The shortages of houses in towns and cities of Papua New Guinea (PNG) has reached a critical level that requires urgent attention, a Senior Research Fellow of PNG National Research Institute has warned. In recent years, government departments and statutory organisations have rolled out numerous residential projects to alleviate their employees suffering from this housing debacle. Furthermore, the private sector, through the superannuation industry, had initiated large private sector housing projects. However, the number of houses constructed, whether by public or private sector, in an uncoordinated fashion is unlikely to have an impact on the total housing demand in the housing market. Sustainable Land Development Program Leader Dr. Lindsay Kutan says the uncoordinated initiatives introduced by the government and the private sector has not been able to address the issues. “As a result, a public-private partnership is needed to collectively increase the supply of houses to the housing market,” Dr. Kutan said in his latest research report: “The role of private sector in addressing housing shortages in PNG”. “This partnership will enable the exchange and utilisation of the needed capital resources and technical expertise from the private sector to encourage growth in the housing sector.” He said the private sector’s role is primarily the construction and supply of houses to the housing market. The report also highlights the challenges faced by the private sector and provides recommendations regarding the support from the government that would enhance the effectiveness of the private sector to deliver affordable housing to all Papua New Guineans. “On the other hand, the government should play a facilitative role to foster an enabling environment that will mitigate the challenges experienced by the private sector in addressing the housing shortages,” Dr Kutan said.

The inaugural Douglas Guise Tribute 7s in New Ireland province has been hailed a success with the display of talents over the three days tournament outside Kavieng town. President of New Ireland Rugby Union Charlie Melachon thanking the participation of Port Moresby based Brothers club as well Harlequins and Nova Rugby Union clubs said it was indeed motivational. Melachon said the three POM based clubs associated with the late Douglas Guise and being the only out of province clubs participating as exhibition play offs showcased an improved level of rugby in Papua New Guinea boosting an elevated platform for the rest of the tournament over the independence weekend. Melachon acknowledged the backing of the tournament as the first of its king in a long time for the code in the province signaled a revived hope to see greater results moving forward. Meanwhile in the cup finals, Fandas Rugby Union Club of Lugagun village are the inaugural Douglas Guise Tribute 7s Cup champions. Out of 34 teams from within the province taking part in the challenge in honour of late Douglas Guise the former PNG Pukpuks 7s coach, Fandas sealed a home ground victory 12- 7 points over nearest rival the Sappers settling as Runner Up. Ngavalus Brothers-1 defeated Junction Brothers 14-12 for the Plate while Luvurao Wanderers-2 reigned 10-7 points over Madina Hawks in the Bowl final. The shield award went to Laks Bay 10-12 win and Baum Storms claimed the Trophy prize 7-5 against Luvurao-1. The Top Try Scorer was awarded to Peter Salathiel of Manggai Barbarians, Best Player to Algie of Ngavalus Brothers-2 and Best and Fairest player awarded to Kunak Late of Fandas while Timothy Mokis of Luburua Purex clinched the Best Forward award. Most improved Player is Benson Nigel of Baum Storms, Most Improved Team is Tiang Hurricanes and Most Improved Coach is Oliab Gurumang. And the Lugagun oval in East Coast Nalik along Buluminski highway once again blossomed with rugby flavour of Bilas Peles serenaded by an oldies show between the New Ireland Drongos Oldies and Fishpots. This year’s tournament was non invitational but concentrated within the province teams and from next year onwards will be open to the rest of the country to contest.

The BSP Marketing Team have set up a booth at the 1st UPNG Professional Studies Tourism Seminar happening today to assist students and staff in opening BSP bank accounts. BSP sponsorship coordinator Lois Garena said BSP is supporting this event by bringing their services to the event which is more convenient for staff and students attending the event. "We'll be opening live accounts, that's the Kids savings account, the Sumatin Accounts for University students and the Kundu account." "We are also doing live mobile banking registration and internet banking registration at our booth," said Garena. Meanwhile for those that are interested in opening an account at BSP are required to bring a valid ID card and a confirmation letter from your school or from your employer. The BSP team will also be here at UPNG main campus tomorrow for the 15th UPNG Tourism Convention organised by the UPNG Tourism and Hospitality students.

The Department of Personnel Management will be holding a two day workshop at the end of September to train line agencies on how to write Key Result Areas (KRA’s) for their respective heads. The training is part of ongoing trainings conducted by DPM to equip HR Managers and Planning Managers on how to create KRA’s for their respective agency heads. Department of Personnel Management Secretary Ms Taies Sansan said, the Performance Management System (PMS) is part of the Performance Based Agency Head Contract system committing agency heads to deliver services and programs in accordance with the performance targets agreed with the portfolio minister for Departmental Heads, Governor for Provincial administrations and Board chairpersons for other funded public authorities. “Since the department started rolling out the Online Performance Management system in 2019, I have observed that agency heads are either not submitting their key result areas or are submitting them very late. This is defeating the purpose of the performance based contracts that have been executed between the head of state and the Agency Head”. Through a circular instruction sent out to HR Managers of all national departments, provincial administrations and other funded public authorities an invitation is extended to all Human Resource Managers and Planning Managers to attend the training to be run by DPM’s Executive Resourcing Service branch on how to write Agency Heads Key Result Areas from corporate plans. The 2 day workshop will be held at the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance from the 28th to the 29th of September 2021.

Papua New Guinea has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and just like other countries in the world, PNG has also recorded a huge drop in the tourism industry, employment and revenue in 2020. The Chief Executive officer for the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority Mr Eric Mossman Uvovo revealed this at the 1st UPNG Professional Studies Tourism Seminar that took place today. Mr Mossman said the impact of COVID-19 has been severe, affecting the number of tourists the country receives every year. " PNG recorded a huge drop of 80% or 170, 000 less arrivals compared to the 210, 980 international arrivals received in 2019." " Holiday arrivals to the country fell by 87%  in 2020 while business and employment related arrivals also dropped by a big margin during the same year." "Tourism revenue also declined by 80% or over K500 million loss in 2020 compared to an estimated revenue of K715 million generated in 2019." Mr Mossman further added the poor performance in tourist arrivals to the country was a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the arrival numbers are expected to pick up slowly in 2022. Given the current situation with the pandemic, the Tourism Promotion Authority is focusing more on domestic tourism with a vision to improve the revenue numbers in the industry in 2022.

Digicel Foundation will be launching a new educational television channel called Be Lit on September 27, 2021. The Be Lit channel will focus on airing educational content for students in formal schools and will work with flexible open distance Education to produce mathematics and science series. This is all part of Digicel PNG Foundation’s education pathways strategy. Be Lit will air on TVWan on a three-hour block daily and will become a fully-fledged 24-hour education TV channel early 2022. Digicel PNG Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Serena Sasingian, said that this is the first major shared value project between Digicel PNG Ltd and Digicel PNG Foundation. “Digicel recognizes the growing problem of the youth bulge. The Challenge is on us all to see how we can create opportunities for the next generation to learn skills and create employment for the youth to better their lives. Through the Be Lit education TV channel, we have collaborated with the Department of Education and The Voice Inc. and SAVE PNG to broadcast 3 hours of TV Content to schools around the country. This would not be possible without the support of Digicel PNG”, Serena Sasingian. The Secretary of the Department of Education, Dr Uke Kombra, who was present for launching said that the Department of Education are progressing the partnership with Digicel Foundation after signing the MoU in June 2021. He said that they would be providing support to ensure that the country can be educated not just the children but adults as well. “Where there is a school, there is a teacher but in the case where there is no teacher present, the next best option is the Education channel and this channel can play a role in ensuring there is some contact with students. We thank Digicel Foundation for an initiative that means a lot to every child and every family, when you touch education you touch every heart of Papua New Guinea”, Department of Education Secretary, Dr. Uke Kombra. This is a major milestone for the Foundation as it formally recognizes its work in the field of Education over the last 13 years.

Slap on your hat and slip into your adventure shoes because Kids for Conservation began yesterday! We can’t wait to meet our next generation of conservationists at the Port Moresby Nature Park! If you haven’t yet registered your kids for this fantastic holiday program, registration is still open for the next session which will be held on Thursday 23rd September, 2021.

Judith Puee is an educator who, perhaps better than most, understands the importance of supporting students with special needs. She has four children and the youngest two – Bertha and Giana – were born with disabilities. In 2005, Judith started her teaching career with a passion to bring about change in Panguna, Central Bougainville. She and her husband are now working at Metonai Elementary School in Panguna District. Judith teaches a composite prep and grade one class, and her husband is a teaching assistant. “Many students I’ve taught have already graduated from university,” Judith said, beaming with pride. “Two have become high school teachers and a few are now primary school teachers.” In addition to running Metonai Elementary, Judith is dedicated to her daughters with special needs, nine-year-old Bertha and three-year-old Giana. Such is Judith’s commitment to her students and daughters, that she would take Bertha and Giana with her to school in a wheelbarrow when there was no one available to look after them. In 2019, Judith and her husband first attended professional development workshops to improve their teaching skills as part of the Rapidly Increasing Standards of Education (RISE) program. RISE is supported by the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership and provides training on literacy, numeracy and cross-cutting themes including gender equality and inclusive education. The program is delivered by Save the Children in collaboration with the Autonomous Bougainville Government, church education agencies, Callan Services National Unit and the Summer Institute of Linguistics PNG. Judith said the program equipped them with the necessary skills to improve children’s learning, including tools and strategies to support students with special needs. “RISE helped me improve how I teach my students to read,” she said. “It provided me with guides to simplify my teaching and help my students.” Last year, Judith attended RISE training and contributed many valuable insights on the challenges faced by children with disabilities. “I share the lessons I plan for my students with Bertha and Giana – reading is Bertha’s favourite subject!” Judith said. “My kids are learning at the same level as my students in the class and Bertha can read three-letter words.” The RISE project also supported the delivery of wheelchairs for Bertha and Giana to improve their independence, mobility in the community and access to education. All children deserve the chance to learn and Judith will continue her mission to provide opportunities for all students in Panguna to fulfil their potential.

COVID 19 cases are expected to increase in the next two weeks, the National Control Centre has warned. Prime Minister James Marape conveyed this message today before leaving for the United States this morning. “From indications I’m getting from the National Control Centre, the next two weeks will possibly see a spike in COVID 19 cases right across the country,” Mr Marape said. “The traditional hotspots as well as the areas where it wasn’t too dominant before have evidence of increased presence of COVID 19.” The Prime Minister said the anticipated spike is also attributed to the recent public gatherings held around the country. “The medical advisory and scientific community will convene with the National Control Centre to look at the statistics from the feeds we’re getting from the Provincial Health Authorities and hospitals around the country before we issue certain instructions.” Mr Marape called on all citizens to have respect for others by observing the new normal protocols to prevent the disease from spreading.

PRIME Minister Hon. James Marape has reassured the people of Southern Highlands that he would complete capital investment projects begun under his predecessor and Member for Ialibu-Pangia Peter O'Neill. PM Marape explained that over the last two years since taking office, his government had retired over K700m worth of outstanding contracts initiated under O’Neill "as an example of how we continue some of these work so long as they are people-empowering and country-focused". The Prime Minister was speaking to people from Imbonggu and right throughout SHP and neighbouring provinces Western Highlands, Enga and Hela who had travelled in to Walume to participate in the Imbonggu Cultural Show. The show was held from 15 - 17 September to coincide with the celebration of the country's 46th Independence anniversary. PM Marape was invited to Walume to officiate over the Opening of the Imbonggu District Community Development Centre. "I am here to assure you that the work we have begun with my brother O'Neill, we will carry them on," he said in Tok Pisin. "Wanem wok mipla wokim wantaim brata blong mi Peter O'Neill long 7 o 8-pla yia mipla wok wantaim, mipla bai karim igo yet." The Prime Minister gave examples of local projects, Western Pacific University and roads in SHP, that his Government is continuing to support. On Western Pacific University he said: "Last year, we allocated K10m, this year another K10m, next year 2022 will be another K10m, and the other years after that too for the university. "Your university is still going ahead so all our children here can get an education; so that children from the coast and even from throughout the Pacific can come here and get an education, because you are a peace-loving people. "We are not going to stop it. It's not Peter O'Neill's personal property to carry in his pocket or mine to own. It belongs to you, for your children and children of our country." Giving the example of road development from Tambul to Tona Piambil, the Prime Minister said, civil works have started with a K5m allocation last year and the same this year, and would continue into the future. Other roads in Wiru and east Pangia were also being funded in the Ialibu-Pangia electorate. While this was happening, major efforts to connect SHP to Gulf Province through the Kagua-Erave-Semberiki-Kikori Road was going ahead, PM Marape added. "This is so that you can have an alternate port in Gulf five years from now where you can access in 2 or 3 hours instead of driving all the way to Lae. "So before Christmas this year, we will make the ground-breaking to begin the work linking Southern Highlands to Kikori." The Prime Minister encouraged southern highlanders not to get engaged in personalised politics but to pick up SME business and education, and look after law & order. He also asked for the people of SHP and Hela to respect the rest of the people of Papua New Guinea because "they are continuing to bestow upon us the national leadership title for 10 years running with O’Neill’s tenure of eight years and mine for two years". After he finished the program at Walume, the Prime Minister went to preside over another program, a peace ceremony in his adopted village of Yombi in the Ialubu Basin, at which he has a residential place there.

Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister and Kikori MP Soroi Eoe has been appointed as the Acting Prime Minister in the absence of Prime Minister James Marape who left the country today for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. PM Marape made the announcement this morning before leaving with his entourage for the airport. He said Mr Eoe is not new to the public service and was decided by the cabinet to take the role after Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil was suspended following his Leadership Tribunal. “The cabinet has given blessing for the appointment of Hon. Soroi Eoe as the acting Prime Minister in the nine days that I will be absent from the country,” Mr Marape said. “The Hon. Eoe is not new to leadership, he’s been a public service leader for 30 years before he became a politician and is now one of our senior ministers in the cabinet.” PM Marape further urged the public service members and citizens to show support to Mr Eoe during this time. Marape and his entourage depart for New York today via the Philippines.

In spite of September 16th, 2021 starting with a heavy downpour and showers that followed throughout the day, the teacher and nursing students of Divine Word University’s St Benedict’s campus in Wewak, East Sepik Province showcased yet another lively multicolored cultural show, joining the country to celebrate its 46th Independence. As usual before any event on campus, the day started with a mass by Bishop of the Wewak Diocese, Bishop Jozef Roszynski blessing the day and reminding everyone to appreciate this beautiful country of pristine rainforests, rivers and seas and to remember how Independence was sought by the founding father, the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare. Late Sir Michael was honored in the mass with a moment of silence, as well as before the Cultural Show in the Eastern Square arena, followed by the National Anthem and the National Pledge. Despite the gloomy weather feeling, the crowd roared with excitement in a standing ovation as onlookers shouted words of acknowledgment and respect, when the St Benedict’s Campus (SBC) Vice President, Dr Fr Lawrence Arockiaraj of Indian origin made his entrance with his face painted in the bright red, black, white and gold colors of the Tambul Nebilyer district of Western Highlands Province. “It is my great pleasure to celebrate with you all again this year, the third Cultural Show for SBC, also bearing in mind that this is the first without the country’s founding father, the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare. I wish you all a happy celebration with a Christian atmosphere within the campus,” the Vice President said when officially opening the show. Although the nursing and teacher students had only just returned from their nursing and field teaching practices with limited time to find traditional costumes and rehearse, the students sort themselves out into regions instead of provinces and creatively performed each of their provincial dances, as a collaboration which came out spectacular.