FOR the 6,392 police officers around the country K2 million has been allocated for security operations for the Festive season.
Deputy Commissioner Police Operations Dr Philip Mitna told Post-Courier, the budget allocation for the operations will come from the recurrent budget this year, “however, additional assistance coming from the agencies and the government is what is needed more in parts of the country where law and order issues continue to rise.”
- CONTINUE ON PAGE 5
BY MARIE SONNY
THE Popoe Aid Post in Waria, Morobe LLG, Huon Gulf District is still closed. The health center that serves Gomena, Siu, Putaera, Yangepa, Pema and parts of Sohe, Northern Province has been neglected. Those who have no other way build rafts and transport their sick family members down the Waria River to Zaka Health Centre. If they cannot be treated, they begin a further four hour dinghy ride to Lae to be treated at Angau hospital. INSET: PROVINCIAL health authority Chief Executive Dr Kipas Binga has challenged the provincial government to fix the health problem.
THE people of rural Morobe have a bleak Christmas and New Year ahead of them with the announcement that only 186 of 349 aid posts and health centres are closed in the entire province.
3
REGIONAL FORECAST
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 6, 2023 TO FRIDAY DECEMBER 8, 2023
SOUTHERN
WEDNESDAY: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, becoming isolated by evening.
THURSDAY: Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
FRIDAY : Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
(Warning: Renewalstrongwindwarningexpected for Southern PNG/Indonesia border to Daru to Kiwai Islands to Kerema to Yule Island to Hood Point to Samarai Islands)
MAMOSE
WEDNESDAY: Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
THURSDAY: Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
FRIDAY : Isolated showers and thunderstorms, becoming scattered by afternoon/evening.
(Warning: Renewalstrongwindwarningexpectedfor coastal waters of Finschaffen to Vitiaz Strait to Siassi/ LongIsland)
NEW GUINEA ISLANDS
WEDNESDAY: Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
THURSDAY : Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
FRIDAY : Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
HIGHLANDS
WEDNESDAY: Scattered morning fog, with scattered showers and thunderstorms, with areas of rain.
THURSDAY: Scattered morning fog, with scattered showers and thunderstorms, with areas of rain.
FRIDAY : Scattered morning fog, then scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
NB: SQUALLY OR GUSTY WINDS AREA EXPECTED IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
PMV BUS CREWS MENACING
FIVE kina bus crews intimidating passengers to get into public motor vehicles (PMVs) is becoming an unsafe practice at main bus stops of towns and cities in the Highlands region. It is “new form of daylight robbery” in the Highlands region and main bus stops of Madang and Morobe provinces.
PAPUA New Guinea police stands ready to assist Samoa provide security for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) early next year, Commissioner of Police David Manning said.
Samoa is hosting the the 27th Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations next year and has asked Australia and New Zealand for security assistance.
Mr Manning has put his hand up to have PNG police over to Samoa to assist as a
PNG National Research Institute Director, Osborne Sanida is one of the lucky winners of the Rangeview Plaza Christmas Bonanza promotion.
Mr Sanida won himself a Honor Mobile Phone from Rangeview Plaza.
Mr Sanida expressed his excitement noting the prize is a timely gift for his wife.
“I am happy that I won this price.
My wife and I were trying to buy a new phone so I guess this one sort of pays off for the particular phone.
I also want to acknowledge my wife who, when we come shopping, fills my name and drops it in the entry box.
This prize is for my wife,” Mr Sanida said.
He thanked the management of the Rangeview Plaza for organising such promotion
regional and Pacific nation.
“Next year, Samoa will be hosting CHOGM, and they have reached out to Australia and New Zealand and others so I have indicated that the RPNGC stands by to support any policing assistance that they need,” Mr Manning said.
The Commissioner’s message comes at the time the PNG Police in Honiara were commended for the “golden security operation” they have provided during the Pacific Games in Honiara last two weeks.
Commissioner Manning emphasised the historical importance of regional commitments, particularly within the Melanesian family including the Pacific.
“So, the RPNGC stands to support it’s fellow police forces in the Pacific. As members of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF), we are obligated to standby for any call for assistance by the smaller Pacific nations.”
“I come here quiet often. One of the reason is that this particular facility is also owned by Namabwan Super which is our service contributor so it is always good to come here for shopping,” Mr Sanida said.
Mr Sanida’s was one of the two winners for the week 3 draw announced on Friday December 1.
The Rangeview Plaza Christmas Bonanza promotion continues this week with the fourth draw to be announced this Friday.
PNG National Research Institute Director, Osborne Sanida with his winning prize. PICTURE: LORRAINE WOHI
“And a message to our people there, we can be a professional police force given the right mindset, given the right attitude, let this be a demonstration of how our police force can be to our people but it’s my job to ensure to replicate that all throughout the rank and file and I’ll be using this next term to make sure that we continue the next journey of professionalising the Force and making it something that our country and our people can equally be proud of.
“This is not just RPNGC putting boots on the ground, it’s about RPNGC representing what Papua New Guinea stands for.
“In terms of the distribution of police forces in the Pacific and Melanesia, be it PNG has the largest land mass, population, and natural resources, as well as the majority of larger police forces with the RPNGC having 6,000 personnel compared to smaller forces with as few as 20.”
Police to receive new vehicles after K26m deal
BY MELYN BAROI mbaroi@spp.com. pg
POLICE will be given 130 vehicles.
This follows the milestone signing of an agreement between the Royal PNG Constabulary, Ela Motors and the Government House yesterday.
The signing of the K26 million contract between Police Commissioner David Manning, Ela Motors chief executive officer and the acting Governor-General Sir Gibbs Salika will now see 130 vehicles given to the Constabulary.
The signing that took place yesterday at Government House put a smile on the faces of those present, including Police Commissioner David Manning, knowing that gone would be the days of hire cars and excess spending.
But the acting Governor-General Sir Gibbs Salika was quick to remind him that with bigger blessings come much bigger responsibilities.
“You are so blessed that the government is investing a lot in you, take these vehicles and tell the police officers to drive responsibly,” he said. It was noted that the govern-
SHOPPERS SHARE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
WITH Christmas approaching, business houses and supermarkets in the city are sharing the festive spirit with their loyal customers any way possible. Down at the Waterfront shopping mall in Konedobu shoppers are provided a photo booth to take pictures with friends and family to capture a joyous moment. Pictured (from left) are Imelda Wadi, Kusunan Molean, Terence Kaluwin and Dante Nabo welcoming the festive season.
PICTURE: TARAMI LEGEI
ment funded million-kina contract is a way of improving law and order in this country.
The 130 vehicles were described to be Toyota LandCruis-
ers bought from Ela Motors. Acting Governor-General in reaffirming this deal said that Ela Motors was a well deserving motor vehicle company in
being part of such a deal.
“This is also our way of recognising Ela Motors’s many years of operation and loyalty to the country,” he said
Dr Binga: Neglect main reason behind closure of health facilities
FROM PAGE ONE
WITH a population that is estimated around a million, only 163 such facilities are operational, with the delivery of health services to the rural population to be impacted. And the reasons for their closures are the lack of medicine, infrastructure falling apart, no nurses, no doctors, no health extension officers and neglect.
Provincial health authority chief executive Dr Kipas Binga said 70 per cent of these closures were due to infrastructure issues.
“70 per cent of the reason for closure is because of infrastructure issues. There has been neglect of these facilities so eventually they closed,” he said. Rural health facilities have struggled while the most have resorted to closure of its district health centres, sub-centres or aid posts which has affected the population that heavily rely on these aid posts for medical attention.
This has contributed to the increase in the number of referrals at Angau, the province’s major referral hospital, every day.
Dr Binga confirmed the number of aid posts that have closed and said the number of referrals will be cut down when aid posts in districts are opened.
He challenged the provincial government to work closely with the provincial health authority to fix the infrastructure issues and reopen at least 20 per cent of the aid posts in the next 20 years.
He said an infrastructure audit will be carried out to all health facilities in the province to do an infrastructure plan for the next 20 years. “If we open all the aid posts
RICH MAN’ S FOOD
En route to what was to be home for the last two weeks for our Pacific Games news team in Honiara, good Samaritan team member bought four containers of local favourite Snax cracker. It was breakfast for the first few days and was shared and passionately eaten by our local driver. When asked how much snax cost in the shops, he then responded that it’s a “rich man’s food” retailing between S$5 to S$6. Wow! This explains why when they returned, we noticed them starting to eat their Snax biscuits with a knife and fork. Tsk tsk..
KUMU!KUMU!
Our team scratched their heads to figure out what ‘slippery cabbage’ is in Honiara, asking the local he can only describe it as when you chop it, it oozes out sticky substance. Another had to describe all the cabbages that were cooked the previous nights at home, but turned out it wasn’t it, upon giving up. One amongst them had to consult trusted uncle Google only to find out that it’s what people back at home refer to as ‘Aibika’. Ohhh my Kumu!
BE AFRAID
Finally we are seeing some sense on the purchase of 130 Police LandCruisers from Ela Motors. Criminals beware. But we assume some prominent car hire firms will also be afraid. The Police have been getting milked for years by these businesses. Many have long outstanding debts. These should only be settled if the car hire firm can show proper government procurement processes have been followed. It is clear some departments have been hiring vehicles when funding is not available. This is a clear breach of the Public Finance Management Act.
GIRL POWER
Australia and France have taken steps to mend their defence arrangements in the Pacific. But what stood out at the negotiating table was not only Foreign Minister Penny Wong, but her team. To a man they were all female! Will we ever see such a scene in Papua New Guinea. We could start with the Minister, we hear there is a vacancy there?
PARAKAGATE
So what are we waiting for? The perpetrator of the biggest fraud in our history hopefully languishes in gaol for the next 20 years. But is he just a scapegoat thrown to the public to satisfy them? Several others were named in the Paraka decision as being involved in the washing of funds in the millions from Department of Finance before passing it on. Why have the authorities not called them in for investigation?
BE A WHISTLE-BLOWER
No thanks. A society can have Whistle-blower legislation but in PNG’s case you would be crazy to think it offers you and your family any level of protection. The corrupt elements rarely get charged and then find ways to payback on those who dob them in. And in an ironic twist, Neville Devete, the Attorney-General who blew the whistle 10 years ago on the Paraka case has won an Australian award. Unfortunately for him, because he saw that the corruption went to the highest levels, he has lived in exile with his family in Australia. Unlikely, he will ever return because many of the people he informed on are still walking free among us.
-PENGEE: thedrum@spp.com.pg
and get them operational, that should cut down our referrals from the districts coming in to Angau and in to Lae. It’s not an overnight thing so we have to do this in a more strategic way,” Dr Binga added.
Morobe Governor Luther Wenge said the provincial government is ready to assist.
“I want the MPHA to provide to us the inventory of all the clinics or aid posts that are in operation or closed and needs to come into operation so at least we make a start to attend to at least 20 per cent of these closed aid posts,” Mr Wenge said.
POLICE Commissioner David Manning (left) receiving the K26 million contract deal from Ela Motors boss Mitsu Okutusu after the deal was officiated by acting Governor-General Sir Gibbs Salika (in background). PICTURE: TARAMI LEGEI
Judges report presented to Governor General
BY MELYNE BAROI
ACTING Chief Justice Ameng Kandakasi yesterday, presented the annual judges report to the Governor General, noting that there were many achievements that the judiciary was proud to report.
In responding to a question by the Post-Courier, Acting Chief Justice Kandakasi said that the report contained the progress of the roles and functions of the judiciary for the year 2022 and managing backlog of cases registered in court.
“(In the report) we have the increasing number of cases that
have been filed, we have also trialed a new electronic case management system, we have the new state of the art Court house in Waigani that is soon to open and other court houses in other provinces were also opened during the year,” he said
“We also have an increase in the number of judges and some have passed on, so the report is covering all those aspects,” he added.
When asked if the report contained a lot of good progress for the judiciary body, the Acting Chief justice was quick to affirm by saying
“I think so”.
The presentation took place at Government House yesterday morning with the Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika taking the place of the Governor General.
The Acting Governor General Sir Gibbs received and signed the report which came in only one copy which would later be passed to the parliament for sighting.
This presentation is a requirement of the Constitution of Papua New Guinea for the judiciary to make annual report to the parliament.
Acting Chief Justice Kandakasi, said he was proud to have done the report on time and looks forward to presenting this year’s report to the parliament next year.
“It is important for the nation to be informed of the workings of the judiciary and that report accounts for the work done and developments taken and how the appropriations have been utilised in the cost of that period,” he said.
Former Chuave MP passes on
FORMER member for Chuave Open
Wera Mori, who was a Minister for Environment, Conservation, and Climate Change in the last parliament died on Monday night at the Kundiawa Sir Joseph Nombiri hospital.
The news of his death caused some opportunists in Chuave to allegedly block off the Highlands highway. Provincial police commander Superintendent Epenes Nili condemned the burning of the district administration building and the illegal roadblock on the road.
“This is not the way to respect our leader, if he still alive, he will not allow his people to do this,” he said.
Supt Nili said that late Mori is a great leader of the province and senior state man, such lunatic actions of the minority carrying out criminal activities are very disrespectful.
“Some opportunities carrying out criminal act, showing disrespectful to our leader will be arrested dealt with accordingly,” he said.
He said that to show respect, they must respect the law by allowing
people to freely pass through their district.
“We are in the festive season and many people would be traveling both day and night on the road,” he said.
Supt Nili urged the people of Chuave to remain calm and respect their leader. He said that thousands of people would come for the funeral to show their respect for the leader.
Mr Nili said that road must be free for anyone to move around.
He added that he had deployed some policemen to Chuave in the morning to clear the roadblock and arrest those involved in conducting the illegal activities.
No discharge data reported from hospital for last two years
BY GRACE AUKA-SALMANG
DATA entry clerks at the Port Moresby General Hospital are urged to ensure PMGH data is entered into the Discharge Hospital Information System (DHIS) information system and reported to Health Department.
Deputy Secretary, National Health Service Standards Dr Dora Lenturut Katal made this known at the workshop on hospital data reporting that is currently held at the Lamana Hotel.
She told participants from PMGH, Health Department chiefs, staff from MSD and the public health division, the performance, monitoring, and research branch at the department, as well as partners who are supporting this training saying: “we must get hospital reporting right; it is a priority in the new national health plan 2021 to 2030.
On day 3 which is today, the Health Department will train PMGH clerks on DHIS to ensure PMGH data is entered into the DHIS information system and reported to the health
department because, so far, no discharge has been reported in the DHIS from PMGH for 2022 and 2023.
“Improving hospital reporting and data use contributes to the quality of care and effectiveness of health service delivery in hospitals by providing timely evidence to support clinical, administrative, and financial decision-making.
“Most of us think eNHIS has only public health data but it has clinical data too. For example, the inpatient discharge data is reported using the eNHIS/DHIS, though reporting completeness is an issue. Let us now get to know the eNHIS and DHIS systems, improve reporting of the discharge data, using the data, and provide feedback on any gaps that eNHIS and DHIS has around clinical data reporting. Building on what we already have instead of starting from scratch is the best way to quickly improve reporting of hospital data; Health Department has already made a big investment in the eNHIS — let us make use of it and continue to provide feedback.”
Company supports Kaugere Health Centre outreach program
FONE HAUS has demonstrated its dedication to the cause, participating in the clinic’s community outreach program on Worlds HIV/AIDS day in 2022.
Fone Haus is committed to this initiative, supporting the clinic with medical supplies worth K2000 on World AIDS Day, last Friday.
Fone Haus representative Elaine Prea said the organisation is honoured to join the Kaugere Health Facility (Living Light Health Services) to mark World HIV/AIDS Day along with many other sponsors. The Kaugere Clinic has been offering medical care to patients living with HIV and AIDS – this involves the supply of medication for the condition, counselling services and raising awareness on gender-based violence and sexually transmitted infections.
The event ended with the presentation of current HIV/ AIDS data and an informative performance to educate the community about the effects of the disease on the lives of Papua New Guineans. Conversations were held to ensure the prevention of the disease in the future and making sure that the basic needs of patients are met.Here are some interesting statistics to keep in mind from 2023: 6500 new infections
72,000 people living with HIV 1100 AIDS related deaths
The clinic expressed their gratitude for the support and praised FoneHaus for their social responsibility.
As part of the NWTL CSR policy, FoneHaus is determined to engage in community service and assist in community development.
ACTING Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi (left) proudly showing off the 2022 judges report with Acting Governor General Sir Gibbs Salika and senior Judge Ellenas Batari . - PICTURE: TARAMI LEGEI.
Fone Haus representatives with Kaugere Health Centre staff.
WERA Mori.
K2m for festive season security
FROM PAGE ONE
MR MITNA also highlighted the Highlands region and Oro with recent clashes in Kokoda station and destructions of homes and properties over an incident earlier this year.
“As much we are careful with funds, our concentration is more on fuel and rations for our police men and women who are gearing up for the operations on Christmas and New Year.
“We should be okay as long as we have adequate funds available but we are mindful of fuel to make our policing duties reaching all areas,” DCP said.
He said all provinces in each command are preparing and will start off their operations once orders are sent out.
“Our operations will be the same as 2022, and strategically it will depend on the need and the situations that arises of where the operations will move within the provinces.”
“We also urge public to work with us and corporate during the long holiday celebrations for peace and good order.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
THREE ARRESTED
Three police officers have been arrested in Manus province over the death of a local man early this year. The Commander of New Guinea Island Region Assistant Commissioner of Police Perou Ndranou, confirmed that the three officers had been charged with murder and suspended from active police duties. ACP Ndranou also added that investigations are ongoing and more arrests are expected in connection with the death.
ARMED CRIMINAL CAUGHT
People living in the Last Block and Power Station areas of Moresby North-East eight miles were fed up with armed youths who often robbed people passing through the area and caught one yesterday (Nov 22) and handed him over to the police. According to police, the suspect arrested by the Eight Mile community was one of six suspects who armed themselves with three homemade guns and robbed people who drove there. Police said people intervened after observing them and told them to stop, and because they were armed, they had to use reasonable force to stop them.
Madang police ops begin
BY DOROTHY MARK dmark@spp.com.pg
MADANG police has restricted people's movement at odd hours of the night as part of its Christmas and New Year Operation.
Police have taken a bold stand this festive season and deal with criminal elements aggressively unlike before.
In their Christmas and New Year police operation, Acting Superintendent Robert Baim said as a new command in his home province, he will not allow any more stabbing to take place under his watch.
Acting Supt Baim said any person who wishes to go against the police warning will be dealt with seriously and effectively.
“If you want to carry a pocket knife, I must warn you that I will take you to your house, identify your parents, take your photo and lock you up in the cell,” he said.
“There will be no bail, you will remain in the cell till you appear in court and court only will grant you bail,” Acting Supt Baim warned.
He said current statistics revealed that children in grades 5, 6, 7 and so
on are the main ones contributing to the current status of the breakdown of law and order in the province.
PPC Baim said the recent killing of a second year student in Madang Technical College was allegedly done by a minor which he described as a container rat.
He said it was time to take back Madang and police has officially launched its operation under the slogan “Take Back Hangu Panu Sain Abe” in the local Madang dialect meaning Madang is my home, no more time to waste.
Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa said Madang has been described by
the media as the murder capital and he is now calling for authorities not to waste time but to clamp down on these crimes immediately.
Mr Pariwa said Madang people are peaceful and loving people. The influx has contributed to mixing cultural society and the local Maror or peaceful tradition phase off slowly. He said today local Madangs kill humans like animals and that was not the Madang he knew as a child growing up in a once peaceful town. “There is no more respect for human lives because they are being killed and treated like animals,” Mr Pariwa said.
Planned eviction
GOVERNMENT officers living in settlements in Madang have been cautioned.
This is because they have been told to vacate and relocate their homes before the government carries out its planned eviction.
Madang provincial assembly law and order chairman and Deputy Governor Pewa Aimai issued the alert for eviction of settlements during the final provincial assembly meeting of the year yesterday. Mr Aimai said police personnel have launched their christmas and new year operation over the weekend and have stepped up to attack law and order issues aggressively. He said a family eviction is now the option that the provincial government is focusing to carry out in collaboration with police.
“When children commit offences or carry weapons from razor blades to knives or any sharp weapons, police will take them to identify their parents, take their photos and lock them up or evict the whole family,” Mr Aimai said. Meanwhile, Madang has not yet issued liquor ban notices, giving retail stores with liquor licences an advantage to continue selling liquor.
Despite that, police have begun removing alcohol from vehicles at checkpoints and other public areas.
East New Britain festive operations awaiting arrival of new PPC
THE announcement of the Christmas and New Year operations for East New Britain is on hold. This is because it is currently hinging on the arrival of the new Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Superintendent Felix Nebanat who is expected in the province this week.
Outgoing PPC Chief Superintendent Januaris Vosivai is expected to officially vacate by Friday, December 8 to take on his new role within the Bougainville Police Service.
Last week, ACP for New Guinea Islands Perou N'dranou said: “The delay and reluctancy to say anything is caused by this transition so the best practice is to allow the new PPC to come in and take over..."
“The benefit of this is that operation orders and everything is fixed by the outgoing so anything specific will be important for the incoming PPC.
“It is scheduled before end of next week (December, 8) to take command so you would have about a few days and there will be also a
hand over/takeover so I think the two PPCs can launch the festive operations during the hand over/ takeover.”
N’dranou said that he is confident in his PPCs in the region. “I don't interfere in their daily routine
tasks and that would be one of those normal principles.so it's up to him (new PPC) to comment on what operation he has and how he's going to conduct.” He added that the new PPC will have a total of 341 personnel at his disposal to
work within ENB. “That is about 1 policeman to 1 thousand people. It's daunting and that is just how I will be speaking. We will have to wait for the new PPC to say something on that, what are his plans and all that I will not be doing their jobs,”
MADANG Acting Superintendent Robert Baim and Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa inspecting the police guard of honour during the launching of the police Christmas and New Year operation on Saturday.
FESTIVE operations for ENB will include personnel (pictured) who were involved in quelling the recent confrontation of youth in Rabaul. - PICTURE: SUPPLIED.
lae daily
Popular Sipaia beach closes indefinitely
BY ANCILLA ILAVE ailave@spp.com.pg
THE popular picnic spot, Sipaia beach, at Wagang village, will be closed to the public for an indefinite period.
Villages along the Wagang coastline and surrounding communities raised concern that the Sipaia beach is not a public site for leisure after many incidents have occurred and disturbed the peace, said a village elder.
A meeting was held by village council, elders and leaders of the surrounding communities, and it was agreed unanimously that Sipaia beach will close for the Christmas and New Year period and will open after further deliberation by village leaders, police and respective authorities.
Wagang village chairman, John Jacob, said the beach is located in the village but visitors pay no heed to the locals, which is dangerous because people’s lives are at risk when incidents happen during their stay at the beach while enjoying their leisure activity.
There have been reports from the village of drunkard people causing nuisance in the community, most of them were outsiders and this poses a threat to the Wagang community.
Preventing violence in relation to law and order is critical at this time of the year.
“The locals feel responsible for the public when they come to use our beachfront but the population is more than the village people and this is very dangerous because in terms of law and order issues, its always hard to control the crowd”.
He said there has been an increase in the number of people frequenting the beach site and this has raised concerns among the villagers because they are outnumbered when people come into the village to use the beach for leisure activities.
Police are aware and will work with the locals to ensure the beach is closed to the public and no one gets in or out.
This goes for public vehicles and people on foot travelling in and out of the village.
The community would only allow companies and church groups who make reservations for end of year functions.
The arrangements have to be made a week before the events take place.
Though locals allow visitors to use the area for picnic, parties and leisure activities, the area is not a public leisure spot.
Mr Jacob said the beach will open when a proper consultation is done with the locals.
He appealed to the Lae City Authority to take heed of the situation as this is a serious matter that needs immediate attention.
POPULAR Sipaia beach at Wagang village,
It is now closed indefinitely.
THE 30-man squad from the Sector Response Unit (SRU) in Lae before their graduation. -PICTURE SUPPLIED.
Police officers end basic tactical training
BY NATASHA WATAH
THIRTY police officers under the Lae Metro command have completed a month-long Basic Tactical Training that was conducted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Lae. This is the first tactical training that was conducted at the Igam Barracks in Lae with the 30 police personnel from the Sector Response Unit (SRU).
The training provided the basic skills in arrest and defensive techniques, tactical communication, defence against weapons, use of ASP extendable batons, person and building search, human rights,
reasonable force, use of less lethal shotgun, enforcement trauma training, use of long-range audio devices, cordon and call, shield and officer defensive drill and critical first incident response.
During the training, the officers underwent short workshop, interactive lessons and short demos as their trainings.
Northern Command Assistant Commissioner Peter Guinness was awe-struck to witness the demo displayed by the 30 officers.
ACP Guinness said this is the first time of the then Task Force (now SRU) to undergo such highly specialised tactical training by specialist in Australia through the AFP.
“The training sets them apart from the other police personnels and it has added value to them and their career as police officers and this a plus for the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary as whole,” he said. ACP Guinness told the officers to show professionalism and be discipline in their line of duties and not to misuse what they have learnt through the training.
He presented the certificates and new uniform gears and equipment to the 30 officers and congratulated them and thanked the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for this initiative. They are preparing the next 30 police officers to undergo the training.
Waigani aims for quality education: Hendingao
BY ANCILLA ILAVE
THE National Government wants to achieve quality education and if this is to happen, reform must happen, says an official.
Speaking at the Balob Teachers College’s 58th pre-service graduation for the three-year diploma program, principal Jerry Hendingao said the government aims to achieve quality education through the shift from Education Department to the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST).
In accordance with the National Executive Council (NEC) decision number, NC 15, 2017, all higher learning institutions, including Balob, must be unified to reform and transform these institutions, so the institution has to move away from the Department of Education and is now under DHERST.
Mr Hendingao said Balob operates as a stand-alone institution, training primary school teachers, and it
is fully funded by the department of higher education and the college fees that the school collects.
Forty per cent of academic staff may have masters’ degree in this college and rest have first degrees, such qualifications put the school in a position to accept any challenges that come its way in terms of education reforms, knowledge and skills and trainings for beginner teachers because they will become competent teachers.
For the first time since the establishment of this college, 38 of the students have completed their fourth year degree program.
He said once Unitech signs the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Divine Word University, these students (38) will graduate with the bachelors degree in primary teaching, which is a milestone achievement for the institute and Balob Teachers College.
The institute has come through a lot and this achievement marks a new milestone for the school.
Wau-Waria gets K1m for health
The announcement was made on Monday following the presentation of K3.5 million to the Morobe provincial health authority.
The people are now forced to seek medical help in Lae city.
Following an article published by the Post-Courier on the district’s health status, the Morobe Provincial Government has allocated K1 million to health services.
K1 million will go to Wau-Waria district to the Wau Health Centre.
The K1 million from Morobe government will go towards supporting operations of Wau health centre to ensure the people of the district have access to vital health services.
THE Wau-Waria district in Morobe Province lacks basic health services which have impacted the rural population.
Lae, a hot spot for picnics and outings by visitors from Lae city.
-PICTURE SUPPLIED.
NATIONS CAPITAL NOT SAFE
NOT even the capital city of Port Moresby is not immune to Sorcery violence. A home in a suburb of Port Moresby was gutted over sorcery allegations. Police are investigating the incident.
THE Tribal Foundation recently signed an agreement with the Department of Community Development and Religion so that we can work closely work together to combat SARV.
This means we are joining our efforts to go after specific SARV cases where we feel we can get successful prosecutions.
We will also be looking after more SARV victims and supporting them on their journeys towards justice. The agreement also includes community engagement where we will be taking preventative measures to help people understand what is actually happening and how con artists, called glassmen and glassmeris, are destroying lives and their communities.
John Maxwell said: “Teamwork makes the dream work.” In this case the dream is to end SARV in PNG completely. It is a big dream but not impossible. Did you know In India there used to be a barbaric custom called Sati where widows were burned alive along with the body of their deceased husbands? People look back on that custom now and are shocked that it ever happened.
The dream is that one day SARV will be left behind in the same manner. We used to have cannibals here in PNG but now cannibalism is seen as an unfortunate part of our history. One day SARV will be left behind too.
Societal changes like this happen when enough people get together
BY MARJORIE FINKEO mfinkeo@spp.com.pg
NATIONAL Research Institute (NRI) says the delay in Sorcery National Action Plan implementation is because of government funding.
A researcher and an expert in sorcery accusation and violence studies, William Kipongi said yesterday, they did several consultation workshops on the review of the sorcery accusation related violence (SARV) national action plan and hopefully, the government have the final copy ready before next year.
We have great plans in place already and lead agencies were iden-
Parkop: Men justify violence as culture Implementation delay due to funding
MORE men involved in torturing women on sorcery practise as a way of culture and belief.
Special Parliamentary Committee on Gender Based Violence chairman Powes Parkop made the following statement during the 2nd GBV Summit in Port Moresby said, communities especially men blame
tified in the plan. What seemed problematic so far is again funding and collaboration.
“One of the main areas lacking is the aspect of funding. Government did not fund the NAP and the plan was just sitting there collecting dust (2025-2022).
“Other key partners civil society organisations, non-government organisation, faith based groups and other international organisations had been doing a fantastic work in this space,” Mr Kipongi said.
Department of Justice and Attorney General is working on that and we hope some of the stakeholders will be invited for the launching when it is ready.
“We need to work together. Police need to work with the courts, that also applies to health facilities and education.
cultural belief of suspecting women and girls practising sorcery.
That is not normal in our society.
“We had a horrific killing in Kagua, Southern Highlands where four women or five women tortured to death over a person’s death.
“When someone is accused and tortured, first the victims go through medication, then to police for reporting and investigation, then to the courts for justice,” he said. He said lead agencies need to work together to deal with individual SARV cases.
The other thing is we need to have a central SARV data hub so to avoid duplicating the figure and every organisation is keeping their own data and we have no clarity on the scope of harm and alarming effect of SARV throughout PNG.
There are many recommendations we (researchers) made to the special parliamentary committee on GBV and hope the government will take into consideration those recommendations, going forward.
and decide that an activity like cannibalism, Sati, or SARV are no longer going to be tolerated. I can see the shift starting to happen with SARV in PNG but we need more people to take a stand together in partnerships. The longer it takes to end SARV the more innocent lives are lost. These are our mothers, sisters, children, fathers, and husbands. They have no voice so we must join forces and be their voice.
The good thing about partnerships is they start to create momentum and momentum creates a movement that causes pressure for change.
The thing we have in our favour is that SARV is not customary.
SARV, as it is today, is a relatively new activity.
People are simply using sorcery as the scapegoat to cause harm based on fear, jealousy, greed, or revenge. They do it because right now they know they can and likely get away with it.
I do believe that SARV will end quickly once there is enough societal pressure and perpetrators are held accountable.
People would never do SARV if they knew they would go to prison for it. Our job as individuals and organisations is to increase education and societal pressure to end SARV.
I’m looking forward to working closely with the Department of Community Development. We will be better and stronger together.
“There were children forced to watch the torture while women standing helplessly dying in the hands of their loved ones.
“Using culture is an excuse is for weak men,” he said. He said even teachers, pastors and ward members in parts of the country involved in anyway even to the extant of taking videos without helping.
Chaos in Kokoda forces festive season operations to begin
THE burning down of houses and a shop at Kokoda station in Northern province has forced police to start operations leading into festive season last week.
Provincial police commander
Chief Inspector Ewa Segi said they had not anticipated to start the festive operations early but the clash between the locals and settlers from Goilala over the death of a man has brought a lot of tension in the area. Last Monday, houses were torched
and a Asian supermarket was burnt down by hundreds of suspects leaving policemen outnumbered.
With 20 policemen from mobile squad flown into the province assisted by local police, the situation was stabilised.
Insp Segi said four suspects allegedly involved in the arson have been arrested.
“We pulled off a collaboration with the community leaders working together to stabilise the
Bangladesh operated shops targetted
BY FRANK RAI
THREE Bangladesh companies operating shops and supermarkets in NCD have been hit by criminals in recent weeks.
The companies lost up to K500,000 in cash and store items.
Jannat Holdings at Tuna Bay in Moresby South, Al-Hamdulillah Trading at Hohola and Nahar Holdings at Gordons were victims of criminals targeting foreign owned shops in the city.
Last week, three foreign nationals sustained severe injuries while criminals allegedly walked away with K130,000 in cash and store items including cigarette and mobile phone top up cards after breaking into Jannat Holdings supermarket.
A police brief on the incident
stated that two criminals used a pinch bar to break into the store at 3am last Thursday, held up the three employees and later opened the main door for 10 other criminals to enter. The three Bangladesh nationals were beaten up with pinch bar, one of them was hit on the head who dropped unconscious while the criminals carried out their loot in 34 minutes. Criminals threatened the supervisor to open the safe box and took the cash including various brands of cigarettes, mobile phone top up cards (Vodafone, Rait Kad and Digicel Flex cards) with other valuable items.
It was reported that they also took one of the employees to the front counter and forced him to open the cash register and took the cash. The criminals escaped
situation and have launched a supplementary operation specifically for Kokoda over the weekend which will lead up to main operations which will be launched next week.
“We are appealing to the public to work with us address the issues moving forward,” he said. Insp Segi said in 2024 recurring major cases will not be tolerated such as youths setting uproadblocks, armed robbery and holdups.
by criminals
after the landlord alerted the community and the injured were rushed to the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Business Association in PNG (BBA PNG) condemned the robbery and raised concerns on an alarming trend of criminals targeting Bangladesh shops and supermarkets in the city. The association said other two businesses included Al-Hamdulillah Trading at Hohola was robbed of K 96,744 in cash by eight criminals who stayed for 27 minutes inside the shop ransacking everything.
It further said Nahar Holdings at Gordons was robbed in a similar fashion where K63,938 worth of mobile phone cards with cigarettes were stolen within 19 minutes by six criminals.
Proper market facility needed in Kiunga
BY JIM JOHN dabexmero@gmail.com
SELLERS in Kiunga, North Fly district of Western Province are in dire need of proper market facilities.
Currently, they are selling their produce on the ground.
The main market in Kiunga has no more benches for sellers and has only 48 benches, hence it is filled to capacity each day resulting in sellers looking for spaces.
A regular fish seller in Kiunga, Bobson Waineta said this ongoing issue has affected all sellers and they are not earning enough money as customers don’t buy food sold on the ground.
“Public hygiene is important in the market because people will consume the food. Whatever funding is allocated for services must be used wisely to establish new market facility in town,” he said.
For over 40 years, sellers have
been continuing to sell their produce on the ground, therefore sellers are calling on town authorities, district and the Fly River Provincial Government to establish proper market facilities that can cater for sellers.
The town authorities in Kiunga cannot give their response to this matter because officers are not active in their duties and had declined to speak with the media. Due to the lack of proper market facilities, illegal street markets have increased and there is no good coordination with the movement of people, private vehicles including PMV bus services.
The North Fly DDA when contacted by Post-Courier said that these issues are being noted and work is in progress to establish a new market facility.
North Fly MP James Donald has reassured the people that a temporary semi permanent market houses will be built at Sare Kona, Broken Hill, Gregas Kona and Ningerum to cater for sellers while a new market will be built starting next year.
Population boom may harm education system: Professor
THE recent release of the Population Projections data by the National Statistics Office may cause further damage to the already struggling national Education System.
That's according to Professor Kenneth Sumbuk, the Chairman of the Education and Training Sectoral Committee of the Consultative Implementation & Monitoring Council. He made this observation in the committee’s meeting of Thursday, 16th November, 2023.
He said with the population projected to reach 20 million by 2045 and exceeding 21 million by 2050, this stands to pose serious socio-economic and environmental implications.
“It will thus, require a closer attention by all stakeholders in our development planning, policy formulation and implementation strategies going forward,” he said.
Prof Sumbuk said from this NSO projections, the national population of young people Ages 0 to 24, will have increased dramatically as indicated in the NSO report.
“Given the NSO projections and that of the MTDP IV, the population annual growth rate is estimated at 4.8 per cent. A population growth
rate that is extremely high in the region and poses numerous developmental challenges.
“The population growth rate is obviously much higher than the rate of development,” Prof Sumbuk said. He said these projections by no uncertain terms indicated that the population was growing nearly five times faster than the economic growth of the country.
The massive population growth can easily develop into a major developmental barrier if decision makers, policy formulators, planners and implementors are not tactful in addressing this quagmire, Prof Sumbuk said.
“As a nation, we have to focus on developing the economy while managing or putting a lid on the population growth.
“As educationists, we need to pay a closer attention to the impact of the rapid population growth on the education of the nation. The projected population growth will directly impact the education budget and any further increase in the education budget will depend on the actual growth of country’s real gross national product.”
SELLERS selling their produce on the ground in Kiunga market, North Fly district, Western Province.
Sign language dictionary for children to be published
NOAH Agino, a hearing impaired person has worked for Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) for 15 years.
Agino is currently in the final stages of completing a sign language dictionary for children.
This dictionary is PNG’s first and will provide both visual and written guidance for people to learn to sign.
Children such as Poyem Harold, 6, who has a spinal disability has been attending BbP’s ECE program for two years.
He will be graduating this week and will be able to enter a mainstream school thanks to the support he has received from the organisation. He can blend and read short words, write his letters and numbers well and he loves drawing and colouring. His teacher is satisfied with his progress and confident that he will do well at school. His mother is grateful for the service provided by BbP and the teachers for making her child confident and able to socialise and study with other children.
Noah and children from the BbP celebrated International Day of Persons with Disability with great success.
Inclusive education opportunities for children, development of appropriate learning materials and Sign Language training was celebrated.
BbP has celebrated International Day of Persons with Disability in all its Library Learning Centres across PNG to teach the children about dis-
ability and the importance of inclusion. The observance of the UN Day, celebrated on December 3, “aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
Thanks to sponsorship from the Sir Brian Bell Foundation of BbP’s Inclusive Education Program, notable achievements have been made to improve the lives of both children and adults living with a disability. Firstly, in addition to welcoming children with disabilities to enroll in the organisations’ free Early Childhood Education program, BbP continually updates and creates appropriate learning materials for the children.
Secondly, BbP was recently provided with the opportunity to train 76 team members from Brian Bell Group Head Office in Boroko and 43 team members at Brian Bell Chemicals at Gordons.
Eight training sessions were provided and most of the participants were unaware that Sign Language is the fourth official language in PNG. This was declared in 2015 alongside the rights of persons with disabilities as well as terminologies to be used to address persons with disabilities. BbP trainer and programs manager Marlyn Wini said: “The most interesting and enjoyable part of the sessions was teaching the signs.
High tax drives poverty: O’Neill
BY JEFFREY ELAPA
THE personal income tax of 40 per cent and the 10 per cent on GST combined is too much for the struggling workers and the government should provide some relief, Ialibu-Pangia
MP Peter O’Neill said.
He said while everyone has a duty to pay their share of the taxes, the government must be responsible not to tax them heavily when the government has failed to increase the minimum wages. He said with inflation and the cost of living so high, workers are struggling to live and they will be forced to live in poverty.
Mr O’Neill said there has been a lot of talk on the growth of the economy.
“This year, the Treasurer forecasted 4 per cent growth but it was 2.7 per cent, now the Treasurer has put it up to 5.7 per cent and this target will not be achieved.
“Tell us which sector will grow the economy?
“The only two sectors that are paying taxes are personal income tax, the highest tax revenue of K4,3 billion. This is the highest as we keep on taxing our people.
“And I have no problem with paying taxes but the tax is too high for an average wage earner.
“We can raise K4.3 billion, but the last time we reviewed the Minimum Wages was in 2016, some seven years ago.
“Since then, all the prices of goods have gone up, and the relief up to K20,000 is still not enough. Not everyone can afford to go to the store and buy basic food items because the prices are too high,” he said.
POYEM Harold, 6, who has a spinal disability has been attending BbP’s ECE program for two years.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023
Hear, hear!
Parliament has ended its 2023 business, with the passage of the 2024 Appropriation Bill. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament, so the Government will now go ahead to spend the K27.3 billion budget in the new year.
As the 2023 year comes to an end, all government accounts will close and another year will have gone by again without our people knowing the outcomes of the 2023 budget, like in the previous years.
Was it a disaster? Has the Government achieved any positive outcomes from the 2023 budget expenditure? What about the 2022 budget?
It would seem nothing much has been achieved or no tangible outcomes were achieved, given the criticisms that came the Government’s way in the last Parliament when the 2024 budget was being debated.
Chuave MP, James Nomane is proving to be a thorn in the side of the Treasurer Ian Ling-Stucky over his handling of the economy. “There is a big disconnect with the impact we are feeling in the rural districts, in the settlements and on the fringes of the peri-urban parts of the cities this is because of the failed implementation of the budget.
If you are prepared to tell this honourable House that GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has been growing and increasing then we should also see a proportioned reduction in unemployment, where are the jobs?” the lawyer turned politician asked.
Another respected voice in the Parliament and East Sepik Governor, Allan Bird told Parliament the microeconomy is not performing as it should and the people are feeling the pain.
“This is highest budget on record but at the same time we cannot deny that our unemployment levels are also record, forex rationing is also at record level, despite having almost 18 months of forex supply at the Central Bank.
Our power issues are also at record levels, and our crime levels are also at record levels. I think some of these need to come down, we need to find solutions to match all of these other records,” Governor Bird reminded Parliament.
Both Nomane and Bird, are in fact highlighting the very issues confronting the country at present.
The citizens and businesses are facing a lot of problems and the Government can no longer shy away from its responsibility. Things are really bad in this country right now.
It is one thing to deliver record budgets, year after year, but when these budgets fail to deliver the expected outcomes, then something is terribly wrong with the implementation.
The Government has been reminded, time and time again, that it has a huge task on hand to fix this problem as discontent is counting everywhere. The rising crime and social upheavals in our communities are the danger signals that must be taken seriously.
Perhaps the Government should take a line from Governor Bird statement in Parliament.
“ We need a clear budget strategy on how we will be able to create jobs, we need to be responsible to our people, we cannot be passing budgets if we can’t change the lives of our people,” Governor Bird.
The Government must listen to the voices.
Agriculture sector in 2024 Budget
WHILE reading through the “Key strategic Investments 2024” government budget of K27.377 billion, there is a surprising mismatch under agriculture investment.
Agriculture constitutes sectors such as Livestock (in cattle, poultry, piggery), subsistence sector (food and cash crop production- sago, banana, taro, yam- oil palm, coffee, rubber, tea, vegetables, betelnut, etc), aqua-culture sector (trout, tilapia, milkfish, mud crabs, etc).
These were not captured in the money plan of the Marape- Rosso Government. Agriculture is the backbone of PNG’s economy as 97 per cent of the land is customary owned, over 85 per cent of the total population live in the rural villages, with an average of 5.1 person per household.
The livelihood of these families are heavily reliant on subsistence farming of agricultural crops, livestock (including apiculture), fisheries and forestry.
The sector currently contributes 19 percent of total exports and accounts for 25 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and provides employment, income earning opportunities and subsistence consumption for the rural majority.
The major export commodities are oil palm, coffee, cocoa, copra, rubber and tea.
The important food crops are sweet potato, banana, sago, taro, Chinese taro, yams, cassava and sugarcane.
Cash crops include oil palm, coffee, cocoa, copra, fresh vegetables and betelnut. While the government boasts of its record 2024 budget driven by its prudent management of macro-economic and fiscal policies at national level, the ordinary citizens continue to utilise microeconomic policy at individual or local level to meet the lopsided demand created by top-down government’s fiscal policies.
There is no money plan for the rural population who depend on agriculture for survival in this country in the 2024 budget.
How much is allocated for cash crop farmers, livestock sector, and marine life farmers is absent.
Is this an oversight or a deliberate omission by the current government?
God bless PNG
NOAH DOANA (AFABUNE)
Evaluate Pacific Games results to pick better sides
Letter of the day
CONGRATULATIONS to all sporting codes that brought back to Papua New Guinea top medals in their different categories from the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara.
Special mention must be made for the PNG women’s national soccer team captain, Ramona Padio and her teammates, their coaches and management who were able to defend their title and bring home gold for the sixth time. Well done PNG women footballers.
It was also good to see both the men’s and women’s rugby 7s teams putting on an amazing challenge for the Fijian teams, and for the PNG women’s team for winning silver after going down to Fiji in the grand final match. Well done!
Codes like athletics, boxing and weightlifting, as expected, also helped in bringing in numerous gold medals to help
PNG slide up the medal tally to a respectable fifth placing after a poor first week performance.
All the other codes that did not bring back a medal, or did not make it to the finals, must be properly evaluated by the PNG Olympic Committee and a proper justification process must be carried out for the next Mini Pacific Games and Pacific Games to disallow non-performing codes.
Some sports had athletes that were noticeably unfit and it reflects badly on those federation executives of such codes. How did they select their players to represent the country?
Were there any proper selections, or did the federation and selectors just pick players from a local league in Port Moresby only a few weeks before departure for such international tournaments?
We cannot continue to send athletes and officials for codes that have had no national championships and there is no
support for local associations around the country.
PNG is the most populous nation in the Pacific, apart from Australia, but why are we not doing better than New Caledonia which has only 270,000 people?
Do the federation executives in PNG look sheepish when they are beaten by smaller nations in the Pacific? Or, do they just smile and wait for the next Games to do the same thing all over again?
It seems, in PNG sports no-one seems to evaluate anything and devise better plans to raise the level of competition in the country and we continue to lose to smaller nations time and again. It is an embarrassment. Maybe it is time too for some federation executives and presidents to leave their office and let someone who is competent take the reins to ensure their code is better taken care of.
PNG MAN
No tax during TIN registration
BASICALLY, a business registration process involves 3 steps. It starts with business name registration with the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA). The second step is the registration of Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) with the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC). From an entrepreneur’s perspective, the business registration process does not end with TIN registration. It proceeds onto opening of a new SME business bank account in order for an entrepreneur to access convenient banking prod-
ucts and services _ which is the last but most important step.
I have witnessed, on one occasion, an IRC staff insisting on collecting business tax during the TIN registration; meaning that the TIN registrant who has no SME business bank account at all, was told to pay business tax through EFTPoS machine before his TIN certificate could be released. This is logically contradictory because the TIN certificate would be required for subsequent opening of a new SME business bank account, and
having this SME business bank account would enable an entrepreneur to access electronic banking services such as the use of SME Visa cards or Credit cards for making tax payments possible to IRC. Now, for the sake of convenience, it would be more proper for the tax authority to let TIN registrants complete all the necessary steps in business registration, including opening of SME business bank accounts, prior to being taxed.
DN SIMENO
Readers submitting letters and commentaries are advised that the word count per
Public service mechanism
ALLOW me to shed some light on the reality of affairs in the Finschhafen district.
For a good number of years, the public service machinery has not functioned up to standard and as a result, delivery of services to the entire district is constrained and is perceived to be on an ad hoc basis.
I am a simple villager from Mape LLG who travels by track to Gagidu town, the journey takes days trekking unfriendly terrain, then l have to put up with the high cost of transport, food and lodging while l try to access goods and services at the district headquarters.
The scenario is more frustrating when the sector officers cannot attend to clients due to the lack of funds to implement specific sector programs or simply can’t operate without recurrent grants to purchase stationaries and equipment or foot bills.
Even some of the sectors are not capacitated to attend to the public, a notable mention is the absence of the Finschhafen district court magistrate as a result justice is being neglected and alot of cases are not disposed via natural justice.
While this exist people are forced to dig deeper into their pockets to travel to Lae city to seek the court of justice and just imagine how a simple villager will bear all the associated costs.
This precedence is taking a toll and if not remedied will categorically render the district to be non functional.
On the contrary impact projects posing high economic stimulation such as Mongi hydro power, district roads, Finschhafen limestone and the gazetted new Mape and Kuat LLG’s should be given prominence and accorded the best possible advice, consultation and process with due diligence by the district administration and as a matter of fact this can only come about only if the administration is capacitated to operate.
At this juncture, I call upon those in authority to restore the public service mechanism in Finschhafen to serve the 50,000 or so people who have been adversely affected by the lack of effective service delivery.
JOSEPH
KANDE, Sopa Valley
Umbrella associations to take stock of everyone
EVERY MP should put everyone in their respective electorates into one umbrella association to update data to take stock of every one for equal distribution of resources.
Formation of associations (or groups) within a village, LLG or district will definitely detect every individual Papua New Guinean regardless of who they are and what they do.
The job of our National Statistician will be made readily available and easier by every village, LLG or District with their updated data.
The three levels of the government will plan accordingly and constructively with the reliable data at hand. Then register all the Association with IPA and fund them with seed capital to operate as SME respectively.
Say a men’s association can consist of 100, 200 members or depends on what every DDA’s decision, the same with the women’s and youth’s and student’s Association.
Babies and the elementary students too as special group which should have their own Associations too and will set aside little savings as their Sovereign Wealth Funds through self-initiatives within his electorate to financially empowering every association in his electorate to see which association is qualified to take the next step from leap and bounds.
From every K50, 000 or K100,000 given to every Association who has gone to reach K500, 000 or more.
These particular associations deserve financial support and backing from the DDA through an SME loan program set up by the DDA in conjunction with the National Development Bank (NDB).
They must be facilitated with SME related trainings to upskill themselves with the basic SME principles and
Put to action revised Vagrancy Act
THE revised Vagrancy Act is welcome news for the city of Port Moresby, however, it should also include removal of aimless vagrants roaming the streets of Port Moresby causing a nuisance to communities and decent citizens.
This is because I have witnessed women, girls, children and mostly individuals, who are vulnerable and cannot defend themselves, being harassed without reason. I myself have had a few arguments with these vagrants and I tell you, that is an argument you cannot win though you have a valid point.
Their mentality can only be described as that of someone probably from the stone age. During these arguments, I realised that there is no measure of conscience.
The worst part is the “don’t care attitude” and inability in reasoning. You just can’t argue with stupidity! This is probably why RPNGC tend to use lethal force because talking sense has no effect.
These vagrants lack understanding, morality, logic, common sense and basically everything that defines a standard citizen and Port Moresby is already overcrowded with these vagrants with cavemanlike mentality. This city is no longer safe to move about freely.
These vagrants roam around aimlessly, sit at illegal vending spots or at bus stops causing unnecessary congestion and force or beg people to buy or give them K1 and if they don’t get what they want, harassment is imminent. Walk around Down Town
They lack the basic understanding or concept of right, wrong, good or bad. The language that they use (both men, women & their children), you wouldn’t believe your ears. Just by listening, you can make out that these people have no regard for another human being.
equip them with the necessary knowledge and business skills to ensure they start at the new level with ease, and not to struggle there and fall off the cliff.
For those that are not performing must be engaged in other meaningful ways and these remains the prerogative of the respective DDAs.
I personally, believe that PNG is unique and will always be, so when we have village associations registered as SMEs then we are bound to see some wonders…some association will create mind blowing wonders hidden for ages others will compete as mega SMEs and operate outside of their villages or districts.
The key to remember is when a group or Association is formed be sure to make it a good and compatible mix so not all the illiterates are in one Association or vise versa. Every DDA must be ready to support any association that has the potential to go furthermore in the SME world. Go with the tide to see what is on the shore.
Then transparency and accountability or checks and balances comes in every quarter or half a year to regulate and justify the policy.
Those who perform poorly over the years must be encouraged to join other associations to form more effective associations.
The challenge is big and it is to put one of your SMEs competing on the national stage-to get out of their localities and see themselves grow.
We have tried everything else to get us going forward but look at us; we are nowhere near all our set goals and plans, we are striving endlessly in vain when things start to fall apart so let us change and do something else that will bring in change.
JB, Kone Native
Port Moresby during lunch hours or a congested bus stop during rush hours and I guarantee you will witness or experience this yourself. This is an everyday occurrence and something needs to be done. In addition, they are unproductive and contribute nothing meaningful to society or to the development of PNG. All they contribute to is social problems and PNG will never move forward when we continue to remain silent and ignore this issue. So I urge our good Governor for NCD Mr Parkop to also include in the Act removal of wandering vagrants that cause unnecessary problems for decent citizens who are actually trying to make a better living for themselves and their families and contribute effectively to better societies and the growth of this nation.
VILLAGE NEEDS VAGRANTS MORE
Email: yutok@spp.com.pg
Minimum Wage: Separating myth from fact
BY BARNEY ORERE borere@spp.com.pg
THE cost of living in Papua New Guinea is the hot topic on everyone’s mind today.
Most people are informed well enough to be aware of associated issues such as inflation and the purchasing power, that is, value - of the Kina.
This topic is best handled by economists and academics who do painstaking research and present the facts.
But since the topic has come up again, here are some very basic background information and we do that by presenting some historical information.
The idea of course is that history helps us to understand the future.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
At the turn of the Century (early 1999) a Minimum Wages Board was set up after a six-year break; double its usual review period. But the Government was not obligated to review minimum wage determination every three years because that was not written into law, and a lot depended on the policy mix the government of the day wanted to pursue, said Max Kep, the Board Chairman.
A board was announced when its Terms of Reference were drawn up while Mr Kep made arrangements to tour the main centres; conduct hearings and receive submissions. Unlike in previous years, the Board would tour centres where there was sufficient demand to warrant a visit,
said Mr Kep.
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
The Government gave K361,000 for the exercise (March 1999). The decision to set up the board was reached in December 1998. The exercise should end by September and the determination handed down in October (of the same year).
The decision to set up the board was influenced by several factors. The last wages board was in 1992 and that determination was to have been reviewed three years later, so a review was overdue. There was a lot of pressure forced by the economic conditions; the high cost of living brought on by the Kina’s devaluation and the high rise of inflation.
The Government had to make a decision to break the tension that was building by giving the people the opportunity to be heard.
WAGE REGULATION
The workers protested when the Government said it would not fund the National Tripartite Consultative Council, the Industrial Registrar’s office and the Industrial Arbitration & Conciliation office. Moreover, the Government could already sense the pressure and submissions were before the National Executive Council. When the workers pressed their demands, it provided the impetus for the Government to agree to set up a Minimum Wages Board.
After the 1992 determination, governments were looking at deregulated wages and moving away from regulated labour markets. When the Government saw the past determinations, it decided to pursue a policy of wage restraint which in turn brought on other policies such as deregulation of markets including labour markets, corporatisation and privatisation, pushed through the Structural Adjustment Program promoted by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. All categories of minimum wage were therefore abolished and the minimum rural wage at the time of K22.96 a week adopted as the national minimum wage and youth wage 75 per cent, effectively reducing the urban rate. The minimum wage for general labour at the time of this decision K62.83 a week. The minimum wage in 1999 was K22.96 for most employees and that was the legal minimum limit.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
Mr Kep said the minimum wage was the starting point and an employer could pay on top of that depending on the ability to make profit and productivity levels. The 1992 determination also deregulated the idea of Consumer Price Index linked to wage increases. In place of that, the 1992 determination left it to employers and employees to negotiate wage increases based on capacity to pay and productivity.
One of the important reasons for setting up a minimum wage board is that it enables the Government to
know that it achieved the outcomes expected of the last determination. The policy to reduce wage had hoped to achieve more employment, increased investment and discourage rural urban migration.
CIRCUMSTANCES
The Minimum Wages Board (MWB) also sets standards for employers because circumstances always change. There is, however, no vacuum for an employer to say there is no MWB determination on expiry of a three-year determination because the last determination is binding until superseded by a new one.
One of the chief reasons why a MWB was not convened sooner was the misunderstanding between the regulating of wage and the review of the 1992 determination. A review is not the same as regulating wages but there is inherent fear that if there is a MWB, the country will go back to wage regulation. This is a misunderstanding because there is a fundamental difference between a review and regulating wages. The MWB is ad-hoc and it has certain amount of balance and independence. Only the Chairman is permanent but the Tripartite board draws members from employers, employees, the government and the community. The board investigates and enquires into wages and conditions, taking into consideration all other previous social and economic circumstances, and tries to put wages policy in its proper perspective.
School thrives despite challenges
BY ISMAEL GWASO igwaso@spp.com.pg
WANTOAT high school continues their quest to acquire fruitful characters for positive change.
This was highlighted during their 6th Grade 10 graduation yesterday.
The school is located in the mountains of Leron-Wantoat, Markham district, Morobe province where transportation and law and order issues challenges are rife.
However, the school has a good record as one of the best that supplies top students to Markham Valley Secondary and Wawin National High School every year.
Principal Ben Jacob said Wantoat is small school but has a big vision to achieve full integral human development.
“From day one of the school year to the last, it is difficult because of the road access but we get through every year and for tha I always acknowledge God,” he said.
Mr Jacob said sometimes they sleep along the road when travelling to Lae to get school supplies due to flooding and landslides.
He thanked the pioneer students for setting the foundation in 2018 with 74 per cent ranking after Lae
Secondary where they ranked third from 2018- 2022.
“This school was built with the help of students and parents and now we have a science lab and permanent buildings,” he said.
Mr Jacob thanked Markham MP Koni Iguan and the district development authority for the support throughout the years.
Mr Iguan also witnessed the graduation.
Aust committed to assist people living with disability
THE bilateral relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia continues to be positive.
The relationship has brought about assistance support aimed at bringing development to all sectors.
Furthermore, Australia is committed to support people with disabilities to improve the quality of their lives.
This was announced by the Australian Consulate-General Mark Foxe at the International Day of Persons with Disability in Lae.
Mr Foxe said Australia recognises the importance of the principle ‘nothing about us, without us.’
“It is wonderful to see so many members of the Morobe Disabled Agency Inc represented during the event and I understand some of you are representatives of your districts,” he said.
He said, Australia has ratified the United Nations Convention in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), as the leading donor in disability-inclusive development, utilising both targeted and mainstreaming activities to ensure Australia’s development activities support persons with disabilities to have equal opportunities, participation in public life access to services.
“We all have a role to play in promoting a rights-based approach to disability inclusive development so that people with disabilities can lead and participate in the decisionmaking processes that affect them,” he said.
Mr Foxe said Australia identifies
that the inclusive, accessible sustainable post is one which recognises the diversity of people with disabilities.
And further empowers those who often experience multiple disadvantages such as women and girls with disabilities, and people with disabilities who live in remote or rural areas of Papua New Guinea, he added.
“In July, we supported the National Disability Policy Review and Disability Inclusive Development Consultation Workshop through UN Women.
“That workshop was one example of how we are funding programs which promotes disability inclusive development.
“We are also assisting the PNG Government to ratify and implement the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and promoting greater representation of them.
“This is through work in the law and justice sector including by working with the gender equality, disability and social inclusion network to encourage recognition of their rights.
“We are also developing a Communication Guide which details inclusive and appropriate terms to use when engaging with people with disabilities,” he said.
Mr Foxe said, most importantly, Australia is now working to ensure disability inclusive practices are incorporated into every activity delivered through the PNG-Australian Partnership.
MARKHAM MP and Acting Speaker of Parliament Koni Iguan and delegates being welcomed at the school.
BY GORETHY KENNETH kennethg@spp.com.pg
PRIME Minister James Marape is set to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement with his counterpart Anthony Albanese when both meet for the PNG-Australia bilateral in Canberra tomorrow.
The agreement focuses on security cooperation, particularly in areas such as police support and border management. As both countries share borders and common interests, this agreement aims to
Aust bilateral security agreement set
enhance collaboration in areas like people movement, economic and trade interests, and overall law and order security.
The agreement is subject to final approval by the Cabinet, which is scheduled to discuss it before Marape’s trip to Australia today.
Prime Minister Marape highlighted the strong and close relationship between the two countries, dating back to PNG gaining independence from Australia in 1975.
He emphasised that Australia remained the largest bilateral partner for PNG, and the agreement would signify a further strengthening of the two country’s ties. Marape mentioned
that the agreement would bring improvements in the capacity and functionality of the police forces in both countries.
“The agreement also aims to strengthen other aspects of the legal system in PNG. This includes the recruitment of judges, including those from outside the country,”he said.
Marape emphasised the importance of maintaining a common law framework with Australia and ensuring that the entire legal system in PNG is responsive to the country’s own laws and justice sector.
This marks a departure from past agreements where the structure of the justice system was sometimes
Marape assures PNG of safe oceans
BY LAWRENCE FONG
PRIME Minister James Marape assured PNG last week that at no time will the government bargain with the safety of the country’s oceans and maritime resources.
Answering questions from Opposition Leader James Lelang in Parliament regarding the ongoing discharge of treated nuclear waste water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, Mr Marape said Japan has been in continuous dialogue with the PNG and the Pacific Islands Forum member countries to ensure periodical testing of waters in and around the Pacific to monitor the level of pollution.
“I want to assure the nation that our country will not be reckless. We do not intend to allow discharges
that are not fit and proper,” Mr Marape said.
“Japan has met with us on numerous occasions, and one of the suggestions we have made to them was for consultations together with Pacific Island Forum nations.
“The Japanese government has given the highest assurance to the PIF nations and PNG that their discharge is within acceptable scientific levels, and what emanated from the PIF meeting in Raratonga was that the Japanese government would ensure that testing facilities are built in all Pacific Island nations to test the volume of toxicity and pollutants in our waters, as a way to assure everyone that their discharges will have minimal effect on our seas and marine life.”
Mr Lelang posed five questions to the prime minister, demanding to know, among others, if the prime minister was aware of an independent study commissioned by the PIF secretariat into the safety of the nuclear waste water discharges.
He also wanted to know what scientific report or data the prime minister depended on to accept Japan’s claims that the discharges were safe and posed no threat to marine life.
Mr Marape asked that the Opposition Leader send him the questions in writing so that he could reply to them in detail.
But on the outset, he said the PNG government will not put the lives of its people at risk by accepting any discharge that it deems not safe.
contested and courts overturned decisions. He expressed gratitude to Australia for recognising the specific need for focus on the police sector and learning from past experiences. Marape also highlighted the collaborative efforts of both countries in structuring the agreement to be more effective and aligned with PNG’s legal framework.
“…for a bilateral with the Australian leadership that’s upcoming on Thursday, the important, bilateral, travel.
“As most of you would know without an element of ordering or classification of bilateral relationships, but Australia is ranked number one in our
relationship. We became Sovereign in 1975 from the hands of Australia.
“They remained very close to us the closest relationship, the biggest bilateral relationship, we’ve had up to this point in time, although other nations are catching up and they still remain on number one.
“And in respect to our own relations with them the strategic economic comprehensive, strategic economic partnership we have with them, we now trying into the picture stepped up, security corporation agreement. And that is something that we will be looking at, as I travel to Australia to come back, that includes stepping up capacity in our police beefing up support to our police sector.
US-CHINA TENSIONS THAW ... FOR NOW with
EXACTLY five years after Papua New Guinea historically hosted the 2018 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Prime Minister James Marape again joined his other 20 counterparts from around the Asia Pacific in the United States for this year’s summit.
While APEC acts as a premier forum for smaller economies like PNG, Brunei and Thailand among others to directly interact with major economies in the region, the attention surrounding last weeks meeting was focused around the interactions of US President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping of China.
It’s no secret that tensions between the two countries have been strained in recent times ––from disputes surrounding Taiwan to influence in the Pacific.
And for economies like PNG who rely on trade and development partnerships with both China and the US, the recent disagreements have only made relations cumbersome when dealing with one country over the other.
So when the meeting and apparent easing in tensions between Xi and Biden at the sidelines of the APEC summit happened, it was not only welcomed by both nations, but by the other 19 economies in attendance.
Mr Marape said in reaction: “I am heartened and have the fortitude to forge ahead in the knowledge that the two leaders of the two leading economies of APEC, President Xi and President Biden, embraced diversity and met to talk of a common pathway beneficial for all going forward in the face of existing and emerging challenges.”
He also stated, that the meeting between the US and China “demonstrated maturity in leadership”.
For Marape, his warm remarks of the duo’s meeting comes at a time when both countries continuously court the support of PNG and the rest of the Pacific. And while it seems this latest meeting between
Biden and Xi starts a new chapter of warm relations, the true test of the fruits of their interactions will be seen in the Pacific and their quest for influence over the other.
For both China and the US, it has been a whirlwind year in terms of strengthening relations in the Pacific, and more so for the US if President Biden actually visited PNG back in May.
Nonetheless, the US has still maintained its influence in the region with over a dozen Pacific Island countries meeting with President Biden in September for a second round of discussions in under a year.
And that’s on top of several high profile state visits from US officials and diplomats across the board.
Also, with the US hosting APEC, it proved to be a convenient way to further their own commitments made to PNG, noted by Mr Marape’s interactions with US industry figures.
For China on the other hand, their focus in the region has picked up in recent times, with a notable hosting of Mr Marape for an official state visit last month to place greater emphasis on infrastructural development.
Now fast becoming one of their staunchest allies, the Solomon Islands’ hosting of the Pacific Games is now fully underway ––a credit largely made possible by China’s generous development support.
Both leaders through their contrasting foreign policies that cross-cut the globe have numerous points to differ on, but if there’s one point they can agree on is the importance the Pacific now plays in their goal of global dominance.
As seen in the past, cheerful foreign relations between global powers don’t seem to last long in the ever changing geopolitical landscape. With what appears to be a renewed understanding of relations between China and the US, the question now dawns on what this means for the Pacific and whether tensions will thaw as well.
THIERRY LEPANI
Drug addicts to get new lease of life
By ENNIO KUBLE
THERE is hope for drug addicts.
After five years of reforming drug addicts alone in Simbu, the St Christopher Alive Association (SCAA) has gradually partnered in the hope of giving new lease of life to the youths in the province.
SCAA is a community-based organisation (CBO) with the focus on reforming and placing the youths back to their families and communities to take leading roles in transforming and making themselves, families, and communities be viable and resilient.
“Our efforts in the first five years with the growing number of youths of more than 3000 in four districts have not attracted support from the general community including
the government.
Fr Christopher Onguglo is a senior Catholic Diocesan priest working in Kundiawa and has started the turn-around drug addicts’ movement in youths at the Maria No Mano, Mai parish in the Yongomugl area where he served as the parish priest.
He said recently the Diocese of Kundiawa supported the gathering of 80 youth leaders coming from 56 cluster groups from the four districts for a three-day workshop on leadership skills and leadership building last week.
Fr Christopher said the Diocese through Fr Rizhard Wajda, the Vicar of the pastoral centre, allowed the youth leaders to access the Mingende Pastoral Centre facilities for boarding and meals.
He said the workshop also drew in facilitators from Catholic priests and Diocese Youth office, with organisations like Kup Women for Peace, HOPE Worldwide, Voice Inc PNG, Mercy Works, Divine Mercy, Caritas PNG, and Community Development office of the provincial government.
“The workshop covered various topic on knowing leaders, characters of leaders, variety of leaders with roles and responsibilities, and coaching leadership qualities to young people in families,” Fr Christopher said.
He said the issues and challenges Simbu as a province is seeing was due to breakdown in leadership in different and strategic levels.
He said the issues were now spilling into homes of Kundiawa.
Court to rule on bank employee’s case
THE Committal Court will hand a decision next Tuesday on a bank employee who allegedly sent details of two credit cards to another person to duplicate.
Francis Ampalaivio, 40, from Uvol village, Pomio, East New Britain was charged with four counts of unlawful disclosure and conspired to defraud.
The police evidence file has been completed and served on the accused four months ago but since then the accused has not responded.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Peter Samghy told the court that it had been four mouths and Ampalaivio had not found a lawyer to help him
file his submission on the police evidence file.
“We cannot keep adjourning the matter, the court can still come to ruling whether the defendant has filed his submission or not,”
“Section 94B of the District Court Act gives jurisdiction to the court to come to ruling whether there is submissions from the defendants or not.”
Magistrate Danny Wakikura then adjourned the matter to December 12 2023.
“I will need a week to go through the evidence file before I come to a ruling.”
It was alleged that on August 5, 2021, Ampalaivio logged onto a
banking system and viewed a customer’s account details.
He obtained details of the customer and sent to a woman.
After the details were sent, a duplicate card was made and used to withdraw money from automated teller machines in two provinces.
Police also alleged that on August 2, 2021, Ampalaivio committed the same offence, He logged onto the banking system and viewed another customer’s account details. He obtained the details and sent to the woman.
A duplicate card was made and used to withdraw money from automated telling machines. He was arrested and charged.
Unique market set up in Alotau
BY SAMPSON BONAI
‘NATURALLY YOURS’ market was established to allow the local people to sell their traditional food, art and crafts once every month.
The unique market concept has proven successful since it was established in Alotau, Milne Bay province early this year.
The founder of the unique market Daisy Tonia said the innovative marketing platform is more focused on naturally grown foods.
"I initiated the concept to promote naturally grown food from the gardens.
"We encourage mothers to use new innovations to create natural juice by mixing pawpaws and water melons," she said.
The local people also teach traditional skills of preparing their special taro soup to the people who visited the market to taste and learn from the different skills of preparing garden food.
She added that the vendors who attended the monthly market pay a fee for the use of the market facilities.
She further elaborated that the vendors sell their various natural products.
“They even demonstrate the skills of sago making, weaving plus cooking and how to make coconut oil, soap to name a few.
Mrs Tonia said the new ‘Naturally Yours’ market was established in March this year.
Since the it has become popular and has generated a big interest in the promotion of natural methods including the preparation of food and other skills.
She said numerous small medium business enterprise have registered to become members of the new market concept this year.
“They have since become successful entrepreneurs.
“Every month we invite groups to showcase their different styles of cooking, selling their various products such as mats and baskets and meri
blouses at their respective tents.
“The vendors pay fees for space at the market venue to conduct their various businesses.”
The group elected its office bearers with Tonia as the initiator. Charles Nebita chairman, Hihisi Tonia treasurer, Janet Vala the secretary and the committee members are Alotau MP Ricky Morris, Geua Morris, Lilly Nelson and Grentie Diyap.
Alotau MP Ricky Morris has also chipped in to support the executive with K20,000 to help them to fully establish themselves with their plans and strategies.
The popularity of the market has spread throughout the district.
Due to the interest gained, they operate at the designated location near the sea front in town once a month.
“We placed more emphasis on the fresh garden produce from within Milne Bay and also the aigir from East New Britain and sago from East Sepik.
"We also encourage local people to put on demonstration on their various traditional dishes for the customers to buy and taste the different style of cooking using various natural methods ," she said.
"Today's generations lack the knowledge on the importance of locally grown fresh garden produce, thus prefer imported food from the shops," she said.
"We established ‘Naturally Yours’ to give an opportunity to the village men and women to demonstrate their various traditional dishes and sell them at the market."
The most important achievement is the establishment of the networking with the vendors who meet with each other and support each other and learn from each other on how to become successful.
“The training of entrepreneurship is a challenge to us and we are now looking for support to run the training for the youths. We target the youths and provide mentoring sessions to impart the information and training to them to become successful entrepreneurs in their lives. Naturally Yours’ market has created a positive impact on the lives of the people in the province and it is making inroads into other provinces as well as a small medium enterprise.
THE committee members gathered for their meeting at the Alotau Waterfront Hotel in Milne Bay province last week. Picture: SAMPSON BONAI
Group plans activities for 2024-25
BY ROBERT TIKI
THE Organisation of Persons Living with Disability (OPD) in Western Highlands and Jiwaka provinces has completed its activity plan for 2024 to 2025.
The executive manager for Division of Community Development
He said that those activities amplified in the plan will drive the organisation forward.
Mr Levi said the organisation will use this activity plan as a platform to work in partnership with provincial government, district authorities
Joshua Levi said that the activities that were captured in the two-day planning meet included governance and advocacy, data collection, assistive devices, livelihood and SME, networking and partnership.
and other developing partners.
He thanked Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa for recognising people living with disability with funding.
He said WHP government recently gave K40,000 to the Callan Inclusive Education Resource Centre. Callan Services program coordinator Daniel Pamanda acknowledged all the facilitators and participants.s
‘Five kina bus crew a menace to public safety’
BY MEROLYN TEN
FIVE kina bus crews are intimidating passengers to get into public motor vehicles (PMVs).
This is becoming an unsafe practice at main bus stops of towns and cities in the Highlands region. It is “new form of daylight robbery” in the Highlands region and main bus stops more so in Madang and Morobe provinces.
Men, who are not PMV crew, force passengers into a PMV just to fill the vehicle to get their commission of K5.
Banz Town Authority Watch Assistant Inspector George Kani in Jiwaka province raised this concern after seeing that a lot of passengers have been forced and pulled into PMVs without considering whether it is going to the place the passengers are going to.
“There have been complaints from the public that their belongings have gone astray especially during the rush hour.
Some passengers said they have been robbed by gangs who pretend to be K5 bus crew while others have been verbally insulted when they decide to get on another PMV,” he said.
Insp Kani said the Road Traffic Authority (RTA), police and other authorities should look into the matter to protect the rights and freedom of passengers or the general public.
He has recalled that the system of K5.00 bus crew has started at Eriku bus stop in Lae Morobe Province a couple of years ago and gradually adapted by Madang and all parts of the highlands provinces.
Insp Kani said the new street system has to stop in order for vulnerable people including women, girls, people living with disabilities and elderly to freely move around freely wherever they plan to travel using PMVs.
“There has to be strict laws implemented for the general public who are using PMVs everyday to travel freely without fear,” he said.
The Western Highlands Province Officer in Charge of Traffic, Inspector Susan Mondia said that complaints have reached her office everyday of bag snatching while entering PMVs.
"The K5 bus crew even threaten passengers with knives and weapons in PMVs and run off with valuable items including money, mobile phones and other belongings.
Yet it is very difficult to tell the difference between actual bus crew and a K5. 00 bus crew because all look the same and that comes down to grooming," Insp said.
She urged all PMV operators to advise their respective drivers and crew to dress well for work.
THE Animal PMV bus stop in Mt Hagen City. -PICTURE: MEROLYN TEN.
Qualified human resource needed
HUMAN resource development plays a vital role in the future of Bougainville and its aspirations for independence.
Bougainville, known throughout its history as the richest island in PNG with most of its land, sea and natural resources owned by its local people.
Hence, human resources in Bougainville plays a vital role in the day-to-day setting and as part of the growing human resource, was what students at the Buin Secondary School were told by Bougainville Students studying at the PNG University of Technology.
The Unitech students took time out to visit the four secondary schools in Bougainville as part of their outreach program.
The aim of this outreach was basically to challenge the young ones to work smart academically and also to give a brief overview of what university life was all about.
The Unitech students outreach targeted Grade 11 students in assisting them making their choices in securing placements at Unitech and other tertiary institutions in the country.
During the three-day outreach program, almost three quarters of secondary students in Bougainville are female.
The Unitech students were on an outreach mission. -PICTURE SUPPLIED.
The number of male students have drastically dropped in secondary schools in Bougainville, said Buin Secondary School Principal Joseph Karepa.
“We are humbled and very pleased for this opportunity, this is not the first-time students from higher institutions come and talked, there was once a year ago, and today we appreciate the team for making their time with us,” he said.
Principal of Runa Secondary School in Arawa, James Kingston appreciated the Unitech outreach saying that “Runa Secondary is a second chance school, and these students seated here are so fortunate to be here, and that shows how passionate their dreams are”. He thanked the team and looks forward to more such awareness programs.
The team of nine girls and three boys from Unitech spoke about their challenges, a brief on university life experiences, and most importantly insights on the courses offered by 13 departments in Unitech, the online courses officered, the admissions, and also the STAT-P requirements.
“Uni is not for brainy students, but
rather the ones who work hard,” said Elijah Tovilu, the UBSA treasurer.
“Self-discipline, commitment, time management, and the right groups of peers are also vital.”
He mentioned to the students of Bishop Wade Tarlena Technical, Buin, Runa and St Mary’s Asitavi Secondary schools.
Oil peaks in New Ireland
potential
and
is a potential project for development if
and principal of Namani Lawyers, Hubert Namani. -PICTURE
Number of care centres rise
BY DIANNE WILSON
THE number of care centres in Bialla has jumped from four to nine in the last 2-3 days, bringing the total number of people in care centres from 14,313 to 16,703.
Bialla LLG manager, Jeffrey Osa, said Nakanai area has been declared a disaster zone and nine teams have been selected to look after each centre.
“Four was the initial number of care centres that we set up on the third day.
“But now we have a total of nine and the number of people was 14,313 but again this number has increased 16,703, as there’s more people coming in,” said Mr Osa.
He said that at the time of eruption, evacuated people were cramped up in the first four care centres and later
more people started moving in, forcing them to set up more centres.
“We had more people coming and the help we got in relief supplies was massive. First relief supply was donated by Nakanai District Development Authority and MP Francis Meneke. The DDA delivered K100,000 worth of food rations and mosquito nets, then followed by the provincial government with Governor Sasindran Muthuvel with K200,000 worth of materials and food rations,” he said.
New Britain Palm Oil Limited and China Railway company helped to transport the displaced people from Ulamona during the evacuation.
“Hargy Oil Palm Limited assisted us with fuel and maintenance of our vehicles and also provided a water truck to the 9 care centres.”
CHAIRMAN of Peak Oil, Professor Brent McInnes met with New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan on Friday. Prof McInnes briefed the governor on
discovery of oil
gas around offshore islands of New Ireland. This
negotiations are in the best interest of New Ireland Province. Pictured are from left: Lawyer Dr John Kwimb, Peak Oil Chairman Prof Brent McInnes, Governor Sir Julius Chan
SUPPLIED.
MEMBERS of the Bougainville Students Association from the Univerisy of Technology in Lae with students from a secondary school in Bougainville.
WaterAid marks Children’s day in Central
PRIMARY students enrolled in schools found vandalizing institutional properties such as WaSH facilities are liable for prosecution and imprisonment.
Social Justice Worker Evelyn Jarua at Crime Prevention Division-Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAGCP) said this during the observation of World Children’s Day at Doura Primary School Hiri-Koiari District andHisiu and Vanuamai Primary School in the HiriKairuku District in collaboration with WaterAid PNG on Monday November, 20.
With the theme: “‘For every child, every right,’ the team consisting of WaterAid PNG and DJAG’s Crime Prevention Unit visited the three schools which WaterAid is supporting build new WaSH facilities through its WaSH in Schools (WINs) and did awareness on child rights and responsibilities and proper hygiene and sanitation practices.
The students were reminded that whilst they had rights to access services they also had responsibilities to look after these services.
They were also informed that the crime prosecution age of perpetrators of vandalism is from ages 7 years – 18 years of age and those who were found to have vandalized institutional properties would be required to pay a fine of either K2,000 or face imprisonment for up to six months. They were urged to look after the new facilities that WaterAid PNG is building in their schools.
WAPNG representatives also provided awareness on children’s
rights and responsibilities including talks on having the right to use decent sanitation services such as toilets and access to running water. They were also reminded that although they had rights they had responsibilities to look after the facilities.
They were also informed to respect facilities and their teachers. Good hygiene practices such as washing hands after using the
toilet and before eating was also reinforced.
The students received hygiene packs consisting of hand sanitizers, soap, toothbrushes, face towels and sanitary napkins from Water Aid PNG through the kind donation of Boroko Rotary Club
Supported by Supreme Industries and also reading books, solar kits, lap desks from DJAG through their Safe School Program were
donated to the students after awareness on children’s rights and responsibilities.
The collaboration was in line with WaterAid PNG’s Do No Harm Approach in which WaterAid recognizes that in line with our mission to transform lives by improving access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities, most vulnerable and marginalized groups of
children may be the most likely to suffer from abuse and be the least likely to speak up. Therefore, in our projects, we try to ensure such vulnerable groups are able to speak up and be heard.
This has aligned to the government’s policies and intervention’s as such WaterAid partnered with DJAG’s Crime Prevention Unit DJAG’s Safe School Crime Prevention initiative.
Tabubil hospital staff observe World AIDS day
WITH a surge in HIV/AIDS cases globally and in PNG, it is imperative for individuals to undergo testing they know their HIV status.
On Friday, December 1, Tabubil Hospital staff and communities convened to commemorate World AIDS Day at Tabubil Hospital, highlighting the prevailing global health concern.
Endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the 2023 World AIDS Day theme, "Let Communities Lead," emphasizes the need for global communities
to unite. The theme urges collective action to take ownership by raising awareness, eradicating stigma and discrimination, and motivating individuals within communities to undergo testing. This proactive step allows individuals to be aware of their HIV status and seek early treatment. Ok Tedi Mining Limited, Health Services manager, Mr. Raymond Singamis, during his keynoted address on that day outlined the importance of the World Aids Day and gave a few facts about HIV/ Aids.
"According to World Health Organization data, an estimated 39 million people globally are living with HIV, with 9.2 million lacking access to essential medication. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), the HIV prevalence stands at around 72 thousand people," Mr. Singamis emphasized.
The critical question arises: how can we reverse this trend?
Mr. Singamis suggests a solution lies in communities taking the lead. By empowering communities to spearhead initiatives, there is hope to reduce the prevalence
of HIV and foster a proactive approach to addressing this global health challenge.
Mr. Singamis went on to commend the dedicated efforts of the hardworking health professionals at Tabubil Hospital. He acknowledged their commitment to providing counselling, conducting tests, and offering medication to those currently grappling with HIV/AIDS.
Tabubil Hospital Administrator, Ms. Margareth Samei, said, "Here at Tabubil Hospital, we are wellequipped with resources and must
take immediate action. It is imperative that we extend our efforts by conducting awareness campaigns in communities. Our goal is to not only educate but also empower communities to take the lead and actively contribute to the fight against and minimization of the spread of this virus within our community."
She also appealed to the health professionals at Tabubil Hospital to join hands together and take action now and help raise awareness on this global health issue in schools and the communities.
LEFT: WAPNG Programs Coordinator Imelda Kachau, students and teachers of Hisiu Primary School. RIGHT: DJAG Crime Prevention Unit, Benjamin speaking to students of Doura Primary School. PICTURES SUPPLIED
Nissan’s special 90th anniversary exhibit
NISSAN Motor Co. Ltd. is holding a special exhibit at its global headquarters from December 1, 2023 through December 27 to commemorate its 90th anniversary. Displays along the wall and floor of the Nissan Walk* highlight the history of the company since its founding on December 26, 1933.
Thousands of people pass through the Nissan Walk daily between Yokohama Station’s East Exit and the Minatomirai area, making it the perfect place to publicly showcase Nissan’s illustrious past and its ambitions for the future.
The exhibit highlights Nissan’s history chronologically. Each segment presents a decade of epoch-making events, pioneering technologies and notable cars
along with the social context of each era. The Minatomirai side of the 75-meter timeline begins with the establishment of Nissan, while the Yokohama Station side concludes with the company’s plans for the future.
Since Nissan’s founding, the spirit to “Dare to do what others don’t” has inspired generations of employees to push the boundaries of innovation and enrich people’s lives. This remains the company’s mission as it strives to create a cleaner, safer and more inclusive world.
The Global Headquarters Gallery, located on the first floor, is also holding a 90th anniversary event through January 8 to show Nissan’s appreciation of all the people and communities that have supported it for so many years.
Best vehicle accessories with 2Fast Motors
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Gateway Children’s Fund receives new bus
ELA Motors Chief Operating Officer - Retail, Ashley Huston, presented the bus key to the Gateway Children's Fund team.
ELA Motors has donated a brand-new Toyota Coaster Bus to the Gateway Children’s Fund, for which the organization has expressed its gratitude.
Ashley Huston, the Chief Operating Officer - Retail, presented the keys of the bus to the Gateway Children's Fund team on November 24th 2023.
The Gateway Children’s Fund is a child development agency that works towards improving the lives of underprivileged children
in Papua New Guinea, with a decade of experience in the field. With this new addition to their fleet, the organization can now extend its support and reach to provide essential services to underprivileged children living in Port Moresby.
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PNG to recruit Aust police in security deal - minister
SYDNEY: Papua New Guinea will recruit Australian police officers for key positions in its national police force under a wide-ranging security deal to be signed this week that also covers defence and biosecurity, Papua New Guinea’s minister of state said.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape will travel to Canberra on Thursday to sign the security agreement, his office said.
“The security arrangement is in the best interest of Papua New Guinea and also for Australia and its regional security interests,” Marape
said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Australian security agreement was delayed after backlash from some opposition PNG politicians to a defence deal with the United States in May that they said infringed on PNG sovereignty by giving access to ports and airports, and could embroil the Pacific Islands’ largest nation in strategic competition between the US and China.
China formed security and policing ties with the neighbouring Solomon Islands last year. PNG, a few kilometres to Australia’s north, is also being courted by China amid
France hosts Pacific defence ministers’
Analysis - French defence minister Sébastien Lecornu has arrived at the weekend in New Caledonia for a week-long visit and a focus on hosting the 10th South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) on December 5-6.
The two-day regional meeting, hosted for the first time by France at the Nouméa-based Pacific Community (SPC) headquarters, is perceived as a major event to confirm France as a major player in the global Indo-Pacific strategy, especially in the Pacific region.
The SPDMM’s main focus will be on strategies to co-ordinate regional armed forces to provide assistance to regional countries faced with the adverse effects of climate change, including assistance in times of natural disasters such as cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.
Since 1992, a so-called “FRANZ” (France, Australia, and New Zealand) armed forces agreement has specialised in this kind of postdisasters assistance to neighbouring Pacific island countries.
Another focus is to provide the necessary means to fight illegal fishing in the huge Pacific Ocean’s region, based on another alliance, the Pacific QUAD+, which also involves the United States.
This chapter means maritime and air surveillance patrols availed to monitor the region’s Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).
The US will be represented as an observer during this week’s SPDMM meeting, Lecornu stressed.
The SPDMM, originally founded
by Australia in a post-RAMSI context, this year celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Its members are Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and France, observers being the US, UK and Japan.
A major project, announced in July 2023 by French President Emmanuel Macron during a Pacific tour (that included not only New Caledonia but also Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea), is to create a Nouméabased “Pacific Military Academy” to train regional Pacific islands soldiers.
On all of these topics, one major notion is consistently being brought forward: the “inter-operability” (the capacity for participating forces to seamlessly work together) between Pacific armed forces, whatever the operational scenario.
An even more geostrategic goal was to strengthen existing regional security alliances in the face of growing tensions and “blockforming” and the confrontation between China on one part and on the other part the US and its allies (including Australia).
“I think Pacific island states are faced with very real threats, including climate change. They also face huge challenges in terms of respect for their sovereignty, including maritime. They also watch the formation of blocks in the North (Pacific) and are worried about the consequences in the South (Pacific)”, Lecornu told a press conference at the weekend in Manila (Philippines). -RNZ
rising tensions between the two major powers.
“This shows our commitment to Australia as one of our traditional security partners now and into the future,” Minister of State Justin Tkatchenko told Reuters in a telephone interview.
Defence and internal policing are a major part of the security agreement with Australia, while respecting PNG sovereignty, along with assisting farmers to meet Australia’s stringent biosecurity rules and boosting biometric technology for airports, Tkatchenko said.
“Respecting each other is the big thing,” he added.
The Australian Federal Police and the defence minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the security agreement.
PNG police have this year struggled with a surge in violent crime, and Marape has pointed to law-andorder concerns and said boosting security would help to attract foreign investment in PNG’s burgeoning resources sector. - REUTERS
WELCOME BACK TO RAROTONGA
WHILE the Pacific sporting world was focusing on the Pacific Games in Honiara, another international sporting spectacle is taking place on Rarotonga this week - an event with distinctly Pacific roots. The annual Vaka Eiva outrigger canoe competition welcomed over 350 paddlers from the Pacific and beyond at a blessing on Friday 1 December in Avarua. The Cook Island capital has seen an influx of paddlers from Australia, Tahiti, the United States, Hawaii, and New Zealand arrive to compete in various races throughout the weeklong event. Among the competing paddlers is Hardy Spoehr, of Anuenue Canoe Club in Honolulu Hawaii, who were involved in the first Vaka Eiva event in 2004. - RNZ
New Zealanders gather across country to protest new policies
WELLINGTON: Thousands of protesters gathered in New Zealand’s city squares, motorway over-bridges and in front of the country’s parliament on Tuesday to protest the new government’s policies that they believe are racist. The protest action was called for by political party Te Pati Maori and coincides with the opening of New Zealand’s 54th parliament.
A new right-of-centre government of the National Party, New Zealand First and ACT New Zealand was elected following a vote in October,
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CALL FOR CEASEFIRE
WELLINGTON: Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, calling on the new Foreign Affairs minister, Winston Peters, to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The groups Justice for Palestine and Alternative Jewish Voices have compiled a joint briefing to the minister, laying out the actions they want the government to take. Justice for Palestine co-convenor Samira Zaiton said the briefing wanted Peters to call for an immediate and permanent ceasfire, the release of all hostages by Hamas and Israel, unimpeded humanitarian access to food, water, and fuel.
MIGRANTS BUSTED
AUCKLAND: More than a dozen Vietnamese nationals on work visas are being investigated for links to an Auckland crime syndicate that was busted last week. A multi-agency investigation uncovered the drug and money-laundering operation in Counties Manukau, police seizing cannabis plants and packaged cannabis with a street value of up to $25 million. There were 10 arrests and 12 deportations. Nine of those being deported were here illegally, their visitor visas having already expired. None were here no work visas. Another 14 were being investigated for potential deportation.
REDUCED SEATING
NADI: Fiji Airways is limiting the weight of its ATR flights due to what it calls “the prevailing seasonal weather conditions in the South Pacific region”. In a statement, the airline said flights will operate with reduced seating capacities, and some guests and checked bags may not be accepted on services for which they hold bookings. “Fiji Airways wishes to advise our valued guests that due to the prevailing seasonal weather conditions in the South Pacific region the National Airline is subject to payload limitations on its ATR services to Pacific Islands destinations,” it said. - Agencies
ending six years of rule led by the progressive Labour Party.
The three parties’ new coalition agreement outlines policies to wind back the use of Maori language, review affirmative action policies and assess how the country’s founding treaty document is interpreted in legislation.
“This is not a protest, this is an activation,” Te Pati Maori co-leader Rawiri Waititi told Wellington protesters who marched through the city to the country’s distinctive Beehive parliament building.
“Make our voices heard, let our voices fly and be proud to be who we are today.”
New Zealand police said there had been traffic disruptions in a number of cities, but these had now eased as protests concluded. Two people involved in the protests had been arrested, police said.
David Seymour, leader of libertarian party ACT New Zealand, said in a statement the protest was just theatrics when New Zealanders just want their government to get on with fixing the many issues the
country is dealing with.
New Zealand’s parliament was opened with parliamentarians swearing an oath to Britain’s King Charles III.
Te Pati Maori’s six parliamentarians broke with protocol, opting to stay in their seats and swear allegiance first to their grandchildren and young people and to the country’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, before moving to the front to swear the oath to King Charles. -REUTERS
Aussies receiving youth, student or carer support will receive extra cash when some government benefits increase in 2024. More than 936,000 people receiving the government support payments will see a six per cent indexation raise from January 1. Youth Allowance payments will increase between $22.40 and $45.60 a fortnight, and those receiving Austudy will get an increase of between $36.20 and $45.60 a fortnight. Those receiving a disability support pension aged under 21 years will receive payment increases of $31.10 to $44.90 a fortnight. The indexation increase will also mean more than 600,000 carers will receive additional financial support as the carer allowance will increase to $153.50 a fortnight.
Social Services minister Amanda Rishworth said the increases to payments will help more people navigate cost of living pressures. -news.com.au
SYDNEY:
Nine killed as southern India braces for Cyclone Michaung
BHUBANESHWAR: HEAVY rains submerged roads in southern India on Tuesday, where at least nine people, including a child, were killed in the flooding and the havoc hours before a severe cyclone was due to make landfall.
Cyclone Michaung is expected to hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh state around 11 a.m. local time (0530 GMT), the weather office said, gusting in with winds of up to 110 kph (70 mph).
Parts of the state are expected to be pelted with more than 200 mm (8 inches) of rain over the next 24 hours, the weather office said, and at least 8,000 people have been evacuated. A 4-year-old boy died in Tirupati district after a wall fell, C. Nagaraju, executive director of the state’s disaster management authority said, while eight people were killed in neighbouring Tamil Nadu state, officials said. In Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai, a
December 4, 2023. REUTERS
major electronics and manufacturing hub, floodwaters swept away
cars and submerged a runway, triggering the shutdown of one of India’s busiest airports until Tuesday morning. The rains have stopped and water has receded at Chennai airport, and the airfield was operational from 9 a.m. local time, a spokesperson for the federal civil aviation ministry said.
The rains and winds also snapped power lines and uprooted trees, officials said, and more than 140 trains and 40 flights were cancelled in Andhra Pradesh.
Taiwan’s Foxconn (2317.TW) and Pegatron (4938.TW) halted Apple (AAPL.O) iPhone production at their facilities near Chennai due to heavy rains, sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.
In December 2015, floods in Tamil Nadu killed at least 290 people and caused widespread damage. - REU-
TERS
Nepal urges Russia not to recruit its citizens into army
KATHMANDU: NEPAL said it has asked Moscow not to recruit its citizens into the Russian army.
It added that Russia immediately send back any Nepali soldier commissioned there back to the Himalayan nation after revealing six soldiers serving Russia’s military had been killed.
Nepali soldiers, called Gurkhas, are known for their bravery and fighting skills, and have been serving the British and Indian armies following the independence of India in 1947 under an agreement between the three countries. The small Himalayan nation, wedged between China and India, has no such agreement with Russia, which invaded neighbouring Ukraine in February
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MARCOS COVID POSITIVE
MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has tested positive for COVID-19, but remains healthy enough to hold online meetings, his office said on Tuesday. The Presidential Communications Office said on its Facebook page Marcos will isolate for five days.
BUNGEE JUMPER DIES
MACAU: A 56-year-old Japanese tourist died hours after completing a bungee jump from Macau Tower on Sunday (Dec 3), according to local media reports. Hong Kong news site HK01 reported that the man felt breathless after completing the 233m jump at about 4.30pm.
THAI BUS CRASH KILLS 14
BANGKOK, Dec 5 (Reuters) - A bus lost control and crashed into a tree in Thailand, killing 14 passengers and injuring more than 20, the state-owned Transport Company said in a statement on Tuesday. The accident occurred in country’s western province of Prachuap Khiri Khan at half past midnight.
SKOREA FLIES ROCKET
2022 and has been engaged in a war since.
The Nepal government said in a statement that six of its nationals, who had been serving the Russian army, were killed, without providing any details.
“The government of Nepal has requested the Russian government to immediately return their bodies and pay compensation to their families,” the foreign ministry said late on Monday.
Armed organisations must solve their problems ‘politically’ : Junta leader
BANGKOK: MYAN-
MAR’S junta leader
Min Aung Hlaing has called on armed ethnic groups involved in an offensive against the country’s ruling military to solve their problems “politically”, state media reported on Tuesday.
“(He) warned that if armed organisations keep on being foolish, residents of the relevant regions will suffer bad impacts. So, it is necessary to consider the lives of the people, and those organisations need to solve their problems politically,” the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. Myanmar’s military is facing the biggest challenge to its grip on the Southeast Asian nation since taking power in a
2021 coup, after three ethnic minority forces launched a coordinated offensive in late October, capturing some towns, including major border trade zones, and military posts.
A parallel civilian government backing some of the armed rebel groups dismissed Min Aung Hlaing’s call for dialogue.
“As they are losing badly on the ground, they are trying to find an exit route. There would be genuine dialogue if the military guarantees that it no longer has a role in politics; they must be under an elected government,” said Kyaw Zaw, a spokesperson for the parallel National Unity Government.
Amid fighting in Shan State on the border with China, and Rakhine and Chin States in the west, dozens of military and police officials have surrendered, according to media and footage verified by Reuters. - REUTERS
Indonesia volcano death toll at 13
AGAM: HUNDREDS of Indonesian rescuers were racing on Tuesday (Dec 5) to find 10 hikers who went missing after a volcano eruption killed 13 people.
The total number of hikers found dead after a volcano eruption in Indonesia has risen to 13 after two more bodies were found, a local rescue official said on Tuesday.
“The total number of people who have died is currently 13 people. The 10 missing hikers are still being searched,” Abdul Malik, head of Padang Search and Rescue Agency told AFP, adding the two hikers were found late on Monday.
Five of the dead had been brought down the mountain for identification while eight bodies had been found and were being brought down in bodybags, he said.
The dead hikers were found near the crater of Mount Marapi on the island
of Sumatra, while others were found alive and carried down the mountain in arduous rescue efforts hampered by further eruptions and bad weather.
The volcano spewed an ash tower 3000 metres taller than the volcano itself - into the sky on Sunday.
“This morning we will deploy around 200 personnel, on top of the personnel who are already staying up there. Until now, five bodies have been brought down,” Hendri, head of operations at the Padang Search and Rescue Agency, told AFP on Tuesday.
“The volcano is still erupting,” said the official, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
The rescuers would attempt manual evacuations when possible, walking to the top of the volcano and evacuating the victims using stretchers because of ongoing eruptions and poor visibility, Hendri said.- CNA
Diplomatic efforts were underway to get one Nepali citizen serving the Russian army and captured by Ukraine released, the statement added. Nepal also urged its citizens not to join the army of any war-torn country. - REUTERS
SEOUL: South Korea on Monday successfully conducted a flight of a solid-fuel rocket carrying a satellite over the sea near Jeju Island, the defence ministry said, amid a growing space race with neighbouring North Korea. It was the third successful test of the rocket’s technology after two others in March and December 2022.Agencies
PEOPLE move in a boat past partially submerged vehicles in a residential area following heavy rains ahead of Cyclone Michaung in Chennai, India,
MIN Aung Hlaing
Israel intensifies offensive
as US, UN urge civilian safety
GAZA: ISRAELI forces pressed ahead with their air and ground bombardment of southern Gaza Strip, killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians, even as the United States and the United Nations repeatedly urged them to protect civilians.
Asked on Monday about the mounting death toll since a truce collapsed between Israel and Hamas on Friday, Israel’s closest ally the United States said it was too soon to say whether Israel was doing enough to protect civilians and that it expected Israel not to strike zones it has identified as safe.
Residents and journalists on the ground said the intense Israeli air strikes in the south of the densely populated coastal enclave included areas where Israel had told people to seek shelter.
At the United Nations, SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres appealed to Israel to avoid further action that would make the already dire humanitarian situation in Hamas-run Gaza worse, and to spare civilians from more suffering.
“The Secretary-General is extremely alarmed by the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hamas... For people ordered to evacuate, there is nowhere safe to go and very little to survive on,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
Israel largely captured the north-
ern half of Gaza in November, and since a week-long truce collapsed on Friday they have swiftly pushed deep into the southern half. Hamas ally Islamic Jihad’s armed wing said its fighters engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli soldiers north and east of Khan Younis,
Gaza’s main southern city. Israeli tanks have driven into Gaza across the border and cut off the main north-south route, residents said. The Israeli military said the central road out of Khan Younis to the north “constitutes a battlefield” and was now shut.
Israel on Tuesday said three of its soldiers had died in combat in Gaza on Monday, in what Army Radio described as a day of fierce battles with Hamas fighters.
Seventy-eight soldiers have died in Gaza since the start of the military’s ground invasion. - REUTERS
Israeli strikes heaviest since start of war
GAZA: ISRAEL has carried out intense air strikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, with residents describing it as the heaviest bombing of the war.
People in eastern areas of the city have been told by the Israeli military to evacuate further to the south.
Israel believes some Hamas leaders are in the city, where many civilians are sheltering after fleeing the north.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry
says at least 193 people have been killed in the latest wave of Israeli attacks.
On Friday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) resumed its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, launched in response to the 7 October attacks in Israel which killed around 1,200 people.
The Hamas-run health ministry says the number of people killed in Gaza has now exceeded 15,200 people.
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza resumed after a temporary ceasefire ended on Friday. The IDF said it had hit more than 400 Hamas “terror targets” on the first day of the renewed operation.
Rockets have also been regularly fired at Israel from Gaza since fighting resumed, including a barrage aimed at Tel Aviv and the surrounding area of central Israel on Saturday evening.
Following this attack, Israel’s
Activists at COP28 summit ramp up pressure on cutting fossil fuels
DUBAI: ACTIVISTS had a series of events and actions lined up yesterday (local time) at the United Nations climate summit seeking to amp up pressure on conference participants to agree to phase out coal, oil and gas.
These fuels are responsible for most of the world’s emissions, and move to clean energy in a fair way.
The question of how to handle fossil fuels is central to the talks, which come after a year of record heat and devastating weather extremes around the world. And even as the use of clean energy is growing, most energy companies have plans to continue aggressive pursuit of fossil fuel production well into the future.
A team of scientists reported on Tuesday that the world pumped 1.1 per cent more heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the air than last year, largely due to increased pollution from China and India.
Protests — which are limited to “action zones” around the UN site — centered on phasing out fossil
els and calling for finance
Quick news
UKRAINE DRONES HIT
MOSCOW: Russian air defence systems destroyed or intercepted a total of 41 Ukrainelaunched drones overnight and early morning on Tuesday, the Russian defence ministry said. Twenty-six of the drones were destroyed over Russian territory, and 15 were intercepted over the Sea of Azov and the Crimean Peninsula, the ministry said in a statement on its Telegram channel.
LA SHOOTER ARRESTED
LOS
ANGELES:
Los Angeles police have arrested a man for the fatal shootings last month of four people - three of them homeless - in a spree that shocked the city. Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, is accused of targeting men sleeping alone on the street in three locations. He was arrested last week over the robbery and fatal shooting of a homeowner in his garage. Mr Powell has been charged with four murders and has been ordered by a judge to be held without bail.
TRADE DEAL OPPOSED
BUENOS AIRES: Argentina’s outgoing government said on Monday it won’t support the signing of a long-delayed trade deal between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur during a summit this week in Brazil even thought the incoming Argentine government has expressed support for the deal. Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero said the agreement as currently written would restrict Argentinian exports
MIGRANT DEPORTATIONS
ambulance service said it treated a 22-year-old man for “minor shrapnel injuries” to the head in Holon - a city just south of Tel Aviv.
At a briefing on Saturday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to continue with the Israeli military operation until “we achieve all the goals” in eliminating Hamas and securing the release of the hostages.
He acknowledged that “a tough war is ahead of us”. - BBC
LONDON: BRITISH Home Secretary
James Cleverly arrived in Rwanda yesterday to sign a new treaty to send asylum seekers to the African nation after the UK’s top court declared the deportation scheme unlawful.
The Rwanda plan is at the centre of the government’s strategy to cut migration and is being watched closely by other countries considering similar policies.
But the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court last month ruled the flights would violate international human rights laws enshrined in domestic legislation.
Since that ruling, Britain has been seeking to renegotiate its agreement with Rwanda to include a binding treaty that it would not expel asylum seekers sent there by Britain - one of the court’s major concerns.
Cleverly arrived in Rwanda’s capital Kigali yesterday and met with the country’s foreign minister, Vincent Biruta, to sign the agreement.
“Rwanda cares deeply about the rights of refugees, and I look for-
MEXICO CITY: The head of Mexico’s immigration agency has ordered the suspension of migrant deportations and transfers due to a lack of funds amid a record-setting year for migration through the country’s territory. The suspensions were outlined in an agency memo dated December 1 from director Francisco Garduño, whose authenticity was confirmed to the AP by an agency official who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss it. - Agencies
JAMES Cleverly
ward to meeting with counterparts to sign this agreement and further discuss how we can work together to tackle the global challenge of illegal migration,” Cleverly said. Under the plan, Britain intends to send thousands of asylum seekers who arrived on its shores without permission to Rwanda in a bid to deter migrants crossing the Channel from Europe in small boats.
In return, Rwanda has received an initial payment of 140 million pounds (K669 million) with the promise of more money to fund the accommodation and care of any deported individuals.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under intense pressure to cut net migration, which hit a record 745,000 last year, and end the flow of asylum seekers who pay people smugglers for their Channel crossings, often in overcrowded, unseaworthy boats.REUTERS
AS many as 80 per cent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have already fled their homes in the eight weeks of war that has turned the overcrowded enclave into a wasteland. PICTURE REUTERS
Euro zone yields fall, stock rally takes a breather
SINGAPORE/LONDON, REUTERS: Germany’s 10-year government bond yield dropped to its lowest in six months on Tuesday and world shares paused around four-month highs as traders upped bets on European Central Bank rate cuts early in 2024 and grappled with the Federal Reserve’s outlook. The 10-year Bund yield dropped as much as 7 basis points to 2.28%, its lowest since June 2, after European Central Bank official Isabel Schnabel said in an interview with Reuters that further interest hikes are “rather unlikely”, after an unexpectedly big fall in inflation. its all-time peak. Bond yields move inversely to prices and government bonds in most developed markets globally took a battering in 2022 and earlier this year after a rapid rise in central bank policy rates. “The final nail in the coffin for further rate hikes, even if no one was expecting any,” said Andrzej Szczepaniak, senior economist at Nomura, of Schnabel’s comments. Traders are now nearly fully pricing in a 25 basis point rate cut from the European Central Bank at its March meeting, and nearly 150 basis points of cuts by the end of 2024. The euro dipped, recovered and was last down slightly at $1.0829. Rate cuts are also expected in the US with traders seeing 50 basis points of cuts as more likely than not by June. The 10-year US Treasury yield was down 5 basis points at 4.24%, walking back some of the previous day’s 6-basispoint rise. “The market has more or less priced the soft landing scenario (for the U.S. economy) to perfection,” Bank of Singapore strategist Moh Siong Sim said.
MRDC to invest more in PNG Air
BY DALE LUMA dluma@spp.com.pg
THE Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) will have to invest a further K35 million in PNG Air in-order to acquire additional shares in the airline, a report has outlined. It is understood, this will have to be done within 18 months in exchange for additional shares at a price per share of 0.843 toea.
Recently, the Independent Consumer Competition Commission (ICCC) opened up for applications from stakeholders on competition issues for MRDC’s application to acquire additional shares in PNG Air.
An independent report by Grant
Thornton, PNG Air had proposed a scheme of arrangement (Scheme) to the key creditors who have all signed letters of intent in relation to a proposed reduction or restructure of their respective debt arrangements.
As part of the Scheme, it is proposed that additional shares are issued to MRDC Entities and Nasfund as follows:
MRDC Entities have invested PGK 15 million and will invest another PGK 35 million over 18 months in exchange for additional shares at a price per share of 0.843 toea.
The MRDC Entities will subscribe for 208,333,333 additional shares to convert the MRDC group’s debt of PGK 25 million to equity, at a price of 12 toea per share, based on the last market trading price of PNG Air in 2019.
Nasfund will invest PGK 8,225,200 as rescue capital in exchange for additional shares at the share price of 0.843 toea per share.
Nasfund will subscribe of 208,333,333 additional shares to convert part of the Nasfund debt to equity at a price of 12 toea per share, and Nasfund will also receive a cash payment in extinguishment of part of its debt.
In addition to the above, the MRDC Entities have agreed to provide a guarantee to major Scheme creditor DAE Group Holdings Limited (“DAE”) in respect of PNG Air’s obligations to DAE under the letter of intent.
It is a condition precedent to DAE’s debt restructure under the Scheme that the rescue capital is received by PNG Air.
Monthly FX intervention to increase
BY DALE LUMA
MONTHLY foreign exchange released into the market is expected to increase from the current US$100 million.
According to the budget books, the external accounts for the country are strong with major trade surpluses and foreign exchange (FX) reserves continuing at record levels at over K13 billion.
This high level is expected to be supported with IMF (International Monetary Fund) and Australian budget support inflows. A key development is that under the next stage of the IMF program, the level of releases of foreign exchange reserves is expected to increase significantly higher than current releases of US$IOO million per month on average. The Governments focus has moved to now reducing the size of the outstanding FX order book for imports, although there will be continuing restrictions on external capital flows.
Furthermore, the Kina has begun a gradual depreciation against the US dollar, which helps lift farmer's incomes and the incomes of all those domestic businesses involved in the traded goods sector. At this stage, due to favourable movements in foreign exchange cross-rates, the Kina has appreciated against most world currencies apart from the USD, helping keep imported inflation low. One of the main concerns of the business community is the getting timely access to foreign currency (FX), it eventually comes but it takes a while. According to Dr Kishti Sen, ANZ’s International Economist –Pacific, if the Government wants to do something to improve the situation for businesses by releasing more liquidity into the market, the business community welcomes it. He highlighted that the near-term solution to the FX problem that the country has is liquidity from the central bank.
“If the government has plans on intending to release more liquidity from its foreign reserves to the market, it will be very welcomed by the business community,” he said. “Because that has always been the biggest issue of the business community for a long period of time, the inability to get timely access to foreign currency. If more liquidity comes from the central bank, that will be most welcomed.”
US gold mining company to debut at Sydney meet
NEWMONT Corporation is set to make its inaugural appearance at the 2023 PNG Resources & Energy Investment Conference and Exhibition in Sydney next week.
This follows it successful acquisition of Newcrest’s global business which also includes the Lihir gold mine in New Ireland.
This will mark a significant moment for Newmont, underlining the company's enhanced presence and commitment to the Papua New Guinea mining sector. Newmont CEO Tom Palmer
is leading the mining giant’s participation, by providing an insight into what Newmont sees as potential opportunities within the PNG market.
Newmont's participation as a key speaker reflects the diverse range of investors engaged in business within PNG, showcasing the industry's global significance and the company's dedication to fostering collaboration and development in the region. Newmont (PNG) Managing Director Alwyn Pretorius will
give an update on Lihir Gold Mine.
Mr. Pretorius’s return to the PNG mining sector, this time under the banner of Newmont as its managing director is a strategic move to reinforce Newmont’s commitment to PNG.
Mr. Pretorius previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for Harmony Gold Mining Limited, the operator of Hidden Valley gold mine.
This year’s conference is anticipated to be the biggest international investment
conference ever held by PNG, with over 1500 attendees with three floors of the Sydney International Convention Centre reserved for the four days duration of the Conference, and a program designed to promote investment in PNG’s resources and energy sector.
More information on the PNG Resources & Energy Conference can be found
A PNG Air plane. MRDC will have to invest K35 million in the airline inorder to acquire additional shares in the company.
Rise in mineral sector employment
BY DALE LUMA
EMPLOYMENT in the mineral sector grew by 14.2 per cent in 2023, according to Government’s 2024 budget books.
Basing its data on BPNG's (Bank of Papua New Guinea) employment index for June Quarter 2023, eemployment in the mineral sector increased by 14.2 per cent compared to a growth of 7.4 per cent in the corresponding period in 2022.
This reflects the rise in new recruitment by mineral companies to cater for increased production and also to meet manpower requirements.
The Porgera mine, which has remained closed since April 2020; has already commenced recruitment in preparation for the mine re-opening, thus contributing to this strong employment growth
in the mineral rector.
Total employment in the formal private sector grew by 2.0 per cent through the year from June 2022 to June 2023.
This is driven largely by growth in the mineral sector employment.
This is a modest growth compared to a strong growth of 3.3 per cent in the corresponding period in 2022.
Employment in the non-mineral sector grew by 2.0 per cent compared to a growth of 2.8 per cent in the corresponding period in 2022, reflecting increased employment in the Transportation, Storage and Accommodation (up 14.2 per cent) and the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries sectors (up 1 1.9 per cent), which more than offsets the decline in employment in other non-mineral sectors.
However, debating the K27 billion national budget recently handed down in Parliament, questions were raised highlighting the fact that there is a disproportion in the growth in the country’s GDP and employment levels in the country.
Oil Palm Act review ongoing
BY DALE LUMA
THE Review of PNG Oil Palm Industry Corporation Act 1992 (OPIC Act) is ongoing and is expected to be completed in 2024, according to Budget books.
The OPIC Act 1992 has not been reviewed in order to accommodate current market dynamics of the oil palm industry.
Further, the current OPIC Act only allows for extension services only. Hence, it is difficult for the Government through OPIC to manage and provide regulatory oversight over the industry.
In 2022, the Government commenced review of OPIC Act 1992. The review aims to promote expansion and sustainable management of Oil Palm Industry in PNG.
A National Oil Palm Policy is currently being developed by the DAL and OPIC. The Policy is aimed to establish a regulatory framework for expansion and sustainable
management of Oil Palm Industry.
This Policy is expected to give effect to the subsequent amendments to the OPIC Act 1992.
Oil Palm Minister Francis Maneke said recently that the industry has drastically changed over the last 20 years with new players and it is important for legal frameworks to be aligned to these changes.
He said today, oil palm is grown in more than 10 provinces and provides employment to more than 150,000 to 200,000 people.
“Oil Palm is currently the largest agriculture commodity in PNG contributing on average about US$20 million to US$30 million in taxes per year depending on the market price each year,” Maneke said.
“The government holds with the highest respect and value the contributions by our existing investors without whom we could not have maintained a high standard and progressed the development of the industry to where it is now.”
Westpac reaffirms commitment to communities
WESTPAC PNG continues to champion environmental sustainability reaffirming its commitment to communities.
This was seen through its staff volunteering program and a donation of branded merchandise, garbage bags and gloves to the East New Britain Sea Keepers Association.
The donation serves to support their second beach and sea clean up competition, aligning with Westpac’s vision for a sustainable future.
In line with the International Day of Banks this week, Westpac Kokopo branch staff and their families, collaborated with ENB Sea Keepers in a waste audit competition at
Ialakua beach front in Kokopo fostering Westpac’s dedication to a green and sustainable future for local coastal communities.
Ruth Laho, Westpac Kokopo Branch Manager fully supported the community initiative which raises awareness about marine conservation.
“My team and I are happy to get out and support the youths of Ialakua raise awareness around such an important initiative.
“lalakua beach front apart from being a natural habitat for sea creatures, also serves as a gateway to Kokopo city during natural disasters such as floods”, said Mrs Laho.
Emma Oliver, Founder of ENB Sea
Keepers while thanking the bank for recognising the significance of their environmental work, emphasised the importance of Ialakua beach front to the community.
“Ialakua beach front is known as the nestling ground for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles and a famous dugong feeding spot.
“The bank’s involvement in smallscale initiatives like these resonates deeply with the local population, showcasing a commitment to holistic community development,” said Ms Oliver.
As a gesture of goodwill, Westpac not only contributed to the cleanup efforts but also supported with prizes for the winning team in the waste audit competition.
Exxon giving back to communities
ACROSS Asia Pacific, ExxonMobil staff have volunteered their time to help improve the lives of people, the communities, and the environments around them.
As part of International Volunteer Day, the global gas giant is shining a light on the efforts of its people across the region, showcasing the many ways they’re making the world a little bit better every day.
ExxonMobil PNG staff have formed a ‘Yellow Army’ of volunteers, donning yellow shirts as they lend a helping hand to communities across the country.
Staff gathered to paint the local community hall and primary school at the Papa Village, in Central Province, as well as clean the Lealea beachfront, outside of Port Moresby, before donating the tools used for future community cleanup programs.
A similar initiative was carried out in the highlands’ Hela Province, cleaning the Komo Station.
STEM skills were high on the agenda for volunteers, providing interactive lessons as part of the Science Ambassador program, covering nine schools, and reaching more than 1400 students across local communities.
The Yellow Army also aided children in putting their maths skills to the test, volunteering for the local Buk Boling Pikinini [Books for Children] market day.
WESTPAC Kokopo Branch staff and community at Ialakua village during the beach and sea clean-up.
- PICTURE SUPPLIED BY WESTPAC
YELLOW army of volunteers during the Lealea beachfront clean up. - PICTURE: SUPPLIED BY EXXONMOBIL.
Mrs Jerry’s heart to serve
BY GREGORY WESLEY UPNG Journalism Student
TEACHING and looking after toddlers every day is challenging, especially with their short attention span.
For Lucy Jerry a teacher at the Mercy care Grammar and Early ChildHood school in Erima Port Moresby, this is what she loves doing and enjoys everyday.
Every day she has to be at the school before 8am to start off her class with her toddler students who are five years and below.
Her usual day at work involves teaching them action songs and rhymes, Phonics and letters, learning the numbers, spelling and counting them , learning colours, learning shapes and their sizes, memory verse, weather, days of the week and many other lessons.
Apart from that, she has to make sure their health and hygiene is
looked after with baths before their parents pick them up after school. When classes end at 2:30pm she waits until 5pm to 6pm to ensure all her students are picked up by their parents before she can leave for home.
“Its a challenge every day but I have a heart to serve and that motivates and pushes me everyday to do what I do,” Ms Jerry said.
With her personnel problems, walking into the school gate and seeing the children helps her forget them all.
“When I have problems at home and go to the school gate and see my students, they take everything away and seeing their faces makes me happy and forget all my problems,” she said
She grew up in the Nazarene Church and her participation in Sunday school for the church has sparked her interest to become a teacher.
‘Officers of the watch’
EIGHT women seafarers have graduated as ‘Officers of the Watch’ in their pursuit of a seafaring career.
They graduated under The Women in Maritime Program, a partnership between Pacific Towing (PacTow), the Australian government, Consort Express Lines and Swire shipping.
The women, who were all cadets at PacTow, represent the second and third intakes of the Women in Maritime Program under Australia Awards PNG.
In congratulating the new Officers of the Watch, Steamships Corporate Affairs general manager Vele Rupa stressed the significance and value of the partnership between Steamships, the Australia Awards PNG Program, and Swire Shipping.
“Together we are not only fast tracking the careers of young female seafarers, but we are also strengthening PNG’s maritime sector which plays a crucial role in driving PNG’s development,” Mr Rupa said. “Investing in the Women in Maritime Program is an investment Steamships is delighted to have committed to.”
The recent graduates listed below are qualified to form part
of the leadership team of future vessels they work on, and as such they will oversee lower ranking deck and engine crew. Thus, the eight new Officers of the Watch are poised to make vital contributions to further professionalising PNG’s shipping and marine services sector.
Naomi Erowa
Karen Kariha
Carol Wallan
Make Wania
Melanie Yambun
Katrina Komboi
Eunice Tuwe
Debbie Aina
In 2021, the Women in Maritime Program saw its pioneering 10 female cadets graduate as ‘Officers of the Watch’.
These women are all currently employed with PNG shipping companies.
The eight latest graduates will see the program having successfully trained 18 female cadets as Officers of the Watch, encouraging more females to pursue a career within the maritime industry.
PacTow general manager, Neil Papenfus describes the Women in Maritime Program as “A pioneering initiative that is helping train
PNG’s next generation of seafaring professionals”.
He said: “The new Officers of the Watch will help alleviate the problem of workforce shortages in PNG’s maritime sector, and that their skills and knowledge will benefit PNG for decades to come.”
Scholarship holders in the Women in Maritime Program receive both classroom and practical training.
The practical training comprises an onshore component, as well as a year of critical sea time.
The women’s PNG sea time is on PacTow vessels, but more importantly, also on sister company Consort Express Lines’ vessels.
Significantly, Swire Shipping provides the cadets with extremely valuable international sea time on much larger, more sophisticated, and technologically advanced vessels. During their cadetships, the recent graduates visited ports in Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand on Swire Shipping vessels.
To date, 34 women have been awarded a scholarship as either a Deck or Engine cadet. A further six women will commence the program in 2024.
‘Beginning of a successful career’
A LOCAL instrumental technician trainee with the St Barbara Simberi Operations, joined the company’s Apprenticeship Program.
Elizabeth Belas joined the company for her on-the-job training this year and was fortunate to be accepted to be in the apprenticeship training program.
She signed a contract with the National Trade Testing Board and is the second of two female employees in male dominated fields that are fortunate to be selected through a stringent process into the apprenticeship program.
SGCL Human Resource superintendent, Fred Daniels emphasised that the signing was worth recognising because it signifies the beginning of a successful career for Miss Belas.
Miss Belas said: “Although it’s a male dominant profession in the country, working alongside male counterparts for these 13 months feels no different.
“What they do regarding work is the
same as what I can do. I do not feel different from my male colleagues. They help me learn as much as I can, and I am grateful for working with skilled and experienced colleagues.” Her father, Edward Belas said it is important that employees are qualified and certified in their field because through this they will be compensated well for the work that they are doing and with it comes certain benefits and opportunities.
“I am thankful to the company for putting my daughter into this training program, because my wife and I have struggled to make sure that our children get a decent education so that they can get better paying jobs and support us.” NATTB New Guinea Island Regional Compliance and Monitoring officer Rose Ellison said NATTB has an obligation to equip apprentices with the knowledge and skills they need to be competitive in the local and international job market.
ELIZABETH Belas signing her SGCL Simberi Mine Operations’ Apprenticeship Training Agreement witness by SGCL HR Superintendent Fred Daniels, her parents and NATTB representatives. PICTURE SUPPLIED.
PNG’s newest Officers of the Watch at their December graduation ceremony together with the Australian High Commission’s Minister Counsellor, Penny Morton. PICTURE SUPPLIED.
MRS Lucy Jerry with her students.
Mobile network company invests in key areas
BY DIANNE WILSON dwilson@spp.com.pg
FOR the past 15 years, the Digicel Papua New Guinea Foundation continues to create sustainable development.
This time the philanthropic arm of Digicel PNG Ltd, has invested in three key strategic areas in the country.
These include Education, Health and Leadership, through community grants to ensure Papua New Guineans have basic accessible services so that no one gets left behind.
Since the Foundation’s establishment in PNG in October 2008, to date, the Digicel Foundation has spent about K169 million in all its projects in rural, remote and marginalised communities across 22 provinces and 96 districts, with over K2.961 million for East New Britain alone.
This includes five elementary school double classrooms, seven primary school double classrooms, one community grant project, one staff grant project, a solar vaccine fridge for Warongoi Rural Health Centre and four mobile health clinics (ambulances).
General manager for Digicel PNG Kokopo branch and representative of the Digicel PNG Foundation Belinda Kanau said during the launch of one of the four ambulances to St John Ambulance Services on Friday at the Kokopo Fire Station, that it is in the DNA of the Digicel Foundation that as businesses grow, so must communities.
“At the core of Digicel Foundation’s investment is the belief that a healthy community is a vibrant community,” Ms Kanau said.
“Papua New Guineans continue to die from preventable diseases because health care remains inaccessible for the vast majority of people.
“Therefore, Digicel Foundation
continues to address these challenges through partnerships with existing health service providers to further enhance their work.”
Digicel PNG Foundation pledged to continue to work together with communities of East New Britain to create a world where no one gets left behind.
Effective support to progress agriculture sector
BY DIANNE WILSON
AGRICULTURE has always been the lifeline of ordinary people in communities in the country.
East New Britain Provincial Administrator Levi Mano made these remarks during the opening of the Division of Agriculture and Livestock industry annual conference at the Malapau Beach resort on Monday.
Mr Mano said that agricultural programs must be effectively supported in order for people to progress the agriculture sector’s objectives.
“We must change the way we conduct ourselves as an administration. To reduce the burden of executing our plans, we must collaborate and include private service providers.”
He said people deserve better services and the public service machinery is limited in certain areas.
“All we can do now is create partnerships with private entities and
our role is to monitor and evaluate their progress,” Mr Mano said.
The Division of Agriculture and Livestock industry annual conference is a week-long program which looks at issues and challenges in the agricultural sector. The conference will end on Friday December 8, 2023.
The conference was attended by rural district officers (RDO), stakeholders, and governmental agencies under the theme “Together, we can make it happen”.
Mr Mano reminded the RDOs to put people first in their line of work because people continue to suffer as a result of self-interest, among other issues.
“We usually point to land scarcity as the issue. We can solve that through land mobilisation programs. Get our officers out there and let’s look at ways on how we can advise the government on a land mobilisation program that can meaningfully serve the agricultural sector,” he said.
ENB Provincial Advisor for Agriculture and Livestock industry Dominic Huranaka said the conference will allow for discussions and debates to improve service delivery in the province as far as agriculture is concerned. He said many agricultural programs have to be revived and advanced.
“East New Britain has been the home of farming, today people are neglecting their farms because of lack of support from the government. Let us change for the better, make use of our resources that we have and collaborate with our partners,” he said.
Policy driven at Ward level
ONE of the objectives of the East New Britain Provincial Government Ward Policy is economic empowerment at the ward level.
The administration of the Kombiu Local Level Government (LLG) in Gelegele, Rabaul District, has taken on board this objective by upskilling participants in its 26 wards within the LLG with Financial Literacy Training (FLT) programs.
The LLG, through its business development officer has been running the FLT program throughout the wards since the second quarter of this year.
Last week, the LLG graduated a 316 participants from wards in the resettlement areas in Gelegele with certified financial skills held at the Water House Junior High School. Provincial FLT co-ordinator Natasha Aplin said the program is a partnership program between the ENBPG and Centre for Excellence through the Division of Commerce. She said that the training and awareness is under this program and congratulated Kombiu Rural LLG for piloting the program.
“With the increase in Small to Medium Enterprises, MSMEs and also Agriculture Businesses such as balsa and cocoa, it is important that such training is carried out to the people so that they know how to save, budget and spend their money.
“We want to build family units into economic units, a family that must master the economics of the family life in a way that is desirable for the family to develop spiritually and physically, that is the main idea of financial inclusion of financial literacy,” said Ms Aplin.
Kombiu LLG business development officer Mirriam Konkori encouraged the participants to implement the knowledge gained in the training at home and to invest in young children as it is important for development.
The training will also create employment for the young generation at their doorsteps.
The program will continue next year, January 2024, with the roll out of the program in the original wards of Kombiu LLG in the Rabaul District.
PARTICIPANTS during the conference on Monday. PICTURE SUPPLIED.
GENERAL manager for Digicel Kokopo Belinda Kanau during one of the foundation’s community grants presentation in East New Britain earlier this year. PICTURE: DIANNE WILSON.
The time has come to rethink or, perhaps, reorganise elements of your life you’ve long known needed an update. However, you had no idea where to begin. While the situation you’re facing is simple and by no means challenging, there’s no question that, once you’ve dealt with this, you’ll tackle others. Every sign is influenced by the fact your ruler Mercury is retrograde, or in reverse movement, and each will be coping with the unexpected twists it triggers in their own way. The challenge is learning to spot how those who you’re working or living with deal with those often unexpected twists and turns. Understandably, you’re becoming increasingly concerned about
Sooner or later you’ll need to tackle a range of tedious but crucial practical matters. While no single one is that important or threatens to be that troublesome, ignore these for much longer and you know you’d regret it. Bizarrely, once you’re actually dealing with them, you’ll rather enjoy the challenge.
Although the Full Moon took place last Sunday, because it accented the structure of your life, the odds are good you’ll have had to rethink certain arrangements. Unsettling as this seemed at the time, you’re beginning to realise how timely this was. In fact, you’ll benefit enormously from those changes.
Making arrangements involving others is challenging enough. Organising something that’s meant to be lasting can be exasperating. What’s more, with the ideas planet Mercury retrograde, and triggering confusion, this isn’t the ideal time to attempt to create a permanent arrangement. For now, ensure plans are flexible. Anything more lasting can wait.
Gathering vital facts is one thing. Having a clear picture of the situation you’re dealing with is quite another matter and is, at the moment anyway, seriously challenging. This is partly because what you’ve learnt isn’t accurate but, as much, the actual circumstances you’re facingare shifting, and dramatically.
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Chef de Mission lauds Team PNG achievement
BY GORETHY KENNETH kennethg@spp.com.pg
TEAM PAPUA New Guinea's Chef de Mission for the 2023 Pacific Games, Faye-Zina Lalo, expressed satisfaction with the performance of PNG athletes at the XVII Pacific Games held in Honiara.
With a total of 105 medals, Lalo lauded the team's achievements, noting that if judged solely by the number of medals won, Papua New Guinea would rank third overall.
However, when evaluating success based on gold medals, the team ranks fifth with 29 gold medals.
"I am actually pleased with our performances.
“Overall we got 105 medals.
“If we go by the medals we would be third on the ladder but we go by
the Gold so we are 5th on the ladder board.
"If we get all our sporting federations up, this will help and support the athletes.
"Anyway at the end of the day, we definitely expected to have more Gold medals and see us up the top… the aim is to win.
"We have to invest in Sports, invest in individuals, there a lot of challenges. You know some of my athletes are going back to Port Moresby without on-travel tickets back to their provinces. These are the challenges that we face.
"If we want to win these Games, there needs to be more investment in Sports, the capacity building for the Federation will then build their athletes."
Despite the challenge of limited support at the sports level, Lalo praised the resilience and determination of the athletes.
She emphasised the importance of
investing in sports and supporting athletes through the various sporting federations.
Lalo expressed confidence in the potential of the athletes and stated that with increased investment and assistance, Papua New Guinea can expect to rise to the top of the leaderboard and secure victory in future games.
Lalo stressed that to overcoming these challenges requires a collective effort from the Government, the PNGOC, and the PNG Sports Foundation.
“Only through collaboration and support can the necessary resources and capacity building be provided to propel the athletes to success.”
The Chef de Mission acknowledged the inherent talent and skills among Papua New Guinean athletes, noting their ability to overcome obstacles and deliver stellar performances.
She emphasized that with proper resources and support, both indi-
viduals and teams would excel on the medal tally.
"We will do better, we can do better, everybody that has come out here can see the same challenges that we all face and we are going to go back and work on these challenges. We will work on overcoming these challenges and we will work on doing better in 2027 in Tahiti.”
Countries like New Caledonia and Australia were mentioned as tough competitors, with their strong investment in sports and athletes standing in contrast to Papua New Guinea's challenges.
Lalo concluded by underlining the commitment of the team in addressing the challenges faced at the 2023 Pacific Games.
She said there is determination to improve and expressed confidence in their ability to overcome the obstacles.
We have to aim for top podium finish in 2027 in Tahiti, she added.
Maintain good relationship with Pacific nations
FROM BACK PAGE
MARAPE recognised that as the largest nation in the Pacific, PNG's participation goes beyond simply achieving top ranking.
He stressed the significance of maintaining good relationships with neighbouring Pacific island nations, referring to them as "our brothers and sisters" and emphasising the unity of the region.
He commended the sporting administrators, charge de Mission, and leadership team that led the PNG team to the Solomon Islands.
Although PNG had a late start in the medal tally, Marape expressed gratitude for the team's participation.
However, he highlighted that preparation for sports cannot be limited to a few weeks before the event.
He called for a re-evaluation of the entire sporting system in the country, emphasising the need for consistent systems and administration.
“It is with the higher education sector to depict that support can also be an outlet for our young Papua New Guineans.
“Again, not just the win medals, but as an outlet to channel all our young talents, who have great propensity and for sport, they are born with sport and talent, then they will funnel through our school systems.
“I want to give assurance at the close of the 2023 Pacific Games, PNG, we will again relook at what has transpired, the Sports Administration and sports systems. And in a great way we will participate the schools for sport and sport development.”
Marape revealed that the placement of the sporting portfolio in the higher education sector was deliberate, as sports can provide an outlet for young Papua New Guineans. He vowed to take a serious look into this aspect and ensure that sport and talent development are incorporated into the school systems. Marape acknowledged the success of PNG athletes in athletics, noting their strong performance in the Pacific Games.
He suggested that these achievements indicated the need for a deeper examination of the sporting system.
PM congratulates Team PNG Father praises daughters, Daniella and Georgina
PRIME Minister James Marape has apologized to Team PNG for the Government’s failure in assisting late. Marape apologised for any inconvenience caused and assured the sporting community that the government would mobilise to support them in future events.
But he has congratulated every Papua New Guinean who wore the PNG uniform to participate in the Pacific Games in Honiara.
He also commended all athletes and the management of Team PNG who were truly ambassadors of PNG in the Solomons, according to a very good report he received.
“Those who came back with medals well done. When those who represent us in winning hearts, in Solomon Islands, I was told that PNG athletes behaved well,” Marape said.
“They represent our country, they respected Solomon Islands, for me that's the biggest gold. We came back as great Ambassadors of our country and supporting our brother Melanesia, Solomon Island to be successful,” he said.
“I noted with special interest the efforts has really rebounded at the
Athletics.
“For a while now the athletes have remained and come out very strong in this Pacific Games and I pay special interest to some of these athletes who came out through our school competitions.
“And so, this is something that has indicated to us that we need to go and look deeper again, not in the one of the events but the entire system of how sport must be administered in our country and to ensure we support all our participants.
“But from this I hope we did nt cause any inconvenience to any of the sporting families, I want to apologise to everyone. We can mobilise for them to get there and come back.
“Our Government was the biggest funder in respect to supporting the game to be successfully staged and I further want to apologise if they felt we offended any of them, but to the young athletes, we commend them for their participation,” he said.
“I appreciate our PNG team that participated in the Solomon Islands and as I said before their departure it is not only about what winning medals but winning Hearts.”
BY MARCIA NEGRI HOCKEY
“THIS will go down as the most memorable Pacific Games I’ve attended, because it is also the year both my daughters debuted.”
Brendan Bon expressed this yesterday at the Jacksons International Airport accompanied by wife, Carol who were present to welcome back their two daughters, Daniella and Georgina who were part of the Women’s hockey team.
“Two of my daughters Daniella and Georgina Bon took part in the 17th Pacific Games and they did well and finished up with a bronze medal after four days of hard hockey, this is their first time to debut in hockey in the Pacific Games so as a father I am really proud of them.
And as the national umpire for PNG I am extremely overwhelmed with their performance too, I am a really happy father at the moment and looking forward to their future in hockey going forward.”
The 45-year-old who served as an umpire during the Games said he has officiated in the two previous
Pacific Games but this is the most memorable.
“This is a memorable one because as a father you don’t often get to travel with your daughters and to see them and as an official is such a feeling.
One of the rules about officiating is that you cannot talk to the athletes, you need to stay away from them so it was pretty hard standing on the side biting my nails, trying to scream but holding it in but yeah it was a great experience and I am a proud father.”
He expressed how he went ON as the PNG National Umpire and umpired
most of the Games and even the women’s gold medal play-off between Fiji and Solomon Islands, but overall, it was a great experience for him and his daughters.
“I’ve done three Pacific Games in my career and am currently the number one umpire for PNG and Pacific Islands and it was a great experience to work alongside international umpires from Australia and New Zealand, I’ve been learning off them and they’ve been learning off me and the journey doesn’t end there and it continues going forward.
CHEF de Mission Faye-Zina Lalo (left) with a member of Team PNG during the closing ceremony at the National Stadium in Honiara.
FROM (L-R) Brendan Bon with daughters Daniella and Georgina and wife, Carol at the Jackson’s International Airport yesterday. PICTURE: MARCIA NEGRI
THE last contingent of Team PNG athletes to the 2023 Pacific Games arrived safely yesterday at the Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby. Amongst the group was the 6th defending gold medal queens, PNG women’s football team. Here are some of the pictorial highlights captured by photographer Jonathan Warrey.
WELCOME home my sister.
PNG women’s soccer team captain Ramona Padio and son, Ivan.
BON Family.
FAMILIES of the PNG hockey team players and officials.
MEMBERS of the PNG women’s football team making their way out of the arrival entrance.
THE PNG women’s football team.
PNG open women’s touch footy team.
PNG men’s and women’s hockey teams and officials.
Sepik Pride pinned on three issues
BY KEVIN TEME
EMK Sepik Pride were pinned on three issues that has left them out of the PNG National Rugby League competition in 2024.
Pride’s general manager and former PNG Kumuls Arnold Krewanty confirmed this yesterday.
“They pinned us on three issues which we know about and were in a process of sorting out as a new franchise moving forward. But we weren’t given the chance to do so and we have accepted that and are moving on as the decision has been made,” he said.
Krewanty did not say what the three issues were that left the team out of the Digicel Cup competition; however, one of the main reasons presented by the PNGNRL during the announcement of the confirmed teams for next season was club auditing.
“We don’t know what sort of audit they require as we weren’t being told about an audit,” a confused Krewanty who could not even fight for his team said.
He said he believed the auditing was for their own competition as their books were in order.
“Our books are in order and we have submitted a copy of our bank statement to them as per their request. I don’t know if other franchises do that as well and hope
they are not playing football politics,” he said. Krewanty, however said they will move on and come back better in 2025.
Meanwhile, PNGNRLC general manager Leith Isaac said in apress statement that the announcement comes after much deliberation with key stakeholders and by the board of the PNGRLC, also with the finding from recent PNGNRLC club audits, conducted by PNGRFL’s High Performance team.
“As part of the implementation of the NRLC strategic plan of which club professionalism is a key pillar, the audit was an initiative carried out to understand the existing franchises challenges and strengths and how information and lessons can be shared across all club in a coordinated manner,” he said. While the 2024 season may be over for Pride who made their debut this year; they have been given a provisional license for 2025.
“We have been given green light by one of the board members, Lorna McPherson, however, I am still shocked to know that Sepik Pride will no longer patriciate in the Digicel Cup in 2024,” founding member of Pride Bradley Simon said when asked about their reentry in 2025.
Krewanty also confirmed this yesterday that Pride was given a provisional license for 2025.
Hondina
urges teams to comply with comp regulations
FROM BACK PAGE: “FROM our end, we have five to six mandatory guidelines that we measure teams by and these are from the best industrial best practices like NRL, QRL. They (Sepik Pride) fell short on one or two of those requirements.
“The letter has been given to them and some of these are sensitive information that I don’t think I have the permission to disseminate on their behalf.
“The letter has been addressed to them and they have the content of it.
“Some of the areas that they fell short on was the reason why we had to give them a break from the competition,” said Hondina.
He said the re-entry of Waghi Tumbe followed through the same process like any other franchise.
“They (Waghi Tumbe) applied like any other bid and they have satisfied us with the requirement.
“They’ve been working with us through the course of the year to improve on areas we’ve identified,” said Hondina.
The 2024 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup participating teams are: Hela Wigmen, Rabaul Gurias, Lae Tigers, Gulf Isou, Central Dabaris, Kimbe Cutters, Mendi Muruks, Hagen Eagles, Goroka Lahanis, Enga Mioks, Port Moresby Vipers, Waghi Tumbe.
Hondina said two other teams who also impressed with their expressions of interests include Morobe Kandes and Chimbu Warriors. The re-entry of Tumbe also sends a warning to all participating teams that compliance towards competition regulations is paramount.
Tumbe were excluded from the 2023 season after failing to field a team back in round 17 of the 2022 season.
“The two provision licenses give
us the extra bullets. The existing teams know that there are two teams in the queue. That is what we are holding them (franchises) against. If you don’t comply and fall short of the standards and move around, gone are the days when there is no choice, we have the 12 or 10 to go with it.
“We expect the franchises to lift the game, grow this game to its full entirety from the schools to the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup and up to the top end,” said Hondina. Meanwhile PNGNRLC general manager, Leith Isaac said he also met with Sepik Pride management.
“I sat with them twice already and explained to them to work out a way on how to overcome some of these issues.”
The 2024 season is expected to kick off around April and PNGNRLC will soon release its season draw.
Sepik Pride founding member shocked
RUGBY LEAGUE: FOUNDING
member of the EMK Sepik Pride
Bradley Simon is shocked to learn that the team is being left out of the 2024 Digicel Cup competition.
The announcement was made yesterday by PNG National Rugby League Competition’s general manager Leith Isaac after confirming 12 franchises that will be participating in the 2024 season.
The only successful bid was the re-entry of Waghi Tumbe after serving a one-year suspension from competition due to breach of competition rules for not fielding a team in their remaining game last year.
For the Kings of the North, their omission in the 2024 Digicel Cup competition is heart breaking news for many Sepik and their followers right across the country and even overseas.
Simon said the news was shocking after learning from a text message sent to him by one of the members of the PNGNRLC board.
It is believed Simon was not involved in the various meetings held by the Pride board members including Arnold Krewanty and franchise sponsor EMK with the PNGNRLC board.
“A lot was involved in the decision making. I was shocked too and it just happened so fast that I didn’t even know what was coming after I got the message from Lorna McPherson,” Simon said.
“We got run down by people we trusted. We got ourselves to blame and no one. I blame myself for all
this,” Simon said. It is believed that prior to the decision, Simon was not made aware nor was he involved in any of the meetings. According to sources, two people involved in the meeting went behind Simon’s back and decision was made.
When Simon was asked on this, he said; “I was shocked and like I said and it happened so fast. We got ourselves to blame and right now I can’t comment further.”
Meanwhile, Simon confirmed that Sepik Pride paid K240,000 to PNGNRLC for next year’s season but the decision was hurtful.
“The level of communication and respect for people that has contributed to the game is rubbish,” he said.
Simon said he will never give up but to take this as a challenge and come back stronger in 2025.
“We will learn from this and with Lorna giving her word for our return in 2025, that is where I will have to get back up and work hard for one last time,” he said.
RUGBY LEAGUE
LEFT: SEPIK Pride team after their round 10 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup match against Gulf Isou. -PICTURE: MARK TALIA
PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina (third from left) addressing the media during the announcement of the 2024 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup participating teams.
Sepik Pride out, Waghi Tumbe in
One hit wonder!
THEY came in with a big bang and they just lasted only for one season.
Sepik Pride franchise club have been omitted from participating in the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup 2024 season and their omission has open the doors for Waghi Tumbe to make a re-entry.
PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina who is also a board member of the PNGNRLC said Sepik Pride have failed to meet certain criteria within the set guidelines of the participation agreement.
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Govt to reassess sports
BY GORETHY KENNETH
PRIME Minister James Marape says the Government will relook at the entire sporting system which includes insertions in the Higher Education system to prepare and assist Sports not only for national but international participations.
Marape announced yesterday that the government will be re-evaluating the country's sporting systems.
In a speech addressing the success of the PNG team in the Solomon Islands game, Marape emphasized the importance of representing the country well and strengthening relationships with other Pacific island nations. He expressed his appreciation for the PNG team that participated in the regional event in the Solomon Islands, stating, "It is not only about winning medals, but winning hearts.”
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SEPIK Pride winger John Paul on the attack as Gulf Isou
Kenny Laho closes in during Digicel ExxonMobil Cup round 10 match at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
