The Yegiora Files

Chinese workers from the Ramu Nico Mine with yours truly. These young Papua New Guineans when interviewed said they learnt a lot from the Chinese workers. What they like about them is that they unlike Westerners were not interested in what kind of qualification you have. The Chinese are more interested in whether or not you can learn from them and do the job you are asked to do competently. A building for storing dried cocoa beans along Binnen Road in Madang built by these Chinese workers from the Ramu NiCo Mine. The Chinese workers operated the crane and assembled the steel frames.

By Bernard Yegiora “Nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?” I asked the Taxi driver and he replied “Bù huì!”. I guess you are trying to figure out what I was saying to the Taxi driver. Well, I asked him if he could speak English and he gave me a negative answer. He then asked me if I could speak Chinese, I answered “a little” in Chinese. Then he asked me where I was from “Nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén?” and I answered “Bābùyǎ xīn jǐnèiyǎ”. Most of the taxi drivers that I chat with think that PNG is in Africa, I presume it is because of the jǐnèiyǎ part of the name, sounds like the word Guinea which is associated with the names of several African countries. When they immediately smile and say “Fēizhōu”, I try my best to correct their mistakes, I reply each and every time “Bùshì fēizhōu” and make it my business to tell them that PNG is just north of Australia and is situated in the Pacific Ocean. This repeated experience caused me to question myself whether or not in 20 years time will a person in the same professi...

By Bernard Yegiora In recent weeks a collage of events in international politics has moved the spotlight directly on PNG. The tag of being classed as a minnow in international politics is slowly fading as the global competition between two of the world’s most influential nations gain momentum. Three different events that occurred in succession but share in essence the message of competition are; Hilary Clinton’s case about PNG involving China, Julia Gillard’s historical address to the US Congress which included the topic of China, and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi’s media session during the annual Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing. Competition for influence is one main motive in international politics, if one can gain influence that means they can have easy access to scarce resources like energy and markets for manufactured goods. The US feels that China is pushing them out of the LNG Project because of Chinese influence in the country in th...

By Bernard Yegiora In life there seems to be a reoccurring pattern to every phenomenon. At birth, a baby is fragile and small, but through the evolutionary process that little human being grows up. This pattern is similar to starting a business, from infant stage the business grows into a large business, recruiting more people and making more money. Defined simply as something intended as a guide for making or understanding something else, the concept of pattern can also be used to understand the growth of a nation like China. Not only a child, or a business grows but a nation also grows. Look at China before Deng Xiaoping’s economic reform, Mao laid the foundation of the modern nation at birth, and Deng guided it through puberty. As China continues to grow in the 21 st century when will she reach adulthood? According to IMF’s latest official forecast, China’s economy will surpass that of America in real terms in 2016, maybe by then it will be a matured nation? Another pattern in hu...

By Bernard Yegiora The world we live in is changing at a rapid pace. This view unfortunately is not shared by many in the poor developing nations of the world, especially for those in the remote places up in the highlands, and even in the islands of PNG. For them change is happening at a snail pace. The City of Changchun where I live is a growing organism, with continuous construction going on; I wonder when the city will stop growing. I was surprised to see how fast the Chinese were able to build a 15 storey building in just 8 months. Beginning in spring last year, they worked really hard up until the beginning of winter. The building is now awaiting finishing touches, which will be done after the bone crunching northeast winter is over. In January last year, on my way to Harbin which is the capital city of Heilongjiang Province way up north close to the Russian boarder, I was fascinated by the complex mega highway. I noticed that some sections of the highway was elevated off the g...

By Bernard Yegiora Anti-Chinese sentiments or Sinophobia is a deadly trend that is becoming more and more common as China continues to rise. It is defined as the dislike of or fear of China, its people or its culture. However, xenophobia is widespread in all societies of the world. In Iran, anti-American sentiments is strong, they see America as evil because of their arrogance. America in their bid to create a peaceful world have strongly gone against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, even though, Iran has assured the world that its nuclear program is for peace purposes. In PNG’s case, we have witnessed the ransacking of Asian businesses in 2009; mostly people of ethnic Chinese origin in major centers around the nation were targeted because of the disparity of wealth. This Sinophobia is dramatically growing day by day and could most probably lead to a major social up rising of far great magnitude than it predecessor. In retrospect, Chinese entrepreneurs have been in PNG before independence an...

By Ilya Gridneff PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, June 2, 2009) – A former Chinese dissident gets deported and growing anti-Chinese violence breaks out while the power of the local Asian mafia rises amid claims of widespread police corruption. It sounds like a plot for a Hollywood action thriller, but it’s just a slice of everyday life in Papua New Guinea. The opening scenes would show former Chinese government dissident Gu Kai being forced awake from his sleep and taken from his Port Moresby home, beaten by police, blindfolded, then taken hostage and driven to the outskirts of town. In a hotel room he is beaten again, forced to sign affidavits accusing the PNG police commissioner of corruption and when he refuses, the beatings continue. Next morning police and immigration department officials take the luggage-less, passport-less, battered and bruised man to the airport and deport him to Hong Kong. Allegations arise that behind the deportation is a mys...

I haven’t quite got the same story as Steven to tell...but having arrived in Lae in the early 1970's, I recall many a Chinese shop. China town was well and truly established and trade stores were everywhere. I can clearly remember Chandra and his sister Ileana arriving from Indonesian and as they say the rest is history. Chandra has many different companies now; Papindo, Haus Bilas, just to name a couple and Ileana went sideways into property; hairdressing; leasing shops; shipping and must own a fair amount of land and property in the Port Moresby area. Like the puk puk building in Boroko...the SVS centre near 2 mile...the Plaza Guest House building in Waigani Drive nears the car club and much more. James Seeto I remember well as I used to play tennis with his daughter Belinda Seeto and of course Cedric Chee my husband's employer for over 14 years. The airline company was first known as Chee Air and later as Morobe Airways. I remember Mr Chee telling me what it was like...

Just read the very interesting account of the history of PNG's Chinese and their hardships, struggles and challenges over the years since the German colonisation. I am always interested in the history of my country and this is one piece of historical account by Sir Ling James Seeto that has broadened my knowledge of my country.   I am from Matupit Island and I grew up in the late 60s at a time when the PNG or rather Rabaul-Chinese influence and presence was at its best. I knew the days of China Town and Malay Town and the Ambonese Club, the Quamintang (excuse my spelling), Atam and the list goes on.   The memories of a unique aroma of chinese food is very much alive and vivid in my mind; at around 6pm everyday, you would drive through Matupit Farm and Malay Twon and you would be totally overwhelmed by the sweet aroma of Chinese food.   There would be grand of Chinese ladies and men walking the streets, saying hello to their Tolai wantoks selling buai out...

THE relationship between China and Papua New Guinea can be traced back into the early colonial days even before any bilateral trade agreements were signed between the heads of the two countries. The relationship began informally perhaps in the early 1900’s at Matupit Island in East New Britain province which was then under German administration. Here on a strip of land between Matupit village and the then Rabaul yacht club rose the first China town in Rabaul, recalls long time Chinese business man and naturalised PNG citizen Sir Ling James Seeto. Back then the name was not China town but German village because everyone who lived there worked for the Germans. The Chinese were first recruited into the country by the Germans to do carpentry work, build boats, plumbing and other menial work. Sir Ling said at that time the Chinese were being recruited because they were the cheapest and reliable form of labour around. There was such a big influx of Chinese that everything was i...

By diancangshan Ⅰ :   Chinese culture - Key concepts and values   China is the economic frontier of the 21st century, and with that comes unlimited promise, and maybe pitfalls. The Chinese are wary of foreign companies that they believe may only be there to make a quick buck. Nevertheless, the Chinese market is not without at least some rules of its own. Guanxi   - In literal terms, this central concept in Chinese culture means 'relationships' or 'connections'. Guanxi is a network of elaborate relationships promoting trust and co-operation and for centuries was the main way of accomplishing everyday tasks. Establishing a sincere, supportive relationship based on mutual respect is a fundamental aspect of Chinese culture. In the world of business, possessing the right guanxi is crucial for ensuring the minimization of difficulties and frustrations that are often encountered.   Mian-zi   - An important issue that should be considered throughout b...

By Mathew Yakai A LOW key launching of Usino Junction-Yamagi road in the Usino Bundi electorate by the Chinese Ambassador, H. E. Ambassador Qiu Bohua on November 10 last year is gaining momentum and will come to use very soon. The K22 million road project funded by the Chinese Government includes a number of bridges built by chinese engineers which are strong and will last long. The Usino Junction-Yamagi road used to be impassable in the past, before 2005 after Ramu NiCo entered the area in the isolated Kurumbukari to develop the nickel and cobalt project. What is impressive to the commuters and locals is the type of bridges that are built are purely out of concrete cement and metals in their tons. Built by the Chinese engineers using local knowledge, the bridges are built to withstand the strength and currents of the number of rivers along the new road because when it rains, the rivers flood and can destroy the bridges. In this picture is a cement and iron bridge over Samson River...

After one year in Japan, nine young PNG engineers have returned home to a new job with the PNG LNG Project.   “This experience has prepared me for the challenges that lie ahead,” electrical engineer Cain Desiang reported.   Mr Desiang is referring to the comprehensive training he received from Chiyoda-JGC Joint Venture (CJJV) Project instructors in Yokohama in preparation for the new job that he and the others started at the LNG Plant Site on 1 March. CJJV is the contractor responsible for building the LNG Plant outside of Port Moresby.   The local engineers started their training at the Chiyoda Yokohama head office in February 2011. For the first two months they learnt basics for all elements of LNG plant engineering including Safety, Health and Environment, LNG Process, Utility Process, Piping and Instruments, Pre-Commissioning and Commissioning, Procurement, Construction, and Engineering IT. After two months, they were assigned to each engineering department to start t...

By GORETHY KENNETH THE Government is still negotiating with the Philippines authorities on the repatriation of some 50 Filipino fishermen still stranded and deemed staying illegally in PNG. But while this is happening, the Pinoy fishermen, are struggling to fend for themselves in the small township of Manus, with one already admitted at the Lorengau hospital while others are suffering from psychological matters. The Manus Government has not said a word on the issue but the National Government yesterday advised they were still in dialogue with the Philippines authorities over the repatriation of these men. It was announced last month that the Philippine Government officials were working with the PNG Foreign Affairs officials to repatriate them. But yesterday the PNG Foreign Affairs advised the process was slower than expected and that was because the fishermen’s exit documents were the reason for the set back. But they said that both Governments were in dialogue over the issue. “It ...

A LOW key launching of Usino junction-Yamagi road in the Usino-Bundi electorate by Chinese Ambassador Qiu Bohua on Nov 10 last year is gaining momentum and will come to use very soon. The K22 million road project funded by the Chinese government is not just another project. The road includes a number of permanent bridges that will last long, and the government should seriously consider adopting the same technology and know-how and implement in other parts of PNG. Usino junction-Yamagi road used to be impassable in the past, before 2005 after Ramu NiCo entered the area in the isolated Kurumbukari to develop the nickel and cobalt project. What is impressive to the commuters and locals is the type of bridges that are built, purely out of concrete cement and metals in their tons. Built by the Chinese engineers using local knowledge, the bridges are built to withstand the strength and currents of the rivers along the new road because when it rains, the rivers can destroy the bridges. Former...

  By Simon Eroro The leader of the Chinese mafia triad operating in Papua New Guinea was apprehended by members of the newly established Task Force team yesterday in an early morning dawn raid at Pent House night club and deported straight to China. Mr He Kai also known as Kevin He Kai was wanted by the law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the country for sometimes. Government officials confirmed Mr He Kai has history of committing serious crimes while in the country and was previously convicted by the Waigani National court on two counts of stealing of containers at Port Moresby wharf in 2005 with some local criminals and has served time in Bomana prison. He was also convicted for grievious bodily harm offence inflicted on a prominent medical doctor based at the emergency department of POM general hospital, pornography, illegal firearms and operation of illegal casino after being release from prison. He Kai was believed to have obtained his working visa through fraud ...