Tragically, Nosaina lost his father Mr. Ricky Pokana last week. Nosaina’s father was a major influence in his life, a talented allrounder, playing for Team Kempa. He was proud of his son, and Nosaina is staying with the Kumul Petroleum PNG Barramundis, to complete the dream his father had for him, playing in the T20 World Cup for PNG. ‘Cricket’s got me to see life in a different perspective. Going out seeing the world, your way of thinking starts to change and you start thinking outside the box.’ Opening bowler, Nosaina is set for their games in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. With preparation for the Kumul Petroleum PNG Barramundis nearing completion, it now comes down to just trusting in the process. Training also includes a good healthy diet so that’s what he’s following too. ‘I’m just taking in the good stuff,’ he says. But if he could have a cheat meal it would unquestionably be crispy fried chicken & chips. For him, he says it would be a big accomplishment if the Barras win a match against a full member. ‘Beating one of those big giants like Australia, New Zealand or West Indies. It’d be good to beat one of those teams and test yourself against the best players.’ Having played cricket for over a decade, the 25-year-old says his family played cricket mostly in local tournaments and so for him he doesn’t look far for inspiration. ‘My role model is our skipper, Assad. I’ve learnt a lot from him and I just admire how he goes about his business.’ For the young Rigo lad, he knows what it takes to be part of an international men’s team. So his valuable piece of encouragement is stated plainly: hard work and commitment. ‘If you want to achieve your goals, you firstly need to be disciplined in ways that you commit yourself to what you want to achieve. It starts with commitment then hard work, work ethics, etc come in.’ Nosaina is optimistic about his team’s performance in the World Cup. ‘I’m just really proud and happy of how far the team has come and all the hard work we’ve put in, in the last two years. It’s all about believing in ourselves and trusting the work we’ve put in. The only thing left is to believe.’

The Storm and the NRL have come down hard on Melbourne trio Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis over the white powder video scandal. Munster in particular was hit hard in a clear sign the club’s patience has been tested to its limit. He will be required to spend a month in rehab and abstain from alcohol from a year. Additionally, he was axed from the club’s leadership group and hit with a $100,000 suspended fine. The NRL’s breach notice included Munster is fined $30,000 and suspended for one match, Smith is fined $15,000 and suspended for one match and Lewis is fined $4000 and suspended for one match. All three are required to complete education and training as directed by the NRL. Storm CEO, Justin Rodski, said the players had accepted all penalties handed to them by the NRL and club. “This has been an incredibly challenging and disappointing period for everyone involved in our club,” Rodski said. All three are required to complete education and training as directed by the NRL. Storm CEO, Justin Rodski, said the players had accepted all penalties handed to them by the NRL and club. “This has been an incredibly challenging and disappointing period for everyone involved in our club,” Rodski said. “I understand that players have endured a long season under strict protocols,” said NRL boss Andrew Abdo. “However, there is no excuse for the behaviour we have seen over the past week. The players have let themselves, their clubs and the rugby league community down. “These sanctions are designed to include an element of rehabilitation and development as well as having consequences for the individual and team.” Source: Fox Sports

The Bank of Papua New Guinea (the Bank) building, ToRobert Haus has gone into a 2-day shutdown from Monday 04 October to Tuesday 05 October as there is one confirmed positive COVID-19 case. The 2-day shutdown will allow for deep cleansing. The ToRobert Haus will re-open on Wednesday 06 October 2021. The health and safety of the Bank’s staff and stakeholders are paramount, therefore, necessary measures are being taken to mitigate the risks of contracting and spread of COVID-19. The Bank has commenced contact tracing including isolating persons of interest (POIs). The Bank is also encouraging staff to get vaccinated with the support of PHA. The Bank’s critical functions are working from home (WFH) and or from alternate sites to ensure business continuity during the 2-day shutdown.

Teachers in Jiwaka Province have been given the permission to celebrate World Teachers Day today however on a smaller scale due to the current pandemic. “We originally planned to have a big celebration to celebrate our hard-working teachers but we have had to adhere to the new measures of no gatherings and we had to cancel our celebrations.” “Jiwaka Province is very close to Eastern Highlands and since it’s one of the hotspots for Covid-19, we are strongly discouraging gatherings,” said the Jiwaka Provincial Education Advisor, Dr Charly Muke. He said that he had advised school heads that they can celebrate but not the usual fun activities and kaikai for the teachers and students to share. The school’s heads were told to celebrate teacher’s day by cutting a cake to share or something small within their classes. The same instruction was also issued to teachers in Milne Bay Province. The Milne Bay Teachers Association advised the schools that there will not be any big celebrations but the teachers can celebrate the day at their respective schools however they will not be celebrating today but at a later date which will be advised.

PORT Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) will be scaling down its services effective Wednesday, 6 October, 2021. The CEO of the Hospital Dr Paki Molumi released a circular this afternoon warning the public in NCD of the 3rd wave of COVID-19 cases which the hospital is currently dealing with. “Since the end of September, PMGH has been experiencing a 3rd Wave of COVID-19 with a current admission of 88 COVID-19 patients, 30 of which were admitted in the last 24 hours.” “This number is expected to rise over the next couple of weeks before things settle down.” “All hospital clinical and related services will therefore be scaled down for a period of two weeks as staff are reorganized and deployed to critical areas such as the Emergency Department, Medical Ward 3B, Isolation Ward and the Taurama Aquatic Centre (TAC),” said Dr Molumi. The situation will be monitored closely over the coming days with daily updates and further advice. In the meantime, the following services will be affected as a result of these measures to mitigate and address the surge of COVID-19 cases in the hospital (per internal Circular). PATHOLOGY SERVICES Urgent tests, for example, Cross Match and blood transfusion services will be maintained with strict implementation of Niupela Pasin measures during blood collection. Routine risk categorization and decontamination activities to be maintained at all times. Appropriate staff Isolation and clinical assessments to be deployed as required. SURGICAL SERVICES All ELECTIVE surgeries are on HOLD indefinitely. Emergency surgeries will continue to be provided in both the General and Specialty surgical operations as well as Obstetrics/Gynecology Emergency Services. CONSULTATION CLINIC All consultation clinics to be closed effective of Wednesday, 6 October, 2021 until further notice. Clinicians who have patients to be reviewed per respective clinical assessments to make special arrangements convenient to yourselves and your clients. TB CLINIC TB Clinic to be open as per schedules, however, must maintain Niupela Pasin measures; limit number of clients per clinic, maintain social distancing, hand sanitizing and wearing of face masks. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT Only emergency and life-threatening conditions will be attended to at the Emergency Department. All non-emergent medical conditions are advised to seek medical attention from available clinic facilities in the city. RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT Emergency and in-patient radiology services will be maintained throughout this scale-down period. All other requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine urgency. This exercise is to control overcrowding within the Medical Imaging Department. Niupela Pasin measures to be observed by all concerned when accessing services at the Radiology Department. ALL OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES Other essential and specialty services to maintain new normal practices of COVID-19; social distancing, wearing face masks, hand sanitization and make individual risk assessments and manage accordingly. These services include Dental, Physiotherapy, Social Works, Heduru Clinic, Oncology, Antenatal and General Support Services. VACCINATION Hospital staff and the public are encouraged to get vaccinated at the vaccination sites within the hospital and other sites in the city. PMGH PHARMACY Dispensing of prescription medications will be maintained with limited capacity including reducing operating hours Monday to Friday. ALL STAFF Staff are expected to attend to duties per your respective rosters including call-out to critical areas within the hospital during this period.

St John Ambulance PNG has received a donation of much needed equipment and supplies to support the expansion of new ambulance stations and to aid in its development emergency support capabilities in times of disaster. With the support of the Royal Hobart Hospital, St John Ambulance Australia – Tasmania has organised the donation and shipping to PNG. Donated items included 9 defibrillators, patient assessment equipment, portable navigation devices, head torches, and emergency medical team kits among other assorted supplies. This donation was handed over last Friday by Tasmanian St John Commissioner, Carl Graham to St John PNG Chief Executive Officer & Commissioner Matthew Cannon. Mr Graham said St John Ambulance Tasmania was glad to help how it could to support the vital lifesaving work of St John PNG. Mr Cannon acknowledged the generous contribution and also recognised how the International St John family can work together for the service of humanity not just in their own domains, but also in further enhancing the provision of vital and lifesaving health care services across the South Pacific Region including in PNG. Mr Cannon also thanked St John Tasmania, and local PNG staff who have worked to together to identify equipment needs and supporting various processes that turned this offer into reality.

With the recent surge of COVID 19 cases in Eastern Highlands Province and the shortage of medical oxygen supply at the Goroka Provincial Hospital, the National Eastern Highlands Adventist Students Association (NEHASA) has organized a one-week fundraising drive to support the pandemic response in the province. NEHASA President Jarmol Hogi told PNGFM News that the fundraising drive started on Sunday with the appeal for cash and kind posted on their social media platforms. He said their aim is to purchase 50 medical oxygen bottles from the contributions and have it transported from Lae to Goroka by next week. So far, the association has received up to K35, 000 from the appeal. Mr Hogi described the situation in the province as grave and alarming and needs support from all stakeholders. He added that many people have criticized the COVID 19 response and health authorities for mismanaging the COVID 19 funds however he says there is no time for the blame game with the health of people now at stake. Donations can be made to the students’ association BSP Account Name: Eastern Highlands Adventist Students Association. Account Number: 100959944.

EU-STREIT PNG on a recent mission to Ambunti-Drekikier District trained 200 lead farmers to act as Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) on advanced cocoa cultivation practices and efficient vanilla production techniques. The FAO-led EU-STREIT Programme, in Papua New Guinea in collaboration with Provincial DAL and Cocoa Board in East Sepik Province, conducted two trainings on ‘Cocoa Bud Grafting’ and ‘Vanilla Cultivation, Husbandry and Processing’ that will benefit 2000 plus rural farming-dependant households in East Sepik Province. Building on previous technical assistance provided by the EU-STREIT PNG in August 2021, the Programme continued with another technical assistance to Hambini Village in early September 2021. A total of 200 lead farmers, including a high number of women and female youth, took part in the first 2-day training on ‘Cocoa Bud Grafting’. The participants are expected to act as Trainers for other members of their community and impart the gained knowledge and skills to at least 10 farmers in their cluster groups, hence benefiting 2000 people in the Hambini community. The training was aimed at enabling cocoa farmers to replace old cocoa trees, including those affected by cocoa pod borer (CPB) pest, which has resulted in low production and loss in income for countless rural households. Bud grafting is the latest innovative technique in cocoa cultivation which EU-STREIT PNG is promoting along with the distribution of 18 CPB tolerant species – recommended by the national Cocoa Board – among cocoa farming communities in the Sepik Region. For the farmers, it was an awakening, learning opportunity they have been waiting for many years. “We know cocoa pod borer pest is the issue and the only way to address it is to rehabilitate with new cocoas. Through this programme, the EU-STREIT PNG, we can now be able to produce good quality cocoa to attract better markets,” said 62-year-old Michael Butehe, an active cocoa farmer and an elder in the village. Shedding tears, the old-timer described EU-STREIT PNG as an intervention that will unfold a brighter future for his people. “We are cultivating cocoa ,but who will come and teach us how to cultivate and produce quality beans properly, but today the FAO through EU-STREIT PNG and PNG Cocoa Board is assisting us in moving forward from where we are,” added Mr Butehe. The same 200 participants continued for another 2-day vanilla training on proper cultivation, husbandry and processing methods on 9-10 September. One highlight of the training was the introduction of a simple, efficient technique to pollinate vanilla flowers. The technique only requires lifting the rostellum, which acts as a shield between the stamen and stigma, and then pressing the stamen with the thumb gently down to the stigma for successful pollination. “The advantage of this method is the speed and accuracy of pollinating vanilla flowers in the morning between 6:30 am to 10:30 am, which is the best time for pollination,” explained the FAO National Vanilla Production Officer and Training Facilitator Mr Nanda Siri. All participants had the opportunity to practice this pollination technique during practical sessions and picked up the skills very quickly. “With this new knowledge, I can now do pollination well to produce good quality beans for a higher income to support my children’s school fees,” said Lois Sambrehel, a single mum with three teenage children. The trainings in cocoa and vanilla aimed to fill in the knowledge gaps farmers have in the production process. These 200 lead vanilla farmers are expected to pass the technique they mastered to at least 2000 vanilla farmers in the area. The EU-STREIT PNG Programme continues to guide, mentor and work closely with the farmers , supporting them to increase both the quality and quantity of vanilla beans they produce The EU-STREIT PNG, being implemented as a UN Joint Programme (FAO as leading agency/administrative agent, and ILO, ITU, UNCDF and UNDP as implementing partners), is the largest grant-funded Programme of the European Union in the country and the Pacific region, which focuses on increasing sustainable and inclusive economic development of rural areas through increasing the economic returns and opportunities from cocoa, vanilla and fishery value chains and strengthening and improving the efficiency of value chain enablers including the business environment and supporting sustainable, climate-proof transport and energy infrastructure development.

The Telikom Affiliated Leagues Confederate trials scheduled to start in the New Guinea Islands in Kokopo on Thursday October 7, 2021 followed by Southern in Port Moresby, Highlands in Minj and Northern in Lae over the weekend on Saturday October 9, 2021 have been deferred by a month. The deferral means the 2021 Telikom National Confederate Championships slated for the weekend of October 15 to 17, 2021 in Lae and the All Stars challenge the week after will be re-scheduled. The Affiliated Leagues comprise Under 20, senior men’s and senior women’s local competitions. PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina in a statement said the deferral was in line with the directives – Measure 3. Domestic Measures- issued last week by the Pandemic Controller restricting gatherings to no more than 20 persons. “We have received advise from the National Pandemic Response Office that due to the current surge in the country of the Covid 19 Delta variant, the Measure 3. Domestic directive banning all events for the next one month was issued,” Hondina said. “Therefore, in compliance with this directive, the Telikom Affiliated Leagues Confederate Trials, the Telikom National Confederate Championships and the All-Stars challenge will be postponed and reviewed after the month.” Hondina said PNGRFL is an organization that has been complying with all directives issued since day one and will continue to do so. “Our game is loved and played by many throughout the country and as such we have a duty of care to extend this decision to our people to ensure compliance at all times,” he said. Hondina appealed to everyone to strictly adhere to all measures issued by the National Pandemic Controller’s Office as Covid 19 is here. “Let’s all play our part in minimising the risks of transmission and please take care,” he said.

BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) has confirmed in an announcement that BSP shareholders can migrate their holdings, or part of their holdings of BSP shares to the ASX and trade their shares on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) Market. BSP Financial Limited Group CEO Robin Fleming said, “since BSP’s listing on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) in May, we are now pleased to announce to our shareholders that they can trade on the ASX market.” In order to move shares across to ASX, BSP PNGX shareholders are required to fill in two mandatory forms; the PNG Registries Shunt Form and an IRC Tax Clearance Form. Fleming explained the process of shunting or moving shares. Saying: “the migration or shunting process refers to the movement of issuer (BSP) shares from PNG sponsored sub-register –PNG Registries to the issuer’s AUS sponsored sub register (Link Australia),” said Fleming. “Once the forms are filled, submitted and they meet the requirements, which would normally take six (6) days in total, your shares will be transferred to Link Australia and held in preparation for trading on the ASX,” explained Fleming. Fleming further went on to explain that while the shares are with Link Australia, it will take a further ten (10) working days for the shareholder to receive their Security-holder Reference Number [SRN]. The SRN is needed to trade the shares on the ASX. “The ten (10) days taken to receive the SRN will reduce to one (1) day for subsequent shunts and trades, given that the shareholder’s AUS stockbroker has on hand their SRN and can convert the shares from the issuer-sponsored sub register,” added Fleming. BSP is further advising shareholders without an established Australian based stockbroker account that wish to migrate and trade their shares on the ASX to contact JMP Securities (https://www.jmpmarkets.com/), a Port Moresby based stockbroker. “In coming months, BSP is expecting to see more BSP shares traded on the ASX after the announcement,” concluded Fleming.

"It is important to give the correct information so that interested candidates ensure they meet all the requirements before applying," said the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Team Leader for the Central Schools Career Expo, Major Ezron Dekaetavara. The Central Province School Expo was held last week at the Caritas Girls Technical School. Over seven secondary schools in the Central Province took part with more than three hundred students passing through the PNGDF booth. Most were interested in learning about the organization and the requirements for General Enlistment and Officer Cadet. PNGDF personnel manning the booth also encouraged the students to at least attain a diploma or degree in a technical field, business, science or other areas before enlisting to serve. [caption id="attachment_15644" align="alignnone" width="649"] Daniel Pasum from the PNGDF Recruitment engaging with the Central Governor Robert Agarobe during the Central Schools Expo[/caption] “ I would also encourage you to have a qualification before enlisting in the military,” Major Dekaetavara told the students. The students also asked questions on PNGDF also being an option on the online choices for school leavers. Governor for Central Province Robert Agarobe, who officially closed the expo and also visited the booth shared his experience in Bougainville while working for a private helicopter company and encouraged students who were interested to enlist in the force while they are young to do their time and then leave. “Singapore has the youngest military. I would want to see us having a system where every citizen is required to enlist to serve their number of years before they leave,” Governor Agarobe said. PNGDF annually takes part in the National Capital District and Central Schools Career Expo which is an avenue for students to collect the right information on the entry requirements into technical schools, colleges and tertiary institutions. This year PNGDF only took part in the Central Schools Career Expo.

South Sydney officials point to Wayne Bennett’s description of Jason Demetriou as his “co-coach” at Sunday night’s grand final press conference as confirmation that the Rabbitohs are in good hands next season and beyond. Contrary to the widespread belief that Demetriou joined Souths from Brisbane in 2019 as part of a package deal with Bennett, he was identified independently by the Rabbitohs as the best assistant coach available at the time. In fact, Demetriou had been on the radar at Redfern since 2016 when he was discussed internally for a role on Michael Maguire’s coaching staff the following season. However, Bennett lured him to the Broncos, and Souths hired Anthony Seibold and David Furner to work with Maguire. After a five-year apprenticeship under Bennett, Demetriou will officially take charge on November 1, with his biggest challenge set to be how the Rabbitohs overcome the loss of halfback and captain Adam Reynolds. Yet the impact that suspended superstar Latrell Mitchell may have had on the grand final result has been understated, while Jai Arrow – the forward expected to pressure Nathan Cleary when he kicked – played just 17 minutes after an early head knock. Besides the departures of Reynolds, Dane Gagai and Jaydn Su’a, Demetriou will have a largely unchanged squad of players he is familiar with and anyone who has watched the team train would not be surprised by Bennett’s comments about his successor. "He's been a wonderful servant to the game and to me personally he's been a wonderful co-coach,” Bennett told the press conference after Sunday's 14-12 grand final loss to Penrith at Suncorp Stadium. “Ben Hornby's staying with him, and Jason's an extremely competent coach, so I don't think there will be too many ripples at all." Bennett is considering remaining involved with Souths in a consultancy role but his preference is a coaching job with the second Brisbane team expected to join the NRL in 2023. However, Rabbitohs COO Brock Schaefer believes the seven-times premiership mentor is likely to provide a sounding board for Demetriou regardless of what he does next year. “They have a really close personal relationship and no matter what happens next year Wayne and JD will be speaking every week, whether it is in a professional sense or as friends,” he said. Schaefer was the Northern Pride CEO when Demetriou coached the Cairns-based Queensland Cup club in 2013 and 2014 – winning back-to-back minor premierships and the grand final in his second season. The Easts Tigers team beaten 36-4 by Demetriou's Pride outfit included the likes of Cameron Munster, Cody Walker, Felise Kaufusi, Kenny Bromwich and Hymel Hunt. Demetriou was an assistant to Paul Green in North Queensland’s 2015 premiership triumph over Bennett’s Broncos and took the Illawarra Cutters to victory in the NSW Cup grand final the following season. “I think a common denominator with most successful head coaches is that they have had experience coaching their own open-aged men’s teams," Schaefer said. "JD has been a head coach of men successfully, frequently, and I think when he coached the Pride the Queensland Cup was never at a higher standard. "He did an incredibly good job in that comp and then went on to do it in the NSW Cup. They were things that the club evaluated when they made the decision to bring Jason here." Source: nrl.com