Bank South Pacific Lae Commercial Branch handed over a brand new classroom complex to the community of Labu-Tale village in Huon Gulf, Morobe Province on Friday. The new building consists of two classrooms and a store room built at Labu-Tale Primary School as part of its community project for 2021 BSP Lae Commercial Branch Manager Robinson Panako says BSP community projects are undertaken nationwide by each of their branches, strategic business units and subsidiary branches as a way for its staff to contribute meaningfully back to the community. "While we stand as a corporate organisation, each of our staff is a part of a community, " says Panako. These community projects are conducted across BSP branches in Papua New Guinea and offshore branches in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Cook Island Vanuatu, Tonga, Cambodia and Laos. "Today BSP community projects are being delivered to communities in these countries and you should be proud that Labu Tale Primary school project is part of not just a PNG beneficiary but truly a whole and bigger South Pacific, BSP Initiative." "I hope that through our contribution today, it will make a meaningful and lasting change in the lives of the people in our communities," added Mr Panako. Mr Panako also thanked the Labu Tale Primary school community for the opportunity for BSP to go into their community and to conduct this worthy project. "We appeal to the Labu Tale Primary School community to look after these facilities, as these will in return be beneficial in the long run."

Schools in Jiwaka Province have had to close for 10 days as teachers have tested positive for Covid-19 last week. “3 schools were closed on Monday and another 2 schools were closed on Wednesday.” “Students in Grades 3-7 have been asked to remain at home with only Grade 8s remaining in school to prepare for their upcoming exams,” said the Jiwaka Provincial Education Advisor, Dr Charly Muke. Lee-Eby Primary school, Banz Elcong Primary school, Nondugl Admin Primary School, Kugark Primary School and Kimil Primary school have had teachers test positive to Covid-19 so the schools had to close. The schools were told to provide hand sanitizers, face masks and adhere to social distancing for the Grade 8 students and teachers that have remained in school to continue lessons and preparations for the national exams. Dr Charly Muke said that other schools remain open but he encouraged students and teachers to strictly follow the new norm so they may not have to close any more schools and disrupt lessons. He added that once the Nationals exams are over then they will have to decide on the next step to take on ensuring that students and teachers remain free from COVID-19.

PRIME Minister Hon. James Marape has decried assertions by Member for Ialibu-Pangia Peter O’Neill that his court trial was a politically-motivated “witch hunt”. PM Marape said the former prime minister’s words are misleading and erroneous, taking public attention away from the facts – that his trial is a proper police case mounted in 2014. After the handing down of the decision yesterday by the National Court clearing him of the ‘abuse of office’ charges, Peter O’Neill had told The National “you have to defeat me at the elections”, alluding that his opponents were using the courts to take him out. He later published on his Facebook page a longer response, saying "One of the aims of this political witch hunt was to shame and isolate me." O'Neill continued on Facebook: "To some of those so-called witnesses who took the stand in court , I hope you reflect on your attention seeking actions and now you know your presence had no impact." To those claims, PM Marape said today: “Let us be clear on one thing. O’Neill’s legal case relating to the purchase of the two generators was a police case. It was mounted in 2014 by Belden Namah when he was Opposition Leader." “As head of the present government, I condemn these assertions he has made this week, that it was all politically-motivated. These kind of talk does nothing good for the integrity and image of our Police Force and Public Prosecutor who are constitutionally mandated to keep watch over laws of our country." “These are the facts of the matter. Belden Namah mounted this case in 2014 when he was Opposition Leader and O’Neill Prime Minister. The Police took it up as a fraud case, and from initial investigations, it was found there was prima facie evidence, or enough grounds established by the public prosecutor, to commit O’Neill to stand trial." “O’Neill ought to be humble and not make a show of himself, as if he has been victimised by the Government." "The major and real victims in this sad state of affairs is the people of Papua New Guinea, who have lost K120 million from the purchase of these faulty, un-functioning generators. Not only do they not have the promised power supply, but have lost out on the chance to K120 million worth of services." "At the behest of the public prosecutor and complying with the legal process, I appeared as a state witness unlike Belden Namah, the initiator of this case, who failed to show up, including others." “For the Member for Ialibu-Pangia to allude to shady political push to vilify him is mischievous and rubs mud into the independence and integrity of the functionality of the law and justice sector,” said PM Marape.

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force last week celebrated the commissioning of its’ second Australian gifted Guardian Class Patrol Boat HMPNGS Rochus Lokinap at the Lombrum Naval Base in Manus Province. The vessel is the second of four Guardian-class Patrol Boats to be delivered to PNGDF under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project which is part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Program. It follows the delivery of the HMPNGS Ted Diro in December 2018. The navy vessel was named after former Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force from 1987 to 1992, Brigadier General Rochus Lokinap. Deputy Chief of Defence Force (PNGDF) Commodore Philip Polewara along with the Australian Head of Mission officially commissioned the navy vessel.

‘It’s been a cool experience and I’ve really enjoyed the time with the boys.’ Working as a support staff member for the Kumul Petroleum PNG Barramundis has been a great experience for Lorenzo. Originally from Cape Town, South Africa he has been working with the Barras since 2019 and truly appreciates the journey so far. With over 15 years of experience in physiotherapy, he says one of the best parts about what he does is being involved with the team and sharing their achievements. He plays an important role as a member of the support team. And knowing this, he must always be present during training and tournament days. ‘Injury is inevitable, so we try to minimise the risks. It’s my job to assess everyone, their fitness state, injury level and to treat and rehabilitate. I also organise and coordinate checks if required, provide dietary & nutrition advice and make sure the players are hydrated.’ Being a sport physiotherapist, he adds that some of the qualities that anyone in his role must have are a love and keen interest in the sport, mental tenacity due to the strenuous job and a fun-loving character to deal with different personalities, and to make light of different situations as well. In addition, he says support team staff should be humble and of service putting the players first. Plus it always helps to just be who you are. Always a supporter of the Barras, Lorenzo urges Papua New Guinea to get behind the team. ‘The boys have worked so hard to be here. It’s a historical and monumental moment for them and for the country. They just have to play with their heart. ‘I just encourage PNG to rally behind the boys. It’s been a challenging time so far and now that they are here it’s an opportunity to back the Barras.’

“Our BSP customers do not have to travel all the way to Kimbe or Bialla to do banking. We have 12 BSP Agents in the province who can provide basic banking services like accepting deposits and paying out withdrawals,” said BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) Kimbe Branch Manager Betty Posangat. In acknowledging BSP Agents this week, Ms Posangat said, “altogether BSP has two branches and two sub-branches in West New Britain Province (WNB), a lot of people still have to travel far to access basic banking services.” “However with the help of our 12 agents, basic banking services are now accessible to the unbanked and rural areas of the province and we are grateful for these partnerships. One such agent is Otto Akinan who owns Adagas Trading located at Buluma Village in WNB. As a BSP Agent, he is issued an EFTPoS terminal that assists him serve customers along the Hoskins Highway with basic banking services. Ms Posangat added, “Adagas Trading serves local Oil Palm growers, New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL) employees and Public Servants. Bulk of the customers travel the Hoskins Highways daily and on NBPOL paydays, Adagas Trading accepts deposits and pay out withdrawals.” In the recent Aulu Nakamutmut Cultural Mask Festival held in Akonga Village in the Gloucester LLG, BSP Kimbe Branch Team including two of its agents - Nalai Coco Trading and Bariai Corporative Society were part of the event assisting the local community at the event. Apart from the 12 agents in WNB, BSP has 130 active agents established around PNG who collaborate with BSP to bring banking services to the rural areas, a service that BSP embarked on 10 years ago, and it has grown over the years through agreements with commodity buyers, sellers, merchants and trade stores. Ms Posangat added that apart from providing banking services in the province, BSP continues to extend its reach to the communities it operates in through the annual Community Project initiative. “BSP has invested in 26 Community Projects since 2009 in WNB valued at K610, 000 and we will continue to deliver similar projects,” said Ms Posangat. “This year we will hand over two worthy community projects valued at K60,000. One for Sasavoru Health Centre in Kaliai-Kove LLG whilst our Bialla Branch will deliver school desks to Salesege Primary School, in Central Nakanai LLG. In 2020, Kimbe Branch renovated the Kimbe General Hospital Children’s Ward Nutrition room and Mini Library, giving back a place for sick children to read while the Bialla Health Centre received 10-baby cots for its Maternity Ward from BSP Bialla Branch.

Papua New Guinea and the United Arab Emirates reached an understanding to strengthening and deepening relations during the bilateral meeting between the Minister for Forests Hon. Walter Schnaubelt and the UAE Minister for State for International Cooperation and Director General of World Expo2020 Her Excellency Reem Ephraim Al Hashimy in Dubai on 11 October 2021. The two Ministers met at the end of the thematic week on climate and biodiversity and before the departure of Minister Schnaubelt. Minister Schnaubelt had a successful week of connecting with stakeholders on investment opportunities in Papua New Guinea as well as outlining the country’s desire to live in balance with its rainforest and investing in conservation and renewable energy options. The two leaders noted that the impact of climate change is seen and felt around the World and unless the international communities assist each other to implement the Paris Agreement through their respective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the world would be heading towards self-destruction. Minister Schnaubelt said Papua New Guinea has set very ambitious greenhouse emission reduction and forest management plans and need partners to assist in delivering on these objectives in the collective interest of the global community. He said these targets includes the management and conservation of our forest, including planting of 800,000 hectares of trees through afforestation and reforestation as well as power production of 78%, using renewable energy sources. “These are ambitious targets and are conditional on the financial and technical support of international partners. Accordingly, we are looking at bilateral partnerships with like-minded emerging economies like the UAE to assist us in a long-term partnership arrangement to achieve these objectives in a mutually beneficial way”, Minister Schaubelt said. He said they exchanged views on working together by forging a long term relationship in not only forest and conservation management issues but also on institutional capacity building, research, digital infrastructure and data base management and the use of forestry resources for the production of green or hydrogen gas (carbon dioxide and hydrogen capture) Caption: Forest Minister Hon. Walter Schnaubelt (left) meeting with UAE Minister for State for International Cooperation and Director General of World Expo2020 Her Excellency Reem Ephraim Al Hashimy. Photo: Courtesy of PNG Expo2020 Media.  

The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with ExxonMobil PNG, the Motu Koita Assembly, and the National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCD PHA) launched a second mobile vaccination clinic in Port Moresby on October 15 to support rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. This second mobile vaccination clinic joins the recognizable “big yellow bus” operated by the Motu Koita Assembly to take COVID-19 vaccines directly to the residents of the National Capital District (NCD), targeting small villages and hard-to-reach settlements that may not otherwise have access to vaccines. The bus will maintain a steady supply of COVID-19 vaccines donated through the COVAX Facility. The United States remains the largest contributor to COVAX, providing $4 billion to support the global effort to provide safe and effective vaccines for 92 countries, including Papua New Guinea. PNG has already received 580,400 vaccine doses from the COVAX Facility, including 302,400 Johnson & Johnson vaccines donated by the U.S. government. U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, Erin McKee, was joined by Australia’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Jon Philp, the Honorable Dadi Toka, Chairman of the Motu Koita Assembly and Deputy Governor of the NCD, Managing Director Peter Larden from ExxonMobil, and Chief of Party Dr. Ignatius Mogaba from USAID’s implementing partner FHI 360 to celebrate the rollout of the new mobile vaccine clinics. “The U.S. Government stands unwavering in our support to the Government of PNG to vaccinate as many Papua New Guineans as possible. The addition of this mobile clinic provides another, more convenient avenue for residents of the NCD to get vaccinated,” Ambassador McKee said. “We urge all residents of Port Moresby to be on the lookout for these ‘big yellow buses’ in your community and get the vaccine to protect yourselves, your families, and your Wantok.” To date the U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided more than $11.7 million to address COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea. This assistance is part of a global campaign by the United States to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic and support equitable access to vaccines for the world’s most vulnerable.      

Staff from provincial courts in the country will be receiving more training in the coming years in order to upskill them to face latest developments and challenges and continue promoting access to justice. PNG Centre for Judicial Excellence Executive Director Dr. John Carey says there will be more training over the next few years that will assist them to improve their quality of life and upskill their performance to further provide access to justice. Speaking during a recent training in Lae, Dr Carey told staff from both the District and National Courts that PNGCJE is now reaching out to the provinces with training modules and would be delivering more trainings to provincial courts in the coming years. A total of 36 court staff, from both the National Judicial Staff Services (NJSS) and the Magisterial Services attended the training with high hopes of further professional training in other areas as well. Lead Facilitator Mr. Gitu Lago conducted the training which was aimed at developing efficient management skills and legal investment ideas to promote financial stability at home so that employees are focused on their jobs in administering justice on time without financial stress. “I have and will teach how to develop ideas to make money, and how to let your money work for itself and increase your income without you having to skip a day at work,” Mr. Lago said. “Most of you are crippled with loans. There’s a way to manage your income, repay your loans, start something small, register a business, and become an investor as well. And once you are up there, your money will work for you. This is what I’m teaching.” The training was a first of its kind for the Lae court staff and most of the participants found it to be of great value.

Nambawan Super Limited (NSL) announced no agreement has been reached with the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) regarding land that would resolve the issue of squatters living on NSL’s 9-mile landholdings. It is a disappointing outcome for all parties following months of negotiations. NSL is currently seeking an alternative site and is hopeful that an orderly relocation of squatters can still be achieved, however, if no such site can be found, the Trustee of Nambawan Super will enforce their court-ordered rights to take vacant possession. NSL has observed that some squatters are still openly building on the land and advises that to do so is reckless. Squatters should cease any building and prepare to remove personal property. NSL will not compensate for any improvements made on its land by squatters. Social mapping was completed some months ago confirming site occupants and housing quality. In September the Project Team moved into a permanent site office and are working on the project plan that will see the site cleared of squatters and securely fenced. The Project Team are the only trusted source of information available to squatters and continues to deliver awareness sessions to keep squatters informed of progress. Squatters can visit the site office from Monday – Friday, 8am to 4pm, and Sunday from 1pm – 4pm. Occupants of dwellings on the site boundary have received notice to move any encroachments onto NSL’s land to enable the project team to commence boundary fencing. NSL has leases for P2156, P2157, and P2159 and has been progressing through the necessary steps to secure Vacant Possession, which was directed by Court Ruling in late 2020. NSL sympathises with the squatters that will be affected, but we must act to protect a valuable asset that is owned in trust for the more than 200,000 Teachers, Nurses, Police Officers, and other everyday workers who are members of the Fund.

Claims of patients being turned away by Port Moresby General Hospital has come as a surprise to the management and staff. Chief executive officer Dr. Paki Molumi said the hospital learnt of the issue when it was raised on the floor of parliament this week by Member for Abau Hon. Sir Puka Temu. “We were surprised to hear that PMGH has turned away Central Province patients who are seeking treatment for COVID at Port Moresby General Hospital,” says Dr. Molumi. He said after learning of the issue, he immediately contacted the CEO of Central PHA Dr. James Amini to seek assistance from PMGH. Dr. Molumi added that an investigation has been initiated to find out whether any security personnel or staff member has rejected any patients seeking treatment at Port Moresby General Hospital. “We should not refuse anyone at all for that matter. If someone has been rejected, you can call Port Moresby General Hospital on 324 8100 so that we can know who has been rejected and we can assist where necessary,” Dr. Molumi said. Dr. Molumi said moving forward, a COVID Clinical Management Working Committee consisting of Port Moresby General Hospital, NCDPHA, St. John’s Ambulance, Central PHA, Gulf PHA and also the private hospitals has been established and this will be headed by Dr. Michael Dokup, chair of the PMGH Clinical Governance Committee. “This Committee is set up so that we can work together in our fight against COVID-19 by sharing all the resources available to assist one another so that all patients coming in for treatment are not rejected at any of the hospitals including the private clinics,” Dr. Molumi asserted.

Mr Cogan Toru, Chairman of the Toea Festival on Mailu Island in the Abau District of Central Province says preparations for the inaugural festival are underway and they are anticipating a good attendance with a full 2-day program come November. The festival which was first initiated in 2016 by Mr Toru’s late father was revived again last year after being dormant since 2017. At the second Toea Festival hosted in 2020, a new committee was appointed to carry on the duties of managing the festival as part of the district’s continued efforts towards promoting tourism and culture within the province. The festival which derives its’ name from the famous toea arm shells that were used as a form of money during the Kula & Hiri Trades along the Papuan coastline, is an opportunity whereby the people of Central Province especially from the surrounding districts, can come together to pay homage to their rich cultural heritage which is fast diminishing in today’s ever-changing world. “The Toea Festival has a historical and cultural significance because in today’s world, our cultures are deteriorating and rites of passage are not being observed as they were before due to more and more Western influence coming in.” “Through such events like the Toea Festival, it gives an opportunity for us to come together to revive, promote and preserve our culture for many more generations to come,” Mr Toru said. Mr Toru said so far, the Central Provincial Government in partnership with the Tourism Promotion Authority have been very supportive of the festival and they are hoping that more sponsors can come on board to support this inaugural event. The Toea Festival will be hosted from the 26th to 27th of November on Mailu Island which is located 260km east of Port Moresby with participation expected from the surrounding districts. “This year, we have extended our reach to communities in Cloudy Bay, Amazon Bay as well as a few villages from Aroma who will be taking part in the 2-day festival.” “We are currently in the process of securing sponsors to enable us to deliver a bigger and better festival this year as we plan on attracting a good number of people to attend this inaugural event.” “Apart from trying to secure sponsors, we are also being vigilant and on the lookout for latest developments surrounding the Covid19 situation in the country and we hope that the situation will improve so that we can be able to proceed with our event as well,” Mr Toru said. Mr Toru further advised that preparations for the event are ongoing however, they have organised to split up into smaller groups to finalise their practices for the upcoming event and also mentioned that more information will be disseminated over the coming weeks.