Nambawan Super Limited Chairman, Mr Reg Monagi, responded to the National Executive Council’s push to privatise State Owned Entities (SOEs) through the superannuation industry. The statement was issued following claims that the PNG Government is pursuing a reform agenda that includes the merger of the State’s telco assets and possible partial privatisation with majority ownership and board control to be passed onto the super funds. Mr Monagi said NSL is a growing fund that is actively seeking good investment opportunities that will contribute to long-term returns for our members but clarified that all investments considered by the Fund follow strict regulatory frameworks. “NSL is the Trustee of more than K8.5 billion in savings of everyday, hardworking Papua New Guineans and it is essential the Fund is prudent in its consideration of all possible investments,” Mr Monagi said. “The Fund considers all investment opportunities on their own merits in consultation with our Licensed Investment Manager as required under the prudential standards and regulations. “This process guides investment decisions and ensures opportunities for returns for our members are considered against the appropriate level of risk. Monagi confirmed preliminary talks have been held regarding the State’s telco businesses on a non-committal basis. “There are still a number of steps to be undertaken before NSL can make any commitments regarding SOEs, including the telcos,” he said. “But it is pleasing generally to see the State’s willingness to allow the private sector to take majority control of some of those businesses.” Nambawan Super is PNG’s largest superannuation fund with more than K8.5 billion in funds under management for more than 200,000 members of the private, public and informal sectors.

New water and sanitation facilities at Bisiatabu are providing more accessible, clean water and sparking changes in hygiene and sanitation for the entire community. Students and more than 200 people in the community are benefiting from two 9,000 litre water tanks and a community meeting space installed at Bisiatabu Primary School in Sogeri as part of the Central Water Security Project. The project is supported by the Australian Government in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea. through the Kokoda Initiative program. Grade eight students Andrew and Vagi said they were glad to have water tanks close to their school and will set a good example on proper hygiene. “We are always reminded to wash our hands regularly with soap and water or sanitise our hands when we get to school. The water tanks just make it easier for us,” Andrew said. “If we can show how to properly wash our hands with soap and water every day, our little ones in school will see and learn from us, and that is the right thing to do.” Vagi expressed. Both tanks are connected to an open-air roof structure to capture rainwater and is also a shelter for communities to sit and collect water and for students to rest, fetch water and have lunch under the shade. School head teacher Mathew Toba said facilities are very useful to the school. “The water tanks have really served their purpose in school and the community,” he said. “With the rise in COVID cases around the nation students are always reminded to wash their hands regularly and practice other protective measures in and outside school.” “Our students and children are our future – clean hand hygiene and healthy living will help protect them for a brighter future especially during this pandemic.” Mr Toba continued. “Hand hygiene is something we must do every day in school, home and wherever we are. In addition to the new facilities, the Bisiatabu community were also trained on safe hygiene practices – including handwashing and COVID-19 awareness – to prevent the spread of common diseases and illnesses, especially in children at school. The Central Water Security Project is part of the water security project in 36 communities across the Kokoda Track region to improve their quality of life through the access to clean drinking and cooking water.

Link PNG Limited (a subsidiary airline of Air Niugini Limited) regrets to advise the travelling public that with immediate effect, it has suspended its operations into Kavieng airport due to safety concerns over loose gravel following recent runway upgrade work. The presence of loose gravel material poses safety hazard and risk to our aircraft and passengers therefore in the interest of safety, the airline has taken this step to suspend operations until the airport operator (National Airports Corporation) resolves the issue. Link PNG looks forward to resuming services once there is assurance that the matter has been resolved and it can operate safely into Kavieng airport. Passengers holding onto confirmed tickets will be rebooked onto later flights at no penalty once a confirmed resumption date has been decided. Link PNG regrets the inconvenience caused to the travelling public to and from Kavieng, however the safety of its passengers and crew is of paramount importance.

Universities say their foreign enrolments have remained "astonishingly high" and they are hoping international students can return to the country in the middle of next year. But they say it is not practical to expect large numbers of students until managed isolation and quarantine requirements are dropped. Universities New Zealand chief executive Chris Whelan said the eight institutions had about 14,000 international students, which was a lot better than initial "doom and gloom" forecasts at the start of the pandemic. "At this stage our international student numbers are about 70 percent of what they were pre-Covid, quite astonishingly high," he said. "A lot of international students have stuck with their New Zealand studies and carried on from undergraduate into postgraduate, but a surprising number of students have been continuing studying remotely, either starting qualifications in the hope they can get here to finish them, or finishing off qualifications where they just haven't been able to get back." However, Whelan said numbers were falling as students completed their studies. Universities hoped students might be able to enter the country in the middle of next year, he said. "A lot of it's going to depend on when borders reopen," he said. "Even when we get an announcement it's going to take at least five or six months from the point where we can start telling students 'yes you can come back' to them actually being able to complete all the processes and to organise their lives and actually arrive here." Whelan said large numbers of students would not be able to return until the government dropped managed isolation and quarantine requirements. "We want students to return, but only in ways that are safe for New Zealand," he said. Other countries were moving to allow international travel by people who were double-vaccinated and universities expected that would eventually happen in this country, he said. SOURCE: RNZ NEWS

The major partnership between ExxonMobil PNG (EMPNG) and Port Moresby Nature Park is truly unique! It extends beyond a mere funding to one of genuine commitment by EMPNG to seeing the Park reach its full potential for the benefit of the community and for the preservation of PNG's amazing and diverse biodiversity. Port Moresby Nature Park’s Chief Executive Officer, Michelle McGeorge, recently acknowledged its longest running partner ExxonMobil PNG for its support as one of its major sponsors. She said the funding support provided by the operator of the PNG LNG Project since 2013 has helped to shape many areas of Nature Park, including exhibits for endangered tree kangaroos, a reptile house, birds-of-paradise precinct and other aviaries. McGeorge said the funds from ExxonMobil PNG enabled the Park to conduct meaningful research and breeding programs including support for Kikori's endangered Pig-nosed Turtles, tree kangaroos, birds-of-paradise and most recently, the breed-for-release frog programs. “EMPNG’s funds helped the Park during its most critical time during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and we were able to continue providing food and the highest standards of animal care and welfare to the animals, arguably the most significant collection of PNG wild animals in a single location. “As well as that, the release of 47 pig-nosed turtles into the Wau Creek Conservation Area last year with ExxonMobil staff was a milestone for conservation,” she said. The creation and delivery of the Park’s internationally award-winning schools education programs have reached over 125,000 NCD and Central Province school children since 2012 and has been largely operationally funded through ExxonMobil PNG. “By thinking outside-the-box, ExxonMobil PNG enabled us to re-purpose unused camp and office buildings from the LNG Plant site to convert them into staff training and meeting facilities, as well as create a commercial kitchen to run our cafe. A number of old storage and shipping containers were also relocated and have been used for multiple purposes included the main housing of the reptile collection in the Reptile Haus, which was recognized with the 'Best Exhibit Design - Small Scale Development' Award from the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia,” McGeorge said. The containers are also used to store animal food and supplies and one of them was converted to a 'live-animal insect breeding room', a vitally important area and function required to ensure the Park’s staff can feed and replicate the natural diets for many of the animals including the birds-of-paradise who love to eat maggot larvae and crickets. Even the 'smokers-boxes' at the LNG Plant site have found a new home at the Nature Park converted into off-display areas for animals undergoing medical treatment or quarantine periods. EMPNG also provides IT support to the Park. The Park started off with four independent desktop computers and with multi-year support of the ExxonMobil IT (EMIT) department, it has helped built their capacity. It now has 35 computers with a dedicated server that can cater for a score of complex programs that run their ticketing, bookings, memberships, accounting, payroll, inventory and wildlife management software. McGeorge said in addition to IT support, the EMIT department has made numerous donations to the Park over the years with some of them being the computer servers, desktop computers, laptops and television screens. Every donation received from them has helped to move the Park forward. “Besides the donation, funding and infrastructure support, the volunteer hours that hundreds of ExxonMobil PNG staff have dedicated over the years have played a part in shaping the stories, memories and experiences of those that have walked through our gates. “I want to acknowledge the hundreds of passionate ExxonMobil PNG staff that have volunteered their time at the Park for the Saturday 'ExxonMobil working bees'. From painting fences, shifting piles of sand into the kid’s playground and planting plants across the grounds,” McGeorge said. She said the insight and leadership from ExxonMobil PNG’s Dale Pittman, Dinesh Sivasamboo, Keith Killian and Scott Sandlin have been invaluable and contributed to shaping the Park's journey and future. Since opening on 16 June, 2012 almost 1.1 million people have visited the Park.

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, MP, clarifies the misreporting on PNG official delegation’s attendance at the current COP26 Climate Summit, in Scotland, led by Special Envoy and Minister for Environment, Conservation & Climate Change Hon. Wera Mori. In response to Friday’s Post Courier headlines of costs involved for the delegation traveling to Glasgow, Scotland, Prime Minister Marape said that the official delegations are all attending COP26 and related meetings sanctioned by NEC, given that PNG’s climate change agenda is different than most nations, and we were targeting an economic return for our forest and oceans in not just the main COP 26 meeting but other high-level meetings which are running on the margins also. “The decision to approve for leaders to accompany the Special Envoy, was for them all to fully participate at the Summit and side events and to state our case that we mean business. If the world wants our forest to be saved then big carbon emitting nations and industries must pay us to conserve our forest as well as funding our climate mitigation efforts.” “I am advised by Minister Mori that he had assigned them to specific side meetings and they had performed exceptionally well, given that for some of them, it was their first time to engage in an international meeting.” said PM Marape. “The issues of climate change, its effects, the adaptation and mitigation efforts, and the whole concept of carbon credits and REDD + is an important and emerging agenda for our country, and it is important that more of our leaders are aware of the opportunities which are going to emerge out of these discussions.” "One such valuable meeting was the Governor Juffa initiated sustainable forest conservation and management pilot project in Managalas (Oro Province) that culminated in the formalization of a Host Country Agreement, on the margins of COP26, with the International Council for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF)." "That now enables this project to commence and engage resource owners in preserving their ecosystem in an economically sustainable manner." "Additionally, Special Envoy Mori signed a MOU on Capacity Building for Participation in Global Carbon Markets with his Australian counterpart, Angus Taylor." "Further and quite significantly, our Energy Minister Hon. Saki Soloma signed a Master Development Agreement with the Principal of Fortescue Futures Industries, Dr Andrew Forrest, for transition to alternative sources of cleaner energy, which will see our Hydro and Geothermal sites developed for hydrogen ammonia based clean energy of the future and these projects are equivalent to multibillion dollar projects." "These augurs well with my government’s initiative to promote Green Energy by 2030 and transition into a carbon neutral country by 2050 as stated in our country’s Vision 2050." "Over and above the green energy agenda, the deal with Fortescue Futures Industry, represents important investments domestically, employment for our people and taxes for the government. These are important outcomes that outweigh the cost of getting there.” PM Marape said. As for the officials’ it is far less than 62 and they comprised of selected government departments and agencies including the Climate Change Development Authority, National Energy Authority, the departments of Foreign Affairs & International Trade, Forest, Agriculture, Works & Implementation, Justice & Attorney-General and my Department, that have been directly involved in negotiating PNG’s position at the global climate summit on accessing global carbon markets and climate funds for adaptation and mitigation. To provide an overall accountability of the PNG delegation’s participation at COP26, an NEC Policy Submission is currently being prepared by officials to capture the outcomes of Special Envoys meetings and the conclusion of the above arrangements including a Matrix for implementation. The delegation is accountable to the National Executive Council, and they will dutifully ensure that the details of their work in Glasgow is presented to NEC for deliberation and for actions later. “Special Envoy Mori has full authority to negotiate global carbon markets given the recent passage in Parliament of the Climate Change Management Act amendment and access to global carbon markets, will draw maximum returns and greatly complement our national budget and development agendas,” said Prime Minister Marape. “I will ensure these outcomes are effectively implemented, as they will generate maximum returns that will far outweigh the figures that these faceless people are exaggerating. The Prime Minister also said it is important to note that part of our delegation is registered as PNG delegates but represented the Coalition for Rainforest, an outfit, championed by the late Great Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare." "The staff from the Coalition for Rainforest and Ernst and Young Accountants travelled at their own cost to support Minister Mori who is current Chair of CfRN. They sponsored the PNG Pavilion, which was an important part of the facility that greatly enhanced our presence in Glasgow. This is a serious business trip where PNG as 13% holder of earth’s rainforest and 6% of biodiversity are attending to demand that the big industries and industrialized nations must pay PNG to converse our forests. The gains from this engagement will far outweigh the cost of attending, which appears to be the current concern. At present, forestry harvest contributes to our economy and if other countries want us to conserve our forest, then they must pay money equivalent or above the forest sector revenue we gain at present which is around $1billion every year. The forest area people need income for development including good roads, schools and health care too. Secondly the industries and their nations must pay the climate change mitigation funds for the damages due to sea level rises and other climates changes we experience in small island states and communities. “Least we forget the G20 nations have pledge to put up over $100 billion annually for both conservation of forest and climate mitigation hence our leaders and officials were sent not for just one COP 26 session but many other meetings and lobby that were happening for our nation’s cause.” PM Marape said. The Prime Minister also appealed for people to understand the mechanics of COP 26, the side events, and the technical negotiation that is taking place, to clearly understand the importance of the work that our technical and policy officials are doing. “It is more than what meets the eye, and sometimes our discussions on these matters and the conclusions we draw is based on incomplete information and a misunderstanding of what these global events are about, without giving some recognition to those who are the forefront of getting important deals for our country through negotiations.” PM Marape said.

Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Belden Norman Namah said on Thursday that he has not and will never incite any protest marches during this COVID-19 Pandemic but said he is not surprised that such moves are afoot. Speaking from his Vanimo Green River electorate, Mr Namah said: "There is no need for me or anybody else to incite the public to protest." "Prime Minister James Marape is doing enough inciting on his own with his confusing policy signals, his mismanagement and his draconian orders." "Marape has announced that vaccination is not compulsory but then he came out supporting a 'NO JAB, NO JOB' work place practice of the private sector." "Now the entire public sector is promoting 'NO JAB, NO JOB', making it government policy by default." "NO JAB, NO JOB' has increased the number of the unemployed adding to the 3,600 Porgera Gold Mine workers out of work when Marape closed the mine and the 7,000 forestry workers unemployed when Marape increased log export taxes from 35 percent to 59 percent and the many thousands who could have been employed at the construction phase of Papua LNG if it had not been delayed by Mr Marape as well as the delayed start up of the Wafi Golpu Mine. "And now more than 1000 mine workers and employees in Lihir Gold Mine have tendered in their resignations because of this so-called 'NO JAB, NO JOB' work place safety. 'There are no political interests behind the protests." "You are seeing people react to a situation where their rights and freedoms are being taken away and thrashed." "l have said this on the floor of Parliament and I say it again. Our *FREEDOMS* are God given at birth and must be respected. The Right of FREEDOM is an UNQUALIFIED Right at birth. Hence, the Right to FREEDOM of Choice is also an UNQUALIFIED Right. "Therefore, nobody be it governments or corporations can take that away from us. We have the freedom and liberty to choose. "People are protesting the removal of that basic right to choose. This is not like the polio or measles vaccines where you get one jab that covers you for life." "The COVID-19 vaccine does not fully protect you or stop you transmitting the virus to others. It requires a second booster shot. ln countries like Denmark, England and lsrael where government has lifted all restrictions infection is spiking, especially among those fully vaccinated, pacing the way for third booster shots. Where does the booster jabs stop? "Our people must have a choice to choose whether or not to be vaccinated. That choice is a God given freedom that must be respected." "Right now the government is gambling our people's rights and freedoms. It is allowing companies to attract people to vaccinate by offering rewards and prices." "Government is allowing coercion of workers by allowing 'NO JAB, NO JOB'." "There is an added element that the government does not seem to realise. The protests are also signs of a build up of frustration by a desperate population who are hungry and without means of support. They cannot get assistance from a government which has grown remote, uncaring and wasteful." "lf the Prime Minister, his COVID-19 Pandemic Control Team, his Cabinet of Ministers, and his band of 'yesah masta' followers think the protests coming from the population are politically orchestrated, then they are so far removed from the realities faced by our people." "They are so far removed from the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the impact of their own confused policies and mismanagement upon the lives of our people. They are blind to the fact that they are removing our people's freedoms and allowing private interests to make money the expense of our people's freedoms." "l am warning them as I have been right from the beginning: COVID-19 which has taken less than 400 lives that we have counted so far will be nothing when a hungry and frustrated population turn to panic. "There is absolutely no capacity to contain a panic once it starts. It will become national in scope. The damage toll of such a calamity cannot be imagined and yet all the red flags are up for it to happen. "The government has got to come up with humanitarian relieve for our people and businesses with about the same urgency as it is in trying to roll-out COVID-19 vaccinations." "It has to stop copying the policies and measures of other countries and develop our own which is suited to our socio-economic and demographic features. "The government needs to buy sago from rural Sepik, kaukau from the rural highlands, yam from the Trobriands lsland and taro from rural Morobe and ship them to urban centres throughout PNG. This will distribute COVID-19 funds fairly and widely and alleviate starvation. lt will create business and excitement. lt will tell us if this nation is self sufficient in terms of food security. "Finally and needless to repeat, James Marape has to stop the blame game that is now such a prominent feature of his administration. "He is still blaming the O'Neill government that he was the principle economic minister of for PNG's economic woes two and a half years after he has taken over. What has he done in that time? "He is now looking for scapegoats to blame for mismanaging the biggest health emergency in this country. "The people of this country know what is going on. They are not stupid. They have a confused government which is mismanaging scarce resources, putting them out of jobs and taking a no-care and police-state strong-arm attitude."

The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (“ICCC”) has received a Clearance Application from Telstra Corporation Limited (“Telstra”) seeking approval for the proposed acquisition of Digicel (PNG) Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiaries in PNG. ICCC Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Paulus Ain said the ICCC received the Clearance Application from Telstra on the 29th October, 2021 pursuant to section 81 of the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission Act. Telstra is seeking approval from the ICCC for the proposed acquisition of Digicel (PNG) Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiaries in PNG, together referred to as Digicel PNG. “The Proposed Acquisition of Digicel PNG is part of the proposed acquisition of 100 percent of the shares of Digicel Pacific Limited from Digicel Group Holdings Limited by Telstra.” Mr. Ain said. The subsidiaries of Digicel (PNG) Limited are: Digicel (PNG) Financial Services Limited; Hitron Limited; and Site & Towers (PNG) Limited. Mr. Ain said the assessment and determination of this application will be through the ICCC’s usual independent and transparent process. It is therefore important that key stakeholders are asked to participate in this assessment process. Mr. Ain added that the ICCC is inviting persons who may have an interest in the Proposed Acquisition, stakeholders in the telecommunications industry and the general public to provide comments and make submissions on the likely competition effects this proposed acquisition may have on the Information and Communications Technology services in PNG; and how that will impact other businesses, consumers, and the economy as whole. “All submissions will be disclosed to the public except where information is designated “confidential” by the submitter. For confidential submissions and information, we ask that they be made clearly identifiable as such and reason(s) provided as to why that particular information should not be disclosed to the public.” All comments and submissions should reach the ICCC by 15th November, 2021. All queries relating to this matter should be directed to Mr. Steven Sugl, Executive Manager, Competitive Markets & Fair-Trade Division on telephone 312 4600 or e-mail to: ssugl@iccc.gov.pg .

Fr Peter Kim (SVD), the spiritual director of three parishes in Kundiawa Diocese located in the outback of Gumine takes his long leave this week. Fr Kim, a missionary from the Divine Word Society (SVD) has served Dirima, Yuri and Nondri for close to six years, and has served for 19 years in PNG as a priest. Based in Dirima as his main station, which is 34 kilometers south of Kundiawa, his administration covers Yuri which is about six kilometers on beaten road to the west, and rugged Nondri covering eight kilometers on foot to the south. The total Catholic population in the three parishes is about 20,000. Fr Peter Kim said he is taking his one year leave to spend intimate moments with his 85-year-old father who has been sick, and also to spend some quality time with the rest of his family members and friends. He leaves Dirima on Sunday (7th Nov) and leaves PNG shores on Wednesday 10th November. The 54-year-old priest will be with his family in his hometown Seoul, the capital of South Korea. He is a senior SVD priest and serves as SVD district superior for Goroka and Simbu. Head catechist of Dirima parish James Bin on behalf of 18 catechists in the three parishes wished Fr Peter Kim a safe travelling journey and safe stay in South Korea. Mr James Bin assured Fr Kim of their prayer for God's continuing blessings to the Kim family during this time. Mr Bin said the catechists and the Christians have learnt a lot from the exemplary life and steadfast spiritual leadership Fr Kim provided in the administration of the sacraments. The parish pastoral council including the leaders of all devotional groups and community leaders also said their well wishes. Fr Peter Kim also highlighted on the 2021 action plans for the parish that were not implemented due to the impact of Covid-19. He urged the catechists and parish board to activate the action plan in 2022 when the Covid-19 pandemic slows down and work closely with the care-taker priest that is assigned. Fr Kim said that in his last meeting with over 20 catechists and members of the parish board last Friday. Fr Kim is also known for is community work which included the building of a labor ward in Dirima, installation of tufa tanks for clean drinking water in the outstations, and providing steadfast leadership in the fight against the prevention and transmission of Covid-19 in Dirima that has a population of over 15,0000 people. Last Friday as well, Fr Kim distributed face masks he received from his friends in South Korea to his catechists for their Christian community in their respective outstations.

PNG Ports Corporation has paid about K126m to the State over the last 18 months. PNG Ports Managing Director Fego Kiniafa said this payment includes the taxes for 2019 to 2021, and dividend payments for the 2019-2020 fiscal years. He said these payments were made since the declaration of the pandemic in March 2020 to assist the economy in dealing with the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic. The K126 million consists of K43.9 million in taxes for 2019 and 2020, K21 million dividend for 2019, K20.9 million dividend for 2020 and K40 million in taxes for 2021. “This amount excludes all other taxes for income, goods and services, and others.” "We have been hard hit by the pandemic because we are a demand-derived business and depend on the global market trends.” However, PNG Ports has chosen to be prudent and strategic in our management of business which has enabled us to at least pay something back to the government,” Mr Kiniafa said.

The Goroka Soccer Association (GSA) in Eastern Highlands Province has called off its 2021 season proper following the prolonged delay in the resumption of the competition. GSA President Richard Niningi said the season proper started in June and was into its’ second round when the venue was scheduled for the Goroka Show which was later disrupted. The venue at National Sports Institute was later used for COVID 19 isolation and with the surging COVID 19 situation in the province, the competition was completely grounded. Niningi said the situation is beyond their control therefore the sensible thing to do was for them to call off the season. He further urged the competition member teams to practise the new normal and keep safe during this time. Image supplied

Police Commissioner and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response, David Manning, has endorsed the Eastern Highlands Province Police Reservist program to beef up police manpower to address COVID-19 and policing challenges in the province. Commissioner Manning when signing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Eastern Highland Governor Peter Numu on Thursday this week highlighted that Police Reservists have been a great asset to the Constabulary in the early days however, it was discontinued due to the lack of proper command and control. “With the current COVID-19 crisis coupled with the ongoing law and order situation across the country,we have agreed to revive the Police Reservist program in partnership with provincial governments and other statutory bodies under the revised policies and command structure. “I want to commend Governor Numu and his administration for the initiative and the commitment to partner with the Constabulary in reviving the police reservist program in their province. This is a win-win approach for the Constabulary and the Province in addressing the current COVID-19 crisis and law and order issues going forward,” Manning said. Mr Manning further said that the Eastern Highland Province is among the few provinces that have come on board and are currently running similar programs in their respective provinces. Mr Manning said the Constabulary has set the target to recruit 1,100 Police reservist personnel before the 2022 national general election. Eastern Highland Governor Peter Numu thanked the Commissioner for the endorsement and his vision to revive the reservist program to address lack of police manpower in the provinces. Governor Numu also announced that the Eastern Highlands Police Reservist program will commence with the first 220 successful applicants to undertake reservist training. “Under my administration we are ready to run this program and the first batch of 220 successful applicants will go into training immediately. We need more police manpower to assist us with the COVID-19 operations and general policing thus we have taken such drastic action. This is the biggest reservist recruitment compared to other provinces and my administration will continue to sustain this program,” Governor Numu concluded.