Air Niugini is pleased to advise customers that due to high demand for Sydney flights, the airline will be operating three special flights from Port Moresby to Sydney and back, using the Boeing 767 aircraft. The flights, PX 4001/4002 will operate every Sunday, commencing on 28th November, followed by 05th and 12th December. These flights depart Port Moresby at 07:00am and arrive in Sydney at 11:55am with the return services departing Sydney at 12:55pm and arriving back in POM at 3:55pm. These are additional flights with Air Niugini maintaining its usual weekly scheduled Sydney service on Mondays. Continuation of additional flights beyond 12th December will be reviewed depending on demand. Meanwhile, PX 003/PX 004 from Port Moresby to Brisbane on the three dates mentioned (28th November, and 05th & 12th December) have been cancelled with passengers being moved to the next available flights. We also wish to remind our passengers that New South Wales (NSW) has already announced quarantine free travel for international arriving passengers from 1st November 2021. At present, only fully vaccinated passengers will be approved for uplift to Sydney.  Unvaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents can return to Australia on PX003 to Brisbane, but will require 14 days hotel quarantine on arrival. Travel is initially limited to Australian citizens, permanent residents and special visa holders. We do expect this to extend to business travellers and tourists soon after. Parents , or parents-in-law of Australian citizens and permanent residents , who are fully vaccinated are now eligible to apply for approval to travel to Australia at https://travel-exemptions.homeaffairs.gov.au/tep From 1st November, there is no requirement to apply for approval to leave Australia, so long as you are fully vaccinated. Travel is expected to open to Papua New Guineans and other nationalities planning on traveling to Australia, for work, schooling, leisure or to catch-up with wantoks or friends in late December. Intending passengers are reminded that you must be fully vaccinated prior to being allowed to travel internationally including to Australia.   Hence if you do plan any international travel, we recommend you get vaccinated now to avoid disappointment. PNG Immigration has also recommenced online visa applications for those wishing to travel to PNG, whilst Papua New Guineans can apply online for tourist visas’s to travel to Australia, albeit as noted this pathway is not yet open for actual travel. Air Niugini continues to operate six flights per week to Brisbane, two flights to Sydney, four flights per week to Singapore, twice weekly to Manila, and twice weekly to Hong Kong. Flights to other locations remain suspended due to international border restrictions. All passengers departing internationally will still need to complete a negative PCR test at Port Moresby airport at time of check-in.  Access to testing closes two hours prior to scheduled departure.   Wearing of face masks in the terminals and on board the aircraft is mandatory, hand sanitisers are provided for your protection, and social distancing is followed wherever practical in order to ensure your international travel remains as safe as possible.

Papua New Guinea’s Health Minster, Jelta Wong, MP, has roundly condemned reckless and misleading claims by his predecessor on the number of people losing their lives to COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea. Minister Wong said the Member for Pomio, Elias Kapavore, MP, and the Opposition are peddling fake news and showing a total disregard for the lives and safety of Papua New Guineans. "The statement by the former Health Minister about the number of people recovering from COVID-19 is wrong,” Minister Wong said. "This follows similar claims made by foreign anti-vaccination activists in other countries that have been discredited. "The death rate Tor C0VID-19 is not one per cent as the Opposition claims with his misleading figure that 99 per cent of infected people have recovered. "The anti-vaccination activists refuse to admit what everyone of us knows, and that is there are many people dying from C0VID-19 who are not included in official figures." "These are deaths where the body was not tested, was not accurately reported because of community fears or the death was not reported to health authorities." "The Morobe Public Health Authority has advised that the recovery rate for infected patients is as low as 90 per cent, meaning 10 per cent of COVID-19 patients have died." “According to these nonsense figures peddled by Opposition, the COVID-19 death rate in Papua New Guinea is lower than countries such as Germany which is a country with one of the best medical care systems in the world." “I hope that Mr. Kapavore, a medical practitioner and former Provincial Health Authority CEO, does not really believe the claims he is making and stop misleading our people. "The Opposition should stop downplaying the COVID-19 infection threat as cases continue to rise, and stop politicising vaccines because right now we are staring death in the face." The Health Minister further expressed his disappointment in the Mr. Kapavore appears to dismiss any death occurring as a result of COVID-19. "One of the concerning parts of the statement by Mr. Kapavore is that he appears to dismiss the loss of Papua New Guinean lives as unimportant." "Every man, woman, child that dies from COVID-19 in our country is another precious life lost." "Every vaccinated person is another life saved and the Opposition should stop this mischief that is causing people to be hesitant and lose their life if they delay vaccination." "All leaders need to respect the lives and health of our people, and not be misled by anti-vaccination activist."

Equal Playing Field’s inaugural Youth Leadership Summit will take place from the 15th – 19th November 2021. The first of its kind event will see close to 100 young men and women from seven centers across the country, including National Capital District (NCD), get together to share ideas and knowledge on youth related topics. The week-long event will be physically hosted in Port Moresby for 30 youths, while the other centers will be virtually connected. These are Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), East New Britain, East Sepik, Southern Highlands, Milne Bay, Morobe and Hela. According to Youth Leadership Summit donor and sponsor United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), this arrangement was made following assessment of the risks large gathering would have posed on the participants in terms of Covid-19. Equal Playing Field’s Chief Executive Officer, Jacqui Joseph, said the idea of going regional was to create an equal chance for the youths from the outside centers. With the measure not allowing gathering of more than 20 people, the summit host has taken it on board to see the event through and at the same time complying with the provided measures. Joseph, further reiterated that even though running the regional summit may not fully capture the main aim of the summit to create an interprovincial network amongst the youths but the organisers have other options to link all the youths together. Joseph said this summit aims to create an avenue for the young men and women to get together and share ideas, information and discuss how they should strengthen their programs. With the theme, ‘Strongim yut, Strongim nasen’ EPF aims to give an opportunity to the youth to learn and build themselves up instead of waiting for free handouts from agencies, donors and governments. Joseph said they (youth) have the resources and skills and all they need is training to help them realise their potential to do more using what they have. “The youth have the potential to advocate on sensitive issues within their communities, issues that matter to them like gender-based violence and climate change. The 2021 Youth Leadership Summit is funded by the European Union and the United Nations through the Spotlight Initiative.

ncsl is pleased to support local business through its EFTPoS terminals and recently extended its services to Abus Na Kumu, a popular local SME engaged in cooking and catering delicious home cooked meals ranging from local food to international recipes such as rice and stews, BBQ and salads among many others. Abus Na Kumu is a Tokpisin term in English which means protein and greens an actual delicacy loved by Papua new Guineans. Founder Mr. Richard Mark was delighted to become a merchant for ncsl to facilitate payment transaction for its cooking sessions and Pop Up markets in Port Moresby. Installation of the terminal meant customers can make payment using any commercial bank card besides poro card itself. Richard Mark said this was a significant step for them as they aim to deliver the best service to their customers. “ncsl terminals suits our business as many of our customers are locals and ncsl members. Our target is low to average income earners, many of them save with ncsl and this facility will make payment a lot easier for them and for us.” He continued on saying, “We are happy to accept payments made via the EFTPoS and encourage other SME’s to do the same for their customers.” ncsl Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Presley Semi said ncsl is proud to support SMEs. “The recent partnership with Abus Na Kumu demonstrates ncsl’s commitment and is in line with National Government objectives to drive growth in the SME sector. “There is a range of SME products currently available including deposit and loan products, including electronic banking services like EFTPOS terminals. The Installation of this terminal brings the number of ncsl terminals nationwide to over 300 with many merchants showing interest said ncsl eBanking Manager, Ms. Vavine Iamo. Iamo had earlier said businesses who wish to use ncsl terminals can contact eBanking to install terminals subjected to terms and conditions.

Police Commissioner David Manning is standing by the integrity of the recent recruitment drive for the police reservist program, saying it was done professionally and with the intention to engage the best people for the job. Mr Manning said the reserve police recruitment was abused for so long. When he became Commissioner of Police he stopped the program and designed a revamped process that excludes nepotism, bias and corrupt practices. Mr Manning said to improve the impartiality and perceptions of the integrity of the whole process, critical functions of the recruitment process were out-sourced to an independent private company. “I am standing by the integrity of the recruitment process. Those making the allegations of corruption within the process must now back up their allegations,” Mr Manning said. He explained that the allegation that 16 names in the interview listing were not in the original eligible candidates listing was urgently audited on November 8 when it came to light. The results show unequivocally that the allegation is false. Every one of the 16 names was in the eligible list. “Therefore it would seem that the allegations are just stunts employed by people who have not met our criteria. These are definitely not the sort of people we want in the Police Force. “There was also an allegation that telephone calls and text messages soliciting payments in response for favourable selection outcomes were levelled by several candidates. I confirm that the allegations are being taken very seriously and I directed yesterday immediate investigations to identify the culprits behind these,” Mr Manning said. Mr Manning further explained that the NCD/Central Reservist selection centre (RSC) commenced on November 1 this year at the Bomana National Centre of Excellence and was done in three stages: credential screening (1 & 2 November), testing (3, 4, 5 & 6 November) and interviews (8 to 12 November). Mr Manning said candidates who failed at any stage were dropped from the process. Only those candidates passing successfully through every stage will be considered for Reservist Police Training. “We have determined that if the final number successfully completing the process exceeds the original target of 130, we will consider increasing the intake above the 130 level,” he said. Prior to the commencement of the RSC, the names of 1,161 eligible candidates were published in The National and Post-Courier newspapers. The same list was distributed via the RPNGC’s email distribution group and placed on the RPNGC and NCD/Central Police Facebook Pages. To improve the impartiality and perceptions of the integrity of the whole process, critical functions were out-sourced to an independent private company including: • The initial filtering of applicants against the eligibility criteria; • The marking of test papers; • Oversight of candidate interviews; and • The compilation of results, scores and name list at the completion of each stage. Stage One: Screening of credentials Due to Covid-19 concerns and the requirement to maintain groups of persons at 20 or below, the 1,161 were allotted, 150 to one of four 1 ½ hour time periods on November 1 and 2. In this way numbers were successfully controlled and Covid-19 compliance maintained. Two hundred and fifty (250) of the 1,161 eligible candidates did not show up for stage one and were automatically dropped from the process. In addition, another 131 candidates (from the 1,161) did not provide adequate documentary evidence of their eligibility and were dropped from the process. As such, 780 eligible candidates progressed to stage two, which was the testing stage. Stage Two: Testing During stage two, 780 persons were tested across three and a half days. They were seated in groups on chairs that were socially distanced by the selection centre staff. Entry at the beginning of the test sessions and exit at the end was controlled to ensure no mingling of numbers of people greater than allowed by the Covid-19 measures. All candidates sanitised their hands upon entry to the test hall and all wore face masks covering mouth and nose. Of the 780 persons tested, 333 achieved pass marks. The test papers and required pass marks were as follows: • Test Paper 1: Integrity and Aptitude Tests. The pass mark for the integrity questions was 5/5 (100%) and for the aptitude questions 12/23 or 52%; and • Test Paper 2: Reservist Entrance Test. This paper contains a written test and eight true/false questions. The required pass score is 8/11 or 72%. Stage Three: Interviews and fingerprinting All 333 candidates who have reached this stage are to be interviewed by a panel consisting of two RPNGC recruitment staff and one member of the private company. The member of the private company’s role is to ensure that the scoring methodologies are applied consistently across candidates. The scores for each candidate will be compiled and collated by the private company. After a candidate is interviewed, they will have their fingerprints taken. These will be used to cross- check against the RPNGC’s records and to commence the processing of Police Clearance Certificates. Final Selection Decisions Those candidates that pass through the selection centre and obtain a Police Clearance Certificate would be considered for a place on a Reservist training course. The decision as to whether they will be selected for training will depend upon: • The aggregate score achieved in the selection centre and the minimum cut off mark determined for the final selection decisions; • Whether the candidate passes a medical examination paid for and obtained by themselves prior to the start of training; • Whether they pass a physical training test at the prelude day to the commencement of the Reservist Training course; and • If there are enough training places for all selected candidates. “In conclusion I again reaffirm my confidence and trust in the integrity of the recruitment process that we have engaged for the Reservist Police branch of the Constabulary. Those making the serious allegations are urged to assist us by providing statements to support their allegations and enable us to take appropriate action if we need to,” Mr Manning said.

Panthers supremo Brian Fletcher has set the record straight around off-contract stars Api Koroisau and Villiame Kikau and is adamant both players will remain at Penrith next season. NSW Origin player Korisau and game-breaking backrower Kikau are both off contract with the premiers at the end of 2022 with rival clubs currently open to table offers for 2023 and beyond. Panthers CEO Fletcher told Fox Sports the premiers still view Koroisau and Kikau as vital members of Penrith’s premiership-winning roster and the club has no plans to release them early. “From our point of view it’s similar to the Matt Burton situation from last season – they’ve both got contracts with Penrith for next year and we see them as important members of our squad,” Fletcher said. “The other clubs can all come in and offer them whatever for 2023 and beyond but they’ll be at Penrith next year. “We’re happy to have both of them as part of our club and we’ll continue working through the negotiating process beyond that. “There’s no rush, we’ve got them both under contract for 2022.” Like all clubs who win a premiership, the Panthers will be feeling a salary cap squeeze. The Wests Tigers have signalled an interest in signing Koroisau but are pushing for the Blues Origin player to be released a year early so he can switch to the Concord-based club in 2022. The Tigers are also cashed-up with a $1.2 million war chest for 2022. Korisau won a premiership under Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire at South Sydney in 2014 and the pair remain close. The Panthers hooker also enjoys a close rapport with Penrith coach Ivan Cleary. Which is where it gets interesting. Penrith and the Tigers have been sworn enemies ever since Cleary walked out on Wests Tigers at the end of 2018. So the Panthers will be in no mood to show the Tigers any sort of favour by releasing Korisau a year early. North Queensland Cowboys have also gone on the record signalling an intent to make a major play for Kikau for 2023. The Panthers famously went to war with the Bulldogs over the signature of Matt Burton earlier this year and dug their heels in. Burton ended up being a key member of the Panthers premiership-winning roster playing primarily in the unfamiliar position of left centre. The Panthers have already seen Burton and Tyrone May move on from the grand final victory over South Sydney.

Department of Personnel Management has clarified that the sit-in protest undertaken by members of the PNG Nurses Association is illegal. Secretary Ms Taies Sansan said the state has not been informed of any industrial dispute or a call for withdrawal of labour registered by the Industrial Registrar and there was no secret ballot conducted by the nurses and therefore the notice issued for withdrawal of labour in the media is illegal and improper. Secretary Ms Taies Sansan said, the government is doing all it can to address issues contained in the Memorandum of Agreement signed by DPM, PNGNA and the Department of Health on the 25th of August 2020. Secretary Sansan said, the government through respective agencies has taken steps to prioritize and commence implementation of the awards contained in the MoA. “We have made a commitment to ensure duty related allowance for this group of front line health service providers for the next 3 years commencing 01st January 2021 is agreed to. However, considering the severe budget constraints compounded by covid-19, it would be more appropriate to find an amicable way forward to resolving the issue”. Secretary Sansan said, following the signing of the MoA DPM further issued a Circular Instruction 5/2021 on the 17th of February 2021 calling on all line agencies employing nursing officers to ensure implementation of the MoA and also informing Finance & Treasury to assist employing agencies in consultation with DPM to configure and allocate a code for the nurses Life and Medical Insurance subsidy on the payroll. “We have been in constant consultation on this matter with PNGNA and NDOH and are doing everything possible to honour the awards as per the MoA”. Ms Sansan, the last meeting held with all parties in which PNGNA was present was on the 10th of September when the status of implementing the awards was provided. The Nurses Award provides for all Nurses duty related inconveniences and hardships suffered by nurses from time to time in all public health facilities due to: unforeseen health hazards, risks of violence from patients, their families and the public, arduous physical efforts, danger in remote rural locations and most importantly the high risk for contraction of communicable diseases in line of duty, the following were undertaken; 1. 2021-2023 MoA Signed Nurses as front line workers were given special considerations and this was done through the MoA despite challenges the government is currently facing especially in light of covid-19 2. Circular Instruction for Implementation Issued Circular Instruction No.5 of 2021 was issued on the 17th of February 2021 for all implementing agencies to implement the awards. 3. Finance & Treasury Informed A letter of advice was issued to the 2 responsible departments for funding implementation of the MoA. Secretary Sansan has assured PNGNA that configurations of most of the allowances have been done and the new rates and allowances will commence as soon as practical with technical requirements which are time bound. “DPM is in constant dialogue with Department of Finance who will implement this on the payroll. I call on the PNG Nurses Association to withdraw the sit-in protest as it is illegal and should not in any way hinder health service provisions for our people especially at this time when covid-19 is putting a strain on our health system”.

Link PNG will resume flight services to Kavieng airport in New Ireland starting tomorrow after it announced the suspension of its operations to the province yesterday due to safety concerns. The airline advised the travelling public that the safety concern regarding loose gravel on the runway at Kavieng airport has now been resolved by the National Airport Corporation. The airline’s flight to Kavieng yesterday was cancelled while waiting for the issue to be resolved. Passengers holding onto confirmed tickets are required to reconfirm their travel dates at the nearest Air Niugini sales office or a travel agent.

PNG Air has advised passengers and the travelling public that flights into Kavieng, New Ireland Province have been suspended until further notice. This is due to safety concerns over loose gravel following recent runway upgrade work. The airline announced that this suspension of services is effective as of today until such time when the runway is suitable for safe operations. It also advised passengers holding onto confirmed tickets to rebook onto later flights at no penalty once a confirmed resumption date has been decided, subject to availability.

THE consumption of medical oxygen in hospitals in the country has risen high since the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, especially in the high risk provinces including National Capital District. Health authorities are now calling on everyone to adhere to the non-pharmaceutical measures to help prevent further spread of the virus as oxygen demand  in the country is expected to increase  if the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise rapidly. The non-pharmaceutical measures include avoiding  crowds, physical distancing by 1.5 to 2 metres, wearing of masks in public places such as markets and shop, following hygiene measures such as washing of hands with soap often or using sanitizers, and coughing into bent elbow rather than into the hands.  “Oxygen is the main medical therapy for COVID-19 patients. Moderate, severe and critical patients require high oxygen levels at 10-15L/min,’’ said National Control Centre clinical lead Dr Scotty Kandelyo, who is also the Deputy Chief Emergency Physician for Highlands and Momase Region. “A single moderate Covid-19 patient consumes oxygen in two large size cylinders (G size- 7600L x2) in 24 hours and a severe or critical patient consumes  oxygen in three G size cylinders (G size-7600Lx3) in 24 hours.’’ Dr Kandelyo said the oxygen consumption has increased by more than 100 per cent in the surge provinces. “Supplying of oxygen is currently struggling but keeping up with demand but if there are more cases we might run short with oxygen supply. Therefore, non-pharmaceutical measures are important,’’ said Dr Kandelyo. Dr Kandelyo said BOC Gas, the company supplying medical gas to the public health facilities, has reported that it has upscaled its oxygen supply by 75 per cent, but the logistics of supplying oxygen to the hospitals is also very challenging therefore the health facilities have to be proactive in assessing their oxygen capacity and request for resupply before their buffer supply is depleted so that the supply does not become so critical and put lives in danger. Recently, more than 400 oxygen concentrators have been distributed to each province about 18 per province on average which is supplying oxygen to the mild and moderate cases as well. Plans to build Pressure Swing Absorption Oxygen Plants in Port Moresby and Kokopo in East New Britain,  in Lae and Mt Hagen to ease the demand in the regions are being implemented with one in Port  Moresby already completed. The Deputy Controller for the National Pandemic Response Dr Daoni Esorom has cautioned that “if we get surges in all the provinces we will put a lot of strain on the already high demand for oxygen”. “Oxygen is also required for other medical conditions and sections of the hospital. Oxygen is required in the Emergency, Theatre, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Paediatric ICU and  Outpatient. “CEOs of PHA must order their oxygen requirements accurately to prevent out of stock,’’ said Dr Daoni.

Visit Port Moresby Nature Park’s Reptile Haus today! It proudly displays a collection of snakes, frogs, lizards and not forgetting the iconic pig-nosed turtle that’s featured on Papua New Guinea’s five toea coin! While at the Reptile Haus, you can also learn something new about the amazing life of snakes and especially during this time while the Park is running its “Locate & Win” promotion, you might be lucky enough to spot one of our prized stickers within the vicinity. There’s more for you to see and be part of so visit the Nature Park today!

A small primary school in the remote Green River LLG in West Sepik Province has received a major boost after local MP and PNG’s Opposition Leader, Belden Namah visited the area. Hogru Primary School which consists of 163 students from Elementary to Grade Seven. Recently, the school had one of its classrooms blown away by strong winds and continuous rains in the area. Recently, Local leader Belden Namah visited Hogru and spent two nights there where he presented the school with K30,000. With the assistance of community members, the classroom that was destroyed by strong winds was reconstructed within two days. Hogru Primary School’s headmaster, Jerry Homai, says despite many challenges the school faces every year, the community’s efforts in keeping the school year going has kept them thus far. He says, Hogru Primary School is in dire need of an extra teacher as the school currently has only three teachers which will not be enough to support the next year’s pioneer intake of grade eights. “We have one teacher for elementary school and two others teach multi-grades from grades one to seven. We have already applied for another teacher for next year and we are hoping the education department acknowledge our request,” said Mr Homai. During this week, local MP Belden Namah accompanied by his District officials was ferried into the area by Heli Solutions to present a K70, 000 cheque to Hogru Primary School to upgrade its classrooms to a permanent standard. Namah said Hogru has been cut off since 1964 after the arrival of missionaries but soon like many other areas in the Green River Rural LLG will open up and access services to in Vanimo town.