The East New Britain (ENB) Provincial Assembly has recently endorsed a program that will start this year to recruit, train, and appoint grade twelve school leavers as Peace Officers and Police Reservists in the province. The Provincial Administration will collaborate with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) and the Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG) to appoint a total of 168 personnel as Peace Officers and police reservists in an effort to ensure general law and order is maintained in their localities. Speaking during the second Provincial Assembly held last week, East New Britain Provincial Member, Michael Marum, said that once recruitment and training have been completed, each of the 23 Local Level Governments (LLGs) will each receive eight officers each. He stated that the critical shortages of police personnel in the province and across the country is also leading to a lack of effective and efficient policing in communities. The planned recruitment of peace officers aligns with the 2020 National Village Courts Policy and Strategy, as well as National Executive Council (NEC) Policy Decision No.320/2020 on Crime Prevention Strategy. Peace Officers are required under the Village Courts Act to apprehend criminals who have committed or are committing minor offences in their villages. Their responsibilities also include bringing criminals to the local court or police station and filing applicable charges, following additional investigation. Meanwhile, the provincial assembly also approved an estimated funding of K1.2 million to be allocated in the 2025 provincial budget for the training and monthly allowances for the Peace Officer/Police Reservist training. “Our province continues to witness a steady rise in law and order issues and therefore, presented here are strategies to address the escalating law and order issues. The way forward focuses on strengthening the LLGs and Wards to take control of their own localities,” said Marum. On the other hand, Rabaul MP, Dr. Allan Marat, said that the conduct of some police officers has degraded overtime and has further suggested that those recruited must be well trained. “If we want to push this idea, let's carefully examine those applicants so that they don't end up as some of our officers now.”

Minister for Education, Lucas Dawa Dekena, has announced that a total of K 212,497,575.00 million is now currently with the Bank of Papua New Guinea to clear and transfer to the commercial banks which will then be disbursed to school’s accounts soon for the second government tuition fee subsidy. Dekena expressed that on behalf of the schools under the National Education System, he thanked the National Government for its full commitment and support to the Ministry of Education by making the available the funds required to pay the schools in the second quarter. The payments will be made to each sector as follows: 1. All sectors (Elem/Prim/Sec/Voc/NSoE) – K134, 997, 575.00 2. FODE/SERC – K3, 000, 000.00 3. Project Fee – K40, 000, 000.00 4. Permitted Schools (One-off) – K2, 500, 000.00 5. Teaching and Learning – K32, 000, 000.00 In terms of payments made to schools, Dekena stated that many schools will not be getting their payments because of various issues to do with the closure of their bank accounts. “A total of 25 schools in Enga Province were put off the payments due to tribal fights and schools totally burnt down while nine schools’ accounts were closed after they were identified to have duplicate accounts.” Meanwhile, a total of 102 schools that had problems with their bank accounts will be paid during this quarter after these issues are sorted and fixed. In addition, the schools that submitted their data late will also be captured in this payment. A list of these schools will be made available to the provinces after the payment process is completed. “I call on the school administrations to spend the money on tangible resources including infrastructure development and support teaching and learning in their schools.” “School administrations must also provide quarterly reports to the Department, through the Provincial Education Offices in order to receive tuition fee grants.”

Melbourne Storm players and coaches will share their training and coaching skills with schools and rugby league clubs in the lead up to its official NRL trial match to be played at Churchill Park in February. With tickets now available to buy in all Jacks of Fiji outlets and online, Storm confirmed activities being planned with Fiji NRL, local schools and the Kaiviti Silktails. The week of activities will include open training sessions, coaching clinics and school visits, while Fiji Bati Captain and Storm prop, Tui Kamikamica, will also visit his home village during the week with a number of Storm players. “I am extremely proud to be able to visit my village and to take some of my Storm teammates to my home in Somosomo,” Kamikamica said. All of Fiji is excited about having Storm and the Knights play this trial match and I can’t wait to see the kids and families at the match and the clinics. Tui Kamikamica “This is a very proud moment for our country. I hope it gives more kids the inspiration to play rugby league and maybe play for the Storm one day.” Kamikamica said. Fiji Airways will fly Kamikamica and his teammates to his home island of Taveuni, where they will meet with students and the local community. Storm fans will be able to watch the team train at Churchill Park on Wednesday afternoon, while coaches from local rugby league clubs will be given the opportunity to learn from Storm’s coaching staff in an exclusive clinic. Players will also visit local primary and secondary schools throughout the week as the team prepares for the first ever NRL match to be played in Fiji. Fiji National Rugby League CEO, Don Natabe, said having Storm play in Fiji will be a great boost for the sport in 2024. “The rugby league community is excited about having the Storm and Knights come to Fiji,” Natabe said. All of Fiji is excited about having Storm and the Knights play this trial match and I can’t wait to see the kids and families at the match and the clinics. Don Natabe -CEO, Fiji National Rugby League Storm also announced the Kaiviti Silktails will play a curtain raiser prior to Storm taking on the Newcastle Knights on February 24th. The Silktails curtain raiser will kick off at 12.30pm at Churchill Park, giving the Fijian locals a chance to see future NRL stars in action. “For any NRL club bringing a trial game of this level out into the Pacific region is truly amazing,” Kaiviti Silktails General Manager, Damon Spooner, said. “For Fiji, this is huge. As soon as it was announced the city of Lautoka has been buzzing. For the Kaiviti Silktails, who are about to enter the NSWRL Jersey Flegg U21 competition, the players, staff and board will be forever grateful to the Storm. “The ripple effect of having the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights in Lautoka, I believe, will inspire the next generation of elite Fijian players into pathways with local staff opportunities for years to come.” Tickets for the Storm v Knights trial match can be purchased in store or online through Jacks of Fiji starting from $10 FJD. Melbourne Storm is proudly supported by premium partner, Fiji Airways, with local partners Fiji Tourism, Sheraton, Raddison, Novotel, Tappoo Group and Fiji Water helping to deliver the trial match and community activities in Fiji. Source: NRL.Com

PNG Air has advised all its passengers and the traveling public of the bomb threat email that was circulated this morning to certain stakeholders in the aviation industry. This was disseminated in a media statement today. “As a third-party recipient to this email, PNG Air does not compromise on safety and takes this threat seriously.” “To mitigate this threat, across the PNG Air network, stringent security measures are now in place to ensure the safety of its passengers, ground staff, operating crew, and aircraft.” This will see all passengers will now be subject to pat down and bag searches as deemed appropriate by airline security personnel. Also, the airport apron and ramp area are sterile areas and will require Application for Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) red passes in order to be accessible. Additional security personnel have been stationed at areas identified as high risk to monitor and evaluate the severity of this threat and de-escalate the situation should the need arise. These measures will remain in place indefinitely until such time PNG Air can determine safe operations of its crew and aircraft and the threat reduced and cleared. Furthermore, PNG Air sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates the understanding of the passengers and the travelling public during this time.

Puma Energy PNG has confirmed that it will begin taking steps to reduce its operations and fuel supply to customers ahead of the unilateral closure of its bank accounts by Bank South Pacific (BSP), scheduled for the 8th of March 2024. The decision comes after eight months of engagement with BSP and various authorities, including the PNG Government, Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) and others. BSP has been unwilling to share their reasons for the planned closure of the bank accounts or to constructively discuss solutions. Puma Energy, however, has received no concrete evidence of wrongdoing from either BPNG or BSP in relation to its BSP accounts. BSP has close to seventy percent of the market share in PNG and currently banks the major exporters who are largely Puma Energy customers and are responsible for the majority of the commercial USD flows into PNG. As Puma Energy PNG is amongst the largest consumer of USD with an ongoing requirement of approximately US$50 million per month, BSP is currently the only bank out of Puma’s existing banking partners who is able to provide access to the financial services and FX needed to fully operate and supply fuel in PNG. As a result, Puma has unfortunately been forced to begin to reduce its operations in order to match the FX access of the remaining banking services that it has in PNG. In addition, Puma is now taking these steps as it is currently selling product that it will not be able to pay its suppliers for once its accounts with BSP are scheduled to be closed. In the interim, this will result in substantially reduced levels of fuel supply into PNG until a solution is found. Puma will only prioritize the supply to emergency services. Chairman and Managing Director of Puma Energy Papua New Guinea, Hulala Tokome, stated that they are deeply disappointed to reach this point despite their best efforts over the past eight months. “We have requested the Government of PNG to convene a taskforce so that the Government can ensure security of supply and limit the impact on the community and economy.” “Puma Energy remains committed to PNG and open to dialogue with all stakeholders to find an amicable and sustainable way forward to return to full operational scale and to secure fuel supply for the country.” Furthermore, Puma Energy is a committed partner in PNG, having invested over US$650 million in its operations since 2014 to improve energy security, affordability, and access across the country. Over the years, the company has employed over 500 direct skilled workers and created over 2,500 indirect jobs in PNG through its supply chain.

Opposition Leader, Joseph Lelang, has praised the Australian authorities over the arrest of a Chinese woman allegedly involved in a drug smuggling plot which hit the headlines of ‘The National paper, dated 24 March 2023’. The lady’s apprehension has also revealed her linkages to business interests associated with certain political figures in Papua New Guinea. Lelang has now called on the Australian Federal Police to work with the Royal PNG Constabulary and Interpol to conduct more investigations into the transnational crime associated with the lady and awarding of contracts using Australian aid money for asylum projects and incidences of other transnational crimes. In addition, Lelang’s call are in line with serious allegations publicly raised by ‘Whistle Blowers; in the Australian Newspaper, ‘The Guardian’, late last year in which a statement called for the government to investigate the allegations on the massive abuse of Australian tax payer’s money earmarked for refugee upkeep in PNG under the Refugee Resettlement Program (RRA). “I don’t know why PNG authorities have not dealt with this matter, but I thank the Australian authorities for the breakthrough in the investigations and ask that you extend the net into PNG as well.”

The government has warned it will not hesitate to shut down social media applications and sites if there is continuous abuse and misuse of social media spreading fake news, misinformation, and disinformation in the country. Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Timothy Masiu, issued the warning citing significant evidence of serious abuse of social media spreading false information that led to destruction of properties in Port Moresby and parts of the country resulting also in deaths. “I have a statutory power under the National Information and Communication Technology Act 2009, to restrict access to social media sites and applications if this continues. “The Ministry of ICT has observed a sharp spike in the use of social media from the 10th of this month and many are misinformation and disinformation, and we will now give ten days effective yesterday, the 15th of January for people to adhere or face a complete shutdown of social media sites and applications for the duration of the State of Emergency.” He further stated that the discussions on social media that incite violence, destruction, spread of false information or confidential government information, opinions that are wrong or sends false information or are hearsay and defamatory, will be monitored and legal action taken immediately. Minister Masiu said national security, public emergency and public safety is critical to a secured nation and happy and safe country and urges all to work together to bring back normalcy to the country after a week of mayhem and destruction especially in Port Moresby. “I have instructed the agencies under my ministry to strengthen monitoring and report any abuses of social media to the police cybercrime unit to begin investigations, arrest and prosecution and also take down fake accounts and sites.” He said Papua New Guinea is a civilized country and citizens must abide by rules and laws and every citizen has a duty and obligation to ensure we progress to be a better country. He has also consulted with the ICT industry to ensure the safe and secure use of the internet and to work closely with my ministry and the regulator NICTA to ensure a safe and secure internet for the nation.

CPL Group, a leading retailer and home-grown company, held a press conference today in regard to the recent civil unrest that occurred on Wednesday resulting in a number of their outlets being looted and burned down. The outlets including Stop n Shop Rainbow, North Waigani, Habour city and Badili were looted and burnt down by opportunists due to the alleged public servant increase in income tax. Chief Executive Officer of CPL Group, Navin Raju, said in light of the unfortunate series of events that took place in the Nations Capital, this has greatly affected 500 of their staff who are worried about whether they still have a job or not. He added with the shops now burnt down, this has seen people desperately running around looking for shops that are open in which are now seen lining up at smaller shops. Despite the unacceptable and outrageous acts from the opportunists, CPL has announced that they are in fact ready to resume business tomorrow, however, need assurance from the government that their business won’t be affected again. “We need assurance from the government, the police and the disciplined forces that they are going to provide us with security because right now we have staff who are scared for their lives,” said Raju. “We still have four other outlets that can provide service and we can still supply essential food as well as medical supplies that the people require but assurance is what we need before we can operate again.” With the amount of destruction done, Raju expressed that this has affected them as CPL is a PNG grown company and that its profits and benefits made, goes to helping those who are members of Nasfund and Nambawan Supa. “The question we ask ourselves is, they have looted our shops but why burn them?” “For this has been a total devastation on our part as a business.” Meanwhile, founder of CPL Group, Sir Mahesh Patel, also shared sentiments after expressing disappointment on what has happened. He said despite this, there were a good number of people from church groups as well as youth groups who have come forward to offer help in whatever way they can to CPL. “We really have good people here but what upsets me are those who have taken advantage and have ruined our reputation.” “We need to stand up together and fight this because this can’t happen again, and I don’t want it too either.” In addition, he also stated that the backbone of their company has always been their staff right across the country and is hard to see them affected by what has happened. CPL is not only known for its supermarkets, but also for its pharmacies, hardware stores, coffee shops and household and appliance stores and has always played a big part in providing essential and affordable service to many Papua New Guineans across the country.      

The Launching Program which was set to be staged at the old Kokopo Market in East New Britain for the 14 kilometre four-lane road to be officiated by Prime Minister James Marape, has now been deferred to a later date which will be announced. The decision was unanimously agreed upon by all ENB leadership due to the need to avoid any further escalation that may affect lives and properties. The launching was prepared for a five part Program to begin with a Guard of Honour by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the Correctional Services at Tokua Airport, followed by the official launching program at the old Kokopo Market with presentations of Projects by the four districts the province. The decision for cancellation of today’s program is due to looting of shops which had occurred in Kokopo Town around 8am in which Fone Haus in the heart of Kokopo Town was completely ransacked while quick action by police deterred looters from looting Dima Trading in Omorong, Vunapope. Opportunists also attempted to loot Tropicana shopping center, however were deterred by police. Based on the decisions, the Senior Executive Management in consultation with the Provincial Police Hierarchy, has issued this information to the General Public. East New Britain Provincial Administrator, Mr Levi Mano, has also called on the general public to remain at home while shop owners have been advised to close indefinitely to allow police to monitor the situation. All shops in Rabaul and Kokopo are now closed until further notice. “All District Administrations and Local Level Governments must immediately engage with our people to ensure all people are grounded at home at this stage.” “There has been a temporary Curfew for the next five days from 6pm-6am Curfew to be imposed in our major towns of Rabaul, Kokopo, Kerevat and Palmalmal to assist police deal with this situation.” Meanwhile, the detail of the Curfew will be outlined by the Police Hierarchy and the public will be advised accordingly. This order is in force until further advise. Mano assured that safety is of paramount importance, therefore, everyone should remain in their homes at this time until business returns to normal.

Member for Bulolo, Sam Basil Jr, has expressed frustration over the looting of shops in Bulolo Town in Morobe Province in which he has now appealed to the youths as well as the general public in Bulolo to remain calm and refrain from violence. “The country is going through a tough time as we speak and let me remind everyone in Bulolo and Morobe that this looting and vandalism started in Port Moresby and then spread to other districts.” Bulolo district unfortunately came under the same spotlight in regards to the civil unrest of the alleged increase in income tax. “I as the Bulolo MP of the day, am very sad and frustrated with the recent situation and I call on my youths and people to remain calm and let our government deal with the grieviences of our law enforcers.” He stressed that grievances must be handled through proper channels to avoid opening up windows for a civil unrest such as what is happening now. Basil also said that during such times, people are using social media to spread misleading and provoking information that can spark problems in other centers around the country. “Such times are perfect for fake politicians and failed leaders to emerge out of their caves and TAKE ADVANTAGE of the situation by beating their chests and telling everyone they have the solution to every problems.” In addition to this, he has now appealed to the people of Bulolo and the country to be ware of misleading and incorrect information and social media trolls. “These are people who love social media platforms like Facebook so much that they can manipulate readers and instigate violence through their posts.” Furthermore, he stated that law and order must be left to the police force to uphold the rule of law and to maintain peace and restore normalcy.

Prime Minister James Marape has announced that the government's allocation for school fee assistance for this year, 2024, will see a significant boost to K856.686 million, marking an increase of K88.846 million from the 2023 allocation of K767.84 million. The announcement comes after an extensive meeting with Education Secretary, Dr. Uke Kombra, on the outcomes of the Department of Education in 2023 and priorities set for 2024. This will see the first quarter allocation of K214 million which is anticipated to be disbursed this month, just before the commencement of classes. Prime Minister Marape emphasized the need for accountability in the utilization of these funds during the announcement and urged all school administrations to responsibly manage the annual disbursements, covering both school fees and project fees. “The Government is making a substantial annual contribution for school fee assistance, encompassing various fees.” “We expect school administrations nationwide to uphold transparency and responsibility in utilizing these funds dedicated to the education of the children of our country.” Having served as the Minister of Education from 2008 to 2011, Prime Minister Marape stressed on the importance of ensuring that every child receives an education, aligning with the government's continued heavy investment in the education sector. “No child should be left behind! All the interventions we are making are geared towards empowering the next generation to contribute to a better Papua New Guinea.” He further called for a collaborative effort, highlighting the shared responsibility between the government, parents, and citizens. He also urged citizens to recognize their role in supporting the education of their children and not solely rely on the government. “This year, in addition to the K856 million for school fee assistance, we are also supporting programmes like the Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP), Higher Education Contribution Assistance Scheme (HECAS) and Tertiary Education Study Assistance Scheme (TESAS)." Moreover, Prime Minister Marape encouraged parents to actively participate in supporting schools through various means, such as contributing resources, working for the school, ensuring security, and engaging in activities that benefit the educational institutions.

Prime Minister James Marape recently extended a warm welcome to the Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology’s (DHERST) 2024 Management Action Plan (MAP). The welcome came following a comprehensive session last week with the Minister of Higher Education Research Science and Technology, Don Polye and Acting Secretary Professor, Father Jan Czuba. The primary objective of the meeting was to evaluate the advancements made throughout the year in 2023 in the higher education sector where the discussion held were based on the implementation of the 2024 MAP for the ministry and the department. Importantly, the plan will facilitate the creation of additional space in higher education institutions (HEIs) to accommodate the increasing number of grade twelve school leavers. This involves establishing elevated standards of education and welcoming private HEIs to complement government schools. “This comprehensive plan meticulously outlines the department's strategy and roadmap for fulfilling its coordination and regulatory responsibilities within the higher education sector,” said Prime Minister Marape. “It recognizes the ongoing reform in the higher education sector, geared towards achieving our government's development objectives of enhancing access, improving quality, and ensuring student success." "Collaboration and support from key government agencies and development partners are imperative, therefore is through their collective efforts that we can fully realize the transformative benefits for many years to come.” Prime Minister Marape said that he is confident that the MAP DHERST has developed will guide the department in advancing the government's reform agenda, aiming to transform and unify the higher education sector. “Through the implementation of the initiatives outlined in this plan, we will make significant progress towards achieving the policy goals of the government, particularly the commitment to leaving no child behind.” In addition to this, there are five key components of the 2024 Management Action Plan which are: 1. Enhancing Access: • Implementing measures to improve access to higher education for disadvantaged and marginalized groups. • Strengthening partnerships with educational institutions at the provincial and local levels to expand access to quality education. • Developing and implementing scholarship programmes to support underprivileged students. 2. Improving Quality: • Enhancing the accreditation and quality assurance mechanisms for higher education institutions. • Establishing quality benchmarks and standards for various academic programmes. • Promoting research and innovation to elevate the quality of education offered. 3. Ensuring Student Success: • Implementing student support programmes to enhance retention, progression, and completion rates. • Improving career counseling and placement services to facilitate successful transitions into the workforce. • Enhancing the quality of teaching and learning by providing professional development opportunities for educators. 4. Strengthening Governance and Regulation: • Streamlining regulatory processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in monitoring and evaluation. • Enhancing transparency and accountability in financial management within the sector. • Collaborating with relevant stakeholders to develop and enforce policies that govern the higher education sector. 5. Collaboration and Partnership: • Strengthening partnerships with national and international organizations to leverage resources and expertise. • Engaging with industry leaders and employers to align curricula with labor market demands. • Promoting knowledge exchange and collaboration among higher education institutions both locally and internationally. Prime Minister Marape further stated that by focusing on these areas, DHERST aims to foster an enabling environment that supports the growth and development of higher education in the country. “The successful implementation of this MAP will significantly contribute to the advancement of our government's vision for an inclusive and prosperous society.” “I thank Minister Polye and Secretary Czuba for their continued support and guidance in ensuring the success of these initiatives.” “I look forward to working closely with them and the respective stakeholders to transform our higher education sector for the benefit of our nation.”