PNG News 

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Broker highly rates Highlands Pacific

AUSTRALIAN investment broker Evans and Partners has given a “positive” rating to Papua New Guinea mining explorer and developer Highlands Pacific.

The company is a junior partner in the US$1.4 billion Ramu nickel and cobalt being developed by Chinese giant Ramu NiCo, 18.18% joint venture partner in Xstrata’s Frieda River copper mine in East Sepik and explorer in the Star Mountains of Western’s North Fly electorate.

“Highlands Pacific remains our number one recommendation within the copper space, due largely to the extreme discount to valuation the company is currently trading,” research analyst Cathy Moises said in Evans and Partners’ Australian resource sector report released last week.

She wrote that with a decision on the Ramu NiCo submarine tailing disposal court case expected later next month, a trebling of the exploration focus in the Star Mountains and final definitive feasibility study for Frieda River due in January 2012, the news flow would be significant.

Frieda is the key asset, she said, noting that it was one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper/gold resources.

“Subject to the project continuing to meet its project hurdles, a 12-month feasibility study is due for completion in January 2012, with possible construction commencing in 2012 and production in 2017,” Moises said.

The pre-feasibility study provided for a 60mtpa operation for the first eight years of mine life and 50mtpa average for LOM (when processing harder ore).

Women at work ...

Women of the Seventh-Day Adventist church in Lae, Morobe, walked through the streets of the city collecting rubbish on Sunday. About 200 women were divided into three groups and collected rubbish at the three major shopping centres of Main Market, Eriku and Chinatown.  Some of the women (above), who had cleaned Chinatown, were on their way to the Main Market when they were pictured at the Lae Yacht Club, at Voco Point. The other group, which started from the market, also cleaned the road to Eriku from where other women picked up rubbish on the way to Chinatown. The women collected used plastic bags, soft drink containers and other rubbish. – Words and picture by PISAI GUMAR 

Police boss cracks whip
Officers implicated in student killing face suspension
By JUNIOR UKAHA

POLICE officers implica­ted in the death of a Kokopo Business College student will be suspended pending an investigation, Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie said yesterday.He condemned the actions of a group of policemen who allegedly assaulted a final-year management student who died while in police custody.

Wagambie said if the reports into the alleged beatings and death were correct, “then the policemen responsible will be dealt with accordingly”. “Nobody is above the law, even if they are police officers,” he said.“Normal police investigations will follow and none of the officers responsible will walk away free.”

As he made his hard stance known, Acting Deputy Commissioner operations Fred Yakasa announced one policeman had been committed to stand trial and three others were facing charges in relation to the death of a man in custody in Kimbe, West New Britain, early this year leading to a riot in that town (story on page 3).

East New Britain provincial police commander Supt Sylvester Kalaut yesterday maintained, however, that he needed to have “concrete evidence” on the allegation that his officers were involved in the student’s death.

He said it was mere speculation by the community and the school administration to force an internal investigation on his officers.Wagambie spoke out after a group of policemen from Kokopo, East New Britain, stormed the Kokopo Business College, fired tear gas, raided a male dormitory and assaulted students.

The officers allegedly beat up the final-year student, Stanis Jiki, in his dormitory and hauled him and three others to the police cells where Jiki was said to have died.

Wagambie said police were allowed to “use force”, when carrying out their duties, but the “nature of the situation” must justify the type of force used. “I have not been formally briefed,” he said.“But if it is true (killing), then, administrative procedures will apply.“The officers implicated will be suspended automatically pending investigation.”

He said a similar case where police brutality had resulted in the death of a local youth in nearby Kimbe, West New Britain, had resulted in three police officers committed to stand trial.

He said another policeman in Port Moresby was last year sentenced to 22 years in jail for discharging a firearm in public and pointing a gun at members of the public even though he did not kill anyone.

Wagambie passed his condolences to the relatives of the deceased and appealed to the students not to take the law into their own hands.

His comments came as four male students from the Kokopo Business College appeared before the Kokopo District Court yesterday on charges of arson and damaging school property.The students were all from Wosera in East Sepik.

They were Winsaslaus Bagamu, a second-year student, Noel Wapikundi, Edward Jiriwahu and Bradley Wambi, all first-year students.They were charged on Saturday under section 67, subsection 1A of the Criminal Code.

Their cases had been transferred to the Kerevat District Court and were remanded in custody at the Kerevat Correctional Services.The four were refused police bail and had been ordered by magistrate Samuel Lavutul to file for bail application.

The burning down of the office administration building was in retaliation to the death of Jiki.Kalaut yesterday said the school administration had complained that police officers had beaten up Jiki.

He confirmed that a post-mortem would be conducted on Jiki this week, once doctors at the Nonga Base Hospital morgue were ready.It was understood that a protest march was being planned by KBC students and staff for today. 

Students urged to repay Tesas loans
By BOSORINA ROBBY

RECIPIENTS of the Tertiary Education Study Assistance Scheme (Tesas) loan from 2000 to 2007 are urged to start repaying their loans to the Office of Higher Education through the Department of Finance and Treasury.

OHE student support and scholarship assistant director Joseph Morimai said recipients living in the National Capital District should go to the cash office at Vulupindi Haus and make payments to finance revenue vote #106.01.

Recipients in the provinces could visit their district treasury office and make payments to the same vote.Those employed recipients are asked to provide their employment details to the OHE.Morimai said copies of the receipt should then be faxed to the OHE for their database and cross-check purposes.

He said the OHE would design and maintain debt recovery database to allow accurate accounting of individual student’s loans and repayments, and to keep all student data.

He said since its inception in 2000, OHE had loaned close to K6 million to more than 3,000 students in Tesas attending nursing, teaching, technical and business colleges and universities.

“So far, only two women have repaid their loans since the Tesas loan scheme started,’’ he said.

“So, by creating this repayment mechanism with the help of the Finance and Treasury Department, we hope to recoup at least 60% of the funds.

”The loans scheme was developed to help students enrolling at universities and non-university institutions pay their tuition fees.

The four scholarship categories were academic excellence scholarship (AES), Higher Education Contribution Assistance Scheme (Hecas) and self-sponsored.

The service was suspended in 2008 to allow OHE to develop ways to get its money back. 

Cop to stand trial over Kimbe killing

A POLICEMAN will stand trial in the National Court over the killing of a man which sparked a riot in Kimbe, West New Britain, early this year.

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner and chief of operations Fred Yakasa said in a statement yesterday that three others would be committed to stand trial in  what is known as the ex-offico indictment.

The announcement came as  the dead body of a student was found in a police cell on Saturday morning in neighbouring Kokopo in East New Britain.Policemen are said to have fired tear gas and stormed into the dormitory on Friday night where they beat up students and dragged off four to the police cells for questioning.

Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie yesterday said any policeman found to have been involved in the death of the student would be dealt with.Yakasa named the policeman to stand trial over the Kimbe murder as First Const Paul Karl. Three other policemen who appeared separately for the same offence, but had their cases struck out due to insufficient evidence, were named as Chief Sgt Godfrey Kambania, Const Alex Tokavai and Gabriel Nomu.

All four policemen were charged under section 7 principal offenders of the Criminal Code Act.Yakasa said section 7 of the Criminal Code Act covered people who were merely present when an offence was committed but did nothing to deter or prevent the offence.“In this particular case, they are members of the constabulary who have sworn an oath to protect and serve the public.

“By allegedly not doing anything, they are just as guilty of criminal neglect. “However, in this particular case there was overwhelming evidence proving their involvement in committing the crime.

“We are, therefore, arranging with the state prosecutor’s office to commit the other three to stand trial through the ex-officio indictment,” Yakasa said.

In the meantime, their serious disciplinary offences report had been submitted to internal affairs directorate for speedy adjudication.

Yakasa said the police hierarchy was serious in ensuring members of the constabulary were held accountable.“Let me make it very clear again that the Wagambie administration will not tolerate undisciplined, abusive, corrupt and unprofessional policemen.

“We will hold all members accountable for their actions or inactions,” Yakasa said.

Monday 27 June 2011 

HPL, Marengo rated highly in copper scene
By SINCLAIRE SOLOMON

INVESTMENT broker Evans and Partners has described Highlands Pacific and Marengo Mining as among exciting “new kids on the block” in the copper sector of the Australian market.

Looking beyond the three major pure copper producers in Australia, the broker highlighted opportunities among the junior producers, namely Highlands Pacific, Marengo, Intrepid Mines and Sandfire.

However, it said Indonesia was not as pro-mining as neighbouring Papua New Guinea where the Highlands Pacific and Marengo had large scale porphyry copper projects while Intrepid Mines had its projects in Indonesia.

Sandfire has a higher grade copper project in DeGrussa, Australia, it noted.

“As expected given the long term and capital intensive nature of development, the porphyries are trading at a greater discount to valuation,” Evans and Partners said in a report released last week.

It said that while Highlands Pacific remained its preferred copper producer among the junior sector, Intrepid Mine also featured as an interesting producer, “with a large discount to valuation and strong exploration upside, but with a higher risk profile due to location within a protected forestry region in Indonesia”.

Highlands Pacific has a 18.8% interest in Frieda copper project in Ambunti-Dreikikir electorate, East Sepik, being developed by Xstrata as well as interest in Ramu nickel and cobalt project being developed by RamuNiCo in Usino-Bundi electorate, Madang, and exploration in the Star Mountains of North Fly, Western.

Marengo Mining has a 100% stake in the Yandera copper and molybdenum project in Usino-Bundi electorate, Madang.

Evans and Partners said that a positive for the project was that a Chinese off-take partner might take a stake.

It is a three-million tonne  attributable copper resources and has a production timeline from 2015.

The broker also noted that Yandera was a very large scale project, unusual for a junior to retain a majority stake in such a large project.

Research analyst Cathy Moises said: “Looking at key supply/demand metrics, we feel over the next decade supply is likely to exceed demand for copper which may lead to price weakness in later years.”

Sepiks surrender guns...

Operation Sukundimi Merona seemed to be doing wonders for Sepik River communities in Angoram, East Sepik, restoring law and order and curbing illegal activities that were once seen as normal there. In Biwat last Thursday, Yuat LLG villagers surrendered 53 guns to members of Sukundimi Merona led by provincial police commander Vincent Pokas. Five prison escapees also surrendered. In total, 79 illegal firearms were handed over to police this month. – Nationalpic by GABRIEL FITO

Student dies in police cell
By ELIZABETH VUVU

POLICE officers who fired tear gas and stormed into the male dormitory at a boarding educational institution are being questioned over the death of a student.

The incident happened last Friday at the Kokopo Business College in East New Britain.

In retaliation, the students later burnt down the administration office building and, among other things, damaged the principal’s residence.

Provincial police commander Sylvester Kalaut said he was aware of the accusation of police brutality levelled against his officers.

He said the officers involved were being questioned.

The final-year management student, who died on Saturday morning, was identified as Stanis Jiki.

Deputy principal of the college John Karis said the police officers went into the school premises last Friday night after receiving a complaint.

He said they fired tear gas, went into the male dormitory and questioned Jiki, a student from East Sepik.

Karis alleged that they also beat him up.

Karis said the officers then took Jiki and three other male students to the Kokopo police station.

Jiki died in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Karis said he broke the news to the campus and then warned the principal to vacate his house be­cause he suspected that the students were likely to retaliate.

Karis said he then fled the campus with his family.

The students later went on a rampage, damaging the principal’s house and setting fire to the administration block comprising 11 rooms.

They also destroyed the school’s internet server and broke into the computer laboratory, taking out computers and throwing them over the school fence.

Two fire trucks arrived at the scene later but could not put out the fire.

On Saturday morning, female students were seen leaving with their belongings to stay with relatives and friends outside the college premises.

Kalaut said 50 students had been taken in for questioning.

He said some would be used as witnesses while others would be charged with arson and causing a riot.

Opposition slams deferral of parlt
By JEFFREY ELAPA

THE adjournment of parliament for five weeks is designed to avoid issues affecting the country, Opposition parliamentarians said.

When parliament re­sumed last Friday, leader of government business Paul Tiensten moved that it be adjourned until Aug 2.

He said that parliament should not be allowed to continue be­cause no water was supplied to the house when one of the main pipes from the main water supply at Mt Eriama was broken.

He said the air-conditioning units depended on water.

With no water, the units would not function properly, making it un­comfortable for those in the chamber.

The opposition called for a division, but Speaker Jeffery Nape, who had been absent for the past two weeks, ruled in favour of the go­vern­ment.

Led by former deputy Opposition leader and member for Lae Bart Philemon, the MPs ac­cused Nape of taking sides and “hijacking the parliamentary process”.

Nape then told Philemon not to point fingers at him and to respect the chair.

“You do not point at the chair.

“You are discrediting the chair,” Nape said.

Philemon yelled back, telling him that he was not being fair and that he (Nape) was to be blamed for hijacking the parliamentary democratic pro­cess by collaborating with the government as he was a member of the ruling National Alliance party.

Soon after parliament was adjourned, the opposition called a press conference where they accused the government of planning the adjournment “to avoid issues facing the country”.

The issues, they said, included:

• Revelation of the corruption and misuse of public funds at the National Planning office by secretary Joseph Lelang;
• Health status of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare; and
• Protest march and petition by the public led by NGOs last Thursday.

Deputy Opposition leader Sam Basil said: “The speaker is creating divide and rule tactics.

“It is an absolute hijacking of the process when a division is called.”

Moresby Northwest MP Sir Mereke Morauta said: “This go­vernment is morally corrupt.

“There is no reason why parliament should be adjourned.

“They want to run away from issues.”

Anglimp-South Waghi MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham said: “This go­vernment is run by a mad leader.”

Nasfund contributors assured of security
By JEFFREY ELAPA

ACTING Prime Minister and member for Wabag Sam Abal has assured the 40,000 contributors of Nasfund that their superannuation savings will be protected.

He said he would not allow their lifetime savings to be burnt for a second time.

Abal assured unions that his priority (as prime minister) “is to protect contributors’ funds from being unscrupulously swindled by persons and institutions entrusted to protect their superannuation savings”.

“We are talking about an issue that is significant to ordinary Papua New Guineans, many of whom are contributors to Nasfund, the hardworking people of this country,” he said.

“I want to assure the contributors that I will deal with the matter of interest to them based on advice that is consistent with the laws of our land, particularly the Superannuation Act regulating the industry.

 “To my knowledge, the same contributors who tirelessly work for their living by allowing their savings to grow in superannuation funds such as Nasfund, have been burnt before.

“They have lost a considerable amount of their hard-earned savings, which has not been recovered.

“My interest right now is to protect the contributors’ funds.

“I refuse to stand here and condone sinister activities, especially by those in-the-know and allowing this same group of contributors to be burnt twice over.

 “There are many issues arising in relation to the transaction. However, in this instance, I must make sure that their exposure is mitigated.

“I intend to make sure that contributors will not be in any worse position than they were prior to this transaction,” he said.

Abal said the controversy warranted him taking some immediate remedial measures.

He said he was aware that the Central Bank, as regulator of the superannuation industry, had made some findings with certain recommendations based on these findings.

“Additionally, I am aware of the calls by the unions concerned to have certain persons involved in the unpopular deal removed.

“I will be pooling these findings and views of the unions, as well as information available to government together to form the basis of a decision whether to call an inquiry into the matter,” Abal said.

Former treasurer Peter O’Neill had earlier revealed that the transaction was illegal and that the report would be presented to parliament by the acting prime minister.

Friday 24 June 2011

Mines ready for huge production

PAPUA New Guinea’s mining industry is poised to produce 31,325,500oz of gold and silver and 165,000 tonnes of copper this year.

Officer-in-charge of the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) Philip Samar told a mines and money conference in Beijing last week that these production figures were expected from the six mines operating in the country at present.

The mines are Porgera, Ok Tedi, Tolukuma, Sinivit, Simberi and Newcrest (Lihir).

Out of the production figures and commodities, Porgera is expected to produce 500,000oz of gold and 80,000oz of silver, Ok Tedi 400,000oz of gold, 1,000,000oz of silver and 165,000 tonnes of copper, Tolukuma 70,000oz of gold and 150,000oz of silver, Sinivit 50,000oz of gold and 2,500oz of silver, Simberi 800,000oz of gold, while Lihir is expected to produce 800,000oz of gold.

Samar said PNG had four major mines in advanced stages of construction which were expected to come on stream in the near future.

The mines are Ramu NiCo (more than 30 years life span), Solwara-1 (five years), Yandera (10 years) and Frieda projects with expected mine life of 20 years.

He said several potential investors had spoken to him during the conference and had expressed interest in visiting PNG to obtain more information on mineral investment climate in PNG.

Samar said others visited the PNG booth and enquired about the PNG mining policies and regulatory framework.

PM recovering
Announcement on Sir Michael's future next week
By FRANK SENGE KOLMA

Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare, meeting with reporters yesterday on behalf of the family, said while his dad and Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare was recovering, returning to work was out of the question for now. – Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare is recovering and should leave intensive care next week but returning to work is not an option at the moment.

This is the word from the Somare family who were represented at a media conference yesterday by Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare.

A decision on the chief’s future in public life will be discussed by the six members of Sir Michael’s immediate family with him before an announcement is made next week, Somare said.

He thanked Papua New Guineans for their prayers and their understanding and apologised for taking so long to talk about the Grand Chief’s condition.

“I wish to talk about my old man’s health,” he said.

“It is 10 weeks since he has gone into operation. It has been a challenging period for myself and my family.

“At this time, there is great uncertainty for his recovery.

“In the last four to five weeks, he has been in ICU (intensive care unit).

“Next week, we hope he’s out.

“We are hopeful that he recovers ... that he is given time to recover in his own time without pressure.

“There are certain decisions that the family will take as to the direction our father takes.”

That decision will be announced next week, Somare promised, after the family has consulted with Sir Michael.

Somare dwelt at length on the nature of Sir Michael’s prolonged illness.

Sir Michael developed a problem with his aortic valve in his heart which his son claimed was exacerbated by the pressures he underwent during his recent leadership tribunal appearances.

He collapsed at one stage during the tribunal suffering shortness of breath.

The first operation at Singapore’s Raffles Hospital to replace the valve went okay but, at 76 years of age, other organs in his body started malfunctioning which included his kidney and lungs.

This necessitated two secondary corrective surgeries but the kidney did not kick into gear as early as it should have.

A fungal infection of his blood also added to the number of problems that needed attention.

Somare said it was during two corrective surgeries that the family “was quite concerned” they might lose him.

“That is over now and the kidney is functioning and his health is stabilising,” Somare said.

He said visits had been ruled out by the family to protect the dignity of the chief.

In the minds of many Papua New Guineans, he is the champion who has brought PNG to government and the family did not want him to be seen on a hospital bed with tubes sticking out of him.

They have also wanted him to recover in peace without having the pressure of having to make political decisions.

The Somare family comprised Lady Veronica, daughters Betha and Dulcie and sons Sana, Arthur, and Michael Junior.

All of them have taken turns to be at the chief’s side since he was hospitalised with Lady Veronica being a permanent fixture at her husband’s bed side, her son yesterday said she might as well be part of the Raffles Hospital furniture.

All six would meet next week in Singapore with Sir Michael and decide on his future before an announcement is made.

Sikani ordered to explain 'threats'

ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal wants Correctional Services Commissioner Richard Sikani to explain the threatening letters he sent to an ombudsman commissioner.

During question time in parliament, Abal said he had summoned Correctional Service Minister Tony Aimo and Sikani to respond to the concerns raised by Ombudsman John Nero.

He was responding to a call by Morobe Governor Luther Wenge for a royal commission of inquiry into the Ombudsman Commission.

Outside parliament, Abal said: “I cannot allow senior civil servants to threaten the ombudsman.

“It is a constitutional office and it is sacrosanct. I will not tolerate threats to it.

“I will be pushing to decommission Sikani.”

Abal told parliament that he had issued instructions to Aimo and Sikani to report to him yesterday.

The two are believed to be on a tour in Bougainville and are expected to cut short their trip to return and see Abal.

Wenge had said the Ombudsman Commission was an important institution and that some actions taken recently “have been questionable”.

For example, Wenge said the Ombudsman Commission took 15 years to prosecute Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.

“Some leaders are not prosecuted while the Ombudsman Commission is picking and choosing which leaders to be prosecuted,” he said.

Wenge said another interesting case was the Julian Moti affair when the Australian Federal Police, in collaboration with PNG police, breached international laws to arrest a man in transit.

“There is a clear conspiracy between the Australian and PNG police to breach international law.”

He said when the Ombudsman Commission reported to parliament, it overlooked that breach of law.

In response, Abal said he would meet with the ombudsman to relay some of the concerns.

Semoso accused of fund misuse
By JUNIOR UKAHA

MEMBER for Boungainville Fidelis Semoso was yesterday referred to the office of the public prosecutor for alleged misconduct in office.

The Ombudsman Commission said it discovered the MP had allegedly misused public funds and his personal conduct was contrary to that of a leader under the leadership code.

In a statement, the commission said: “The Ombudsman Commission today (yesterday) referred Fidelis Semoso to the acting public prosecutor pursuant to its powers under the constitution and the Organic Law on the duties and responsibilities of lea­dership after having investigated and formed a view that he is prima facie guilty of misconduct in office.”

Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek said Semoso had been notified of the referral.

Semoso was given the right to be heard last Dec 3 on official misconduct charges relating to the use of public funds and his personal conduct.

Manek said Semoso provided a written explanation to the commission on Dec 22, 2010, in a letter dated Dec 17, 2010, but the commission was not satisfied with his response resulting in him being referred to the public prosecutor yesterday.

He said the acting public prosecutor “holds an independent constitutional office and has the discretion to proceed with or not proceed with the matter under section 177(1)(b) of the constitution”.

If the public prosecutor’s office is satisfied with the referral, it will request the chief justice to set up a leadership tribunal. 

Manek also brushed aside claims by Morobe Governor Luther Wenge that the OC was “picking and choosing” leaders to investigate and refer to the public prosecutor.

“We give what (cases) comes here the same treatment,” Manek said.

“The commission goes by the book. The commission stands for fairness.”

Thursday 23 June 2011

PNG investment at an all-time high

INVESTMENT opportunities in Papua New Guinea are at an all-time high as a result of the economic boom led by the country’s petroleum and mining sector, PNG’s permanent secretary for Trade and Commerce Moses Nangu, said.

According to Fiji Times online, he said foreign investment was “speedier than ever” caused by the much-publicised liquified natural gas project.

As a result of this investment environment, Nangu said the need for skilled and semi-skilled labour was “becoming very important”.

He said it was, therefore, necessary that dialogue and negotiations on the subject with forum island leaders be pursued.

The online news said the Melanesian Spearhead Group was drafting a memorandum of understanding on a skills movement scheme and further discussions will take place in the upcoming Trade and Economic Ministers meeting scheduled for Port Vila, Vanuatu at the end of the month.

Speaking at a meeting of the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO), Nangu said the mining sector also continued to thrive with exploration works for other geophysical sectors were ongoing.

PNG ranks 11th in the world as gold producer and 10th in terms of copper production – with a real potential of exceeding present production levels. Silver is a commercial by-product of most mines and PNG also has an extensive reserve of natural gas and oil.

In addition, he said export commodities continued to flourish, taking advantage of international commodity market prices.

The PNG business environment was relatively uncrowded and he said the government welcomed foreign investment that contributed to the economic development and prosperity of the country and its people.

Nangu identified the areas of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, mining and petroleum, manufacturing, tourism, financial services and telecommunications as potential areas of trade and investment.

Servicing the islands...

Airlines PNG on Tuesday made its inaugural flights to Hoskins in West New Britain and Tokua, East New Britain. Among the waiting reception at Hoskins were these students from Kalu Primary School who waited patiently and danced to welcome the airline’s executives and passengers to West New Britain. Airlines PNG said there would be four flights out of Lae to the two NGI provinces every week. – Nationalpic by JACQUELINE WARI

Probe finds K125m illegal
Nasfund contributors' funds at risk

THE controversial K125 million loan from Nasfund to the Kokopo district was illegal and placed contributors’ savings at considerable risk, a confidential brief to the government reveals.

The brief, from the Central Bank, was to have formed part of the report that was to have been tabled in parliament by Peter O’Neill on Tuesday, the day he was removed as minister for finance and treasury.

The brief revealed that the loan, obtained via a Treasury Department mechanism called the sovereign community infrastructure treasury bill (SCITB), did not have approvals from parliament, cabinet, treasury and the Central Bank and was outside the national budget.