Medal tally (Progressive Update inserted below) as of Tuesday June 21st with Team PNG finishing off strongly in the lead.  Another day of competitions today on the track for our Athletics athletes whilst Tennis and Golf continue their competitions. Weightlifting has finished their competitions for the games, and Vaá will be taking the day off to recover before their marathon event on Thursday. Source: Team PNG FB Page

THE District Services Improvement Programme (DSIP) is an overarching financial input for service delivery for the Anglimp South Waghi (ASW) district in Jiwaka province, says District Administrator Joseph Mangro. Mr. Mangro said the SIP program is a strategic rural intervention program aimed at address lacking of development and basic government services targeting rural marginalized communities and villages. “The district strongly believes that the SIP program, if soundly managed and implement, will inevitably address development needs of the rural communities and progressively bring about unprecedented rural economic growth and improve the living standards of its people,” he said. Mangro highlighted this sentiments while presenting their 2018-2021 DSIP acquittal reports to the Department of Implementation & Rural Development (DIRD) in Port Moresby last week. Mr. Mangro said Anglimp South Waghi (ASW) district opted to furnish the outstanding DSIP financial report of more than K40.0 million as part of its compliance stipulated under the Public Finance Management (Act) to report to the national government before the country goes to the national general elections. “We have to clear our books, all financial transactions and reports must be submitted to responsible agencies so we can go to the polls with clean hands and no complaints from our stakeholders,” he said. Mangro said much of these development grants were expedited on impact projects such as infrastructures basically sealing of roads, construction of bridges, health centres, aid posts, construction of double classrooms for primary to secondary schools, rural electrification program to connect every households with the electricity which is in line with the district’s ambition to connect 75% of the people with electricity by 2022, rural water supply, purchased ambulances for health centres, vehicles for education and health sectors. As reflected in the acquittal reports, the district manage to support churches, as 10% of district’s DSIP grants were allocated to different denominations. “Since we live in multi religious society, churches plays a significant role to restore peace and harmony in the community, which they are also public servants in the surrounding community, where we supported them,” he said. Incumbent and local MP Joe Kuli stressed that under his leadership he had made a policy decision to support farming cooperative societies to encourage farmers in the district to venture into farming businesses or commercial agriculture to earn income and improve their social and economic well beings that will create employment opportunities and promote economic growth. Kuli said he will continue to develop many good economic policies and deliver impact projects that his 200,000 plus population will greatly benefit if he is elected for the second term in this 11th National Parliament. “The landmass and huge population supplemented by greed, nepotism, tribalism, lack of vision and a voter-based traditional systems in service delivery at the political helm over the years had prevented the electorate from seeing any tangible developments. Regardless, all bad things has to end now, I have to establish mutual relationships with our people and display a modern leadership styles to ensure basic services are diversified for each of the LLGs where people receive fair distribution of tangible services which they have never seen before,” he said. One of the impact project the district delivered was the K8.0 million bailey bridge constructed across the Waghi river, connecting Mugmamp to Kindeng to the outside World which they have been cut off for a decades. Some notable projects like K7 million electrification that greatly benefited entire population including 500 block holders from different parts of Papua New Guinea residing in ASW. The power projects delivered were Kindeng Rogump (7km), Lupa-Tari market (2.5km), Sanap-Anda (3km), Sanap- Kendu (2km), Kurki-Altai (2km), Aviamp- Aviamp 1(1km), Kami-Kupa (2.5km), Avi (2km), Wurup- 5mile (1.5km), Wurup-Lel(.5km) and Wara Wau-Waghi (1.5km). The district also subsidized school fees for students attending various tertiary institutions around the country and other major sporting programs to curb lawlessness. DIRD who monitors and administer SIP program around the country had reported ASW

Key findings from a recent evaluation of a Parenting for Childhood Development (P4CD) program highlight a reduction in family violence, abuse and neglect of children in communities exposed to this program. The evaluation, generously supported by UNICEF Australia, found that parents exposed to the P4CD program, were empowered to apply positive child rearing parenting practices and invested time to enhance child-parent relationships that helped create safe spaces for children. An estimated 35,000 children aged between 3 and 10 have been positively impacted by this intervention that has reached over 8,700 parents in six provinces in the country since UNICEF PNG, working in partnership with the Government and implementing partners, rolled out the program in 2016. While a scale up of this program is currently supported by the European Union – United Nations Spotlight Initiative to End Violence against Women and Girls in PNG, the evaluation findings has provided needed evidence to further scale up the program across the country, ensuring full ownership of the Government over the program and further improving its content to end violence against children and women as well as help build positive relations within the family. A significant change observed during the evaluation was among fathers who reported strong child-parent relations with 73 per cent of them confirming that they spend more time with their children, playing games with them, and helping them to behave the right way. “These findings are significant as they indicate a change in the mindsets of parents about raising their children in a loving and caring way which is crucial to the holistic development and overall well-being of a child,” said Claudes Kamenga, UNICEF Representative. A large majority of parents who benefited from the program (76 percent) no longer hit their children; 45 percent no longer curse or swear at them; and 63 percent do not engage in neglectful behaviours such as leaving the child alone or letting the child go hungry. Although the P4CD program was not specifically designed to address intimate partner violence, over 58 percent of female spouses reported a reduction in violence inflicted on them by their husbands while 62 percent of females and 71 percent of males confirmed that they talk through their disagreements without using violence. The P4CD program was developed in 2016 by UNICEF PNG with the support of the Menzies School of Health Research at the Darwin University in Australia. UNICEF PNG commissioned the evaluation that was independently carried out by evaluation firm, Stratman. The full evaluation report can be accessed here: Evaluation of the UNICEF P4CD Programme in Papua New Guinea Picture sourced: REDBUBBLE

With two participating schools in NCD, Tokarara Primary School and Ororo Primary School battling out at the blast, Ororo Primary school were too good for Tokarara Primay , claiming both the female and male divisions of the blasts. BSP Corporate Sponsorship Manager Amelia Minnopu commended CPNG for its hard work, commitment and stability in driving the programme’s growth. “The BSP School Kriket Blast is a fun and fast program for kids of all abilities to learn the skills of cricket and play the sport. The program driven by Cricket PNG is focusing on developing the participation of boys and girls in cricket whilst developing young talents for the sport. We encourage more schools to participate,” she added. The BSP School cricket blasts is actively participated in all Cricket PNG Centres that is NCD, Central, Oro, Milne Bay, Morobe, Madang, Western Highland Province, Eastern Highlands Province, Jiwaka, Southern Highlands, and West New Britain. With over 50 Schools nationwide and over thousands of students taking part. The program has reached over 200,000 participants from Elementary and Primary schools in PNG.

The University of Technology (UOT) has expressed gratitude to the National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) for providing an incredible opportunity in engaging its Communication & Development Studies final-year students for their industrial on-the-job training. The University’s Vice Chancellor Dr. Ora Renagi thanked the NGCB for heightening its Job-Training through a 5-year MOU signing between the two institutions to prepare graduates to deliver quality output and add value in the industrial workforce. “The UOT aims to build capacities that empower and promote technological skills, enhance quality education and add good principles and values to the graduates for them to employ in the workforce,” Dr Renagi said. “At the same time, we would like to strengthen relationships with our industrial partners especially the NGCB for engaging our student-trainees to conduct their practicum and we look forward to maintaining this good partnership.” NGCB Chief Executive Officer Imelda Agon, who is a champion in human resource development & training capacity in the industrial sector, maintained NGCB’s position as a fast-developing organization aiming to provide quality work deliveries that are of high standards. “We at NGCB strive to provide quality, effective and excellent work ethics and at the same time promote gender equality and good values in serving the organization, the gaming industry and the people of this beautiful country,” Ms Agon said. “The NGCB is also a keen supporter of human resource development and capacity building thus we continue to enhance partnerships with education institutions to nurture career development and build young minds to be great leaders for the country.” “We are also excited to continue our partnership with the University of Technology in engaging final-year students under the 5-year MOU to undergo industrial training and I commend both parties for effectively implementing this work placement program.” Since the MOU was signed between UOT and NGCB to establish training program in 2020, more than fifteen students have undergone industrial training experience with the NGCB.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks centre Siosifa Talakai were today named to make their debuts for the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues in Game Two of the Ampol State of Origin series at Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday 26 June. Burton will start in the centres while Talakai has been named on the bench. Other changes from the team which lost the opening game in Sydney include Stephen Crichton being named at centre; Apisai Koroisau at hooker; Jake Trbojevic in the front row; and Cameron Murray in the second row. Nicho Hynes has been named as the 18th man while Joseph Suaalii, Jordan McLean, Clint Gutherson and Victor Radley are the reserves. The team left Sydney today and will be based for the first part of camp at the beach side community of Scarborough before moving to Perth on Friday 24 June. The team will gather for the team photo at Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club later today. NSW BLUES SQUAD – GAME TWO, OPTUS STADIUM, PERTH, SUNDAY 26 JUNE 1. James Tedesco (c) (Sydney Roosters) 2. Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers) 3. Matt Burton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) 4. Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers) 5. Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters) 6. Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers) 7. Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers) 8. Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos) 9. Apisai Koroisau (Penrith Panthers) 10. Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles) 11. Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs) 12. Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers) 13. Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers) 14. Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs) 15. Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters) 16. Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels) 17. Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks) 18. Nicho Hynes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks) 19. Joseph Suaalii (Sydney Roosters) 20. Jordan McLean (North Queensland Cowboys) 21. Clint Gutherson (Parramatta Eels) 22. Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters) Coach: Brad Fittler

The Chief of Defence Force (CDF), Major General Mark Goina DMS, CBE has confirmed that, as part of their ongoing joint inter agency security operations, personnel from the PNGDF Forward Operating Base at Tari and RPNGC MS6 members carried out a check of a charter flight from Port Moresby to Komo. The flight consisted of 100 passengers (97 males and 3 females) and all luggages and cargo was searched on arrival. The search was based on intelligence that people may have been trying to smuggle weapons and other contraband items into Hela on that flight. During the search the RPNGC MS6 team and PNGDF Military Police found, and confiscated, uniforms from the passengers including: 2 X DPU (combat pattern) shirts, 2 X DPU (combat pattern) trousers similar in style to current issue to the Defence Force, and 1 x pair of combat style boots. Additionally an unlicensed firearm was confiscated from a local after a search of the convoy of the passengers heading back to Tari. This whole incident is now being investigated by the RPNGC. This successful joint inter agency operation reinforces the close working relationship between the security forces operating in the Highlands. It is also a strong warning to anyone who is thinking about undertaking illegal or criminal acts, that the security forces will act swiftly and decisively on all intelligence leads. Major General Goina stated, reiterating the words of the Police Commissioner David Manning at the launch of the National Election security operations in the Highlands on 17 June 22, that the joint task force of RPNGC, PNGDF and PNG CS are determined to ensure that the region remains safe and secure for all members of the community leading up to, during and beyond the 2022 National Election.

The PNG Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PNGEITI) has applauded a collaboration between state’s mine regulator, Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) and mine operators to create a digital platform to provide real time mineral data from all major mines in the country. Live data will include numbers showing production value, export value, and related information basically livestreamed from a data source of respective mine operators. Ok Tedi Mine will be fist to streamline live data to the MRA website for public access after engineers have finalized work. Other will follow soon after. “The cooperation between the mine regulator and the extractive companies to make live data available for public viewing is an excellent undertaking to garner investor-public trust and confidence in the way the mining industry is regulated and progressing. PNGEITI highly commends these efforts,” PNGEITI Head of National Secretariat Mr. Lucas Alkan commended. “We commend the MRA leadership under managing director Jerry Garry as this undertaking will complement and enhance EITI reporting in the country. This is boost for transparency, boost for investor and public confidence,” he said. “We look forward to this important work being undertaken on this space and wish MRA and the companies every success” Mr. Alkan said

Try scoring machine Alex Johnston is set to win a third Test cap for the Kumuls as part of a powerful squad which also includes reigning Dally M Centre of the Year Justin Olam, Broncos winger David Mead and Roosters half Lachlan Lam. Six players from the PNG Hunters in the Hostplus Cup will feature including Terry Wapi, Wartovo Puara, Sherwin Tanabi and Sylvester Namo. After Samoa and Cook Islands have the scene set in the earlier game it's over to PNG and Fiji to light up the stadium with some ferocious defence and flashy attack in their first clash since November, 2019. On that occasion it was the Bati prevailing 22-20 in a thriller in Christchurch with Viliame Kikau and Tui Kamikamica among the try scorers and Maika Sivo running for 214 metres. Sivo has made a successful return from a knee reconstruction for the Eels and will be keen to add to his tally of two Test caps while Kikau will make his 12th appearance for his country and look to revive the glory days of the 2017 World Cup when Fiji made an emotional charge all the way to the semi-finals. Sydney Roosters back Kevin Naiqama will again captain the Bati with Panthers powerhouse Viliame Kikau to act as his deputy. Among the other NRL stars in the squad are Maika Sivo, Mikaele Ravalawa, Tui Kamikamica, Brandon Wakeham and Taane Milne while the Fijian competition is well represented by the likes of Mesake Kurititoga (Nadera Panthers), Waqasaqa Qiolevu (Yasawa Saints), Nasoki Ralulu (Bomballa Blue Heelers) and Ratu Inoke Vasuturaga (Kinoya Eagles). The Rabbitohs' greatest try scorer of all time is a silky smooth mover who appears to glide across the turf at times while the Dragons' Fijian flyer favours brute strength as he method of making it to the tryline. Two of the NRL's most potent attacking weapons on the wing and ready to light up Campbelltown Stadium if they are given an inch of space. Whether it's Johnston going around his rivals or Ravalawa going over them, expect plenty of highlight reels from these two stars. The Kumuls have played twice at Campbelltown Stadium for two wins while the Bati are 0-2 at this venue. The four internationals between the two sides have resulted in two wins apiece. Justin Olam was in the thick of the action in 2018 when the Kumuls got the better of the Bati at this ground, scoring a try in the 26-14 triumph. The Storm star has scored six tries in nine Tests for the Kumuls. Pictures sourced: NRL.com      

In 2021 Constable Jane Koma commenced with the Forensic Science Services - Lae Criminal Investigations Division. As the only female police member in the Forensic Science Services in Lae, she hopes her success will motivate and inspire other women to take on specialist policing roles traditionally occupied by men. Constable Koma stated, “other women do not stick around and challenge themselves to do something different, to extend themselves outside of their comfort zone. I hope I am an inspiration to other policewomen to show them that it can be done.” Throughout her 11-year policing career Constable Koma has served with the Public Safety Unit, Cell Management Unit, and the Family Sexual Violence Unit. Constable Koma was the cell database officer pioneer for the Lae Cell Management System, demonstrating she is no stranger to working outside her comfort zone. In May 2022 Constable Koma successfully completed the two-week Scenes of Crime Officers Course (SOCO) 1/2022 at the Bomana Police Training College, this course was funded by the Australia Policing Partnership (PNG-APP), it was delivered by AFP Forensic members and supported by PNG-APP Advisors. Eleven RPNGC members attended this course, including Constable Koma and another female member Detective Senior Constable Sheila Hakaiwa from Wewak SOS. Participants on the course demonstrated skills in crime scene examination management, search techniques, sketching, note taking, photography and fingerprint examination. Constable Koma returned to Lae with contemporary technical forensic expertise and looks forward to utilising her skillset in support of criminal investigations, “the role of a Forensic Science Officer is technically challenging and often dirty work, but I encourage other policewomen to challenge themselves” Constable Koma said. Source: PNG-APP Advisors A/Insp Shauna Rule and Sgt Emma Beere for sharing Const Koma's story

Police Commissioner David Manning says the security forces are committed to a free, fair, safe and corruption free 2022 National General Election. Mr Manning made this comment following the security forces’ interception and confiscation of police and PNG Defence Force uniforms on a private charter from Port Moresby to Komo in the Hela Province. Security forces also confiscated a Sig pistol from a person who was at the Komo airport to meet the flight. “I can confirm that we have confiscated one blue field uniform, three police Number One long pants with a GB boot as well as one set of what appears to be PNG Defence Force camouflage uniform, one shirt and one short trousers. We have these items in police custody and investigations that are now being conducted to ascertain who they belong to. “Also on the same day the security forces confiscated a Sig pistol from a member of the public who was at the Komo Airport to meet the flight. We will investigate this as well to ascertain whether this is a licensed firearm and whether the suspect has a permit to carry. “The role of a member of the security forces in the Komo incident is also now under scrutiny. Our investigations will also cover those who chartered the aircraft as well as the role of the ground staff at the Komo Airport. “Make no mistake, the security forces, as a collective body, are committed to ensuring that the environment around the country is conducive for an election that will be free, fair, safe and free from corrupt practices. “That is our commitment to our 11 million people and we will not be deterred from this. However, there will be individuals from within who may conspire and collude with others to try to tamper with the process to influence the outcome of the election, but they will not succeed as shown in Komo. “In conclusion I wish to also appeal to our good citizens to be responsible in their posts and comments on social media. Sometimes the truth is far from what you think it is, so be wise and refrain from spreading speculations or rumours until the information has been confirmed by the authorities. Words are powerful and can make or our break society.”

It’s been a busy three weeks for the Port Moresby Nature Park’s Education team, hosting its themed week program called ‘Environment & Me’ to schools around Port Moresby and Central province. The themed week programs are the biggest activities for the Park’s Education program, seeing thousands of students visit the Park every week to learn about various environmental topics. The most recent program, ‘Environment & Me’ focused on plastic pollution and saw students from as far as the Motuan Coastline participate. “The impact we’re having on schools through our regular school excursion programs is amazing as it builds that anticipation towards our themed week programs where we are able to even see an entire school come out to participate!”, said Shirley Mogi, Port Moresby Nature Park’s Education Manager. “We’d like to thank all the schools who had participated, and especially thank Ms Kaisapi at St Peter’s Chanel Primary School in Erima, who brought 651 students away from their classrooms to take part in the program in one day. This was a significant number to our team, as it enabled us to hit a record of 1,017 students that day”, added Ms Mogi. Throughout the three week program, a total of 6, 072 students learnt about the negative impacts of plastic pollution on the environment and how we can help reduce the disposal of plastic rubbish into landfill or our waterways. The Port Moresby Nature Park would like to thank NCDC Transport Division for supporting its logistics in transporting students throughout the program. Similarly, the Park also thanks Sir Brian Bell Foundation for its unwavering support to education in ensuring students can continue to participate in such educational activities. With continuous environmental issues affecting many societies today, the work of Port Moresby Nature Park will be even more important as we advocate, protect and conserve PNG’s Wildlife and Natural Environment.