The Bank South Pacific yesterday donated one hundred school desks to Holy Spirit Primary School in Madang Province under the initiative of the BSP community Project 2022. Head Master of Holy spirit Primary, Mr Francis Arigini, shared the difficulties faced by the school as they were in need of school materials due to the influx of students. Arigini stressed that with almost two thousand plus students attending Holy Spirit Primary, it was a need as it would have cost a lot for the school to get 100 desks. He further stated this will greatly help the school to sustain the growing number of students in holy spirit primary school. “We thank the BSP for being able to donate these many desks for our students to use. Though it cost a lot, we are very privileged to have been given this.” “They have made the effort in purchasing these desks for us and so it is our responsibility now to look after them.” The school was pleased to receive the hundred desk being presented to them by the Chief executive officer of the Bank of South Pacific, Robin Fleming, who is currently in Madang attending a board meeting. The school was also fortunate to have their run down basketball court being upgraded and maintained as well under the BSP community project.

Australia is contributing $2.25 million (over PGK5.5 million) in humanitarian assistance to support women, men and children impacted by violence in the Papua New Guinea Highlands. Australian funding and supplies are helping to address the immediate humanitarian needs of those affected by the ongoing violence and displacement occurring in the region. We are also supporting logistics and humanitarian coordination capabilities, to ensure supplies of food, water, protection, and shelter can be delivered to those in need. We have been pleased to have been able to already reach some of the displaced communities in Porgera and Mt Hagen with humanitarian supplies delivered by CARE and their local partners. Australia’s contribution responds to the National Disaster Centre’s request for support and the priorities identified by the Disaster Management Team, jointly led by PNG and the United Nations. Our package builds on our long-term efforts to address the underlying causes of the crisis, including our support for humanitarian operations led by the International Committee of the Red Cross as well as our support for law and justice programs in the highlands. Australia remains committed to supporting PNG to address shared challenges and we are coordinating closely with PNG disaster management officials, the United Nations and other donors on the response effort. Our collective approach has strengthened cooperation on humanitarian and disaster response in the region.

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Papua New Guinea (ASFPNG) has called on the Marape Government to rescind its recent decision to impose the K190 million banking levy. The decision to introduce the Market Concentration Levy as part of the Income Tax Act to collect K190 million per annum will affect Bank South Pacific (BSP), the largest bank in PNG and South Pacific, of whom superannuation funds on behalf of ordinary workers and taxpayers are major shareholders. The imposition of the banking levy will result in a decline in profitability, dividend payments to shareholders and a decline in BSP’s share price. This is a double blow for superannuation funds as annual crediting rates for members will be affected by lower revenues and portfolio balances. K190 million represents between 2% to 3% annual crediting rate for the major super funds, which have benefited from strong dividend payments and capital gains due to the strong performance of BSP over the years. “ASFPNG calls on the new Government of Prime Minister James Marape to rescind the decision of the previous National Executive Council (NEC) and withdraw the banking levy in the interests of all workers who are members of our superannuation funds. “BSP has instigated court proceedings that challenge the imposition of the banking levy and ASFPNG has applied to be an intervener in the case. As well, former Opposition Leader Belden Namah was recently granted a standing order by the Supreme Court to challenge the NEC decision. These court proceedings will cease if the banking levy is withdrawn. “We are cognizant of the Government’s endeavours to raise more revenue internally and will support initiatives that achieve their objectives but not at the expense of ordinary workers who are already doing it tough. We reiterate that any Government decision that lessens the prospect for growth and investment returns in not in the best interests of workers. “We again ask the Marape Government to rescind its previous decision and allow for wider consultation.”

With the scores locked 22-22 and golden point beckoning it was tireless back-rower Liam Martin who surged over from close range to secure the Panthers' 19th win of the season. After a ferocious start defensively the Panthers were able to cash in when Stephen Crichton swooped on a scrappy Damien Cook pass and raced 60 metres to score. The centre converted his own try for a 6-0 lead after just four minutes. The Rabbitohs then produced some crisp attack and went close to scoring in the right hand corner but Jaxson Paulo was denied by desperation defence by Viliame Kikau and Sean O'Sullivan.   The Panthers No.7 then produced a 40-20 in his team's next set but they were unable to capitalise and the Rabbitohs rolled straight up the other end and crossed when Alex Johnston finished off slick work from Cody Walker and Isaiah Tass. An error from Latrell Mitchell in the play-the-ball gave the Panthers field position and Dylan Edwards made the Bunnies pay when he raced 30 metres to score his eighth try of the season. Both sides then butchered try scoring opportunities - Paulo spilling the ball over the line for Souths before Martin made a mess of a put-down after chasing through a grubber kick. It was the Rabbitohs who made amends soon after when Mitchell delivered a sublime flick pass to Walker who left Edwards in his wake to score under the posts. A penalty against Kikau for ruck interference gave the Rabbitohs a chance to level up at 12-12 and that's how they went to the break. The second half opened in frenzied fashion with Paulo seeming certain to score when he went for an intercept 20 metres out from Penrith's line only to spill the ball. Mitchell then took off from his own end and got to halfway before throwing a high pass to Paulo who couldn't handle. The Panthers continued the trend of bombed chances when Martin got over the line again and failed to ground the ball but took the lead 14-12 through a Crichton penalty goal in the 50th minute. Four minutes later the premiers extended their lead when Api Koroisau kicked out of dummy half and Spencer Leniu grounded the ball after Jai Arrow failed to clean up in-goal. Down by eight with 18 minutes to play, the Rabbitohs hit back when centre Campbell Graham celebrated his return from injury with a try, finishing off good lead-up work by Keaon Koloamatangi and Mitchell. In the 70th minute Johnston continued his remarkable try scoring form when he crossed in the corner courtesy of a majestic pass from Walker and Mitchell slotted the conversion from touch to make it 22-20 to Souths. The Panthers drew level with four minutes to play when Mitchell dived on the ball in the ruck just out from the Souths line and was ruled to have been inside the 10 metres. A dropped bomb by Paulo with three minutes to play gave the Panthers a chance to break the deadlock and Martin powered over from close range to wrap up a memorable win. Source: NRL.com

Madang Province has a new governor-elect in People's First Party candidate, Ramsey Pariwa, who had surpassed the absolute majority of 107, 934 after piling on 109, 888 votes at the 34th exclusion to oust the incumbent governor Peter Yama. Second runner up was Jerry Singirok from Pangu Party who scored a total of 65,128 votes while trailing on third place was Allegiance party candidate Benny Panti who scored a total of 41,764 votes. Incumbent Governor for Madang, Peter Yama was eliminated in exclusion 34 and his elimination determined the winner, in the leading candidate who had bypassed the absolute majority. Preparation is underway for the official declaration for Mr. Pariwa as the new governor after he signs the writs. Photo Courtesy: Kenneth Rapa

 The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, has launched an Innovation Fund to stimulate investments in Cocoa, Vanilla and Fisheries businesses as well as to promote development of local companies and entrepreneurs in the Greater Sepik Region of Papua New Guinea. The Fund supports PNG registered companies, licensed business people and cooperatives, associations and value chain actors in launching, expanding and introducing new agri-businesses and innovative solutions in East Sepik and Sandaun provinces. Financed by the European Union, the STREIT Innovation Fund provides up to a maximum of PGK 1,000,000 of non-cash support to successful applicants, as follows: •     SMEs and large enterprises: up to PGK 1,000,000 •     Micro Enterprises: up to PGK 350,000 •     Other Value Chain Actors: up to PGK 175,000 •     Other Beneficiaries: up to PGK 35,000 The support includes training, services, technologies, and technical equipment. During recent information awareness sessions held in the two provinces, Dr Pavel Burian, Deputy Programme Coordinator of the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, explained that the support ranges between PGK 35,000 and PGK 1 million and “is in-kind in the form of service, training, equipment and technology, and not in the form of any financial contribution, such as loan or grant.” He added: “This support will be limited to 70% of the intervention costs where the applicant must mobilise at least 30% of the total amount of the required inputs, in cash or in-kind.” Focus on Empowering Women and Youths Deputy Coordinator underscored: “For proposals targeting women and youth, a higher percentage of support like up to 80% will be given. This to ensure and foster their participation and benefit in line with the Programme’s approach.” Burian also explained that the support to individual interventions would be discussed individually depending on the nature and number of challenges to be addressed, like the number of beneficiaries to be reached and the benefits and contributions that must be in line with the objectives, outcomes and outputs of the EU-STREIT PNG Programme.  A total of 120 interested MSMEs and agripreneurs with high representation from women attended the two information awareness sessions. Many entrepreneurs in the awareness meetings expressed their interest in this opportunity that is available to women and men agripreneurs and agri-food value chain actors in the Greater Sepik region. “I’m excited about this initiative which is the first of its kind for the farmers and agribusinesses. At the community level, this support will add value in many ways; one is to transform our farming practice to operate like a business in terms of sustainability and long-term development,” said Pastor Wilfred Mombiam, who leads 500 plus cocoa farmers in Wewak District of East Sepik under Wilmo Agri Farming. During the information sessions, the participants were informed that an Assessment and Review Committee (ARC) would be formed to review proposals from selected eligible stakeholders/beneficiaries. The Committee comprise representatives from the EU Delegation, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, provincial authorities, the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, and invited technical officers from relevant government agencies in the two provinces.

Prime Minister James Marape is making a call on Australian businesses to consider importing more from Papua New Guinea to balance the disproportionate import-vs-export scale that the two countries have existing between them.  He also wants to see more Australian investors partner with PNG to move his Government’s goals on downstream processing and industrialization closer to realization.   The Prime Minister said this week  as he apologized to the PNG-Australia Business Council for his non-attendance at its recently-concluded conference because of urgent work commitments, but thanked the Council at the same time for continually hosting these forums that keep in the public and investor consciousness trade and investment between the two countries.  The Prime Minister said: “I thank the council for its continued conferences, seminars and forums but what else will they hear from me?  “I have been speaking my mind since 30 May 2019. They know me. I am pro-Papua New Guinea business while I encourage strongly foreign businesses who let Papua New Guinean partnership and engagement.  “We want to Take Back More from our natural and national wealth with a balanced view that our genuine foreign investors make a return on their investments.  “We want to move now into industrialization by tapping into downstream processing of our natural resources.   “I want to ask Australia companies to seriously partner PNG companies in the area of PNG building a stronger diversified economy and it is about time Australia buy more of PNG’s products.”  While appreciating the sturdy relationship already existing between the two countries, the Prime Minister pointed out that new heights could be reached if Australia could push its trade & investment boundaries further by exploring these named options.   “Australia and PNG businesses have had a relationship for along time and that is good but we need to reach new heights. With Australia as a place of export for our products, we have a huge trade imbalance where we import more and export less to Australia.  “We want to send our food, our energy, our finished forest products, and our human resources at all levels to Australia." “I was at Singapore organizing our diplomatic mission to be at the front of our trade, commerce and business engagements with South-East, North and West-Asia where we have over 2 billion people in these markets.  “I am serious about downstream processing of our resources to make an economic leap for PNG. This includes our creating a law-abiding and orderly country, finding cheap energy and using PNG’s bilateral relationships to secure markets for our products.   “It is about time PNG and Australia as close nations politically become even more closer in by having Australian business buying PNG products and hiring PNG workforce.  “Areas like replacing food imports is something I am looking at very seriously so we stop capital flights elsewhere but grow PNG.  “If PNG is stronger economically then Australia and the region benefits with a secure solid nation of millions of people.”  

Electoral Commission Simon Sinai says there will be no supplementary elections for Markham and Kabwum Open Electorates as alluded to by aggrieved candidates. He said the decision to declare the leading candidates for Markham and Kabwum following the burning of ballot papers and destructions to the counting centres was done to protect future elections. "It is tough decision but I had to take it in order to protect our electoral systems. We can not give into to criminal elements and surrender our authority to administer and run elections. These incidents in Markham and Kabwum are the first of its kind and I must put my feet down and make the call," he said. He said if he allows for  a supplementary or a by election, it will set a bad precedent for elections in future where candidates who know they are not doing well in the primary count will mobilize their supporters and criminal elements to destroy the counting process with the intention to fail the elections. "We don't want to see this repeated in future. And we must put our feet down and sound a warning to all potential candidates and their supporters that if they are planning to sabotage in the future elections, wit all motives to secure a supplementary elections better drop it. It won't work and this decision must be a deterrent to everyone throughout the country who try to derail and undermine the democratic process," he said. Mr Sinai was responding to a news article in the Post Courier where candidates from Markham and Kabwum have sought clarifications on the status of the elections in the two electorates. The Commissioner says the destruction of ballot papers and counting centres in Markham and later in Kabwum were all pre planned and done to destroy the chances of the two seating MP's who were leading with huge margins at the conclusion of the primary count. "It would be unfair for the leading candidates to suffer at the hands of criminals and drag the Commission into conducting a by election which is a costly exercise," he said.  

As Silver Sponsor of the 29th Enga Cultural Show, BSP Wabag Branch Manager John Tomba said BSP was proud to support the event for the first time with K30, 000 towards the two-day annual show that continues to promote the unique cultures and traditions of the province. “This is the biggest annual event in the province and our support helped showcase our unique culture and boost tourism in the province." During the event, our team assisted customers with Account Opening, Registration for Mobile and Internet Banking and General banking queries. BSP is the only bank operating in Enga. “As a bank that supports people and communities we have also given back to the people of Enga Province through our Community Projects in Porgera & Wabag totaling over K600, 000 in value since 2009 in our 25 projects covering Education, Health, Sports and the Environment. Chairlady of the Enga Cultural Show Committee Mrs. Margret Potane in thanking BSP for the support acknowledged the bank for its confidence in the show, despite many challenges faced through the election period. She said Enga is a beautiful Province and such events provide an opportunity for the people to showcase the province and country to the international community. The event saw visitors from Germany, France, Israel and Cuba, including few local tourists from other parts of PNG who came to Enga for the show.

Jennifer Homano has been diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer and will be living on treatment for the rest of my life. Jennifer had flown to Australia to visit her husband who she hadn’t seen in 2 years due to Covid-19 when she found a lump between her right breast and armpit. “My husband and I went to the General Practitioner for a check up where I was told to get a scan done as she had suspected it to be breast cancer.” “We did the scan and the results came out, that there where lymph nodes everywhere in my right side breast.” “My GP made an appointment with the Toowoomba Base Hospital to do a Biopsy and mammogram.” Jennifer said that on 1st of June, she had a biopsy and mammogram done and flew back to Port Moresby the next day due to her VISA. After sorting out her VISA, she flew back to Australia on the 18th June to get her results. “I was diagnosed with Multifocal breast cancer with metastasis to my axilla on 22th of June 2022.” Since she’s been diagnosed, she’s been going in and out of hospital doing tests, scans, x-rays, blood tests, CT Scans and MRI Scans as well as a few surgeries on her breast. Her bone scan and brain scan results came back negative for cancer however the cancerous lymp nodes have spread to her kidneys. The surgeries that she goes through are around $25, 000 (K61 , 000) and radiation and Chemotherapy is $6, 000 (K15, 000) per treatment. Jennifer greatly needs funding assistance so she can continue to get the treatment she needs. So far her family have been having a few fundraising activities to assist her with her medical bills. The family recently had a fundraising dance to raise funds and they have set up a GoFundMe Page for people that want to donate to her medical appeal. She added that there will be a few more fundraising activities in the coming months. She thanked everyone that has contributed in cash and kind to her medical appeal.

Broncos prop Chelsea Lenarduzzi has taken aim at internet trolls who tormented teammate Julia Robinson in the past week for derogatory comments made about her athletic physique in a training photo. Robinson and the Broncos addressed the situation on Tuesday night after the star winger reacted to comments on a photo of her in a singlet which included one that said she was a "woman in a man’s body." Lenarduzzi is among many NRLW athletes who were willing to speak up about body shaming in the lead-up to the competition’s kick-off on Saturday after the image of Robinson drew poor responses from keyboard warriors. “Julia is all good, I messaged her at training yesterday and she posted it because she realised it wasn’t alright and it needs to be called out,” Lenarduzzi told NRL.com at the NRLW season launch in Sydney. “People just aren’t used to seeing what a female rugby league player's body can look like and it becomes more an issue about their own insecurities. “I just find it a weird thing to ever comment on someone else's look. Even as a woman to comment on how a man looks, it’s unrelatable for me to even comment. “But then you go and look at who comments about a woman in our game or any other sport and it’s usually a father of a two-year-old daughter. “Like what are we instilling in our future if that's who is bringing up our next generation? Julia is the prototype of what you want as a female athlete. She’s strong, fast, fit and wins every fitness test. “She eats well and is the benchmark for others to be. Then you get asked with some of the bigger girls how do they run. Well how about you have a look or even better turn the TV off and keep scrolling. Just ignore it if upsets you that much.” Broncos captain Ali Brigginshaw said body shaming were among the negative comments that players constantly read while other jibes towards their gender are also high on the list. “No matter if it’s in sport or in your workplace, there’s always something if you’re a female. There’s always a comment around it. It’s not ok for people to shame people’s bodies,” Brigginshaw said. “Us women are very strong, but if you’re having that bad day and you see that comment, you might not be so strong. “That’s when these trolls think it’s ok just to free speech whatever they want. It’s not fair and it’s not right. "We see comments, or people might see comments and they’re not directed at them so they leave them. “[It's important that] anyone who sees a negative comment, whether you’re a family friend, a mum, a player, that you’re reporting these comments. Because it’s not fair on any player. Even in the men’s space. “If you see a comment that’s unfair to any player, what we can do as a rugby league community is shut them down." Dragons forward Elsie Albert is a constant target on social media with her physique drawing negative attention by people online regularly. The NRL and Dragons’ social media accounts are often littered with comments towards the PNG star which are either filtered, monitored or removed. Albert has learned to deal with the comments but has put practices in place to ensure she is not affected by them. "I've just learned to stay off social media and not listen or read things from people I don't know," Albert said. "There are a lot of comments out there from people who don't know me but will write something by how I look. It's not nice but I have a lot of support at the Dragons and in PNG. "I train to be the best player I can be for my teammates and to be the best forward in the game. I play the game to have fun with my mates, not to read comments." In March, Titans centre Evania Pelite responded through Instagram after screenshots of her breasts circled on social media following an embarrassing on-field moment where her sports bra was pulled from underneath her. “I felt like I had to address it, I personally thought it was a funny situation but it can be sad if it’s someone else, you feel like you have say something,” Pelite said. “It’s more just around educating people. Like sure share it around, do what you want, but I’m proud of my body, I’m proud of my boobs and think they look great. "Everyone's different with their body and appearance and while I found it all in good humour there needs to be a level of respect shown to players who may not." The RLPA have launched their own way of support for Robinson, encouraging fans to show off their muscles using the hashtag #ShowYaMuscles in the lead-up to the NRLW season. Source: NRL.com

A week-long intensive Standard Based Curriculum (SBC) Science Training Module 2 workshop for Junior Primary Teachers (Grade 3 - Grade 5) ended on a high note at the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby last week. The SBC workshop for trainer of Trainers was attended by 51 participants comprising of Senior Standard Inspector Basic Education (SSIBE), Standard Inspector Basic Education (SIBE), Education Officers (Eos), Provincial Training Coordinators (PTCs), and primary school head teachers. These participants will then go back and implement trainings in 37 clusters in 17 districts in 6 provinces under the BEST PNG project. The workshop focused on Component 1, which is, Primary in-service teaching training on SBC maths and science under the Boosting Education Standards Together (BEST) in PNG program. BEST PNG is a three-year program led by the National Department of Education and supported by the Global Partnership of Education (GPE) with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency(JICA) as the coordinating Agency and the Save the Children as the Grant Agent. The BEST PNG program has 6 different components; Component 1 is on Primary in-service teaching training in SBC maths and science, Component 2 is on Primary pre-service maths and science unit outline dated, Component 3 is on increasing more female maths and science teachers, and Component 4: Variable Part is on equity, efficiency and learning outcomes, Component 5 is on Gr 1& 2Maths and Science teacher manuals, and Component 6 focuses on program management and monitoring. The trainer of trainers who attended the workshop represent the six provinces where the BEST PNG project is implemented which is Milne Bay, West New Britain, West Sepik, Gulf, Western and Oro Province. A total of 19 sessions were covered during the workshop which included topics on why teach science, new approach to teaching and learning science, planning an inclusive lesson, baseline findings, student centered lessons and expectations for planning a Science Based Curriculum (SBC) lesson, among others. The expected outcome of the training for participants to know the workshop materials, reflect on the BEST baseline study findings, share examples of science lessons taught using SBC materials, review their science development action plans, identify knowledge and skills, analyze active learning strategies, explain the differentiation methods and others. Participant and BEST PNG Provincial Trainer for Oro Province Wesley Pasire said he found the training very useful as it was informative. Wesley said: "I learnt new skills and strategies for our teachers to use and said the training was more child setting and oriented, adding, the new teaching methods could save a lot of teacher's time. Another participant, Provincial Training Coordinator for Milne Bay, Phillip Elliot said: " The sessions were interesting and informative with presentations very clear and the new curriculum easy for child learning. He said these new techniques would replace the old method or style of teaching. Notable Senior Officers from the Department of Education who attended the closing ceremony and gave speeches included First Assistant Secretary for the Teacher Education and school Inspections Wing, Mr. Paul Ainiu, Assistant Secretary TED, Mr. Allan Jim, JICA's Assistant Secretary, Curriculum development Division, Mrs. Philipa Darius, and Save the Children's Operations Director Ms. Joy Wong.