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Subject: National engineers incompetent: Polye Author: News [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: Mon, Jun 16 2008, 02:55:19am By SAMSON KENDEMAN THE National Road Authority and the Department of Works need more technology and expertise from qualified PNG engineers to carry out quality and long lasting roads and bridges in PNG, Works Transport and Civil Aviation Minister, Don Polye said. Mr Polye claimed that national engineers were incompetent and lacked knowledge when engaging in construction and maintenance work on national and provincial roads and bridges in PNG. Mr Polye said these roads and bridges constructed under the supervision of PNG engineers were of poor quality and lasted for a short while. He said as a result the country encounters deteriorating road conditions and appalling bridges, posing a death trap. “We are talking about quality control and training of engineers, that culture has eroded and we are losing our road quality tremendously, where is the standard and facing a big problem. “In this aspect, we expected cost-effective and quality roads and bridges to be built that would last for long term and minimise government’s additional spending,” he said. He said that Highlands Okuk highway is the worse hit. Mr Polye was speaking during NRA’s inaugural meeting to appoint a board chairman and its deputy to undertake safe and affordable transport service through the provision of transport infrastructure. He told the board that in such cases they should engage expatriates to carry out long lasting and cost-effective roads and bridges to avoid creating extra burden on the rural population and low income earners. “We need technology and expertise that would be best to building good roads and bridges where Government can limit its money and resources,” he said. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Re: National engineers incompetent: Polye Author: Not True [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2008, 07:40:01am Misunderstood by Media. Has been corrected at a press conference last Friday but has not been published............ as yet. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Polye should do his research first before opening his mouth Author: SB [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Thu, Jun 19 2008, 02:10:44am How long has Polye practiced as a civil engineer before he went into politics? Could anyone who has some background knowledge of his experiences shed some light here. I know PNG engineers are being sort after international cooporations now and many are already working as consultants in some many EPCM companies abroad. Polye should ask the engineers at works to design those roads and provide the training and tools to come up with better road designs. Above all for goodness sake pay the engineers what they are worth, you can't keep paying engineers K250.00 and expect world class road designs. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> Subject: Re: Polye should do his research first before opening his mouth Author: chicko [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Thu, Jun 19 2008, 10:06:26am I think Don graduated at Unitech around 1990 and contested the Enga regional seat in 1997 and ever since stopped practising his proclamed profession to revert to politics. You may guess what he did in the 6yrs or so. Am aware, he was at Ok Tedi working for Starwest Contruction for a year as a project engineer. The rest of the 5 years worked at some ego boosting positions with the Simbu and Mt Hagen works dept. I doubt he's got the experience to point finger at others! [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: Corrected verson Author: Genuine [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Thu, Jun 19 2008, 02:41:54pm Polye heaps praise on local engineers By SAMSON KENDEMAN A GOVERNMENT minister has ranked PNG civil engineers as among the best in the world. Works, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye said this is evident because many PNG civil engineers have been engaged by overseas firms in the mining, engineering and other industries. Mr Polye last week called on journalists reporting on the industry to be responsive and give credit where it is due. He was elaborating on an earlier statement downgrading PNG engineers as being “incompetent”. He cited an example of the quality PNG can produce in the recent appointment of Department of Works engineer John Kaio, who is currently working as a road maintenance modelling consultant for the London local authorities in the UK, to the National Road Authority board. He said there are others who are performing in similar assignments for reputable companies and consulting engineering firms. Mr Polye also challenged the authority and department, and the Institute of Engineers to adopt applicable design standards and codes of practices to suit the PNG environment. He said the recent effects of Cyclone Guba in Oro province and the Gera landslide in Simbu are wake-up calls for the profession to be more proactive, creative and innovative when planning and designing transport infrastructure [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> Subject: Re: Corrected verson Author: SB [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Sat, Jun 21 2008, 02:00:51am Genuine, The two press releases were done at seperate occassions so it can not be a corrected version. Polye should have apologised to all the Works Dept engineers and and even other national engineers working for contractors working on National road development or maintenance projects. On a more positive note, Polye has recognised one of our own successful Engan engineers by appointing him to the road authority so hopefully many others can be recognised. I suppose there is not much for John Kaio to gain out of this appointment but hopefully John will give some technical assistance to the road authority to formulate good technical specifications. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> Subject: Re: Corrected verson Author: JBKK [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Tue, Jun 24 2008, 08:51:38am Thanks SB. Few clarifications here!!! The National Newspaper is avoiding an apology to the national engineers. They have erred in their first article worded as ‘incompetence’. IEPNG is asking the newspaper to frankly apologise, and Polye’s second press release was to say he was misunderstood by the newspaper on his remark to the National Road Authority (NRA) Board. Now regarding my appointment, I was appointed by the NRA Board which comprises road users and professional institution representatives, as one of the Unit Managers responsible for Policy Formulation, Planning and Programming. The Minister is a member of the board and he acknowledges the competence of national engineers and cited my appointment as an example in his press release whilst trying to correct the first misreporting. My appointment has no ministerial powers attached to it and was done purely on professional merit amongst quality applicants. . It is partly true to say one may not gain much from such an appointment but again it all depends on how one sees life. Someone once said ‘Being smart is a privilege and it is for the good of mankind.’ Yes, working and living in a country like UK with decent lifestyle is a rarest dream for many PNG families which has come true for me and my decision to return to PNG is a self denial. Self denial in the sense that my professional achievement is a personal benefit and it’s an advantage to me and my family to live in a model developed country. I firmly believe our knowledge and experience we gain from developed countries are to a greater advantage and benefit to Papua New Guinea or Enga than a country like UK which has a pool of it. Moreover, NRA is a new road entity and gives me an opportunity to pioneer and establish the authority to its fullness with a possible review of the current road design specifications and road financing options. Finally, I encourage fellow Engan engineers and professionals to work hard and stop lobbying shot term political recognition or support from politicians and beaucrats. I believe if we want a better self or Enga or better still Papua New Guinea, we first need to create it in our minds and the power of it is that we will outmaneuver all oaths of uncertainty to live it. And if given the opportunity at some point in time, serve Enga and PNG, life is said to be meaningful where there is some liberty. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: National engineers incompetent: Polye Author: SB [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Wed, Jun 25 2008, 02:41:10am Kaim JBKK I didn't realise you actually left your job in the UK to take up this position here in PNG. I don't know if this was the best move for you as you certainly know what is best for youself. However I do recognise the sacrifice you have made when accepting this position. You are probably the second Engan I know who has resigned from an overseas based position to take up a position in PNG. I hope all things work for you and your visions for helping the country do come to fruition. As with regards to Minister Polye's comments, I suppose I will only believe him when The National does apologise to him, otherwise it was written and documented so we will take it that he reckons National Engineers are crap who produce shit jobs. I partly agree with him though considering all the corrupt deals that go on at Works Dept but atleast he should push hard to have engineers recognised and compensated well in this country. You also mentioned IEPNG in your response and I despise this organisation due to its lack of direction and responsibility. This organisation has done nothing for engineer's livehood and recognition in PNG society. I get embarassed calling myself an engineer when I see some of my juniors who took up accounting and Law studies already earning twice as much as me and are driving flashy cars and living in good houses when I am catching K1.00 buses to go to work from Morata. PNG needs to recognise engineers well to progress and become an industrialised nation. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: National engineers incompetent: Polye Author: JBKK [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Thu, Jun 26 2008, 10:21:50am Kaim SB Thanks for your comments. Sharing few thoughts as below. It is true in life that PEOPLE DON'T CARE how smart and intelligent we are UNTIL they see that WE SHOW CARE. Simple innocent Papua new Guineans are dying in poverty in a resource rich country purely from the sins of few greedy minority. For how long will we stay out and allow this to continue and think someone else will fix it. It is true that Engineers are paid peanuts but when will that be corrected and who is going to correct it. As the PNG Jacketpot advertisement says it rightly, 'you got to be in it to Win it.' We could be the victims of current inequality and greed but should the junior engineers and the younger generation be victims of our incapability. We could be seen as a wasted generation if Enga or PNG continues to decline morally at the same trend in management and development at our segment of time in PNG history. Our generation needs to work together as a team NOW before the natural resources run dry leaving a undiscipline underdeveloped population. Life struggles are only seen as success when sacrifices made by selfless few are enjoyed by many. Only then they will realise that, Yes we truly CARED. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: National engineers incompetent: Polye Author: SB [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Thu, Jun 26 2008, 07:04:38pm JBKK, You seem to have it all cut out so I am hoping it all works out according to that grand plan. Good luck [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> Subject: Re: National engineers incompetent: Polye Author: JBKK [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Thu, Jun 26 2008, 07:57:40pm Kaim SB, Here is my email: jbkkaio@yahoo.co.uk Keep in touch and if you are in POM, we can meet and talk more. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> Subject: Good Discussions Author: Freddie [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Thu, Jun 26 2008, 09:49:18pm John and SB, I like both of your discussions and constructive reasoning here. Now that you've both touched on these issues of inequalities, underpaid and the everyday challenges we face in PNG with the haves and have'nots I just felt compelled to share my thoughts with you both. I definitely see where SB you're coming from. A challenge in PNG thats been fought over the years through the sheer struggles of ordinary yet rightful-thinking professionals and engineers like yourself and many others. There is definitely injustice in the atmosphere within PNG due to so much greed, nepotism and so forth. And many would like to find better avenues of getting away from this forever unchanging, unpromising situation thats been fought over the years with little or no success (a let-down by those at the top). On the other end with the likes of John, there are a few (if not, hardly a dozen) who wish to fight that battle again with a bit more 'real' sacrifice in the hope that things do change in the very near future. John your decision and efforts in this course (leaving behind your dream life) is commendable by many Papua New Guineans. Unfortunately there are very few professionals who share your hat, sacrificing a shore of excellent living conditions with ever-promising opportunities, only to come fight this battle to instill hope and to bring about change. The biggest challenge though in both situations is that we all tend to fight this course in isolation (or independently) within our limits and capacity, hence bringing changes nationwide this way tends to lag a lot, as witnessed from experiences in the past. Unless, of course if one of us (sane and rightful thinking) was the PM, our genuine course for justice and fairness here would undoubtedly go through the same cycle generations later. From a more constructive and thoughtful perspective, my solution as I see now would be to unite the only dozen "Johns" out there together with the likes of the "SBs" into a professionally sound and assertive Union. And only through that Union I think we can fix issues that are prevailent with this current generation, and bring about that desired change that we all dream and wish for in our country. The help we offer in our little ways or at the helm of our career in person is inevitably appreciated and commendable by those who directly benefit through us, but the change we're talking about here has to start somewhere. We've got to form that Union somehow somewhere if we're desiring greater changes and into greater lengths. Freddie [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Good Discussions Author: SB [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Fri, Jun 27 2008, 03:27:23pm Freddie, Good thoughts there as well, I am sure there are lots of professionals out there with simillar frustration like me but we are caught up in our own world trying to make ends meet that we can not seem to get together to have a united voice to raise the concerns of the average person. There is such a big difference between the well to do and ordinary citizens like myself. In this country, people in responsible positions always dip their hands into the pot of money they know is not theirs. I am willing to work with like minded people who could restore equality for all. JBKK, I shall certainly call in for a chat. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]