investment that has been made in the downstream processing, infra-structure and the development of tree nurseries to ensure sustainability of the industry.

He further elaborated that the forestry issue in PNG is a very “complex one, which could not be arbitrary in black and white approach by any party.”

Mr Fitzgibbon (left) looks on as the Acting Factory Manager explains the various qualities of the Veneer Mill.

Aussie High Commision Official visits Logging Sites

The Rimbunan Hijau Group,through its subsdiary Wawoi Guavi Timber company has again signed a logging agreement in April 2004.

This is an extension to the cur-rent timber concession to the Wawoi Guavi consolidated TRP blocks 1, 2, & 3 intergrated forest development.

This extension is for the next 10 years up to 2012, where currently Ka-musie sawmill and timber extracting facility was established in 1994 and Panakawa Veneer and Plywood Mill

The signing ceremony was done

in the presence of Terry Warra Act-ing Managing Director for PNG For-est Authority, Dr Wari Iamo Deputy Chairman of National Forest Board, Government and land owners repre-sentative of the Wawoi Guavi Timber Concession area.

Over the past 15 years, the land owners in the area have benefited from the operations. Services such as airstrips, schools, aidposts and other social and spin-off benefits were ev-ident during the operations of the

Wawoi Guavi Timber Company.

Representatives from the Govern-ment, the National Forestry Authority, Landowners and RH during the signing ceremony at the Forestry office.

Wawoi Guavi Timber Conces-sion Signing Ceremony

The Rimbunan Hijau Group of Companies has launched the HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in August. The National AIDS Councils Private Sector response programme awareness campaign started with the staff from the Headoffice, RH Parts and Ser-vices, RH Hypermart, Comserv, Sarco Timbers and Edevu in the Central Province.

The awareness was carried out by Ms Maria Nepel, co-ordina-tor of the Private Sector Response whose office is located within the Chamber of Mines and Petroleum.

From August to September, she was conducting the awareness campaign at the RH logging sites in Kamusie camp, Panakawa Veneer Mill, Purari and Vailala camps in the Western and Gulf Provinces.

The Group is embarking on the current programme specifi-cally to educate and inform more than 4000 employees in all its op-erations around the country.

During Ms Nepels presen-tations she emphasized on the Work Place Policy on HIV/AIDS, how the virus is transmitted, against stigmatisation and discrimination if workers are HIV positive.

In all the sites, the sessions were attended by local villages, national and expatriate staff and their spouses and dependents. Sim-ilar campaigns will be conducted in other logging sites within the country.

“RH” Help Creating an AIDS-free-

Workforce

Ms Nepel speaking to workers as Administration Executive, Thomas Sia looks on at Purari.

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ ‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ 4

“Silence = Death”

Hiding yourself, is not the Solution!

UNMASK your HIV status!!!

“The More You Learn The More We Save”Take a look at RISKS www.aidsonline.com

Landowner Shares his Sentiments

A leader of Kamula Doso area in the Western Province speaks of his opinion about the delay of permit in the area which he believed has caused his people to suffer from basic services.

Chairman of Kamula Doso Landowners Association Mr Jimmy Obabo shared his opinion to a visiting delegate as to why the Government was delaying the timber permit.

Kamula Doso concession area covers an area of 791 400 hectares and the project had been put on halt pending the Governments decision.

It is an area adjoining the Wa-woi Guavi concession area.

Mr Obabo said the people had been waiting for 14 years and had suffered a lot because of the delay. He said the Wawoi Guavi area was fortunate to have RH operate in the area as it had provided basic services

to the people as well as the adjoining Kamula Doso area. The delegates received a warm welcome at one of the camp sites during their visit to Western Province in early August.

Company Secretary J.K Bala-subramaniam and member for North Fly Mr Roy Biyama accompanied Australian High Commission Sec-retary Mr Eric Fitzgibbon on a 3-day trip to Kamusie camp and Panakawa factory.

Mr Biyama in his welcome speech to the people of Wawoi Guavi at the Kamusie airstrip thanked RH through its subsidiary Wawoi Guavi Timber Company for operating in his electorate for the past 15 years.

The operation has a great impact to the area through the introduction of services and infrastructures towards the development of the country.

During the trip Mr Fitzgibbon had the opportunity to visit the Kamu-sie Aidpost, the Primary School, Ka-musie Sawmill, the timber extracting facility and the Panakawa Plywood and Veneer Mill.

Mr Fitzgibbon also had the chance to see the beautiful view of the Wawoi Falls and took a trip down the Guavi River to Bamu in a speed

boat.

The delegates during the welcome at Kamusie airstrip.

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ ‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ 5

Independence Cleanathon

Top centre, right and Left - Staff members tak-ing part in the cleanathon exercise.

About two hundred national and expatriate staff from the Rimbunan Hijau Group, took time out to take part in a cleaning exercise. The staff from the head office, Hyper-mart, Travel Planners and Star Stationary were divided into groups.

One group started cleaning from the Hypermart up past Fu Gui Restaurant, towards Cameron Rd and to Gordons Police Barracks. The other group cleaned towards Kennedy Rd, around the school past the church up towards the barracks.

Some cleaned around the industrial area, at the back of RH

compund, around CE Hardware and Brian Bell Home Centre.

The Group de-cided to engage its staff to take part in this community exersice in preparation for the in-depndence anniversary and to support NCDC ‘Keeping Moresby Clean’ campaign.

The management of the Group would also want to thank all those who took part in this cleaning exercise.

Provider of essential services

The Administration Department of our head office has now put in place the Group’s information database for the national employees’ contributions to the National Superannuation Fund (Nasfund).

The database was established earlier this year and commissioned on the 30th of June 2005.

It serves to maintain all records for the entire Group’s contributing employees including contri-bution histories and balances and personal details with photographs.

The database serves the purpose for contributing staffs to have easy excess on information relating to their contributions and other basic information they need to obtain from Nasfund.

It will also improve the updating system of re-cords for the contributors from the previous manual recording system.

In addition, the database has also been com-plemented with the direct link via the internet to the Group’s employees’ information through the Nasfund E-benefit Service which is now in place.

The E-benefit Service is a website on the inter-net which provides remote access to employers of their employee’s accounts with Nasfund, about contributions histories and contributions balances and personal de-tails.

The website is an available service for employers to have remote access to the Superannuation Adminis-tration Database System (also called the Superb2000).

The access limits the HR Personnel to view only, member accounts of contributors from that particular employer only, and any information live, which also means that any update carried out by Nasfund regarding member accounts can be viewed live.

RH establishes Nasfund database

Ms Ruby Kaur, staff in charge of the RH Nas-fund database.

R i m b u n a n Hijau is one of the largest manufacturers and also a provider of essential ser-vices in some remote areas in the country.

Apart from building schools, aid posts, bridges and roads it has con-structed over 10 airstrips in

Chris Kaines-RH pilot based at Kamusie at Panakawa airstrip.

provinces where it operates like Gulf, Western and West New Britain Provinces.

Tropic Air, the company’s airline provides weekly services to all des-tinations and it has three aircrafts which provides service to Gulf and West-

ern Provinces except on Sundays. A light aircraft is based in Kamusie and is used for emergencies such as medivacs from outstations to Daru. Other commercial airlines used the airstrips built by the company.

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ ‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’6

Staff Profiles

Ms Wong (left) and colleague Ms Chow (right)

Citibank Apologises to RHCiticorp, a major

banking conglomerate through its Country Of-fice in Malaysia apolo-gises to Rimbunan Hijau Group regarding a press release issued by Rain-forest Action Network (RAN).

The statements made by RAN did not capture Mr. Chuck

Prince’s message about RH’s positive steps in dealing with matters of sus-tainable forest management during a meeting between various international en-vironmental organizations and Citicorp in New York on March 1, 2005.

In a letter dated March 30, 2005 to the head office in Sibu (Malaysia),

Mr Pityush Gupta the Country Office Manager of Citicorp apologized saying that, “unfortunately, the RAN press release did not mention that Citicorp fully supports RH as you grapple with these complex issues and develop a long term plan. Our seniors in New York have expressed our unhappiness with RAN.”

“We share your ob-jective to become recog-nized as a leader in forest management best prac-tices, and we can only apologise that we were unable to control RAN’s spin on this occasion but hope that we can assure a more positive outcome in the future,” emphasized Mr. Gupta.

“Always ask if you don’t know anything or how to do something.”

And this is the line from Ms Geok Lian Wong, a long serving staff member of Rimbunan Hijau Group.

Ms Wong comes from Malaysia, she joined the company in PNG in July 1989 as an Accountant and made her way up to be the Financial Controller.

She says that when you are dedicated to your job you have no intention of leaving and you prosper in your career. Her advice to upcoming executives is to always ask if you don’t know what to do or how to do things you don’t know.

“There must always be communication or else you will never know your problem,” she says.

She says working with the company has been

Mr Omboio lon-gest serving butcher with RH Trading.

Hypermart butch-er, Aukwai Omboio joined RH Trading in 1993 after working for 13 years with Lings Freezers.

This year marks his 12 years of employment with the freezer department of RH Trading.

Since he started, he was dedicated and com-mitted to his job because he likes the working envi-ronment.

He works in all sec-tions within the butchery and at times helps to su-pervise or train new staff.

Mr. Omboio enjoys gardening and spends his free time with his family and friends.

He dislikes rascal activities and those who harm others within the

a good experience. “Sometimes there are ups and downs between staff members but we always sit and talk things out.”

In her 15 years with the company, she says that the company has greatly expanded and is doing well

with its operations.

community.From Okapa in Kol

Peles Goroka in the Eastern Highlands Province, Auk-wai is planning to return home in five years time.

Before turning 50 years, he wants to bring his family back so his kids can adapt to village life.

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ ‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ 7

The winning team.

Our Parts and Services Group took time out to enjoy themselves as part of their social activity.

The group held their first 1st Vol-leyball Challenge in July this year as part of their social activity.

The games were held at the Hol-iday Inn Sports Plus Centre with staff from Golden Shipping, Workshop, Inventory and Purchasing departments. The main objective of the games was to promote comradeship and build a good

relationship among the staff of the RH Parts and Services.

Despite the heat of the day ev-eryone enjoyed the games and were treated with finger food and light re-freshments after the games.

Golden Shipping team composed of Mario, Wari, Issac, Philip, Mathias, Keruma and Wendy received a Plaque of Appreciation for being the overall winner.

Parts and Services Fun Time Out

Paul Dasco Mombe, prop forward who plays for Trailstorm Koiari rugby league club was selected to play in the Southern Zone grand final in September.

Paul has been se-lected from his team to play with the Southern Zone squad that traveled to Lae to defend their league title last month.

Paul said work-ing and playing sport keeps me occupied and is looking forward to the upcoming grand finals next month.

Paul is engaged with RH Security Ser-vice and has been work-ing with the company since 2003.

Coach and Senior Security Supervisor, James Kari said he is happy with his perfor-mance and he believes that he has the potential of joining the Kumuls one day.

Security of-ficer repre-

sents South-ern Zone

Paul (right) and team mates getting ready for one of their games

Trailstorms team mem-bers

In-House staff now do not have to go out to take a break after a hard day of work.

The newly built RH Sports Club located within the staff quarters area is fully kitted to suit the needs of one who needs to take time out at the end of the day after a busy schedule.

The club is open to expatriate staff only and its purpose is to provide a safer place for the staff to social and communicate with each other to maintain a good relationships. It also facilities for the staff to help to keep them fit and healthy.

The club has four Badminton courts, Sauna rooms for both male and female, a table tennis facility and a Mini Gym. It also caters for a small bar including a pool table and a small dining area with a large TV screen.

Mr Muk Nai Boh said the club started operating on the 18th of September this year but our Management will look at the official opening of the facility in due time.

The club is open from Mon – Thurs from 7pm-10pm, on Fridays from 7pm-11:30pm, on Saturdays from

1:30pm to 11:30pm and on Sundays from 11am-10pm.

rh sports club

The Gym

The Bar with a pool table.

The dinning room with a TV screen.

4 Badminton courts. Players at the court.

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’

We welcome your suggestions and contributions to improve our future publications, send them to:

Email:pr_dept@rhpng.com.pgannette_pr@rhpng.com.pgwerigi_pr@rhpng.com.pg

Public Relations Dept,RH (PNG) GroupP.O Box 102Port MoresbyNational Capital District www. rhpng.com.pg

325 6165Facsimile: Telephone: 325 7677

to make it to the grand finals in the Corporate Companies Netball Com-petition.

“Making it to the grand fi-nals wasn’t easy for our committed company representatives against Air Niugini in April this year,” said the team captain.

Captain Margaret Aku said despite the loss by 6 points to Air Niugini, the ladies enjoyed the games and it has also given them hope and courage to play better next time.

The team received a Runner Up and Participant Trophy while Goal Defender Susan Makara, received a trophy and medal for Best and Fairest player and Best Defender.

The Hyper mart receptionist, will this session trian our netball team. She had recieved medals and trophies while playing for Aroma Coast and Paramana netball clubs.

Centre, Malinda Takale who works as a warehouse clerk with RH Trading, also received a medal and a trophy for the Best and Fairest player and the Best Mid-Court player. “I started playing netball last year when I joined the team and was over joyed.”

Netball Team Gears up for Next Season

RH Netball team during the Grand Final.

The Sepik lass said, “This is my first time to recieve the medal and trophy and it encouraged me to play harder and eventually represent PNG one day.”

“The ladies were very com-mitted even though some pulled out during the season which did not stop the other team members to loose inter-est and we are proud of all those who have contributed in one way or the other,” she said.

The team is looking forward to make it again to the finals and this time to win,” Margaret said.

So far about 30 new members and interested ladies have signed up to join the team and Margaret is calling on more ladies to be part of the team.

With the large number of ladies interested to join the team, Margaret says that there will be two teams for the next season.

The next season for 2005–2006 will commence in October. Training sessions have started already from 5pm to 6pm on Mondays and Wednesdays

at the RH Staff Compound.

RH Netball team was proud

Facts of LifeWhen you make the biggest mistake ever, something good

comes from it.A smile from you can bring hapiness to anyone,even if

they don’t like you.

Take Time.......Take time to Work - It is the

price of success.Take time to Think - It is the

source of power.Take time to Read - It is the

foundation of knowledge.Take time to Worship - It is the highway of reverence and washes the dust of earth from

our eyes.Take time to Help and Enjoy Friends - It is the source of

happiness.Take time to Laugh - It is the singing that helps with lifes

load.Take time to Plan - It is teh

secret of being able to have time to take time for the 6 things

above.

LessonA turkey was chatting with a bull. “I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree; but, I haven’t got the energy,” sighed the turkey. “Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?” replied the bull...” they’re packed with nutrients”. The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. Finally, on the fifth day, he found himself proudly perched

at the top. There, he was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

LESSON - Bullshit might get you to the top but it won’t keep

you there.