Prime Minister James Marape is expected to appoint Lands and Physical Planning Minister and Lae MP John Rosso to the position of Deputy Prime Minister when he returns from a business trip in Australia later this week. PM Marape departed Port Moresby this morning to Brisbane to open the 37th Papua New Guinea-Australia Business Forum and Trade Exposition. Before departing, a small press conference was held in the lobby of Departures of the Jackson International Airport. The Prime Minister revealed that he and the State Negotiating Team will also meet with representatives of the Wafi/Golpu Project to progress the project. In his absence from the 23rd of May 2022 to the 25th of May 2022, the Minister for State Enterprises William Duma is the Acting Prime Minister and upon Prime Minister James Marape's return, he will complete the formalities to appoint the Minister John Rosso as the new Deputy Prime Minister, in honour of the Late Sam Basil. Minister for State Enterprises William Duma, Minister for Lands and Physical Planning John Rosso and Minister for Public Service Joe Sungi were at the airport to see the Prime Minister off to the Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo.

Save the Children in partnership with Digicel Financial Services Limited recently worked together to reach 2,016 people in 339 households in disaster prone areas in the Morobe province as part of disaster preparedness work. A total of K161,760 was distributed in the Mumeng and Watut local level government areas of the Bulolo District reaching a total of 2,016 men, women, youth, and children. This follows a signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with Digicel Financial Services Limited and Save the Children in October last year to work in partnership on Mobile Cash Transfers. The MOA paved way for Save the Children beneficiaries to receive cash support on their mobile phone using Digicel’s CellMoni. CellMoni Supervisor for Momase Region, Anne Unage says, “We thank Save the Children for using CellMoni to do Cash and Voucher Assistance [CVA] with communities in Bulolo. The partnership enables beneficiaries to receive assistance in a faster and transparent way and to be financially included. We are grateful to our partners such as MiBank and our authorised CellMoni Agents in Bulolo for facilitating cash withdrawals to the beneficiaries and their families. CellMoni is a digital wallet from Digicel that allows everyone to avail for digital payments without the need to have a formal bank account. With CellMoni, customers can make cashless transactions to do bill payment, airtime top-up and send, receive and withdraw money using their Digicel phone. The Mobile Cash Transfer is part of Save the Children’s Disaster Preparedness work under its CVA project supported by the Australian Humanitarian Partnership to have mechanisms in place to help families following a disaster like a landslide, cyclone, earthquake, or pandemic with cash payments for essential items. Save the Children Humanitarian Manager, Isimel Tuembe says, “This is the first distribution in rural communities. We had challenges but turned them into successes in the end.” “Apart from cashing out, beneficiaries were also able to open accounts with MiBank and that is a success for us because MiBank is also reaching out into the communities in terms of transferring funds from Digicel Cell Moni to MiBank then using the MiBank card to access funds and that is a success for us. And going forward we would like to use that relationship where Cell Moni has with MiBank in other provinces.” Prior, to the distribution’s community sensitizations were also conducted in the district to ensure people understood the purpose of the activities by the Save the Children and CellMoni teams. Selection of these communities were done in collaboration with the Morobe Provincial Disaster Office. The pilot in Morobe Province demonstrates how private and non-profit organisations can collaborate successfully for digital cash disbursement in Papua New Guinea.

Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) and the Ok Tedi Mining & Allied Workers Union (OTAWU) signed a new Industrial Agreement on the 19th of May allowing for the implementation of additional benefits that will address the long-term welfare of OTML employees and their families. The new 5 Year Industrial Agreement will be implemented from 1st January 2023 and will be in effect until the end of 2027. The previous Industrial Agreement signed in 2019 was valid for three years. The new Agreement was signed following two-days of consultations between OTML’s Management Team and the OTMAWU Executives. Acting President of the OTMAWU, Kevin Onde, thanked the OTML Management team for honouring the MoU signed on 9th December 2021 for extending the terms of the 2019 Industrial Agreement and paving the way for the new agreement. “The wishes of the Union members have been heard and will soon be materialised in the coming months. The consultation has ended on a high note with a gain for all employees. It is a milestone achievement in itself for the company and the employees where maturity was displayed in the last few days, and the results are now tangible,” said Mr Onde. OTML Managing Director & CEO, Musje Werror, said it was a historic achievement, one that would not be possible without the positive culture in OTML. “Over the last 3 years we started to build on the trust and respect between management and the workforce and to strengthen our culture which is demonstrated by the successful discussions and the signing of the Industrial Agreement in the same week.” Mr Werror also acknowledged the efforts of the workforce over the last two years, which had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the significant challenges brought on by the pandemic the Company was able to generate PGK 1 billion in dividends for its shareholders over this period. “I look forward to the continuous support from the workforce to realise our Vision 2025 and make Ok Tedi the best mining company in PNG,” added Mr Werror. The 2023 Industrial Agreement was co-signed by Acting Manager Industrial Relations, Mr Wala Iga, and witnessed by Industrial Registrar, Ms Helen Saleu, in Port Moresby. Ms Saleu commended the Ok Tedi Union citing the recent negotiations and the signing was a benchmark achievement for all unions and their management teams in the industry and country. She said, “The Ok Tedi Union and Management should be used as role models for other union negotiations and industrial agreement discussions in the future. The trust and respect shared by the OTML union and management has led to this successful and mature negotiation and the signing showcases a genuine relationship bond with the employees and the management aligned with achieving a win-win outcome for its employees and the Company.”

The newly created Hiri Koiari Open electorate in Central Province has seen the nomination of 16 candidates so far to contest in its inaugural National Elections. Hiri Koiari Returning Officer Leo Ameua said the nominations started last Thursday at Mirigeda and so far, no women candidate has turned up for nomination to contest the seat. He said political party endorsed candidates that have nominated includes Keith Uduhu from New Generation Party, Nou Rage from National Alliance Party and Jack Totona from Peoples National Congress Party. “Another candidate that turned up yesterday to nominate was the son of the current Kairuku Hiri sitting MP Peter Isoaimo, Francis Isoaimo Namea,” Mr Ameua said. “12 of them nominated on Thursday, three on Friday and Mr Isoamo Namea was the only one who came in yesterday to nominate.” He further said they are expecting the number of nominees to go beyond 30 in the coming days and are also expecting a female to nominate to contest. Image courtesy: John Gamoga Airi

The Redcliffe Dolphins will retain the Stan Joyce Cup in 2022 having defeated a fast-finishing Hunters side 30-16 in miserable conditions in Round 9 of Hostplus Cup. The Dolphins were animated from the kick-off, capitalising on a Hunters’ forward pass and ruck infringement in the opening sets to camp themselves on the Hunters' try line. The Hunters were defending well until Dolphins hooker Sheldon Pitama spied some space around the ruck and slid over in the slippery conditions to give the Dolphins a four-point lead. The Hunters would respond immediately, working upfield from the kick-off thanks to a relieving penalty before punching through the Dolphins' middle to set up for a right edge shift. Hunters halfback Jamie Mavoko would provide the deft grubber for Rodrick Tai on the last tackle to bring the scores to 6-4. After a fast start, the game settled into a grind with poor ball control and ill discipline helping both teams get out of their own end and mount an attack. It was the Dolphins who would adapt best to the wet conditions, however, with Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller impressing with a 50-metre run out of his own end before diving on a clever kick back in behind the ruck in the 18th minute to score under the posts. New Zealand Warriors-contracted outside back Edward Kosi was next to trouble the scoreboard, crossing on either side of half-time thanks to some smooth backline movements down the Dolphins' right edge before Cody Hunter scored in the 60th minute to give the Dolphins a 20-point lead. The Hunters showed great intent and energy to keep turning up in the horrid conditions and weren’t short of scoring opportunities themselves throughout the match. A desperate Redcliffe defensive unit held firm for the most part, until two quick tries inside the final ten minutes saw PNG finish the game encouragingly. Brandon Nima ducked out of dummy-half close to the line and found prop-forward Dilbert Isaac in support to score in the 74th minute, before a lovely pass from Wartovo Puara Jnr sent Sylvester Namo over virtually untouched beside the right post with just 30 seconds remaining. The score will disappoint for Hunters fans but their resilience in awful conditions was compelling and they will take some confidence from the way they fought themselves back into the game. Coach comments Hunters coach Matt Church was disappointed given the improvements shown over the last two weeks. “That was a disappointing result for us. Everything we’ve done well over the last two weeks we just seemed to forget today,” Church said. “We know we’re at our best when changing the direction of our attack and using the power and footwork of our middles, but we just went away from that today. "You saw what happened when we played to our strengths late in the game – they couldn’t stay with us and we scored twice in 10 minutes. “Credit to Redcliffe, they barely made a mistake in the second half and were good tonight, but we can be better. The conditions were awful and we were willing on both sides of the ball, but just not smart enough with how we used the footy today.” The Dolphins face Ipswich Jets in Round 10. SOURCE: qrl.com.au

The nomination of candidates contesting the Goilala Open seat in Central Province will resume tomorrow at the Electoral Commission Office at Boroko in NCD after it was paused over the weekend. Goilala Open Returning Officer Theodore Maia said so far, 25 candidates have already been nominated since last Thursday. He said they did not open up the office for nomination over the weekend in respect of the worshiping days. He further said the decision to use this venue instead of having it at the district headquarters at Tapini is because of logistical issues and the road to Tapini itself being in a bad state. “There has been only one female candidate who has nominated so far among her male counterparts,” Mr Maia said. “Mathilda Koma had contested in the last two previous elections and she had remarked that this is her final try.” Goilala District is without a current MP heading into this National General Elections following the passing of late MP William Samb early this year.

The Kivori villagers’ initiative to build a new road to avoid the abuse and harassment by the nearby Waima youths has been boosted with the support of Central Governor Robert Agarobe. After numerous law and order issues between two villages in Kairuku District of Central Province, the Kivori villagers took up their knives, axes, and spades to build the 12.7km road since last year. Chairman of Kivori road project, Francis Hau said Kivori villages consist of Kivori Kui, Kivori Poe, Kivori Meauri, and Kivori Hereparu and the villagers sought assistance from the Governor after presenting a submission for the new road project at a recent Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting. Provincial Administrator Francis Koaba last week did the launch on behalf of the Governor at the project site. “The district road is the responsibility of the Open Members while the provincial roads is the responsibility of the Governor in the province,” Mr Koaba said. Shape Makers Contractors are being engaged to begin work on the construction after the approval was endorsed by the last PEC meeting held recently in Port Moresby.

“The most important person in sport is the athlete, they are not just competing in their respective sports but they are also ambassadors of PNG when they participate in the respective Games, said PNG Olympic Committee (PNGOC) President Sir John Dawanincura during the Team PNG Bonding event on Sunday 15th May 2022, at the Gateway Hotel, Port Moresby. Addressing all Team Officials, he added that if we fail as administrators, the athletes will suffer. The combined Team PNG event was attended by 70 athletes and officials going to the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games in June and those going to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July. Athletes and officials who were out of Port Moresby also participated online on Zoom. Sir John encouraged the athletes and officials to use the opportunity given to them to ask questions about any Games information before going to the Games and urged all athletes selected for both Games to be the best they can be. Both Chef de Missions (CdM) of the Games also addressed the teams during this event. In his opening remarks to the team, Michael Henao, CdM for Team PNG to Birmingham said: “We are very proud to be flying the Kumul with you athletes at the Commonwealth Games come July”. Mr Henao provided games updates including travel dates, accommodation venues and games venues. “PNG will be represented in Athletics, Boxing, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis and Weightlifting.” “Of these sports, four (4) athletes have qualified under the Regional Qualification Process confirmed by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). They include Weightlifting’s Dika Toua and Morea Baru and Table Tennis’s Geoffrey Loi and Tammy Agari as announced in April,” said Mr Henao. “The General Management Team and I are here to give you athletes the support, before, during and after the Games and we encourage your respective family, friends, communities and PNG as a whole to fly the Kumul with you,” concluded Henao. CdM of Team PNG to the Pacific Mini Games Kila Dick, took the opportunity to congratulate the athletes for making it this far and being selected to attend the Games in the Northern Marianas Islands. PNG will be represented in Athletics, Golf, Tennis, Va’a, Weightlifting and Para Sports at the Pacific Mini Games. Organised by the PNGOC and the General Management Teams (GMT) to the Games, the Team PNG Bonding event had information booths for athletes and officials to access information, ask questions and also meet the GMT which includes the Medical Teams and Team Press Attaché’/Photographers to the Games. In his closing statement, Sir John acknowledged Kumul Consolidated Holdings for its sponsorship towards Team PNG's preparations for both Games and also the sponsors of the event Gateway Hotel for providing the venue for the event and Blue-7-Team for setting up the information booths. He said that despite the scourge of the pandemic the PNGOC was doing the best it can with whatever resources they had, and the support of our sponsors help make this event a success.” The Mini Games will be held from the 17th to the 25th of June followed by the Commonwealth Games from the 28th of July to the 8th of August which will be held in Birmingham, England.

26 intending candidates have nominated so far since the nominations were open to contest the Rigo Open seat in the 2022 National General Elections. Rigo Open Returning Officer Murray Konido said 20 candidates nominated on Thursday when the nomination started and on Friday, five turned up. “The current sitting MP Lekwa Gure was the only one who turned up yesterday to nominate taking the total up to 26,” Mr Konido said. “Of the 26, two of them are female, including Future of PNG Party president Mrs Vickii Mosin and Melanie Vari.” He said other prominent candidates includes the former Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs (DPLLGA) Secretary Dickson Guina, former Chief Ombudsman Ila Geno, former MP Ano and lawyer Gomara Gorua. Nominations is still continuing at this time until Thursday May 26, 2022 at 4pm.

Future of PNG Party endorsed candidate Jonathan O'ata was the first candidate to nominate in the newly created Kairuku Open electorate in Central Province on Friday. United Labour Party's candidate Bona Ine'e and People's Reform Party John Apini followed after along with others for the electorate’s inaugural National Elections. The nominations on Friday took place at Bereina Station before hundreds of the candidates' supporters as nomination around the country swing into action. Current sitting MP for Kairuku Hiri Peter Isoaimo nominated yesterday in full traditional regalia before hundreds of his supporters. Meanwhile New Generation Party Candidate Madonna Josephine Aoae officially made her stand yesterday when she nominated for the seat in the 2022 National General Elections. Ms Aoae, the only female candidate vying for the newly created seat satisfied and signed off her nomination at 2:35pm. She walked out of the Kairuku District Headquartes and received an applause from her small contingent of family and coordinators who were there to witness the occasion. Ms Aoae is following in the footsteps of her father, Late Joseph Aoae who was a three-term member of parliament representing the people of Kairuku-Hiri.

He's the home-grown Hollywood great known for his generosity. Now it has been revealed that Russell Crowe helped out two young pilots who were struggling to complete their aviation studies. Crowe offered Jed Katal and Clyde Awesa, both from Papua New Guinea, financial assistance so they could complete their flight training, reports The Daily Telegraph. [caption id="attachment_21828" align="alignnone" width="838"] Generous: Russell Crowe (pictured in Sydney in April 2017) offered financial assistance to two young pilots from Papua New Guinea who were struggling to complete their aviation studies[/caption] Now the pair have landed their first jobs as pilots with Torres Strait Air, an air charter company based out of Cairns North, Queensland. After arriving in Australia in 2018, the Covid pandemic put a halt to Katal and Awesa's studies two years later. The two men encountered further trouble when their flight school on the NSW Mid North Coast closed down. It was about this time that Crowe, who first met the men by chance on the tarmac of Coffs Harbour Airport, stepped in. [caption id="attachment_21829" align="aligncenter" width="839"] Soaring: Now the pair have landed their first jobs as pilots with Torres Strait Air, an air charter company based out of Cairns North, Queensland[/caption] The 59-year-old Gladiator star hooked the men up with a new flight school, White Star Aviation, in Ballina, NSW. While Crowe would not confirm his act of generosity, he told The Daily Telegraph he was proud of his friends' achievements. Crowe struck up a friendship with Katal and Awesa over their mutual love of rugby league. The Oscar winner later helped the keen footy players join the Orara Valley Axemen, a rugby league club based near Crowe's home near Coffs Harbour. [caption id="attachment_21830" align="aligncenter" width="845"] Footy lovers: Crowe struck up a friendship with Katal and Awesa over their mutual love of rugby league. He later helped the keen footy players to join the Orara Valley Axemen (pictured with coach Sam Burgess), a rugby league club based near Crowe's home near Coffs Harbour[/caption] Under the stewardship of coach Sam Burgess, formerly of Crowe's South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Axemen have a special place in the actor's heart. He has long had an association with the team, having helped save the bush club when it was forced to withdraw from the local competition in 2020. SOURCE: The Daily Telegraph

The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) is pleased to announce the justification process by the Justification Committee (JC) which started in the 4th Quarter of 2020, to identify sports and endorse athletes and officials for the 11th Pacific Mini Games has been completed. Whilst the Pacific Mini Games will be hosting nine sports – Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Tennis, Triathlon, Va’a and Weightlifting, PNG will only participate in five. The five (5) sports endorsed by the JC are Athletics, Golf, Tennis, Va’a and Weightlifting. Beach Volleyball and Triathlon were not endorsed and will miss out due to non-compliance with the Justification Committee's requirements. Baseball and Badminton National Federation opted not to participate in the Pacific Mini Games due to their team’s readiness. A total of 92 Athletes and Team Officials will be part of Team PNG attending this year’s Games scheduled to be held from the 17th to 25th June 2022. The JC is the committee under the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC), which screens and endorses sports and their athletes and officials to take part as Team PNG in the Olympic, Commonwealth and Pacific Games. The team is scheduled to depart for Saipan on 12th June 2022 and PNGOC is working round the clock to secure funds to meet the budget for Team PNG for both the Pacific Mini Games and the Commonwealth Games which follow soon after in July. President, Sir John Dawanincura said, “PNGOC is hopeful that the Government will step in to assist Team PNG to meet its budget shortfall”.