Air Niugini is pleased to advise that passengers traveling to Singapore now will no longer require pre-departure tests. Singapore also doesn’t require pre-departure testing for passengers transiting through Singapore onto flights to other international destinations. However, should your final destination require a pre-departure test, evidence of this will need to be shown at check-in. We recommend checking for latest information at https://www.airniugini.com.pg/international-travel-restrictions-and-requirements/ , and bringing with you a screen shot of your final destination’s requirements during check-in. Countries that do not require pre-departure tests include, the UK, EU, Scandinavia, Canada, Australia, Brazil and South Africa. Countries that require pre-departure rapid tests include USA, New Zealand and Indonesia. The countries that require PCR tests include Malaysia, Japan, China, Hong Kong and South Korea. This information is rapidly changing and passengers must check on the latest requirements. Passengers departing internationally from PNG are reminded that they cannot check-in without a certificate of vaccination valid for travel. Vaccination Certificates valid for international travel includes (amongst others) the PNG International Certificate of COVID Vaccination (ICCV), the WHO yellow card, the Australian Covid-19 Digital Vaccination Certificate, as well as compliant certificates issued by other countries.

The National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) and the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Services Authority (PNGICSA) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to combat illegal activities in the country. Under the Agreement, both organisations will collaborate on information sharing and effectively establish a framework to combat illegal activities and apprehend offenders who violate the country’s laws. NGCB Chief Executive Officer Imelda Agon said the MOU will allow both organisations to conduct joint programmes and awareness to ensure businesses follow proper processes, and regulate and monitor existing business entities owned by foreign nationals or foreign nationals partnering with PNG nationals. Agon said the Gaming Industry is being diversified and soon new games will be introduced in the country thus there is a need for prudent monitoring and regulation of businesses who are keen to venture or tap into gaming businesses. “It is important that we strategically forge good working relationship with other government agencies and our partnership with PNGICSA is pivotal to combat illegal foreigners coming into our country and engaging in illegal gaming business and not paying their taxes to the PNG Government”, Agon said. The Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau said ICA wants to work with all agencies to improve compliance and same time help each other to enforce their respective laws and generate revenue for the government. “At ICA we are stepping up our efforts to close off all loopholes in our efforts to create a joint agency collaboration where information and intelligence can be managed through conveniently for the sake of strengthening our domestic laws to ensure foreign nationals who do business in our country are compliant,” Mr Hulahau said. “And this MOU is based on this principal of information sharing and collaboration in areas of mutual interests.” The MOU now enables NGCB to request ICA to impose travel restrictions or alerts on persons of interest trying to travel out of the country, provide information on persons of interest, and conduct physical spot check operations and removal if necessary.

The Immigration and Citizenship Authority and Investment Promotion Authority this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen the ongoing cooperation between Immigration and IPA. The MOU will solidify the relationship between the two State Agencies to share information, improve compliance in the area of doing business in Papua New Guinea and cooperation on operational matters of mutual interests for the country. Chief Migration Officer Mr. Stanis Hulahau said IPA plays a significant role to attract foreign businesses to do business in the country by issuing the businesses the appropriate registration certificates that enables them to obtain other permits and licences that should allow the businesses to operate in the country. “On the other hand, ICA gives foreign business owners the entry permit to live and work in the country,” Mr Hulahu said. “In any case, both the IPA and ICA operations must be independent but both their operations must be seen to be working together in areas where we need each other’s support so this MOU binds that relationship.” IPA Managing Director Mr. Clarence Hoot said they recognize the importance of the relationship and wish to strengthen the relationship further through the provision of timely, effective, and efficient exchange of information arrangements. The Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) is a statutory body mandated to promote and facilitate investment in Papua New Guinea by national, citizen and foreign enterprises and ensure of compliance of the laws that IPA administers through the certification and registration of such enterprises.

The country has welcomed the first two tourists from Dubai after the visitors were convinced by the beauty of Papua New Guinea displayed at the world expo in Dubai. Ruslan Tarpan and Ramil Shaidullin from Ukraine and Russia respectively visited the PNG pavilion at the expo2020 and were blown away by the images and videos about the country. They were also introduced to locally made products such as coffee, honey, artefacts and jewelry, which they purchased. The duo arrived in the country earlier in the week on a 10-day tour to several places in the country including Ambua Lodge in Tari, Karawari in East Sepik, Mt Hagen and Kokopo in East New Britain. “The people are very friendly, the nature is so beautiful and the food is great,” said an excited Ramil from the mountains of Ambua. Ramil who has now called himself Mangi Tari seems to love everything he comes across such as the decorations and masks in the lodges, artefacts and is interested to take them back to Dubai. “Everything is good but the internet is not good,” he told IPA Officer Mrs. Beverly Piawu. “But the main thing is that we are having a great experience in the green outbacks of PNG.” The duo chartered a plane to take them around their visits. During the Dubai world expo’s thematic week on Travel and Connectivity in January, the PNG Expo Team hosted an investment forum to promote the ICT and tourism sectors. The key message delivered during the forum was that digital technology in this century and access to broadband internet for our citizens and visitors would add value to the natural environment and cultural diversity of Papua New Guinea and therefore, PNG needed an integrated tourism and visitor connectivity infrastructure system. The team highlighted the call out for investors and experts that would help plan and deliver the connectivity system in a sustainable way. Expo Commissioner General and PNG Ambassador to Brussels and the European Union His Excellency Joshua Kalinoe said he was happy to see the results of expo starting to come into fruition. He said this was a result of the efforts put in by the team during the six-month long expo. He also stressed that PNG was an exotic country but it needs visitors to experience a mixture of both the modern and traditional means of PNG lifestyles so that even if they spend time on the remote mountains or islands they can still have access to internet and electricity.

Thirty-five students (35) from Central Province attending Kokopo Business College in East New Britain Province will be repatriated back to the province today with the help of the Central Provincial Administration. The students sought assistance from the Central Governor Robert Agarobe following the attack on the school early this week by locals where several causalities were reported. Provincial Administrator Mr Francis Koaba said the parents of the students have made contact with his office and arrangements are underway to repatriate the students. “A charter is arranged now with Air Niugini to repatriate the students as soon as possible for the students to return home safely to their parents and guardians,” Mr Koaba said. “We have received reports that Central province students have fled the school area and are currently at Rabaul.” He said the students are in contact with his office and students from Central province, MotuKoita and NCD will be catered for in the repatriation exercise. Koaba said the charter is scheduled to arrive in Tokua airport today to get the students and return to Port Moresby. So far provinces that have gone include Manus, New Ireland, Oro, West New Britain, Hela, Western, Morobe while Central will be this afternoon on a 5pm charter.

Prime Minister James Marape said his Government has increased investments in key infrastructure nationwide, unlike the former government regime where only a few places were developed at the expense of the rest of Papua New Guinea. He said this in Lorengau, Manus, on Monday when opening the K101.9 million Momote International Airport and launching the Manus Special Economic Zone (SEZ). PM Marape also: • Announced K10 million allocation for building of SEZ headquarters; • Announced K10 million for agriculture, fisheries and tourism SMEs through Bank South Pacific and National Development Bank; and • Opened a cold storage facility built by National Fisheries Authority (NFA) for export of fisheries products. “In three hard and tough economic years, we have pushed our investments to key infrastructure in all provinces of our country, unlike the recent past government where only one or two places were getting lop-sided development at the expense of rest of Papua New Guinea,” PM Marape said. “We have embarked on new sea ports like N’Drauke, Vanimo and Manus, to name a few, and rehabilitation of existing economic ports like Kavieng, Lorengau, Oro, Kimbe, Rabaul, Madang, Lae and Port Moresby. “We have embarked on K20 billion worth of road infrastructure over the next 20 years to connect PNG by reliable roads overlaid with electricity and Internet. “Highways like Momote to West Coast Manus, Alotau to Port Moresby, Port Moresby to Kerema /Ihu, Lae to Port Moresby, Kimbe to Kokopo, Buka to Buin, Wewak to Vanimo, Madang to Wewak, Wabag to Sepik, Southern Highlands/Hela to Kikori Gulf, Lae to Finschafen/Kabwum, Kundiawa to Karamui, Tabubil to Telefomin, Hagen to Madang and Kundiawa -Bundi/Madang are being constructed. “We also have over 100 small district and provincial roads we are funding for first-stage construction like Tari to Kopiago, Komo to Bosavi, Banz to Jimi, Namatanai to South New Ireland and Kokopo to Pomio. “These are examples of connecting the forgotten people of our country into one nation, one people, one country. “One country united by economy, by enabling infrastructure, and by Papua New Guinea united – Pangu for short - where no one part of the country like Manus is left behind.” PM Marape said he was in Manus not only to open the new airport but point Manus in a better direction – for a wealthy and united PNG built on Christian and Melanesian values - going forward. “Now that we have taken PNG back from hands and minds of corruption, misuse of people’s resources and uneven distribution of wealth, we all must now work to construct a better Manus and PNG for our children to live in,” he said. “For Manus, this airport terminal must not be a waste but an asset for the country; this investment must not only repay the K101.9 million the country invested in it but generate more commerce and economic activity going forward. “Manus is a strategic province - you are connected to Asia and the Pacific by air and sea.” PM Marape announced that Parliament, under the leadership of Governor Hon. Charlie Benjamin and Open MP Hon. Job Pomat, had passed the Manus SEZ. “Manus will be a special region where there will be no tax for companies operating here,” he said. “We want agriculture, fisheries, forestry, manufacturing, tourism, banking, education and health businesses to grow here. “Lorengau International Airport will also receive international flights - a catalyst which will ensure that this special province grows into the place it rightfully deserves to be."

92 Public Servants were paid out last week their retirement benefits as the first batch of retirees for 2022. The 92 officers from 15 government agencies were paid out a cost of K5.7 million on Pay 8. The retirees are from West New Britain Provincial Health Authority, Central Provincial Health Authority, Port Moresby General Hospital, Enga Provincial Health Authority, Eastern Highlands Provincial Health authority, National Health Department, Gulf Provincial Administration, Department of Justice and Attorney General, Constitution & Law Reform Commission, Public Solicitor’s Office, National Museum and Art Gallery, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Department of Foreign Affairs AND Trade, Central Provincial Administration and Southern Highlands Provincial Administration. Department of Personnel Management Secretary Ms Sansan Taies said, the officers were identified by their respective agencies and their names submitted to DPM for validation and verification to be paid out. Secretary Ms. Sansan said, the retirement exercise has been on going since 2019 of which over 2,596 public servants have so far been paid out at a cost of K114 million. “We are continuing the retirement exercise this year. The government had allocated K200 million in the 2022 annual budget to retire aging public servants and my department will continue to coordinate with all line agencies to ensure this process is executed well this year”. Ms. Sansan said, the savings anticipated to be made out of retiring these 92 officers would be K3.1 million. DPM has coordinated the public sector retirement program following an NEC decision in 2017, which has seen the development of a ‘Whole of Government approach undertaken to ensure all public servants who have reached the compulsory retirement age of 65 or those that are required to retire on medical grounds are paid out and put off the pay roll. “The vacancies created will also mean the workforce is better positioned to implement reforms, including the engagement of a new breed of Papua New Guinean public servants out of universities and colleges.” Secretary Ms. Sansan has thanked the government for the continued support to ensure that public servants who have reached compulsory retirement age are paid out.

The Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition Match Review Committee has deliberated on a complaint on the incident that occurred on Sunday, 24th April 2022 in the Round 1 match of the Digicel Cup between the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis and Kroton Hela Wigmen played in Goroka at the Sir Danny Leahy Oval. Upon reviewing the match with reports provided by the match officials on the ground it is conclusive that: • Goroka Lahanis player, second rower Ake Palus assaulted the match referee, Max Topani, right after fulltime punching him in the head from the back • Media Official for the Lahanis, Yomba Photography, and Post Courier’s stringer David Boli assaulted the referee right after fulltime by slapping him The Match Review Committee has deemed these actions as serious in nature that violates NRLC Participation Agreement Section 6 (e) on compliance with rules. The Match Review Committee therefore with the powers bestowed upon them under the PNGNRLC Administration and Regulations has resolved to apply the following penalties on the Goroka Lahanis team: 1.Lahanis Player Ake Palus is banned from playing in any PNGNRLC and PNGRFL sanctioned matches in PNG for the next 10 years effective 26th April 2022. 2.Home games in Goroka are suspended indefinitely. 3.Media Official of the Lahanis, Yomba Photography, and Post Courier freelancer David Boli, are banned from entering any PNGNRLC and PNGRFL sanctioned games in PNG for the next 5 years, with David Boli’s case to be referred also to the PNG Media Council. The Match Review Committee hopes that such incidents do not arise in the future.

Quarter one of 2022 Foreign Exchange (FX) market inflow momentum is expected to continue into the half-year, assisted by firmer commodity prices, end of half-year dividend flows and foreign aid, according to BSP Group General Manager – Treasury, Rohan George. “As FX inflows can be lumpy, we expect there to be periods where outstanding FX orders build up. “To manage volatility in foreign currency flows, businesses should place FX orders (with correct documentation), as soon as possible, ensure orders are cash-backed whilst awaiting execution, ensuring tax clearance certificates are current and reflect the expected FX order execution time,” Mr. George stated in the BSP Pacific Economic and Market Insight Q1 2022 Report. He emphasized in the report that in the first quarter of 2022, FX market turnover fell 2% from the strong December Quarter 2021, but rose 24% from March Quarter 2021 (12 months ago), supported by strong commodity prices, in particular Oil, Copper, Palm Oil, Coffee. “Firmer commodity prices offset the lost FX market inflows from the closure of the Porgera Gold Mine (Barrick FX inflows down 75%), whilst the stronger commodity prices added to transportation and input costs of imported goods increased the volume of new FX orders placed post-Christmas,” Mr George added. Meanwhile, the outstanding FX orders expectation of reopening the Porgera Gold Mine is also positive from foreign exchange perspective remained similar to levels seen 12 months ago. “BPNG FX intervention rose 8% in 2022, reducing some of the outstanding FX order backlogs, but remains unchanged from March Quarter 2021." “The Kina fell 10 basis points against the U.S. dollar to 0.2840 in 2022, the first movement for over 14 months." Stronger commodity prices, due to the invasion of Ukraine, strengthened the Australian dollar and saw the Kina fall to 0.36,” Mr. George further added.

In a separate, apparently defiant move, it seemed Ukraine was taking the fight to its aggressor, with reports of explosions at a weapons dump at Belgorod - inside Russia. The US has urged its allies to move "heaven and earth" to keep Kyiv stocked with weapons - as Russian forces continue to rain fire on eastern and southern Ukraine. For the second day in a row, explosions also rocked the separatist region of Trans-Dniester in neighbouring Moldova, knocking out two powerful radio antennas close to the Ukrainian border. No-one claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Ukraine all but blamed Russia. It came amid growing international fears the war was beginning to spill further over borders. And in a separate, apparently defiant move, it seemed Ukraine had begun taking the fight to its aggressor's door - with reports of explosions at a weapons dump at Belgorod, inside Russia. [caption id="attachment_21154" align="aligncenter" width="859"] Situation on day 62 of war in Ukraine[/caption] Meanwhile, in Germany, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin convened a meeting of officials from about 40 countries at the American air base at Ramstein. There, he urged delegates to leave "with a common and transparent understanding of Ukraine's near-term security requirements because we're going to keep moving heaven and earth so that we can meet them". [caption id="attachment_21155" align="aligncenter" width="850"] US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin[/caption] Over in Chernobyl, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, says it was possible an accident could have occurred when Russian troops seized control of the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster during the early stages of the war in Ukraine. Speaking at the plant on Tuesday, Rafael Mariano Grossi said as Russia troops took over in February on their way to the capital Kyiv, there became a "nuclear safety situation which was not normal, and could have developed into an accident". [caption id="attachment_21156" align="alignnone" width="874"] A dosimetrist measures the level of radiation around trenches dug by the Russian military near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power[/caption] The site is now back in Ukrainian hands but Russians continue to hold a working nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine - the Zaporizhzhia plant - where there was fighting nearby in early March which damaged the plant's training facility. Focus on Donbas After unexpectedly fierce resistance by Ukrainian forces thwarted Russia's attempt to take its capital, Moscow's focus is now the capture of the Donbas, the mostly Russian-speaking industrial region in eastern Ukraine. In response, Ukraine's pleas for heavy weaponry has intensified, and Germany announced it would be sending tanks - better suited for the Donbas, than around the capital Kyiv where much of the earlier fighting took place. In key developments: US State Department diplomats have begun returning to Lviv in Western Ukraine Russia will stop gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria from Wednesday, it has been announced Russia's President Vladimir Putin tells UN Secretary-General António Guterres, he still hopes to negotiate a peaceful settlement with Ukraine UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson dampened down claims Russia will use tactical nuclear weapons Russia's defence ministry has claimed Ukraine has lost control of the entire Kherson region Earlier in the day, officials in Poland and Bulgaria said Russia had suspended natural gas deliveries to the two NATO countries, over their refusal to pay for its supplies in Russian roubles. This led Ukraine to accuse Russia of blackmailing Europe over energy in an attempt to break its allies. Staunch Kremlin opponent Poland is among the European countries seeking the toughest sanctions against Russia for invading its neighbour. The potential effect of the cut-off was not immediately clear. Poland said it was well-prepared for such a move after working for years to reduce its reliance on Russian energy. But, Bulgaria gets more than 90% of its gas from Russia, and officials said they were working to find other sources. Back to work Meanwhile, the US State Department said diplomats had begun returning to Ukraine by making day trips to temporary offices in the western city of Lviv from neighbouring Poland. It said the first group of diplomats crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border and travelled to Lviv on Tuesday morning. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the agency has accelerated its review of re-opening the US embassy in Kyiv, which was closed shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February. He said it was hoped operations at the embassy would resume as soon as possible depending on the security situation in the capital. SOURCE: SKY NEWS

Evelyn Mopafi from Ungai Bena District in the Eastern Highlands Province has been helping women in her district to sell their bilums using the social media platform, to improve their livelihoods.  So far she has assisted about 300 weavers to sell their bilums and help them to earn an income from weaving and selling bilums through their Facebook page 'Apo Meri'. She recently came up with a new initiative to purchase reusable pads from the sale of bilums, called the BILUM4PADS. “First we were just helping then to sell their bilums then we discovered the Queen pads and thought it would be a great way to assist the women this way.” “With the usual disposal pads, it's an extra expense for village women who have no formal or regular income so having reusable pads is more economical.” “We purchase reusable pads from Queen pads from the sales of the bilums for the women.” Ms Mopafi said they started with purchasing 30 reusable pads for 30 weavers to try. She said that the more bilums they sell, more women can be able to receive a reusable pad. Ms Mopafi added that she is currently focused on women from her clan since she works full time. The type of bilums they sell are called skinpiks or Bena bilums. Ms Mopafi added that apart from assisting mothers to sell their bilums, she also assists artisans from Lufa to sell their baskets. She hopes to be able to assist mothers purchase solar lights also from the sale of their bilums.

The top echelon of the Royal Papua New Constabulary concluded a high-level meeting last week aimed to firm down on the 2022 National General Election security operation plans in Port Moresby. The two-day conference was attended by Assistance Police Commissioners, Police Commissioner David Manning, Deputy Commissioner Operations Anton Billie and the National General 2022 Planning Team, as well as PNG Defence Force and Correctional Services officials. The conference began last Thursday and ended on Friday with the team committed to delivering the security overlay required for the elections around the country. Last week marked the end of the planning phase with the transition now into the pre-deployment and operation proper phases. Commissioner Manning when receiving briefs from respective Commanders assured them that the security deployment will proceed as planned and there is no room for complacency nor will the Constabulary retreat from its constitutional duty to provide the conditions necessary for the PNG Electoral Commission to conduct the 2022 National General Elections. “Election operations are not a new thing to most of us and I’m sure your plans are based on past operational experiences and imminent threats assessments within your respective commands,” Mr Manning said. He said in times where the Constabulary lacks the necessary resources it demands experience and good leadership to deliver the expected outcomes for a free, fair and safe national general election. He told the Assistant Commissioners, “You have been bestowed with this position based on your leadership and experiences and I have no doubt each of you will demonstrate those qualities during this election period.” Mr Manning said the conference last week marked the transition from planning into operation mode, adding that “the election security operations will proceed as planned with no retreat”. The Commissioner said that the security forces will deliver the election security operations regardless of resource issues or changes to the election dates. The conference was also attended by the Electoral Commissioner and Senior officers form the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and the PNG Correctional Services.