PNG Haus Bung

Lohia Boe Samuel will remain as a Member of Parliament under the Constitution and perform his functions despite being recently charged for a murder case that is before the courts. Mr Samuel who was initially detained by police was released on a K10, 000 court bail in his second bail application last Friday by the National Court. The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel confirmed that he is still a member of Parliament, unless disqualified under Section 103 and 104 of the Constitution. It said, an example would be of one being 'sentenced for an offence with an imprisonment term of 9 months and more.’ In Mr Samuel’s case, he has been charged and is out on bail. The National Court who refused his first bail application granted the bail after Samuel’s alleged co-accused Fabian Hera voluntarily submitted his statement stating it was not Mr Samuel who accidently shot the deceased late Jerry Robert. Justice Theresa Berrigan who made the ruling said the contents of the statement is a matter for the trial however the statement submitted in the bail application intends to remove the weapon used from the hands of Samuel and this has reduced the strength of the case to continue his detention. Meanwhile, his next committal court hearing date is set for April 10, 2022.

Businesses and Corporate organizations in the country are urged to support the Trukai Fun Run Auctions scheduled to be held in Lae on 24th March 2022 at the Lae Yacht Club and in Port Moresby on 31st March 2022 at the APEC Haus. The Trukai Fun Run Auctions is one of two major fundraising events for the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) held annually to raise funds for Team PNG to participate at international sporting events such as the Pacific, Commonwealth and Olympic games. All funds raised this year will enable Team PNG to attend the Pacific Mini Games in Northern Marianas in June and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July. PNGOC President Sir John Dawanincura urges the Business Community to get behind this year’s Trukai Fun Run Auctions by purchasing Trukai Fun Run Shirts in Lae and Port Moresby. While acknowledging the great support from the Business Community in the many Trukai Fun Run Auctions held in the past, this year will be no exception. “The last auctions were held in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic and we’re very excited to bring back the auctions after an absence of two years. The auctions are a great opportunity for the business community to come out to support Team PNG by purchasing Fun Run shirts and at the same time donate these shirts to schools. Both auction events are approved by the Controller’s Office and we’ll ensure Niupela Pasin protocols are adhered,” said Sir John. He further stated that the support shown by the country through such fundraising drives gives confidence to PNGOC to offer the best possibilities for our athletes and our country. “This year we have 50,000 shirts to sell and we are encouraging all Papua New Guineans to get behind Team PNG by purchasing a shirt each at K15.00”. “I thank Trukai Industries for its continued sponsorship of this annual event and I acknowledge our long standing partnership of 23 years”. Shirts bought and donated to schools by Businesses and Corporate Organisations can be resold by the schools at a price not exceeding K15, with proceeds kept by the schools to fund their respective school projects. Interested organizations wanting more information on how to purchase Trukai Fun Run T-Shirts can contact Ms. Sangiawi Singut, Marketing & Events Coordinator at the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee on 323 1499, 325 1411 or e-mail events@pngoc.org.pg.

Majority of the population in PNG live outside urban areas with limited access to basic infrastructure like banking services, transport, electricity and affordable access to nearest towns. Despite these challenges and tough economic situations, most SMEs in some of the remote parts of the country continue to provide basic services like trade store, fuel services and other retailer outlets that serve the needs in their local communities. Melu Brass Cutters is one such SME operating out of Milliom Village, along the Sepik Highway in Aitape-Lumi District, West Sepik Province. Established initially in 2013 to provide vegetation control, the family business has diversified into other retail services such as trade store, fuel services, a guesthouse, poultry and agricultural produce, especially fresh vegetables. Since registering with BSP’s Mobile Merchant payment solution, the SME business has been one of the top performers in the mobile payment ecosystem. Business owner Maggie Melu, stated, “Mobile payments is easy and convenient, we receive mobile payment receipts instantly and our customers also received their electronic receipt on their mobiles. We prefer this payment method because funds go straight to our BSP Account and there are no cash handling involved; no loss from my cashiers and you our rural customer can pay with a “wan-bang” (feature phone) or a smart phone as long as mobile network is available”. Ms Melu said their aim was to empower their rural communities and encourage the growth of SMEs to take up entrepreneurial activities to alleviate poverty and income-source employment for community. Ms Melu added, “I would like to encourage other small business especially in the rural areas to register for this digital payment service from BSP, even though it may take time for your customer to understand the payment steps, they will eventually get the hang of it.” Businesses interested in registering for Mobile Merchant payment solution can contact BSP through email servicebsp@bsp.com.pg or call BSP 3201212 or 70301212.

Newcrest Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sandeep Biswas received a rousing traditional welcome in Kavieng recently. Mr Biswas was in town to meet New Ireland Governor, Sir Julius Chan, enroute to visiting the Newcrest Mining Operations on Lihir Island. He was greeted at the airport by the Moxokore Clan of Lamusmus, having previously been inducted into the clan in 2015. Mr Biswas and the clan maimai (chief), Joe Lumaris presented each other with mies – the traditional shell money from New Ireland Province. The exchange signified and strengthened the cultural ties between the Marauli (Moxokore) Clan and Mr Biswas. As a leader of the Marauli (Moxokore) clan, Mr Biswas also presented two mies to female employees Ruth Waram, Manager External Relations and Communications and Megan Kinowin, Specialist Government Liaison. Maimai Lumaris said New Ireland is a matrilineal society where women are the leaders and are important in decision making, adding that by presenting the mies, Mr Biswas as a clan leader was inviting not only Ms Waram and Ms Kinowin into the clan but also female employees of Newcrest to engage with the women of the clan. Mr Biswas welcomed the opportunity to meet with Sir Julius, Provincial Administrator, Lamilla Pawut and senior executives of the New Ireland Provincial Government. Mr Biswas commended the flexibility and resilience of Newcrest Mining’s New Ireland employees and business partners, who rose to the challenge to ensure the mine had no material disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Newcrest is committed to PNG and to New Ireland, and we look forward to continuing the good working relationship,’’ Mr Biswas said. Measures taken by the company in 2021 to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on operations, and to keep the workforce and Lihir communities safe had cost K180 million. Mr Biswas also reaffirmed Newcrest Mining’s enduring commitment to Papua New Guinea, both nationally and provincially. In addition to the K1.65 billion contribution to PNG’s economy in FY 2021, the company was proud to have provided over K100 million in support to a range of health, education and conservation programs. Following the meeting, Sir Julius provided a tour of the new provincial assembly building and the new sports stadium in Kavieng. Following a lunch hosted by Sir Julius, Mr Biswas travelled to Lihir to meet with the mine workforce and local communities.

NGCB PNG Kapuls Coach Marcos Gusmao has urged his players to remain focused when they meet Solomon Island in the first Semi Finals of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Oceania Qualifiers at 12 midnight (PNG Time) in Doha, Qatar. Gusmao said as much as they want to learn from the past to produce good results for the country, he reiterated that players must believe in themselves and their teammates and give their best in the match to get a good outcome. He has also made one change in the starting line 11 that defeated Fiji in their last pool match with Raymond Gunemba replacing Stahl Gubag. The Brazilian Coach while respecting people's opinion, called for unity as his boys prepare to face Solomon Island Bonitos. "I am always positive and confident with my team's preparations and also have confidence with whichever player I select on the match day," he said. Solomon Island has a good win record over Papua New Guinea but this history can teach the Kapuls to better prepare for this important match. The team to take on Solomon Island is as follows: Roland Warisan (Goalkeeper), Alwin Komolong, Felix Komolong, Emmanuel Airem, Daniel Joe (Backs), Michael Foster, Jacob Sabua and Emmanuel Simon (midfielders), Ati Kepo, Tommy Semmy and Raymond Gunemba (Strikers) Meanwhile New Zealand will play Tahiti in other semi-finals match.

The SP PNG Hunters have fallen short to a fast-starting CQ Capras side 26-16 in Round 2 of the Hostplus Cup at Browne Park, Rockhampton. The Capras were on from the kick-off, working their way up-field in the opening set to launch an attacking kick skyward on the last. The Hunters couldn’t field it cleanly and Capras’ winger Brandon Roberts was the beneficiary, diving on the loose ball to open the scoring. Backrower Ethan O’Neill was next to score for the Capras, latching onto a perfectly weighted grubber from five-eighth Raedean Robinson to score next to the posts. The Hunters fought back to halt the onslaught but couldn’t stop a spinning effort from Bailey Butler close to the line, nor a slick inside ball from halfback Jack Madden to put Tyler Szepanowski over for the Capras’ fourth try of the match. As both packs rotated their starting forwards the momentum swung back towards the Hunters. Samuel Yegip, Junior Rop and Kingstimer Paraia had instant impact when they entered the game, with Paraia diving over from half to score the Hunters’ first points in the 35th minute. Two quick tries to begin the second half through Terry Wapi and Brandon Nima kept the comeback hopes alive for the Hunters. Captain Keven Appo produced a miracle offload close to the line for Wapi to score and then it was Gilimo Paul’s turn, skipping to the outside, drawing the defence and throwing a one-handed offload back inside for Nima.

Human Rights and social activist Lucielle Paru has announced her intentions to contest the National Capital District Regional Seat in the upcoming 2022 National General Elections. Ms Paru, who in recent years had been vocal in advocating on issues faced by women and the indigenous people of Motu-Koita through social media platforms and peaceful protest marches in the nation’s capital made the announcement through her social media platforms yesterday. Writing on her facebook account, Ms Paru said the National Womens Day was recently celebrated however there is no representation of womenfolk in Parliament. Originally from Central Province, Ms Paru said the tribes of Motu Koita have had no representation in the National Parliament for over 40 years. “As a daughter of the Land upon which our Capital City sits, it is time we, the women and Indigenous people have our voices heard in Parliament,” Ms Paru wrote on her Facebook account. “We have allowed many tribes to settle, live, purchase land at affordable prices for their survival, participation and hard work and contribution to build this nation.” “22 Provinces, 850 Tribal Ethnicities are in the National Capital District. How better than to now allow the true landlord to sit in our seat,” Paru wrote.

Papua New Guinea’s national oil and gas company, Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (Kumul Petroleum) has recently announced a sponsorship funding of K10 million for the PNG Rugby Union (PNGRU) for the next three years from 2022 through to 2024. This sponsorship provides Kumul Petroleum with the naming rights for all PNGRU sanctioned events and competitions over this period and includes branding of tournament uniforms, on-field signage, ticketing and other related documentation. Managing Director of Kumul Petroleum Wapu Sonk said they are pleased to announce financial support for this sporting code. “For many years this code has suffered and declined because of various reasons with the key ones being lack of sponsorship, infighting between different people at the PNGRU Board, regional centers and or provincial union affiliates and so on,” Mr Sonk said. “Kumul Petroleum was approached with a new vision, new president in Paul Siwi which was an outcome of a united PNGRU election process and we are sponsoring the vision that is in the Strategic Plan 2021 to 2026.” The Strategic Plan outlines the frameworks, playing calendar, and development plans in how to grow the game from grassroots level up and achieving the objective of ensuring every Papua New Guinea can enjoy the game of Rugby. Mr Sonk further added that whilst they are happy to sponsor, Kumul Petroleum will expect results on and off the field of Rugby and that includes good governance practices in how the funds are managed and applied. “As with similar sponsorship arrangements, the agreed annual payments are subject to meeting the sponsorship conditions outlined in the MOU signed between Kumul Petroleum and PNG Rugby Union".

What started out as 7 freelancers working for a local telecommunications company in Western Highlands Province, wanting to earn an extra income on the side, has turned into the 611 Integrated Farmers Association; an Integrated Farm that the self-styled entrepreneurs are slowly working towards getting registered. “It started from an idea to help each other make some extra money. We agreed amongst ourselves to contribute K700 each as seed capital with the aim to generate money and grow our capital,” Team Leader Mr. Zakkhiaus William said. “We changed the name of our little business venture from 611 Cooperative Society to the current name 611 Integrated Farmers Association just this month. We felt that this new name will fit well with the idea and the projects that will be initiated,” Mr William added. The members of the 611 Integrated Farmers Association have now started an Integrated Farm Project which includes poultry and livestock farming, vegetable farming, the planting of 1000 native trees, floriculture and the planting of different species of flowers and bee and mushroom farming. “This initiative is mainly to build a simple but realistic pathway so simple village people can be employed so they can earn their own money to sustain their livelihoods and give back to their respective communities.” “The main project site is in my area, in Komkui, Mopri Warakatim, Mt Hagen, WHP, where I have given up 5 hectares of my own land for this project.” “I am currently building up the structures needed to run an Integrated Farm with a duck shed and chicken coop. I have also engaged disadvantaged youths in my area to help with the clearing of the land for this project and also to help with planting as well,” Mr William said. “From our initial contribution of seed capital, we were able to raise some money from selling produce from our small gardens and we continued to contribute and save up.” “Other people came to know of what we were doing and joined. We initiated another chicken project, made up of 13 people.” “We contributed K105 each to buy 13 stock feed to give to each individual. That’s a total of K1365 we gave to each individual to start his/her chicken project.” “With that project going, we advised members to go into vegetables farming. We had to hire land and work the land to plant crops, for 3 rounds and after that gave the land back to the owner.” “We have started a potato project up in Rondon, where FPDA fresh produce development agency gave us 9000 E2 seedlings. We will harvest next month, where we have engaged local boys to help.” “Also, to save cost, we are not buying seeds from the shops but rather, buying vegetables and fruits at the local markets and saving the seeds, to germinate and replant.” Despite 611 Integrated Farmers Association being unregistered, they have seen great success, with building up their integrated farm and finances, to be able to register their Association and go into a formal way of doing business. “Once we are registered, we will do up our business portfolio and present to business houses to provide fresh produce and protein to restaurants, shops and catering companies,” Zakkhiaus said. With the ever increasing prices in services and especially food items, the team leader of the 611 Integrated Farmers Association believes small time fresh producers and local farmers, can help alleviate the cost of food in the country. “So much is spent on imported food; a cost that is then transferred to consumers. The government should invest more into agriculture, as local farmers do alot of work on the ground and we have the potential to provide to the market demand for food, at a low cost,” Zakkhiaus concludes.

Police have recorded an alarming number of road accidents with over 30 lives being lost in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province for this year alone. Over 20 road accidents have been recorded since January this year and most of these incidences took place along the new four lane road from Kagamuga to Keltiga. Traffic police officer Simon Kik said the incidences involved mostly the Public Motor Vehicles (PMVs) and it is a very serious issue because it involves the many lives of the travelling public. “We have been doing awareness and have advised drivers to be more careful on the roads and feel the sense of responsibility they have when they have lives on board,” Mr Kik said. “The PMV drivers here seem to be excited in speeding and overtaking vehicles on the roads and the result is seen in the statistics.” He said most of the accidents are not the case of drink driving but rather of plain ignorance and carelessness of road rules by the drivers.

A top Russian general gave some of the most detailed public remarks to date on Russia's military strategy in Ukraine, claiming on Friday that the "first stage" of Russia's military plan is now complete, with their primary focus now centered on eastern Ukraine. "In general, the main tasks of the first stage of the operation have been completed," Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy, first deputy chief of Russia's General Staff, said in a Friday briefing. "The combat potential of the armed forces of Ukraine has been significantly reduced, allowing us, I emphasize again, to focus the main efforts on achieving the main goal - the liberation of Donbas." Rudskoy's remarks come as Russia's advances appear to have stalled around major Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv and Kharkiv. Russia has also failed to achieve air superiority in Ukraine and has suffered heavy losses of personnel since the start of the invasion. "The public and individual experts are wondering what we are doing in the area of ​​the blockaded Ukrainian cities," Rudskoy said. "These actions are carried out with the aim of causing such damage to military infrastructure, equipment, personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the results of which allow us not only to tie down their forces and prevent them from strengthening their grouping in the Donbas, but also will not allow them to do this until the Russian army completely liberates the territories of the DPR and LNR." Rudskoy was referring to the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, separatist territories in eastern Ukraine that Russia recognized on the eve of its invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the goal of what Russian officials refer to euphemistically as the "special military operation" in Ukraine is the complete demilitarization of the country. Putin has said the war is going according to plan, but Russian forces have incurred serious losses: Rudskoy said in the same briefing that 1,351 military personnel had been killed in Ukraine and 3,825 had been wounded. US, NATO and Ukrainian officials estimate the Russian casualty count is much higher. "Initially, we did not plan to storm them in order to prevent destruction and minimize losses among personnel and civilians," Rudskoy said. "And although we do not exclude such a possibility, however, as individual groupings complete the tasks set, and they are successfully solved, our forces and means will be concentrated on the main thing -- the complete liberation of Donbas." It is unclear if Rudskoy's statement implies a shifting of the goalposts for the Russian military, or just represents a change in public messaging. The Russian military has claimed it is not targeting civilians or residential areas, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. SOURCE: CNN NEWS

South Sydney Rabbitohs head coach Jason Demetriou praised Latrell Mitchell following his side’s 28-16 win over crosstown rivals the Sydney Roosters. Additionally Demetriou was incredibly proud of the work Rabbitohs’ centre Latrell Mitchell has done on and off the paddock, crediting the 24-year-old’s maturity. “Through the preseason his discipline off the field and the things he’s doing in and around that.” Demetriou said. “He’s maturing as well and we’ve said that before, he’s living what he’s speaking about as well which is important. “I know the impact he’s had in the changing room as well.” The last time Latrell took on his former club it saw him suspended for six games for his his reckless shot on Roosters’ centre Joey Manu. Not too mention the multiple scuffles and melees. A large majority of the hype leading in the Round 3 encounter focused on Mitchell and whether the Roosters were out to seek revenge, however Latrell allowed his game to speak for himself scoring a try in the 66th minute and notching four from five from the tee. Rabbitohs’ captain Cameron Murray was also pleased with Mitchell’s performance commending the work Latrell did in the offseason to his game. “He’s (Latrell Mitchell) been pretty excited all preseason to get back out there.” Murray explained. “I know it hurts not being able to get out there Round 1 so he’s been working really hard on his body and his fitness and I think he’s only going to get better. “(We’re) really pleased with the result I thought Latrell played really well tonight.” The Rabbitohs will be eager to build on their success next Friday when they take on reigning premiers the Penrith Panthers at BlueBet Stadium. SOURCE: FOX SPORTS