PNG Now magazine: October/December 2022

Welkam!

Welcome to PNG Now, PNG’s leading lifestyle magazine. This issue celebrates our second birthday, and we’re going stronger than ever.

What would you do if you were given 100,000 kina to start a business?

That’s the question we ask in our Vox Pop section on Page 6. The responses are inspiring.

Also inspiring are the six young executives we meet in our ‘Executive Class’ feature on Page 18. In recent years, we have witnessed the next wave of young Papua New Guineans moving into senior roles in professional life and it’s not hard to see why when you hear their stories.

Hard work is undoubtedly one thing they all have in common with other achievers featured in this issue, such as soccer international Lucy Maino (Page 34), boxer Fidelis Laia (Page 51), PNG’s Commonwealth Games team (see our games report on Page 46) and entrepreneur Janet Sios (Page 59).

It’s interesting to observe how often hard work goes hand in hand with something else, though: values.

Doctor Arabella Koliwan speaks of the ‘privilege’ of bringing her medical skills to the people of Hela, attributing much of her success to her parents and the fellow doctors who mentored her. TSL’s Philip Detona Hehonah speaks of the importance of showing respect to everyone ‘even when you’re really busy’, while lawyer Eunice Parua speaks of the need for principles in life that act as ‘guiding posts’.

These are the same values, perhaps, that drive Fidelis Laia when he speaks of his admiration for his ‘humble’ hero Manny Pacquiao and the importance of ‘respect for my opponent’.

It’s the same values that have seen Lucy Maino become a successful businesswoman and sportswoman, and an advocate against the abuse and bullying she herself experienced.

In the words of the old jazz standard, ‘it ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it’.

Enjoy!

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CONTENTS

UP FRONT

Vox Pop: If you were given 100,000 kina to start a business, what would you start? 06

My World, what people are reading, watching and listening to 08

AROUND TOWN Stage, music, charity and six brilliant ideas of things to do in Port Moresby 12–17

CITY GUIDES

Things to do and see in Lae 30

Port Moresby’s best restaurants, bars, hotels and more 32

SHOPPING

A guide to Port Moresby’s biggest shopping centres 38

SPORT

Locker Room Chat with boxer Fidelis Laia 51

Hunters put to work 52

WELLBEING

Get physical with a running routine 53

PNG MONI

Business news at a glance

The PNG business going crackers 58

Entrepreneur’s SME tips 59

Property report 60

At work with operations coordinator Grace Roland 62

Breakfast with social media activist Yanamlyn Yana

EXECUTIVE CLASS

Six Papua New Guineans at the top of their fields

A taste of tandoori

The PNG hotel serving up some of the city’s best Indian cuisine

Elegant advocate

Lucy Maino, standing up against abuse and bullying34

PNG Now is a free magazine produced by Business Advantage International Pty Ltd in association with

Distributed by Pascoe Promotions, Port Moresby

© Copyright 2022, Business Advantage International and contributors. All rights reserved.

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Join the PNG Now conversation on Facebook facebook.com/pngnowmag, Instagram @pngnowmag and on LinkedIn.com.

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Charles Saldanha ads@pngnowmag.com +61 (0) 404 842 472

EDITOR Robert Upe editor@pngnowmag.com

DITORIAL ADVISORY TEAM Penny Burns, Aaron Chin, Leanne Jorari, Sylvia Pascoe

CONTRIBUTORS Dean Arek, Mary Aseari, Paul Chai, Natalie Cholohei, Stefan Danilchenko, Charlize Fox, Ruby Gamoga, Leanne Jorari, Godfreeman Kaptigau, Lemach Lavari, Poliap M’Buleau, Gabriella Munoz, Theresa Patterson, Carmel Pilotti, Paul Roan, Peter Sevara Jnr, Peter Schofield (designer), Troy Taule, Kimberly Tatut, Sally Woollett (proofreader)

Advocate and footballer Lucy Maino, photographed by Godfreeman Kaptigau. See our story, Page 34.

Proudly printed in Papua New Guinea by BizPrint

Vox Pop WORD ON THE STREET

BY MARY ASEARI

If you were given 100,000 kina to start a business, what would you start?

DUMA SOLIMI

47, farmer, Koiari, Central Province

I would start a poultry farm. The money would be used to build a proper chicken house, chicken feed and other essential equipment. I would also like to employ at least two helping hands.

EUNICE AUKA

54, elementary coordinator, Milne Bay

I would start a fisheries business. My village in Suau, Milne Bay Province, is rich with fish so I would use that money to buy freezers to store the fish and a boat so I could transport the fish to Alotau to sell in bulk. My target customers would be tinned-fish companies and supermarkets.

EMMANUEL ASE

37, rural educator, Afore, Oro Province

I would start a small enterprise that processes vanilla and kava. I’d start small and then eventually get a spice licence and a trade licence to export these spices to other countries.

SEGA GUBA

54, women’s representative, Central Province

Since I have a lot of land in my village in Gaire I would start an agriculture project. I would use the money to buy a tractor to plough the land so I could plant watermelon seeds. When it is ready I would harvest and sell to stores like Stop n Shop and RH hyper-mart.

MADLENE JERRY

56, self-employed, Games Village, Port Moresby

My place in Buang, Morobe Province, has gold so I would use that 100,000 kina as capital to venture into the gold business. I’d start off by buying small-scale refineries and processors and then build from there.

BEADMEAD TAU

24, customer service agent, 6 Mile, Port Moresby

I would like to start an Uber service to provide a safer option for females than taxis and buses. Plus, my Uber service would be more convenient; just one call and we will be there to provide a safe ride.

BY THERESA PATTERSON| PHOTOGRAPH: FOCUS MEDIA

Which PNG artist do you most admire?

They are all family to me; this is like asking me who my favourite sibling is! Everybody I’ve met has been awesome and supportive. And there are many new artists coming up who are promising too.

What’s the best live act you’ve ever seen?

I think Insomnia does really well, especially with their harmonies. They’re young but they are very professional. You can tell they rehearse a lot. They’re still doing covers and I’ve told them they need to record the original songs they’ve written. When they do record, that’ll take PNG music to a new level.

original. I’ve also got Rastaman Wheel Out and Legend by Chronnix. My playlist is all reggae songs right now. There’s also Blessings by Angel and Rumor by Maoli.

Have you read any interesting books lately?

I’ve got a whole heap of e-books I haven’t started. I am actually a paperback person but it’s hard to find those in PNG. I have a Hans Christian Andersen book that my grandfather gave me, which contains original fairy tales, including The Little Mermaid. I’ve had it for 20 years.

Binge-watched any TV?

I finished the Korean drama Squid Game in a day.

Favourite movie?

better than

All the Disney classics. I started watching the new Lion King but I wasn’t impressed. As much as I love Beyonce, I was like, ‘nah’.

What’s one gadget you cannot live without? Definitely my phone. My whole life is on it, including my music.

Where would you most like to travel?

Manus was on my list for a long time, and I recently went there to film a clip for my single Hilalo The next place on my travel list is Milne Bay because I hear the diving is awesome. Maybe I’ll get there with my band (The Stage Piece Band) as well as media team (FoCus Media) when we do a PNG tour, hopefully next year. Danielle Morgan is a PNG singer who grew up in Kokopo. Previously a regional sales manager at a paper manufacturer, she is now pursuing music full-time and at the time of publication was looking forward to performing at the Veilomani Music Festival in Fiji. Her new single Time’s Up combines Afro-pop tunes with a catchy beat, facebook.com/ DaniellePNGOfficial.

DANIELLE MORGAN MUSICIAN

Conversation BREAKFAST WITH …

YANAMLYN YANA HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE & SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVIST

BY CARMEL PILOTTI | PHOTOGRAPHS: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

Why have you chosen the Hilton Port Moresby for breakfast?

The Copper Cafe in the spacious lobby has friendly staff, and I love their chicken roll with cheese, especially when toasted.

What have you chosen for breakfast this morning?

For something different, I have chosen a ham and cheese croissant – delicious with a latte. What am I going to do without

some caffeine for the day?

(Laughs)

You are the national coordinator of the PNG Tribal Foundation’s Senisim Pasin campaign. What’s the purpose of the foundation and the aim of the campaign?

The foundation is a non-profit organisation established in 2009 with a mission to reduce genderbased violence, improve health and

education services, and to develop leadership. I manage the day-today running of the Senisim Pasin campaign, which aims to change the thinking and cultural attitudes about how women are valued in PNG.

How did you get into this field of work?

I completed a social work degree at the University of Papua New Guinea, and I have always drawn strength and inspiration from

my mother, who is vocal in our community of Kaintiba (in a remote part of Gulf Province).

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?

It’s being able to converse directly with perpetrators of violence and, in turn, seeing them taking a stand against violence in their lives and in their families and community.

Why do you use social media to spread your message?

I believe it’s very useful for education. I started using social media at university to express my point of view on certain issues, and now I use it even more in my work. Social media can be used to advocate on issues of concern, as well as mobilise support and action towards a cause. At least that is what I use it for most of the time.

What does your social media handle ‘Conscious Kumul’ mean?

It means being awake and being aware of issues affecting PNG so that others can be educated about it – you can check my IG (Instagram) to see what it means. I have a highlight folder just for that.

Do you think social media can be used for more positive outcomes in PNG?

Yes. I think we can use social media for the good. So many Papua New Guineans are not fully aware of how powerful social media is. It can be used to even hold the highest (leaders) of this land accountable.

The Copper Cafe at the Hilton Port Moresby has a range of options, from full and continental breakfasts to lighter fruit bar and smoothie options, every day from 6am, hilton.com.

Human rights advocate Yanamlyn Yana at the Hilton hotel’s Copper Cafe (left); coffee and croissant (above).

FYI AROUND TOWN

Hot topics on stage

Hard-hitting issues like alcoholism, depression, addiction and violence have been included in the second staging of Art Activism in PNG.

The controversial performances have been curated by Nelson Kokoa, a university science student who has a passion for performing arts, storytelling and youth empowerment.

Kokoa believes there is a lack of support for the arts in PNG and a lack of understanding of the potential for the arts to transform communities, so he came up with the Art Activism events as a medium for young people to create awareness and address pressing issues.

“The main goal is to start thought-provoking conversations centred on social and cultural topics,” Kokoa tells PNG Now

Last year, Kokoa took part in the stage production of He Is Victor, which showed at Moresby Arts Theatre.

Written and directed by young Papua New Guinean playwright Andrew Kuliniasi, the play addressed a lot of topics that are taboo in PNG society. The play was able to start thought-provoking conversations around topics such as HIV/AIDS and personal identity.

It was from this that Kokoa witnessed the power of art and how it was able to move people,

which then inspired him to start Art Activism.

Pieces in the latest Art Activism production included spoken word, singing – and interpretive dance. Most performers were students from the University of PNG.

One of the standout pieces was a speech by Lincoln Raka that urged audience members to remember where they come from and who they are, in an effort to overcome the apathy that exists in sections of today’s society.

The first Art Activism performance was in May, and this latest production was in August. Another is planned for January.

BY CHARLIZE FOX & RUBY GAMOGA | PHOTOGRAPHS: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU & SUPPLIED

Art Activism performers, including Lincoln Raka (above) and Nelson Kokoa (right).

The beat goes on

More than 100 Port Moresby music fans attended Big Mal’s Rhythm and Drum Clinic at the Laguna Hotel recently.

Malcom Hageyo (Big Mal), says the clinic is something he had wanted to do for years. “The idea came to me when I was a kid. As a drummer and music fan I’ve always wanted to promote music and encourage new musicians,” he says.

He says the clinic was different to a usual gig because there was engagement and instruction for musicians. Apart from the drums, bass and rhythm were covered.

The clinic featured Big Mal and

other well-known drummers including Steven Pala, Clament Losane, Darren Tamanabae, Josh Ralewa (J-ROZE) – and Roy Hemisi.

OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2022 PNG NOW 13 Big Mal puts on a clinic for musicians.

Also making an appearance were musicians such as Richard Mogu and UPNG band Raun 21. Big Mal is planning to run more clinics.

Music with a message

PNG-NZ music artist Enjalas Jenkinson, known by his stage name Vallé, hit the airwaves in September with his new hip-hop single Guap – slang for ‘a lot of money’.

Guap exposes the lust for money and the evils attached to it. The EnganKiwi artist drew inspiration for his latest track from his observation that many of today’s issues in society stem from greed.

Following this single will be an EP called Caged Birds, a track that is dedicated to Papua

New Guinea, he tells PNG Now. The title suggests that listeners should expect some strong statements about his home country.

Vallé is hoping to visit PNG for a tour that could include Port Moresby, Lae, East New Britain and his home province of Enga, but dates are yet to be confirmed.

Guap is on local radio and can be found on Spotify and Apple Music, and on the official Vallé YouTube channel.

Car wash for charity

FM100 (Kalang) and 2 Fast Motors got together recently for a charity car wash at the Vision City underground carpark, to raise funds for the Port Moresby General Hospital.

The team raised 51,000 kina for the hospital’s children’s ward, assisting Friends of POMGen.

Friends of POMGen is a newly established fundraising arm of the hospital.

FM100 program manager Judah Memafu told PNG Now: “We’re hoping something regular can come out of this. We are excited to see if we can do more for Friends of POMGen.”

To find out about Friends of POMGen’s upcoming events or to donate, see friendsofpomgen.com. See our profile of PomGen operations coordinator Grace Roland on Page 62.

Enjalas Jenkinson, better known by his stage name of Vallé, has released a new hip-hop single.

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Out and about

If you are looking for things to do in town, here are six ideas.

01 A BAR WITH VIEWS The casual Fairfax Sports Bar and Bistro on Baruni Road has live music, and great mountain and sunset views. Every Saturday, there’s a barbecue.

02 SOCIAL TRIVIA What is illegal to eat with a cherry pie in Kansas?* Find this out and more at the trivia nights hosted at the Holiday Inn’s Gecko Bar, corner of Waigani Drive and Wards Road, every second Thursday of the month.

03 COFFEE CLUB Coffee lovers have more options now, with the recent opening of Tribes Coffee Club at Waigani and Lawes Road, facebook.com/ tribescoffeec.

04 MAGAZINE With two women elected to Parliament, now is the time to continue conversations around the roles of women in leadership. The new quarterly EVE magazine, a women’s publication with a Christian slant, does just that, facebook.com/EVEmagazinepng

05 EAT, DRINK, SWIM, PLAY Inside Laguna Hotel is a new precinct called Pentagon Entertainment, with a restaurant, three bars, a dessert cafe, swimming pool, spa, sauna, hot tub and kids’ zone, facebook.com/ pentagon3256029.

06 MUD CRAB FEAST The Konebada Resort is known for its fresh mud crabs, 30 minutes from Port Moresby at Boera Village, facebook.com/ Konebada.resort

*See answer on Page 62

WHERE TO FIND US

PNG Now has extensive distribution in cafes, hotels and other social hubs.

In Port Moresby, this includes Duffy outlets (pictured), Airways Hotel, The Hilton and The Stanley (cafes), Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CHM at Vision City, the POM City Markets and Harbourside Night Markets.

In Lae, it can be picked up at the Lae Chamber of Commerce and the Lae International Hotel.

Live music at the Fairfax Sports Bar and Bistro.

People EXECUTIVE CLASS

BY RUBY GAMOGA & CARMEL PILOTTI | PHOTOGRAPHS: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

From an emergency doctor to a CEO and a marketing expert, we meet six young Papua New Guineans who are powering ahead in their professions. We hear about their work, and their thoughts about leadership, life and success.

ARABELLA KOLIWAN, 33

E MERGENCY PHYSICIAN HELA PROVINCIAL AUTHORITY

KEVIN ALO, 35

EUNICE PARUA, 32

POCHON LILI, 34

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER NAMBAWAN SUPER

JACQUI JOSEPH, 33

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CO-FOUNDER EQUAL PLAYING FIELD

GENERAL MANAGER GROUP STRATEGIC MARKETING CPL GROUP

PHILIP DOTANA HEHONAH, 35

C OMPANY SECRETARY AND HEAD OF LEGAL T EACHERS SAVINGS AND LOAN SOCIETY

You see more than 3000 cases a month. What are the challenges you face in being a medico in a rural area?

We have many health challenges in Hela, and nationwide, such as patchy primary healthcare coverage, an ageing workforce, run-down facilities and constant difficulties with procuring medications and consumables. But it is a blessing and a privilege to be able to use my knowledge to serve my fellow Papua New Guineans here.

Are you from Hela?

I’m originally from Bogaboga Village, Milne Bay, and I moved to Hela early last year from Port Moresby because I felt strongly about bringing my skill set to a part of the country that is underresourced.

How have you settled in?

Another challenge of working in Hela, initially at least, was the cultural barrier. Being a woman made it difficult at first to connect with my patients, the community and staff, but what has been most important in overcoming this is being forthright. Open and honest communication in

any culture is valued, and being candid about what I stand for and allowing my work to speak for itself has allowed those around me to get a good measure of me as a person.

How have you become the doctor you are

I credit becoming the doctor I am today to my parents, and the doctors who have mentored me throughout my career. People think you go to medical school and graduate knowing how to be a doctor, but I’m not sure that’s true. You certainly get a lot of medical knowledge at medical school, but using that knowledge day-to-day to help the sick is a craft, and you learn a lot of it from other doctors while on the job.

KEVIN ALO, 35 GENERAL MANAGER GROUP STRATEGIC MARKETING CPL GROUP

What’s the most important quality of a leader?

Empathy is important. Good results will follow naturally for a leader who is receptive to his or her environment and understands the people within his or her team, as well as their culture.

What drives you in your career?

I do this because representation is so important. If I can do this, so can other young Papua New Guineans who aspire to make their mark in corporate and private sectors. All one needs is time, and the right circle of influence to help them along the way.

If you were hiring someone for a job today, what are the key qualities you would be looking for?

It’s candidates who have the right attitude. Many candidates have qualifications and work experience – but for me, it comes down to the right attitude, how you present yourself and most importantly how you can adapt to the work environment.

How have your parents influenced your work?

I grew up in the beautiful town of Madang in the early 90s and spent a good portion of my childhood running around the golf course at the country club, frolicking at Jais Aben, eating fried fish at Krangket, and jumping off the sea walls at Masin Gun beach. I had the best childhood.

I was also fortunate to have supportive parents who emphasised the importance of education early on in life. They also worked extremely hard to ensure that we were comfortable growing up. Both my parents were working-class Papua New Guineans: my dad was a police officer and my mum worked in a hotel. Looking back at how they raised us, it leaves me speechless and in awe as to how they managed to raise my siblings and I with their level of income. I am so proud of my parents, their hard work and putting us all through school and higher learning institutions.

My parents had a lot of impact on my upbringing and imparted good values that I carry with me to this day.

Who has influenced your career most?

There are three people that have had a massive impact on me when I was starting my career: Kiwi opera singer turned CEO, Mr Jack Bourke, my former boss when working as a young lawyer, Ms Lata Milner, and my current CEO, Mr Navin Raju. Not only did these three talented and wonderful human beings teach me about important life skills, they also helped me navigate the crazy corporate world.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I was an international brand

ambassador for Canada’s largest beer brand, Molson, in my 20s.

What are your top tips for success in business and life?

I’ve always remained true to myself. The best advice I can offer is to be yourself and continue to work on improving you.

PHILIP DOTANA HEHONAH, 35 C OMPANY SECRETARY AND HEAD OF LEGAL T EACHERS SAVINGS AND LOAN SOCIETY

What’s the most important quality of a leader?

He or she must lead by example and be able to motivate others. They must be a person who others want to follow, inspite of age or experience. One can only be a leader if one is followed.

If you were hiring someone for a job today, what are the key qualities you would be looking for?

I would be looking for a person I can trust.

What are the forces that drive the industry or space you work in?

In recent times, it has been digitalisation new technology. The increase in access to mobile phones and internet has brought with it opportunities to improve services and provide financial products to people. However, it also has its challenges, such as reliability of the internet, power outages and cyber-crime.

How have your parents influenced your work?

They have taught me that success is not defined by position, education level nor silver and gold. Success is knowing your incompetence seeking to address your deficiencies through God’s wisdom found in the Bible.

How has COVID-19 changed business? COVID-19 has accelerated change in the business world with people moving to an online/ virtual environment and working from home.

What are your top tips for success in business and life?

A godly Christian character helps to overcome limited experience. People matter. Show proper respect to everyone, even when you’re busy. Be ready and willing to take calculated risks.

EUNICE PARUA, 32 LITIGATION PARTNER LEAHY, LEWIN, LOWING, SULLIVAN LAWYERS

What motivates you?

I do the things I do so I can be a person of value to my country, my society and my family.

I know God created me for a reason and in this life I will strive to do my utmost best to serve Him and those around me.

What’s the most important quality of a leader?

Integrity. A leader must be honest and have strong moral principles.

Being at the top means there are not a lot of people who can keep you in check, so you’ve got to keep yourself in check and be able to stand for what is right and drive that through the organisation.

If you were hiring someone for a job today, what are the key qualities you would be looking for?

As with most private firms in PNG, we mostly hire young law graduates out from the Legal Training Institute. We look for candidates with good academic qualifications, as

well as the personality and drive. We look at what volunteer work or roles they’ve performed in the past, as well as any leadership tasks they’ve taken up.

How have your parents influenced your work?

My childhood was great. I grew up in a middle-class family with both parents working and sending us off to good schools. I made some amazing friends in school with similar backgrounds, who I still have in my life. I also had a supportive extended family so grew up very secure around lots of aunts, uncles and my grandparents.

Who has influenced your career most?

I’ve had the blessing of having some really good mentors in my career who’ve had an impact on my views, my approach to work and who have given me advice, opportunities and support to handle the different aspects of my career. From a very young age I always looked up to my aunt, Margareth Parua, who is a lawyer and a businesswoman. At work, I’ve been mentored by the senior partners of the firm. In the work I do in corporate governance and board roles,

Stan Joyce, Sir Mahesh Patel and Isikeli Taureka have been guiding influences.

How has COVID-19 changed business?

The biggest impact COVID-19 has had on businesses in PNG is in advancing the use of technology.

Technology has changed not only the way we do work but how we work. It has enabled us to work from home or work from wherever we are, essentially creating ‘mobile offices’, which could be the future for the way work can be done. Office space is expensive, so with the increase in the use of technology, I can easily see people choosing to cut costs by having remote offices. IT and the knowledge of computers will become a crucial skill to have in the coming years.

Businesses must adapt and change to become digital and use more technology in order to stay relevant and beat their competitors.

What are your top tips for success in business and life?

You must have principles or boundaries in life that act as guiding posts. Be honest and work hard. What you plant you will sow, so even though you may not see results immediately, be sure that the fruits of your labour will come sometime in the future.

POCHON LILI, 34 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER NAMBAWAN SUPER

You’ve had a rapid rise up the ranks; how did you get there?

I started as a graduate accountant at Deloitte when I completed my studies in 2010, before joining PwC, BSP and then Nambawan Super.

What propelled you along this path?

My father had a great work ethic, so I learned a lot just by watching him. He taught me never to compromise your integrity and to believe in your talents and abilities.

What’s the most important quality of a leader?

Adaptability. The speed at which technological advancements are made means that leaders have to be agile. We are seeing things like sustainability reporting and flexible working hours coming to the fore. Effective leaders are able to understand the risks and opportunities that will present as a result of these and position their organisations accordingly.

If you were hiring someone for a job today, what are the key qualities you would be looking for?

The right attitude matters. Qualifications will probably get you through the door, but attitude is what will keep you there. First impressions are everything, and I like candidates who have enthusiasm and show a willingness to learn new things.

JACQUI JOSEPH, 33 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CO-FOUNDER EQUAL PLAYING FIELD

What is Equal Playing Field?

It’s an NGO devoted to preventing gender-based violence. My work has a big focus on promoting gender equality and respectful relationships. This in turn improves livelihoods in the community. Good relationships and social cohesion in the community underpin economic growth. When there is a high level of criminal activity, there is a lot of violence.

What is your career mantra?

I want nothing more than to look back on my life and say ‘I did all I could to make a difference in the world’.

What motivates you?

There are moments in my life where I hear stories of corruption or see partnerships that are not what they’re made out to be, so it’s easy to feel that I no longer want to be part of this space. But I try to turn those stories into something positive. I try to understand that those stories are the reason I must keep going. We think often that once we hear the good stories, that’s where we’ll find our strength, but sometimes it’s those not-so-good stories that give you that strength.

How have your parents influenced your work?

Growing up in a Christian home (in Buin and Siwai in Bougainville)

Focus THE SOCIAL PAGES

PHOTOGRAPHS: STEFAN DANILCHENKO & PAUL ROAN

Papua New Guinea’s premier international investment conference took place in Brisbane recently, with about 300 people attending, many of them flying from Port Moresby to Australia.

PNG Now cameras were at the event at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Papua New Guinea Investment Conference is run by Business Advantage International, the publisher of this magazine.

The conference included high-calibre business speakers, and the chance for business leaders and investors to network.

Meanwhile, KPMG PNG unveiled its new offices at Nambawan Plaza in Port Moresby with a soiree attended by more than 100.

The office move follows the integration of PNG and Fiji with KPMG Australia into a combined South Pacific practice.

The event included speeches by KPMG Australia’s managing partner Paul Howes and PNG’s managing partner Zanie Theron.

There was a ribbon cutting, fireworks, cultural dancing, and a fun photo booth where some attendees donned masks, hats and wigs for their photo shoots.

01 The IFC’s Devesh Singh spoke at the investment conference about the potential for green hydrogen in PNG.

02 ExxonMobil PNG’s Peter Larden.

03 The team from the Immigration and Citizenship Authority

04 PNG’s High Commissioner to Australia, John Ma’o Kali.

05 Developers Rupert Bray (Steamships), Paul Sayer (Nambawan Super) and George Constantinou (Monier).

06 ANZ, Credit Corp and BSP: financiers coming together at the investment conference

07 The Mineral Resource Authority’s Jerry Garry.

08 Networking at the investment conference.

09 The team from BSP.

10 Talking business at the investment conference.

11 Westpac’s senior economist Justin Smirk

12 PNG coffee was served to delegates at the investment conference.

The office party for KPMG PNG included a fun photo booth and cultural dancers.

THE LAE GUIDE

STAY HERE

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Lae International Hotel, Lae’s longest-standing hotel, with expansive grounds, pool, gym, bar, restaurants and conference facilities, laeinterhotel.com.

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Lae Travellers Inn, affordable, comfortable and conveniently located in Top Town, lti.com.pg

TRIPPING

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About a 25-minute drive from Markham Bridge is the Lion’s Deck (pictured), a new weekend getaway in picturesque wilderness. Go for a swim in the crystal-clear water of the river, relax on the overwater deck, or cook some garden food over a fire, https://www.facebook. com/people/The-LionsDeck/100075436551229

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Salamaua, a historic township before it was destroyed in World War 2, is Lae’s bestkept secret, with fantastic beaches and snorkelling. Guest house available.

☛ Busama, a picturesque beachside village with a nearby Buli Waterfall, 45 minutes by boat from Lae Yacht Club.

☛

Crossroads Hotel, located at Nine Mile with lush grounds, infinity pool, restaurant and meeting rooms, facebook.com/ crossroadshotellae

BITE TO EAT

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Lae City Hotel, excellent range of Asian and western dishes. Try the baby back ribs, laecityhotel.com

Bunga Raya, Lae’s most famous Chinese restaurant, conveniently located at the Golf Club, facebook.com/ bungarayarestaurant.

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Kokomos, classic fare at Lae International Hotel with fantastic Indian dishes, laeinterhotel.com.

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War memorial, a peaceful place honouring the fallen of World War 2, cwgc.org

The Botanic Gardens, home to exotic tropical plants, an extensive collection of orchids, as well as an RAAF DC-3, laebotanicgardens.com.

Rainforest habitat, home to native birds, fish and other wildlife, including ‘Agro’ the giant croc. Located at Unitech, unitech.ac.pg

☛ Finschhafen, three hours from Lae by boat, is a small town settled by Lutheran missionaries and where you’ll find the iconic Butaweng Falls.

MEET-UPS

Hotel Morobe, panoramic views with fresh juices, waffles and coffee, hotelmorobe.com

FoodMart, convenient location in Top Town with good coffee and meals, facebook.com/ officialfoodmart.

SUNDOWNERS

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Lae Golf Club, lush outlook with cold beer, pokies and food, facebook.com/ laegolfclub

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Lae Yacht Club, the perfect place to watch the sun set over the Huon Gulf, laeyachtclub.com.pg.

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Jack’s Bar, a lively sports bar at Lae’s biggest hotel, laeinterhotel.com.

THE PORT MORESBY GUIDE

Bunka Cafe (pictured) at the industrial ECM compound on Baruni Road serves sandwiches, pies, smoothies and teas from a shipping container with adjacent outdoor seating, 7.30am to 3pm weekdays.

Duffy, three locations in POM, excellent coffee and bakery items, you can now place to-go orders ahead of pickup by WhatsApp 7483 6118, duffypng.com.

Copper Cafe at the Hilton Hotel has an air of elegance and sleek couches, also a bar, facebook.com/hiltonpng

Edge by the Sea, marina outlook, alfresco, at Harbour City, facebook.com/edgebythesea

Jeanz Cafe, great vibe, at Gordons Plaza, gordonsplaza.com.

Rainforest Cafe, surrounded by a living tropical rainforest wall at The Stanley Hotel, thestanleypng.com

Cuppa Cafe, consistently good brewed-to-order coffee in a buzzing atmosphere, at Vision City Mega Mall, visioncitypng.com/cuppa

Deli KC, all-day, particularly good lunches poolside at the Airways Hotel, airways.com.pg

CATCH UP

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Heritage Bar, Monday to Saturday happy hour has free tapas and live entertainment, at Crown Hotel, crownhotel.com.pg

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Port Moresby Yacht Club, where you can enjoy a sundowner as the yachts bob in the water. Non-members need to be signed in by a member, rpyc. com.pg

Mojo Social, a hip spot for afterwork drinks any night of the week, facebook.com/mojosocialeatdrink

Port Terrace, soak in hilltop views of Fairfax Harbour while drinking cocktails, facebook.com/PortTerrace

Alibi Bar & Grill, a happening spot at Harbourside, great steaks, facebook. com/AlibiPNG

Summit Bar (pictured), a sophisticated cocktail lounge on the top floor of the Hilton Hotel, facebook.com/hiltonpng

OUR FAVOURITE BURGERS

The Buffalo Burger with two beef patties, melted cheese, gherkin, caramelised onion and aioli is one of the bestloved hamburgers in Port Moresby. There are four Buffalo Burger stores in POM, including the town store in Hunter Street. The Dirty Burger has three outlets in town (Ela Beach, Boroko and Gordons). Be sure to try the crunchy chicken burger with sweet pickles.

OUR FAVOURITE ASIAN

Anna’s Kitchen, in Waigani, for Vietnamese cuisine and French pastries, Tel. 7068 1766

Seoul House, a long-time goto, home to the best Korean food in town, Tel. 325 2231

OUR FAVOURITE LOCAL

For traditional local-style PNG cuisine try the Mumu restaurant at the Hilton Hotel, facebook.com/hiltonpng

OUR FAVOURITE PIZZA

There’s great debate about the best pizza in POM, but we’ve settled for the pepperoni at Mojo Social in the heart of Harbour City, facebook.com/ mojosocialeatdrink. It’s K50 for eight slices of pepperoni smothered in napoli sauce and mozzarella. Highly recommended are Mr Mike’s Pizza, Yellow Captain’s and Enzo’s Pizza, which has four outlets and counting.

OUR FAVOURITE JAPANESE

Daikoku at Harbourside has a sizzling-hot teppanyaki menu, Tel. 7111 0425

DISCLAIMER The hotels, bars, cafes, restaurants and other businesses and activities listed in this guide have been selected on merit, chosen by PNG Now writers.

GET PHYSICAL

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☛

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Ela Beach has space for joggers; the volleyball and basketball courts are free for public use.

The Southside Fitness Centre at Koki has modern equipment and fitness classes, facebook.com/pg/ssfcpom

The Royal Port Moresby Golf Club has 18 holes, accepts non-members (there’s a dress code) and hires equipment, royalportmoresby.com

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Port Moresby Racquets Club (pictured) is a great spot for a social game of squash or tennis, facebook.com/ pomracquetsclub

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The Ekere Studio at Savannah Heights has functional workouts and dynamic group fitness and dance classes, facebook.com/ ekerefitnessdance

MARKETS

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Laguna Hotel Craft Market (first Saturday every month), Moresby Arts Theatre Craft Market (second Saturday), POM City Market at the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery (second Saturday), Holiday Inn Craft Market (third Saturday), Ela Beach Craft Market (last Saturday), POM City Market at the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery (second Sunday).

☛

Dates for the Harbourside Markets and Motu-Koitaba Market events are being varied due to COVID-19 restrictions. For updates see pascoegroup.com/ events

☛

Meri blouses, bilums, baskets and necklaces are available weekround at the craft market at Four Mile.

APPS TO DOWNLOAD

☛ PGO, PNG’s equivalent of DoorDash, is fast becoming a delivery service not just for food and groceries but also clothing and jewellery, phipax.com

☛ Odesh, PNG’s first on-demand taxi and chauffeur platform, odesh.net

The

STAY HERE

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Airways Hotel, and one of the best in the Pacific, close to airport, airways.com.pg

Hilton Port Moresby, 15 storeys of typical Hilton comfort, hilton.com

The Sanctuary Hotel and Spa, most spacious twin-share rooms in Port Moresby, handmade furniture, walk-in bird enclosure, thesanctuaryhotelpom.com

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Grand Papua, a centrally located premium hotel with plenty of executive options, also a new member of Radisson Individuals, grandpapuahotel.com.pg

NATURE

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The Stanley (pictured), luxury accommodation adjacent to Vision City, thestanleypng.com.

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Holiday Inn Express, affordable, in Waigani, ihg.com.

Citi Boutique, boasts exclusive rooftop bar views of the National Football Stadium, the spiritual home of PNG rugby, facebook. com/citiboutiquehotel

The Port Moresby Nature Park has 550 native animals and hundreds of plant species in beautiful gardens, and cafe, www.portmoresbynaturepark.org

☛ Adventure Park, watch live feeding of crocodiles and enjoy a fun ride on the ferris wheel at PNG’s only amusement park, facebook.com/adventureparkpapuanewguinea.

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Varirata Nature Park (pictured), splendid lookout of Port Moresby, lakeside picnic areas, waterfalls, camping, trekking and tree-house climbing, facebook. com/Varirata

GALLERY

☛ The PNG National Museum and Art Gallery at Waigani has artefacts from all 22 PNG provinces, some dating back to the 1800s, museumpng. gov.pg.

LATE & LOUD

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The Lamana Gold Club has a reputation as the ‘party capital’, with resident DJs, live music stations and international artists, lamanahotel.com.pg.

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The Element Restaurant and Bar has a more subdued crowd but isn’t averse to dancing, facebook.com/ elementpng

People LUCY MAINO ON HER RISE, FALL AND EVENTUAL TRIUMPH

BY LEANNE JORARI | PHOTOGRAPHS: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

In the cool corridors of Port Moresby’s Crowne Residences, Lucy Maino confidently poses for a photoshoot. The 27-year-old needs little direction, and posing for a camera comes naturally to her. Her curly hair is coiffed to perfection, and she is elegantly dressed in a white pants suit.

Her bubbly laugh travels down the corridor as she tells the photographer she doesn’t know what to do with her hands – but she has a striking presence nonetheless.

Fresh from winning the Oceania Football Confederation Nations Cup as a member of Papua New Guinea’s women’s football team, Maino is in the moment.

Unapologetically, she works hard for everything she has. It’s a work ethic she says she developed while competing with the best, while in the US for school.

“It was in that high-performance environment that I learnt to never make excuses. I knew that if I slacked off, someone else would take my place. I am grateful that I was introduced to that environment because it made me who I am today.”

Just hours after the photoshoot, we meet her again across town, this time on the football pitch as she trains with her teammates. She is without makeup, in her training kit and cleats, roughing it on the pitch.

Without asking for it, she has become a spokesperson for women in Port Moresby who defy social norms and refuse to be boxed in. Maino refuses to be stereotyped. She is an athlete, a footballer, beauty pageant titleholder, a fashionista, university graduate, businesswoman and much more.

“I wear makeup and do my hair, but I also lace up

Lucy Maino comfortably posing for a photo shoot (main) and very much at home on the soccer field (inset).

I wear makeup and do my hair, but I also lace up my boots and play soccer.

my boots and play soccer. You can do both. I want young women and girls to know that you can do both. You don’t have to choose one or the other,” she says.

Born in Papua New Guinea, Maino spent most of her childhood in Port Moresby before leaving for high school and university in the US. She completed high school in California before being accepted on a soccer scholarship to the University of Hawaii, where she later graduated with a degree in business administration.

An only child, Maino is family oriented, crediting her parents and her extended family for her soccer successes.

“I grew up with cousins all around me, so I didn’t feel lonely. We would all play weekend sports and that is where I grew to love soccer. So, when I went to the US for high school, I continued playing there.”

Maino came into the spotlight in PNG in 2019 when she won the title in the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant. Traditionally a one-year reign, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she retained the crown and served for another year.

During her reign, however, she received a backlash and online abuse after a video she posted on her personal TikTok account was reshared and went viral.

A former Miss PNG, who did not wish to be named, said the incident showed deep-seated misogyny in the country.

She was quoted on time saying: “I am sure if a male public figure did a TikTok (video), we would all be laughing or even praising him.” she said.

Maino was consequently stripped of her crown by the pageant committee.

Looking back a year later, Maino believes that the situation, while unfortunate, was a time of reflection. “It also allowed me to see who my true friends were and to be protective of myself and my space.”

The stressful situation and her conduct throughout it, however, inadvertently made her an advocate against abuse and bullying and, in what seemed to be a full circle moment, a role model to young people because of her strength through the ordeal and because she refused to play the victim.

“I have young people reach out to me asking for advice because they are going through the same ordeal, whether at school or online. And it hurts

company where she also serves as Managing Director. The company will soon launch the biggest LED screen in Port Moresby, which will be located at the Paga Hill

“While I was still in (soccer) camp, I was working on my business, securing a spot for clients, reaching out to clients for their printing needs. It was an added blessing when we won because now I have my profile out there and it helps the business.”

When asked for five words that she believes best describes her, Maino lists warrior, sociable, independent, adventurous, and ambitious.

And she has indeed carved out a new lane for herself where she is not defined by her past successes or failures. She will be known as more than a pageant queen or TikTok influencer. She has a lot more to offer, from her incredible gold-medal winning football career to her business acumen, to her advocacy work.

And, most impressively, she’s just getting started.

Lucy Maino trains with her soccer teammates in Port Moresby. She was part of PNG’s winning women’s soccer team at the Oceania Football Confederation Nations Cup played in Fiji in July.

THE PORT MORESBY SHOPPERS’ GUIDE

There are even more shopping developments on the way, including a mixed development by Steamships at Harbourside South (due to open in November), and the Star Mountain Plaza stage three, which will include a retail component.

Here’s our guide to the major malls and shopping centres in the capital.

are residents in Port Moresby or visiting the capital from other parts of the country.

The plaza has more than 20 shops and kiosks, with some stand-out stores.

Keynote Music House is one of the best music stores in Papua New Guinea, Gemini Jewellers has some beautiful pieces, the Gourmet Grocer has gourmet food you won’t find anywhere else in the country, and hair and beauty services are available with Trends Beauty International. Oh, and don’t forget the sweets bar, super-popular with younger shoppers.

Surrounding the new plaza wing, and on the first storey above, is the original Brian Bell store with homewares, white goods, electronics, office and home furniture, and sporting equipment.

Brian Bell has regular clearance sales, so keep an eye on the store’s Facebook page to see when the next one is coming up.

The shopping experience in Port Moresby has developed at a fast pace in recent years, with shoppers being spoilt for

PHOTOGRAPHS: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU & POLIAP M’BULEAU

UNITY MALL

Unity Mall and Supermarket m.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100075931181042&_rdr

Section 38, Allotment 33, Waigani Drive

Opening hours: 8am – 5pm Monday to Saturday (closed on Sunday)

Car parking: Spacious parking throughout the Steamships compound.

The Unity Mall, opened in 2021, is a hub for local small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) providing a wide range of services and products.

There are about 20 locally owned and operated shops, including cafes, a pharmacy, hair stylists and barbers, financial services and craft resellers.

There is also a food court and section of many smaller stalls providing a range of products such as clothing and apparel, jewellery and cosmetics.

A must-visit is Imbonggu Baskets, where you’ll find a lovely set-up and beautiful display of baskets brought in from the Imbonggu district of the Southern Highlands.

The shop, surprisingly, also has piano lessons conducted at the back of the premises, so listen out for the tinkling of the ivories when you’re visiting.

A cosy cafe stop is TJ’s, and the Goshen Best Barber Shop is a stylish joint with friendly staff. The friendliness is typical of the entire mall experience.

VISION CITY MEGA MALL

visioncitypng.com

Located on Waigani Drive opposite the Sir John Guise Indoor Complex and adjacent to the Stanley Hotel & Suites. Opening hours: 9am – 10pm daily Car parking: There are about 1300 parking spaces outside, and 350 underground, with security staff and CCTV.

The largest mall in the city (and the country) has more than 70 shops on four floors, and includes a food court, cafes and restaurants.

There’s a particularly strong showing of Asian-style eateries, including the Dynasty Restaurant, King Hot Pot, Korean Garden, Hosi Ramen and Happy Dumplings.

You’ll also find a supermarket, banks, a post office (fast and reliable), children’s toys, local art and craft, jewellery, and phone and tech accessory shops.

The 500-seat Paradise Cinema (paradisecinemas.com.pg; bookings@paradisecinemas.com. pg) is located on the second floor of the mall, and screens the latest movies.

There are more entertainment options with the Game Zone, and the Cosmopolitan nightclub.

The shopping centre is safe and secure, with well-trained security staff.

WATERFRONT FOODWORLD

facebook.com/WaterfrontFoodworld-1483055895247993 waterfront.enquiries@garamut.com. pg Tel. 305 8600

Situated off the Port Moresby Harbour at Konedobu, a few blocks from the Royal Papua Yacht Club.

Opening hours: 8am – 8pm daily Car parking: 400 spaces Known for its variety of international food brands and fresh meat, Waterfront Foodworld provides a high-standard grocery shopping experience with friendly customer service.

You’ll also find an Air Niugini sales office, an SME centre, phone accessories and tech, and Trophy Haus, which sells brand names like Nike, Puma and Adidas.

Popii’s Waterfront Cafe has a good variety of Asian and Western dishes, buffet style. Also, there’s a small bakery with delicious cakes.

CAFE BAKERY

COFFEE ROASTER SPECIALTY COFFEE

DUFFY CAFÉ LOCATIONS

GABAKA ST, GORDONS

HARBOURSIDE PRECINCT, TOWN

POM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Mall.

RANGEVIEW PLAZA

rangeviewplaza.com

Adjacent to the City Hall on Waigani Drive, Waigani.

Opening hours: 9am – 8pm daily Car parking: 250 underground spaces This is the newest shopping mall in Port Moresby, opening in May. It is 100% PNG owned by Nambawan Super, Lamana Development Limited and the National Capital District.

The plaza includes shops such as Chin H Meen (CHM), Nambawan Trophy Haus, Mark’s Tactical shop, Cool Stuf, Rapid Fones, Pacific Tech, Blooming Flowers, Rizzo, Toscana and a grocery store.

The three-level mall provides a clean and safe shopping environment.

There is a food court with a good variety of fast food, including American-style ribs and kebabs.

The plaza has a promotion running until December, with customers receiving a gift if they spend 20 kina or more. On weekends, there’s live music by PNG musicians.

There’s also a housing estate adjacent to the plaza, with 88 twoand three-bedroom condominiums furnished with white and brown goods, from 2500 kina a week for rent (lease@oph.com.pg).

11 Rangeview Plaza. 12 Jeanz Cafe at Gordons Plaza.

LAVINIA LAKANI

23, self-employed, Tokarara, Port Moresby

I prefer shopping at Unity Mall because it’s safe, cheap and accessible. And it’s a great place to support local SMEs.

STEVEN MERO

40, freelancer, Boroko, Port Moresby

I like Rangeview Plaza. It has nice scenery and a variety of things. I bought shoes there and prices seem much cheaper than elsewhere.

26, bank agent, Taurama, Port Moresby

My favourite place to shop is Vision City. I like shopping there because it’s convenient; everything you need is in one place. Plus it’s the only place in the city that has a cinema.

FRANCISCA RAMONA

37, secretary, Tokarara, Port Moresby

I like shopping at Brian Bell (Gordons Plaza). As a Nasfund member, I am offered products at 15 to 30% discount. Their products are of high quality and warranty is granted for three to six months, sometimes even up to 12 months.

FREDDIE MUPA

36, play facilitator, Gerehu, Port Moresby

I like Unity Mall. A big variety of local-made products is sold there. I like shopping there because I want to support our hardworking mothers who have SMEs.

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INGERBURG INBU

Food A TASTE OF TANDOORI

BY NATALIE CHOLOHEI | PHOTOGRAPHS: POLIAP M’BULEAU

The popular Indian eating style of food cooked in a tandoor has been embraced by Airways Hotel in Port Moresby where a dedicated tandoori section has been opened in a corner nook at the hotel’s Vue Restaurant and Bar.

There are a lot of feel-good vibes in the nook. Great views over Jacksons International Airport are just incidental, because the senses are immediately drawn to the scent of Indian spices in the air and the colourful dishes that are being served.

A tandoor is a clay or metal oven, traditionally fired by charcoal or wood, and ‘tandoori’ refers to the dishes cooked within it.

Executive sous chef Rohit Verma says the style of cooking is to marinate food overnight before cooking it in intense heat of about 300 to 350 degrees Celsius.

He says the tandoori menu was introduced several months ago when the hotel installed an electric tandoor, and it has been very popular.

We’re not surprised. The mouthwatering dishes coming out include tandoori murgh tikka, a dish of boneless charcoal chicken marinated overnight in a delightful mixture of mustard oil, malt vinegar, hung curd and green chillies.

Another classic is seekh kebab: tender lamb mince, chopped bell peppers, onions and chillies mixed with cheese, mustard oil and Indian spices.

The star dishes of tandoori

menus are often meat based, but there’s a strong offering of seafood and vegetarian-based dishes too.

The seafood dishes include fresh boneless fish pieces, called mahi tikka, that have been marinated in mustard, chilli, cumin and coriander paste, as well as achari jheenga, freshly caught prawns seasoned with spicy pickled raw mango, hung curd and spices.

On the vegetarian list, there are homemade fresh cottage cheese cubes and vegetables marinated in mustard and chilli paste called paneer tikka, and mushroom tikka that features button mushrooms and vegetables in spicy red yogurt. The tandoori menu at Vue Restaurant and Bar is available daily, from 5pm to 9.30pm. It is open to hotel guests as well as casual diners, airways.com.pg.

Chefs Rohit Verma (in white) and Michael Asko (in black) at the tandoor corner at the Airways Hotel.

Sport PNG AT THE GAMES

Papua New Guinea’s Commonwealth Games team has returned from Birmingham with a silver medal, and a swag of national records and personal best performances.

The team of 33 athletes took part in boxing, squash, swimming, athletics, table tennis and

weightlifting at the Games, which were held in July and August.

PNG’s silver medal was won by weightlifter Morea Baru, competing in the 61kg division. He lifted 121kg in the snatch and 152kg in the clean and jerk, for a total of 273kg. Malaysian gold medallist Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamad won with a total of 285kg.

PNG won three weightlifting medals at the previous

TEAM PNG BIRMINGHAM 2022

Isila Apkup, Daniel Baul, Leonie Beu, Edna Boafob, Jonathan Dende, Lakona Gerega, Karo Iga, Leroy Kamau, Rellie Kaputin, Ephraim Lerkin, Adrine Monagi, De’bono Paraka, Peniel Richard, Shadrick Tansi, Sharon Toako, Annie Topal, Emmanuel

Jamie Chang, Charlie Keama, Arthur Ray Lavalou, Allan Oaike, John Ume, Neville Warupi

Amity Alarcos, Feonor Siaguru, Madako Suari Jr. Georgia Leigh-Vele, Ryan Maskelyne

TABLE TENNIS Tammy Agari, Geoffrey Loi

WEIGHLIFTING Morea Baru, Dika Toua

02 Karo Iga set a series of personal bests in the men’s decathlon events and finished seventh overall.

03 Madako Suari Jnr (left) and Feanor Siaguru in the men’s doubles in squash. They reached the plate semi-finals.

04 Weightlifter Morea Baru shows his silver medal.

05 Swimmer Ryan Maskelyne finished eighth in the men’s 200m breaststroke final. He also broke the national records in the 50 and 100m breaststroke events.

06 Table tennis player Tammi Agari competed in her first Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018, where Morea also won silver in the same division.

The other medallists on the Gold Coast were Dika Toua (silver) and Steven Kari (gold).

In Birmingham, Toua nearly bagged a bronze medal in the women’s 49kg division, but fell agonisingly shy by just 1kg.

Team PNG went to Birmingham with disrupted preparation because of COVID-19, but chef de mission Michael Henao says, “the support from Papua New Guineans at home and abroad has been truly remarkable, boosting the confidence of our athletes.”

PNG’s official flag-bearers for the opening ceremony were boxer John Ume and long-jumper Rellie Kaputin. Baru was the flag-bearer in the closing ceremony.

The women’s 4x100m relay team of Toea Wisil, Isila Apkup, Adrine Monagi and Leoni Beu set a national record of 45.38 seconds.

Team PNG was welcomed home in a reception in Port Moresby officiated by His Excellency Sir Bob Dadae, the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea.

More than 5000 athletes from 72 nations competed in the Games over 10 days across 19 sports. The next Commonwealth Games will be held in 2026 in Victoria, Australia.

The support from Papua New Guineans at home and abroad has been truly remarkable …

01 Heptathlete Edna Boafob.

Sport

07 Boxer John Ume celebrates a win in his bout against Malawi’s Elias Bonzo in the light welterweight division.

08 Team PNG athletes, officials and dignitaries gathered for a group photo.

09 Flag bearer John Ume, PNG Olympic Committee President, Sir John Dawanincura, and flag bearer Rellie Kaputin.

Sport LOCKER ROOM CHAT FIDELIS LAIA BOXER

BY LEMACH LAVARI | PHOTOGRAPH: PETER SEVARA JNR

Fidelis Laia was crowned the national 71kg division title holder at the recent Papua New Guinea Boxing Championships in Bulolo, and now he has his mind set on breaking into Team PNG’s boxing side.

The Bougainvillean also holds a second-rank black belt in taekwondo and has represented PNG internationally. His taekwondo background has helped him become a formidable boxer.

PNG’s national boxing coach, Mark Keto, says Fidelis is being primed for next year’s Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands, but he will first have to face national tournaments and selection trials.

Fidelis Laia on …

Junior-level boxing and taekwondo competitions were popular when I was growing up.

I remember my first competition when I was 13 and attending Tantarekea Primary School.

My taekwondo career gained momentum in 2012 when I went to Port Moresby to try out for Team PNG for the Oceania Qualifications that were to be held on the Gold Coast, Australia.

I made the team but due to personal reasons I could not travel. The following year I was selected with other local fighters to train and fight under an Oceania Taekwondo Federation program where I graduated with a second-rank black belt. In 2014 I made the Team PNG for New Zealand Taekwondo Open Championships in Auckland, where we won bronze.

I am looking forward to boxing at the Arafura Games and the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands. My dad was part of the Team Bougainville that competed in the 2001 Arafura Games. In the long term, I’d like to become a professional fighter.

FOR THE RECORD

Name: Fidelis Laia Age: 27 Boxing style: Southpaw Height: 177cm Club: Maikuna Boxing Club, Port Moresby Weight division: 71kg (current PNG champion)

I’d like to go as far as Johnny Aba, a PNG professional boxer from Bougainville in the 1980s. He was once ranked eighth in the world as a featherweight, held the Commonwealth superfeatherweight title, and was a challenger for the World Boxing Association world featherweight title. Since Aba, no PNG boxer has reached this professional level in the featherweight division. Someone once told me that if PNG was to have a boxer rise to reclaim the title Aba once held, it would be another Bougainvillean.

The path you choose will not be built by someone else: not your

coach, or your trainer, or your seniors, but yourself. Any goal achieved by one man or woman can be achieved by another; we just have to use our time well and not give up.

My boxing role model is Filipino Manny Pacquiao. He is a champion fighter and, like me, a southpaw. There is no showmanship with him. He is humble in the way he addresses his opponents in public before his matches. That’s something I admire, and also want to do.

I’m inspired by my family, especially my cousins, who are always encouraging me to push to higher achievements in boxing. I even have fans on Facebook who are supportive. That really keeps me inspired. I pray before every match. I pray not to win but for me to give a good fight and I go into the ring with a mindset of respect for my opponent. I do not underestimate anyone I go in the ring with.

Sport HUNTERS PUT TO WORK

SP PNG Hunters players Brandon Nima and Terry Wapi have been put to work while based in Queensland for the QRL Hostplus Cup season.

The players are volunteers in a program initiated by the club this year to prepare them for employment after they finish their playing careers.

Centre/wing Nima, 25, and fullback/wing Wapi, 30, have been attending the Hasting Deerings apprentice training facility in Brisbane one day a week for six weeks.

Hasting Deerings is a company that supplies Cat construction equipment and the players have been working alongside apprentices in several areas including welding, repairs, heavy

diesel fitting, hydraulics and diagnostics.

“We are both interested in learning about the required skills in this industry and we are thankful for the opportunity to work with them in preparation for life after football,” Nima says.

There is no promise of ongoing employment for the players, but they are now well equipped to complete full apprenticeship training with Hasting Deerings in PNG or Australia.

Hasting Deerings has been a partner with the Hunters for 12 months and it’s believed this program is the first of its type among clubs in the Hostplus Cup.

A club spokesman said: “The SP PNG Hunters are passionate about supporting all staff and players in both their football careers and in preparing for life after football.”

PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED BY SP PNG HUNTERS

Brandon Nima (left) and Terry Wapi in their work gear in Queensland.

We are thankful for the opportunity to prepare for life after football.

Fitness GET PHYSICAL LOOK GOOD, FEEL GREAT WITH A RUNNING ROUTINE

Running legend Jesse Owens summed it up perfectly when he said: “I always loved running … it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.”

As exercise goes, running is just so flexible. You can do it with hardly any equipment, on your own or with others, outside or on a treadmill.

But where do you start? Here are some simple tips to help you on your way.

WARM UP Stretching before (and after) each run is advisable but it’s more important to ease yourself gently into each session.

DON’T TRY TO RUN BEFORE YOU CAN WALK

Seriously, mixing running with walking is a great way to get started. Try alternating one minute of each, then increase to two minutes and so on. You’ll know when you’re ready to run continuously.

CROSS-TRAIN To start with, aim to run three times a week, with alternative exercise on some of the other days. Activities like weights and yoga will improve your core strength, protect you from injury and improve your running form (technique). Even the world’s best runners include crosstraining in their own programs.

BE PATIENT

It takes about six weeks to see real improvement from consistent training. So, your first aim is just to enjoy it and not get injured.

SET GOALS instance, you may want to run 5km in a certain time or run for an hour without stopping. Having a written training plan towards your goal will help you stay motivated.

MIX IT UP Doing the same session every time is boring, nor is it ideal. Once you are confident you have a good fitness base, try one longer run each week and consider some

PNG runner Adolf Kauba won gold in the 800 metres at the Pacific Mini Games earlier this year. But you don’t have to be an elite athlete like Kauba to enjoy a run; it’s a sport that can be enjoyed at all levels.

interval training to speed up (several faster efforts from 100 to 1000 metres, alternating with easy walking while you recover).

RUN WITH OTHERS

Sometimes it’s great to run with other people, either on a regular training run or in competition. Various fun runs are held around Papua New Guinea, including the annual Trukai Fun Run. In Port Moresby, the Port Moresby Road Runners meet at 5pm every Saturday in different locations and attract both competitive and recreational runners/walkers. Businessadvantagepng.com/portmoresby-road-runners

Any new fitness program should be started under supervision of/with advice from a qualified instructor, or a doctor if there are health conditions.

PHOTOGRAPH: TEAM PNG MEDIA, PETER SEVARA JR

PNG BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

BY STAFF WRITERS

PNG needs to rebuild economic confidence

Papua New Guinea’s High Commissioner to Australia, John Mali, says that PNG “must build and restore business and investor confidence back into the country”.

He suggested this could be done through transparent processes in business entry, work permits and visa reform.

He said stable policy and operating environments, as well as improved business processes infrastructure, energy sustainability and security, and the willingness to consult with the private sector, were also necessary.

Gas bonus for PNG?

The global market for liquefied natural gas (LNG) has changed substantially since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.

One expert has suggested that European buyers will not rely on Russian gas again and that PNG will be important for overall global energy security.

The expert, Daniel Toleman, the principal analyst of global LNG at Wood Mackenzie, said global

Mali was speaking to investors at the recent 2022 Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference in Brisbane, Australia. Westpac economist Justin Smirk presented an economic update at the conference on PNG’s economy, suggesting that the country had emerged from the COVID period “incredibly well”.

He predicted economic growth for the country of 4.2% this year, and 4.7% in 2023.

demand for LNG was predicted to double by 2040 and that new LNG projects would be needed to meet that demand.

PNG is well placed to help meet the demand, provided it can maintain a stable regime for LNG and be cost – and carbon – competitive, he told the 2022 Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference. The chairman and managing director of Exxon Mobil PNG, Peter Larden, also presented data that suggested LNG would grow its share of the global energy market.

Things looking up for Air Niugini

Air Niugini is looking at replacing two of its Boeing 767s next year, when the company will celebrate its 50th anniversary. CEO Bruce Alabaster reportedly said the airline is also looking at replacing its Fokker and Boeing 737 narrow-bodied fleet.

“We are excited to get the replacement of our aircraft and we are doing much better than during the COVID period, so we are looking forward to an exciting next five years,” he was reported as saying in the Post-Courier

Fishing for new opportunities

Better infrastructure and a higher volume of onshore processing are the key tenets of Papua New Guinea’s new Fisheries Strategic Plan, which aims to transform the industry over the coming decade.

Ocean fishing contributes half a billion US dollars every year to Pacific countries.

Ango Wangatau, chairman of PNG’s National Fisheries Authority, says the new Fisheries Strategic Plan 2021–2030 will help PNG “change from a highland country to a fishing nation”.

While PNG already has tariff-free access to the European Union market and an abundance of tuna to sell, Wangatau notes that it is missing the infrastructure to process its tuna catch onshore.

Therefore, much of the processing still heads offshore to the Philippines and Thailand.

PNG has six onshore fish-processing plants. Modelling for the strategic plan projects the creation of between four and 14 new plants over the coming decade. The construction of new wharves, jetties and slipways would support these new facilities.

The plan has several priorities, including an increased government presence in the industry, promoting locally owned small business, and strengthening research, development and training in the industry.

THE PNG BUSINESS GOING CRACKERS

BY PAUL CHAI

Papua New Guinea’s largest superannuation fund, Nambawan Super, gave Paradise Foods a big boost late last year when it increased its holding in the company to 100%.

The increased investment in the Paradise Group of Companies came at a good time, according to its CEO, Michael Penrose, who took over the reins at Paradise in January.

The company, which manufactures a wide range of biscuits, soft drinks, ice cream and chocolate, has seen the retail market rebound in the last 12 months.

“Nambawan Super investing in the business is timely,” says Penrose. “We currently have some significant capacity restraints in our biscuit lines, with old machines and old baking lines. With the current growth we are experiencing, we definitely need an upgrade.

“Part of the investment has been the purchase of a brandnew cracker line that will give us a significant capacity uplift, which we need to just meet current demand.”

Savoury biscuit demand has been driven in part by consumers substituting staples like rice for biscuits during the pandemic due to cost.

The new cracker line, worth 34 million kina and due for completion next year, will be built at Paradise’s factory in Lae and will allow for a doubling of production.

To support this expansion, Nambawan Super is also putting money into a new national

distribution centre, also in Lae – a 28-million-kina investment, which should be ready by the end of 2023.

Penrose says the group expects to increase recruitment in line with the expanded capacity.

“There is an element of growing from within, but I think we will

have to inject some new talent as well,” he says. ‘We will need more people, but we will also need new skill sets with the cracker line that is coming in to play.”

Penrose says that, while Paradise Foods has seen growth return, he believes that there is still some way to go before businesses return to pre-COVID-19 levels.

He notes there are still some supply chain issues and is keeping a close eye on flour imports –the core ingredient in Paradise’s biscuits.

With its current growth, Penrose says Paradise has tentatively started looking at opportunities to export some of its cocoa products, such as cocoa liquor and cocoa butter, to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. He says some upgrades may be in the works for its chocolate manufacturing facility too.

Paradise Foods is investing 34 million kina in new technology to keep up with PNG’s appetite for crackers and biscuits.

A brand-new cracker line will give us a significant capacity uplift. We will need more people.

ENTREPRENEUR’S SME TIPS

BY GABRIELLA MUNOZ | PHOTOGRAPH: STEFAN DANILCHENKO

Janet Sios is no ordinary businesswoman. If you asked her for career advice, she’d probably reply with something like ‘be clear on what you want, believe in it and don’t stop,’ which is exactly what she did to launch her first business.

Sios started her career as an airtraffic controller. She then had the opportunity to go to university, and worked in the private sector for about 15 years.

After completing a degree in accounting and running a private hospital in Fiji with her husband, she decided to open her own SME, Frangipani Car Rental, a car rental service in Niugini Islands.

Despite all her experience, she faced many barriers to get a loan on her own.

“I wanted financial independence from my husband and tried my best to convince financial institutions (to give me a loan),” she says. After knocking on many doors, Credit Corporation PNG loaned her two million kina to start Frangipani. This was over 16 years ago.

Since, Sios has launched a printing business, the PNG Fashion and Design Week and is part-owner of the first privately owned hospital in Port Moresby, Paradise Private Hospital.

She believes things are changing in PNG, with financial institutions and the government giving more support to SMEs.

The businesswoman says there are still many opportunities in PNG for small business. For her, it’s a matter of choosing the right type of business.

“At the end, you need to look at what’s needed in the local environment and understand how

your business can serve that need,” she says.

For example, since many Papua New Guineans in rural areas earn a living making and selling crafts, Sios, through the PNG Fashion and Design Week, helps SMEs in the sector to showcase their creations.

With support from the Australian Government, she has provided training for SMEs in five provinces.

The opportunities for business are not only in this sector. She says there is disposable income in the country. “Papua New Guineans like to go out, eat out and enjoy a life. So, there’s a lot of need for restaurants and many other services too,” she says.

One area of growth in PNG is the health sector, both in the public and private spheres. Sios explains that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the weaknesses of the sector as well as opportunities for expansion.

“It’s a big business, health,” Sios says. ‘You’ll never go out of business because people will always get sick and will always need you.

“There is potential in pharmaceutical equipment and in many other areas of health. We need a lot of players to come into the space,” she says.

There are still many opportunities in PNG for small business.

Businesswoman Janet Sios says there are opportunities for SMEs in the health and creative sectors.

PROPERTY REPORT

BY CHARLIZE FOX & PAUL CHAI

Papua New Guinea will see the commencement of two major resources projects in 2024 – the Papua LNG project in the Gulf Province and P’nyang in the Western Province.

These projects will create an influx in foreign labour, creation of local jobs and a boom period of high economic activity in the country.

What will this mean for real estate?

According to a paper published by the National Research Institute discussing the impact of the PNG LNG Project, during periods of high economic activities and economic growth (boom), property prices go up, whereas

during periods of economic decline (bust), prices go down.

Hausples general manager Tom Snelling says there was a huge spike in property prices during the design and construction phase of the first LNG project, due to a supply and demand issue for rental properties.

“I would expect prices to go up slightly, but not as pronounced as the first LNG – there is a lot more supply of housing now compared to before, especially after COVID,” he tells PNG Now

keenly waiting for the next wave of resources investments, some major long-term investors have a different view.

“For Steamships, all our strategic planning is predicated on no new resource projects going ahead,” says Rupert Bray, managing director of the Steamships Trading Company.

“We are reliant on the underlying economy growing. The nonextractive (part of the economy) is growing at 3%, so we need policy stability for that, and we need to take the longer-term view.”

While many in Papua New Guinea’s business sector are

Steamships has a busy forward investment plan. It is looking to develop the Portside Business Park on a 16-hectare site adjacent to

South, the 250 million kina addition to its Harbourside Precinct, with 21 levels of residential, retail and commercial spaces, including the newlyannounced Marriott Executive Apartments Port Moresby (the first time the US-owned hotel chain – the world’s largest – has had a presence in PNG).

20.56% for hospitality venues.

The most sought after commercial properties, according to the survey, are those that are valued at less than 500 kina per square metre, perhaps a sign that the country is still recovering economically and that SMEs are on the rise.

Port Moresby’s port at Motukea, build a 40,000-square-metre integrated mixed development in Mt Hagen, and rebuild the Melanesian Hotel in Lae.

It is also finishing off Harbourside

The biggest demand for commercial properties in PNG is by retailers, followed by companies looking for office space, and the hospitality industry.

The first ever Commercial Real Estate Survey by Hausples reveals that 39% of respondents to the survey were looking for retail space, 22.43% for office space and

The survey says that 41.46% of respondents wanted space at less than 500 kina per square metres, while the demand for premium space valued at 2500 kina or more per square metre was only in demand by 7% of respondents.

The survey, though, reveals that price is not the most important factor in selecting a commercial property. The majority of the survey’s respondents cited security as a major factor in selecting a property.

These projects will create an influx in foreign labour, creation of local jobs and a boom period.

AT WORK WITH OPERATIONS COORDINATOR GRACE ROLAND

BY KIMBERLY TAUT | PHOTOGRAPH: DEAN AREK

Grace Roland on …

My days at work are taken up with managing social media platforms, organising charity drives and coordinating donations, whether they are in cash or kind. I also do administrative tasks and liaise with organisations that contribute to Friends of PomGen.

It is fulfilling to be doing something to help the

that when everyone gives a little, it goes a long way.

My philosophy is to always keep striving to better yourself in any opportunity and experience you may come across.

I graduated from the Divine Word University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in business management and I aspired originally to work in marketing.

One of my job interviews was a nightmare because I missed the plane from Chimbu to Port Moresby. Crowne Plaza Residences had contacted me for the interview, but with a six-month-old baby and lots of luggage in tow I missed the plane by minutes. Friends helped me financially to purchase a space on the next available flight. I arrived late for my interview but thankfully the effort was worth it as I was fortunate enough to get the job as conference and events coordinator.

Joining big companies such as Nestle and Steamships gave me experience in marketing. Leaving Steamships, I was lucky enough

to be selected for a marketing development internship program with a global organisation called Pacifical, based in the Netherlands. Focused on sustainable practices within the global tuna market, the experience with Pacifical gave me an insight on how branding and marketing plays a crucial role in large organisations and developed countries.

A career highlight was being selected by Steamships to be part of a special projects committee under the APEC Business Advisory Council Committee (ABAC) responsible for organising the APEC CEO summit in Port Moresby in 2018.

I was selected as a market development intern in the Netherlands for the Pacific Market Development after I left Steamships.

I started my work with Friends of PomGen as a communications officer before becoming operations coordinator. I am so pleased to now be able to apply my experience to humanitarian work.

Grace Roland, 27, is the operations coordinator for Friends of PomGen (Port Moresby General Hospital), a non-profit organisation that raises funds for the hospital.

ANSWER

I believe that when everyone gives a little, it goes a long way.