A TRIBUTE AND CONDOLENCE MESSAGE During Parliamentary Funeral Service of the late founding father Grand Chief Right Honourable Sir Michael Thomas Somare GCL GCMG CH CF SSI KSG PC ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ by Hon Samuel H Basil, MP Member for Bulolo Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Commerce and Industry Mr Speaker Kindly through you, let me acknowledge the presence of Our Honourable Prime MinisterFellow MinistersColleague Members of Parliament Let me also warmly acknowledge the presence of His Excellency Sir Bob Dade, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth Second’s Representative as our Head of State; and Chief Justice, Sir Gibbs Salika and our Justices of the Supreme Court and National Court As Member for Bulolo, Parliamentary Leader of United Labour Party, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Commerce and Industry: I am humbled to rise today and to speak on this occasion especially amid the dignified presence of this august and solemn assembly. It is not often that one stands in the shadow of earthly greatness. We are gathered here to honour the greatest leader our 45-year-old sovereign state has ever produced. The amazing thing is that this greater leader we honour today is the spearhead, in securing the independence of the Sovereign State of Papua New Guinea. He is the principal leader and the driving force, our champion, even our hero, in building the many institutions that we now enjoy and often take for granted. It was then Hon Michael Thomas Somare that led the team, and the process, from the House of Assembly in 1960’s to Self Government in 1973 and then to independence on 16th September 1975. The historical record of the achievements of the Grand Chief, Right Honourable, Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL GCMG CH CF SSI KSG PC is attached and has become an important litany over the last two weeks since he left us bereaved on Friday, 26th February 2021. When I was informed about the sad news of our founding father’s passing, I was among East New Britain people being graciously adopted into one of the Tolai clans or “vunatarais” … of the Matupit people. Noting his birthplace, and his own adoption into another of these Matupit “vunatarais”, there were many solemn whispers using his Tolai name: “ToPalangai has gone to join our forefathers”. But Mr Speaker, let me reiterate: Sir Michael was not just a national leader, but a global leader, a leader of leaders. He can stand tall with the likes of Lee Kuan Yu of Singapore, Mahatma Ghandi of India and Nelson Mandela. But to us, Papua New Guineans, this Sana from Murik Lakes, Angoram, our founding father, is incomparable. He is the only one. He stands apart. He is special. He is dear to all our hearts. And rightly so. Let me place on record, my thanks and that - I am sure - of many Papua New Guineans… to my brothers and sisters from East Sepik: Thank you for sharing your son, your father, your leader with us all Papua New Guineans. Many forget that Papua New Guinea, with its 800 plus languages, home to one sixth of the total 6,700 languages globally, is possibly one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. Each of the language groups are comprised of our many varied tribes and clans. Each is a nation on its own. Sir Michael, and other founding fathers, did not just have to contend with the colonialists. They had to deal with the many domestic, diverse and multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic differences; and the natural suspicions … that come with new initiatives. They had to contend with wide ranging illiteracy - with the uneducated as the majority; And they had to contend with advanced self-determination sentiments of Bougainvilleans… and Papuans. But their collective efforts, led by the founding father who lies before us, is why we seat in dignity; is why we seat in solemn respect in this Supreme Democratic Institution – the National Parliament as: Members of the Executive Government;Members of the Legislature withJudges from the Judiciary arm of Government. Mr Speaker, The Hansard Records of this Honourable House will show the many embarrassing clashes, debates, near physical fights as well as the progressive decisions on policies and legislations made by, and in this, National Parliament. I recall some instances … when I was directly involved. Two that come to mind, with sadness and great regret, were with Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare: Once, during the intensity and heat of the moment, I used some insulting words to then Member for Angoram Hon Arthur Somare. That naturally drew the ire of Grand Chief obviously as a father who traded back with threatening words. Both exchanges, while covered by parliamentary privilege, were regrettably unparliamentary. Another, arose when I was part of this House in 2011 that referred to the Grand Chief as a “Stranger in the House” based on a Parliament vote after his return from Singapore. I recall he had been bed-bound for nearly five months. That vote by Parliament on his ousting – and his Prime Ministership - were later ruled out by the Courts. I want to assure this Honourable House – and the general public - that Grand Chief and I later reconciled and made our peace, together with the Member for Vanimo-Green Hon Belden Namah, who was my PNG Party Parliamentary Leader when those events occurred. The fruit of that reconciliation is shown in two ways: by the Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s handing over of the Pangu Pati flag – when I sought his blessing – to resurrect that National Iconic Party in 2017. And in campaigning side by side with the Grand Chief in East Sepik for his daughter and my then Pangu Pati candidate, Ms Dulciana Somare-Brash in 2017. Ms Somare continues to be one of my valued advisors as I served in the: Ministry of Communications, Information Technology and Energy; Ministry of Treasury; Ministry of National Planning; and now asDeputy Prime Minister and in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Mr Speaker, I want to re-state that: Grand Chief Sir Michael’s association with Bulolo and even down to my own Buang LLG, descends down historical memory lane to Moneyau – where Pangu Pati was born as the first political party of our country. It extends to strong ties and friendships with many Morobe Leaders including Boyamo Sali, Jerry Nalau, Titi Christian, and three-term Bulolo MP, Hon Mathew Bendumb. It embraces Sir Michael’s three terms as Prime Minister with support from Bulolo and Morobe MPs together with many Momase, Islands, Highlands and Papuan MPs. One of the things, I noticed is that the Sir Michael, not only was a national leader and global leader. He had a personal touch - with an extra large heart - that forgives and let bygones be bygones. He has rightly and truly earned and deserving of the title “Father of Papua New Guinea”. This should therefore be immortalised in our historical records. With those few words… on behalf of: the ULP MPs representing the districts of Kagua-Erave, North Waghi, Lufa, Markham, Sumkar, Rai Coast, Kiriwina-Goodenough and their people;the unions affiliates and members nationwide,the Department of Commerce and Industry and the Commercial Statutory Authorities;my own Bulolo people, my family and staff: I extend again our heart-felt condolences to Lady Veronica Somare, Bertha, Arthur, Sana, Michael jr, Dulciana, and all the extended family members. I salute the Grand Chief Right Honourable Sir Michael Thomas Somare; Thank you, Sir. Farewell. And rest in God’s eternal peace.

Eighty-four new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in PNG to 1,819. Seventy-two of those new cases were reported in the National Capital District. The isolation ward for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the Port Moresby General Hospital is full and many hospital staff are among the many already sick with COVID-19. Long-time staff and senior gynecologist at the hospital Professor Glen Mola has posted on social media appealing to the people to listen and take heed of the health measures in the Niupela Pasin, saying the hospital COVID-19 ward is full. "Patients are dying of COVID-19 every day. We are trying to look after COVID-19 patients in other wards because there is no space in the COVID ward,” Professor Mola said. Prof Mola said in the maternity wing alone, 20 percent of women presenting with pregnancy problems or are in labor are testing positive with COVID-19. Furthermore, he said while health workers are attending to patients they themselves are getting infected with COVID-19. Last week, 10 of them had to be isolated and if this trend continues it could lead to serious problems such as the closure of the hospital which will lead to chaos. Similar comments by other hospital staff were made, including those at the Accident and Emergency. They said the cases being seen are more serious than what they saw last year. Papua New Guinea reported 84 new cases on Wednesday 10th of March, 2021, increasing the total confirmed cases to 1,819. The total confirmed number of deaths remain at 21. Of the 84 new cases, 72 are from the National Capital District. The other 12 cases reported from: Morobe – 2; East New Britain – 1; EHP – 3; and Enga which reported 6 cases. The total confirmed cases for all the provinces that have so far reported cases are now as follows. · NCD – 830 · Western – 324 · West New Britain – 197 · West Sepik – 159 · Morobe – 55 · Madang – 43 · Autonomous Region of Bougainville – 39 · East New Britain – 39 · Eastern Highlands – 27 · Western Highlands – 24 · New Ireland Province – 23 · Central – 20 · East Sepik – 15 · Enga – 10 · Jiwaka – 8 · Southern Highlands – 3 · Milne Bay – 2 · Hela – 1 The Controller of the National Pandemic Response and Police Commissioner Mr David Manning has appealed to people to adhere to the New Normal or Niupela Pasin. These includes wearing facemasks at all times in the public, avoiding crowded places, practicing physical distance by standing or sitting 1.5m to 2m from the next person, covering your cough and washing hands often. If there is no water, use sanitizers if you have them. Mr Manning has also appealed to people to avoid going out of the home if they are feeling unwell as they could be infected and pass the infection to others. Globally, the total confirmed cases has reached 116,874,912 by Wednesday, of which 2,597,381 have died. The new deaths reported on Wednesday 10th of March was 6,573.

This news just in! 84 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in PNG to 1,819. 72 of those new cases were reported in NCD. The isolation ward for patients with COVID-19 at the Port Moresby General Hospital is full and many hospital staff are among the many already sick with COVID-19. The other 12 cases reported from: Morobe – 2; East New Britain – 1; EHP – 3; and Enga which reported 6 cases. Keep practicing your safe hygiene measures, listen to the news on this station and follow our news website pnghausbung.com for more on this story.

The Office of the Public Solicitor (OPS) has reformed its operations to improve citizens’ access to justice. Despite disruptions caused by COVID-19, the office took on more than 3300 active cases in 2020 – more than double the number it handled four years ago. Figures compiled by the OPS show its lawyers opened 1274 new civil cases, 948 new criminal cases and 99 new land files last year alone. Additionally, OPS has enhanced its legal aid service to increase citizens’ access to justice regardless of their financial position. These changes were made possible following an extensive restructure undertaken over four years, with support from the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership. This boosted efficiency and directed more resources to frontline services, such as legal aid. Public Solicitor Leslie Mamu said it was rewarding to see the significant improvement in the service provided by the OPS. “Since 2017, the Office has undergone a difficult process of reform, but we are now seeing the fruits of all that effort,” Mr Mamu said. “The OPS has an essential role to play in PNG’s legal system to ensure that people everywhere can access legal advice and support they need. The data show that this Office is now better placed to meet this need. Providing legal aid is about providing all citizens with access to justice.” Under these reforms, more lawyers and staff have been hired, specialist areas such as family law and a Land Division have been established and a centralised case database developed. All 19 provincial Branch Offices and Legal Aid Desks have been re-opened and a dedicated network connecting provincial offices with OPS national headquarters has been installed. Reforms to improve the quality and accessibility of legal aid are part of Australia’s support for more accountable, legitimate and responsive law and justice agencies and services in PNG.

The government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) this week signed off on the regulatory approval needed for the COVAX Facility to bring in the COVID-19 vaccines to PNG. The National Department of Health with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF is now preparing to receive the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine and is making detailed plans for its deployment and use across the country. The AstraZeneca vaccine is one of two vaccines granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL) by WHO. It has beengranted approval for emergency use by stringent regulatory authorities of United Kingdom, EuropeanUnion and Australia. It is currently being used in Europe, UK, and India and millions of doses have beensafely administered. The full treatment regimen is 2 doses separated by 8 weeks to 12 weeks’ time. It isadministered by injection in the arm. PNG will receive a total of 588,000 doses of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine before end of June 2021 from the first allocation. The vaccine will be shipped to PNG in two shipments: the 1st shipment of 288,000 doses is expected to arrive sometime between end of March to April and the second shipment with the remaining 300,000 doses will arrive between May and June of this year. These vaccines will be used to vaccinate health care workers and other essential workers that constitute ~3% of the total population. The tentative date of vaccination will be end of April or beginning of May. Frontline essential health workers would be vaccinated first, with the initial allocation of vaccine by the end of June, followed by the most vulnerable including those with co-morbidities and older persons in the second half of the year. “We are requesting every province to determine the number of these essential workers in their provinceso a distribution plan can be made for the vaccine once it arrives,” said Secretary for Health, Dr OsborneLiko. “Once this phase is completed then we will move to the second phase, in the second half of the year,in which we vaccinate the most vulnerable including those with co-morbidities and older persons”.Dr Liko said: “It must be emphasized that even with the vaccine, we must maintain and strengthen publichealth measures that work like: face masking, physical distancing, frequent handwashing, respiratory andcough hygiene, avoiding crowds, and ensuring good ventilation.” As long as the virus is circulating, everyone remains at risk. The challenge is to ensure everyone understands that the risk is not over. The NDOH has cautioned that COVID-19 is going to remain for the foreseeable future and decision-makers and the public must remain vigilant, as well as follow Niupela Pasin protective measures in order to protect themselves and others.

Papua New Guinea reported 49 new cases of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Tuesday 9th of March, increasing the country’s total number to 1,741. The cases were reported in five provinces including Jiwaka which reported eight new cases of which three are males and five females between the ages of 20 to 60 years. Five cases were showing symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of testing. Morobe reported two new cases of which one is a male and the other is a female, ages 52 years to 58. All two cases were showing symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of testing. NCD reported 30 new cases of which 17 are males and 12 females between the ages of ten years to 70. Nineteen cases showed symptoms of COVID-19 whilst 11 were asymptomatic at the time of testing. Western Highlands reported eight new cases of which six are males and two are females between the ages of 38 years to 53. All eight cases did not show symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of testing but swab samples returned otherwise. West New Britain reported a single case. A 25 year old female from Talasea district was showing symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of testing. The country’s COVID-19 cases as a result stands at 1,741 with 21 known deaths. Eighteen provinces including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) have reported cases. The distribution of the cases is as follows: Provinces                 Confirmed Cases NCD                               761 Western Province           324 West New Britain            197 West Sepik                     159 Morobe                             53 Madang                            43 AROB                               39 East New Britain               38 Western Highlands            27 Eastern Highlands             24 New Ireland                       23 Central                               20 East Sepik                         15 Jiwaka                                 8 Enga                                    4 SHP                                     3 Milne Bay                             2 Hela                                     1 TOTAL                           1,741 Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 has reached 116,521,281 including 354,629 new cases reported on Tuesday 9th of March. The global death toll is 2,589,548 of which 7,020 were reported in one day.

9 year old Oliver Alexis Kassman, may have had little to no memories of the Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, but he knew at heart that the man the whole country was mourning, had to be someone highly respectable and above reproach. Little Oliver heard of the idea of lighting and raising lanterns on the night of the state burial to honour the Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, but had a totally different approach; and thought, what a better way to farewell the founding father, whom he has never met in person, by planting trees during the national haus krai period. Oliver is the last from a family of five, and attends Gordon's International School in Port Moresby. He resides at Gereka just 13km outside of Port Moresby with his parents. He developed a hobby of growing and selling Okari (Terminalia kaernbachii) trees during the first lock down the country went through, in the hope it would help pay for his schools fees later on in the future. It’s not usual that to see little kids in our community engage themselves in such activities to help sustain livelihoods and also to keep them busy apart from school and hanging out with our friends especially at an age of nine (9). Hailing from a mixed parentage of Central, Philippines and Indonesian, the idea came to him during the initial COVID-19 lock down when he was taken out of school for his safety; that triggered the idea to start up his small SME. Oliver’s dad, Mr Edward Kassman said for the sake of the environment, planting a lot of trees will be beneficial because it will in return provide us with food, shade and most of all breathable oxygen. Oliver started selling his nursery plantings in October last year and his reason for growing these trees is to make the yard cooler to provide shade and also the nut is edible which little kids enjoy. When asked what he wanted to do with the money that he saved, little Oliver proudly said apart from paying for his fees, he wanted to build a big house for his mum one day. Oliver has big dreams and hopes he can be able to travel the world one day to learn more about planting, nurturing, safe guarding and most importantly how he can grow his business. Oliver is selling his Okari Trees for K1.00 and interested customers willing to help him by purchasing a tree can contact his Dad (Edward Rsj Kassman) on Facebook.

At the close of nomination last week Thursday 4th of March 2021 at 4:00 pm, saw a total of 42 candidates nominated to contest the Moresby North West Open electorate By - Election. Eleven (11) nominees contested under a Party banner while the rest as independent candidates. Amongst the male contestants was a lone female candidate and former Community Development Secretary Anna Kavana Bais who was endorsed under the People’s party political banner. The order of draw was deferred to 18th of March 2021. As result the candidates are not allocated with their Box numbers, hence they must not host any campaign until their box number are assigned to them on the  18th of March. The reasons behind the deferral was because of the recent upsurge of Covid – 19 cases in the city and the reverence to late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare as the nation is at two weeks of mourning. The final total number of candidates that nominated at the close of nominations on Thursday 4th of March 2021 at 4:00 pm are as follows:  Name of CandidateGender (M/F)Political Party Endorsement & NameProfession /Occupation1KOROWA POKEYAMCHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTYTEACHER/LECTURER2BENJAMIN MICHAEL LOIMINDEPENDENTSELF EMPLOYED3JOHN ENDEMONGO KUAMINDEPENDENTSELF EMPLOYED4SEGIE OTIOMINDEPENDENTICT MANAGER5THADDEUS KAMBANEIMNEW GENERATION PARTYACCOUNTANT6PHILIP WARINIKIMINDEPENDENTLAWYER7ANNA KAVANA BAISFPEOPLES PARTY INCSELF EMPLOYED8MARTIN PIASONMINDEPENDENTACCOUNTANT9WALTER YANGOMINAMINDEPENDENTEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR10FRANCIS NIEL TANGAMNATION'S INTEREST PARTYSELF EMPLOYED11EMMANUEL ISAACMINDEPENDENTLAWYER12TOGARO ASIBAMOUR DEVELOPMENT PARTYSELF EMPLOYED13ANDREW KULAI.TAMBIRIMINDEPENDENTSELF EMPLOYED14KAPI MALIPUMINDEPENDENTCONSULTANT15PETER APAMINDEPENDENTGRAPHICS DESIGNER16WANPIS HENRYMINDEPENDENTSELF EMPLOYED17GABRIEL PEPSONMINDEPENDENTFORMER DIPLOMAT18RONNEY TENGEREMINDEPENDENTCHAIRMAN19MICHAEL BADUIMINDEPENDENTSELF EMPLOYED20NISIA LIMBAOMINDEPENDENTSTUDENT21LOHIA BOE SAMUELMPANGU PARTYMANAGING DIRECTOR22LAPAN LIMS MIRUPASIMINDEPENDENTGENERAL MANAGER23JACKSON KIAKARIMINDEPENDENTSELF EMPLOYED24JOE TONDEMUNITED LABOUR PARTYSELF EMPLOYED25NEWMAN PILYO FREEMAN MAEOKALIMINDEPENDENTSTUDENT26MICHAEL OKIMINDEPENDENTECONOMIST27ROSS ORO MIVAMINDEPENDENTCONSULTANT28LESLIE ALUMPNG PARTYSELF EMPLOYED29SIR ARNOLD AMETMALLEGIANCE PARTY INCONSULTANT30VINCENT CHARKLIN.A.PINGIMINDEPENDENTACCOUNTANT31JENOP SAMOMINDEPENDENTSELF EMPLOYED32CYRIL REMBAME AMEMMELANASIAN LIBERAL PARTYLAWYER33PAUL PETER MASTAMPEOPLES RESOURCES AWARENESS PARTYLEGAL PRACTITIONER34PALA BOND GAUDIMINDEPENDENTGEOLOGIST/PASTOR35SENGOL A PARKOPMINDEPENDENTSELF EMPLOYED36ANDY NENTIPAMINDEPENDENTSELF EMPLOYED37LEO MAURICE UARI LEVOMINDEPENDENTMANAGING DIRECTOR38BOB SIAPEMINDEPENDENTSELF EMPLOYED39ZECHARIAH YAKAPMINDEPENDENTPETROLEUM ENGINEER40DARRYL KAMENMINDEPENDENTLAWYER41JOSHUA ENOCK TAMI BUIMINDEPENDENTAIRCRAFT ENGINEER42ENOCH LEPATUMINDEPENDENTCIVIL WORKS SUPERVISOR Polling for Moresby North West By – Election starts on 15th May and ends on 29th  May, while counting will be for 21 days starting before 31st May. Writ will be returned on or before 10th June 2021 to officially conclude the by-election. Meanwhile, with the alarming surge of new Covid-19 cases in NCD (706) thus bringing the national total of confirmed cases to 1670 as of 7th March 2021, I strongly appeal to the public, especially candidates, supporters and voters to strictly observe all Covid 19 measures at this time. A Covid – 19 officer will be included in the polling team to ensure voters follow precautionary measures during polling. In addition PNGEC and National Control center (NCC) for Covid 19 had held consultation on how both parties can work together to train officers and deliver Covid 19 safety awareness messages to voters during this election period. “I will issue specific instructions to the Returning Officer, Assistant Returning Officers and Temporary Electoral Workers (TEWs) to abide by the mandatory requirements in wearing face masks, observe and apply physical distancing, personal hygiene and keeping crowds to no more than 100 persons during the election process.”

Nambawan Super Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Dame Meg Taylor as its newest Independent Trustee Director. Chairman Reg Monagi said Dame Taylor was appointed following an extensive search and selection process, through which her depth of experience in the public and private sector and breadth of experience at national, regional and international level deemed her an exceptionalcandidate. “Dame Taylor is experienced in corporate governance and regulatory matters having served on various boards in Papua New Guinea and Australia,” Mr Monagi said. “She is also an experienced legal practitioner having served in both the public and private sector and most notably on the Papua New Guinea Law Reform Commission.” “Her experience also includes having sat on the Board of the Bank of Papua New Guinea, the regulator of the Fund and the wider PNG finance sector.”“Nambawan Super is entrusted to invest and grow the savings of more than 200,000 Papua New Guineans.” “Our members will have a great deal of comfort and pride knowing Dame Taylor will be a part of the team ensuring the ethical and responsible management of their retirement savings – that are collectively worth more than K8 billion,” he said. Dame Taylor was the first woman to become the Secretary-General for the Pacific Islands Forum and before that was the Vice President, Compliance Advisor Ombudsman for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Bank Group.She represented Papua New Guinea as Ambassador to the United States and accredited to Mexico and Canada. She holds a Master of Law from Harvard University, USA, and a Bachelor of Law from Melbourne University. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002. Dame Taylor replaces Ms Lesieli Taviri who resigned in October 2020 to take up an Executive Management position with Kina Bank. Her appointment to the Nambawan Super Limited Board was confirmed on 25th February 2021, and she will sit in her first Committee and Board meetings in May.

Supporting the Rita Flynn Isolation and Testing Centre, an Emergency Appeal is out for business houses and organizations to help in kind especially with basic items like face masks, gloves, bed sheets, pillowcases, dry goods, fruits and vegetables, bulk disinfectants and other basic and vital items. With the recent surge in the COVID-19 cases in the Nation’s Capital, the Port Moresby General Hospital in partnership with ‘Friends of POMGEN’ have reorganized the Emergency Department and essential services to cater for the COVID-19 Pandemic. Port Moresby General Hospital CEO, Dr Paki Molumi said initially when Rita Flynn was opened up, many of the business houses came in to assist in a big way which helped run the facility in terms of support with linens, food, containers, refrigerated containers and much support that came in from business houses. He said as part of the COVID-19 response towards the end of last year, there was an MOU signed with the NCD Provincial Health Authority so that they could take care of the mild and moderate cases and those patients that needed to be isolated, whilst Port Moresby General Hospital managed the severe cases only. “So that worked really well for us and when the numbers slowed down, we decided to shut down Rita Flynn”, said Dr Molumi. However, Dr Molumi said now with the surge in the virus, the number of cases at the Port Moresby General Hospital had increased so they are currently taking the load that Rita Flynn catered for before it was shut down. “So we are opening up Rita Flynn again to take care of the mild and the moderate and some cases that have been isolated at home and will be looked after at the Rita Flynn whilst we wait for funding to come”, said Dr Molumi. He said the facility needs to be up and running immediately so that it will take the load off the Port Moresby General Hospital so that the Hospital can continue to provide the normal services only. The Port Moresby General Hospital is the only Hospital with the Public Labour Ward which caters the entire city plus the Central Province and parts of Gulf as well and also provides 24 hours Emergency Services as well as 24 hours Operating Theatres like no other hospital. “So we cannot afford to allow our staff extra stress in trying to manage COVID-19 so we have to offload the mild and the moderate cases to Rita Flynn so that we continue to provide the normal services”, added Dr Molumi. Dr Molumi said the appeal to business houses is similar to what they did initially to set up Rita Flynn so POMGEN continues to operate normally in providing services. If you would like to help donate in cash or kind, you can kindly email: friendsofpomgen@gmail.com

Bhosip Kaiwi, the accused in the murder of his late partner, Jennelyn Kennedy, will continue to serve time behind bars at the Bomana Correctional Service Facility in Port Moresby. A ruling scheduled to be handed down today at the Waigani Committal Court by Magistrate Tracey Ganaii deciding whether there was enough evidence to have him stand trial at the National Court did you not eventuate and the matter further deferred to March 23. Magistrate Ganaii told the court that she was still going through submissions by Kaiwi through his lawyer earlier this month, seeking to strike out the case citing inaccuracy in statements from the witnesses. Kaiwi has been accused of murdering his partner late Jennelyn in June of last year and will remain in custody at Bomana until his case returns on March 23.

Prime Minister James Marape said the PNG Medical and Scientific Advisory Comittee (MESAC), after studying the various COVID-19 vaccines developed, has recommended that Papua New Guinea source the AstraZeneca vaccine that was developed through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) facility and approved by the World Health Organisation. He announced this after a meeting with Health Minister Jelta Wong, National Pandemic Controller David Manning, members of the Joint Task Force, stakeholders and the MESAC.   “We are now in the process of getting the vaccine across, hopefully by April,” PM Marape said.   “Seventy thousand (70,000)will be sourced from India and more than 200, 000 will be sourced through the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade."   “However, due to the limited number of vaccines that will be available, vaccination will not be compulsory and it will be targeted at person(s) who are above the age of 50, have underlying health conditions, and importantly, the health workers." PM Marape is concerned that a large number of health workers have been affected by COVID-19, therefore, they will be given priority for vaccination. “Health workers will be vaccinated first as we are seeing a growing number of health workers who are getting infected in the line of their work,"he said. “There is evidence that there is a large community transmission in the National Capital District, and that is affecting health workers who have come in contact with COVID-19 patients in the course of their duty."   “This is a serious community transmission and we are now relooking at our own isolation strategies, and how we can best look after our health workers while processes for bringing in the vaccine are completed and the vaccines are brought into the country.”   Prime Minister Marape said he would not be taking the vaccine ahead of those who really need it, and would only take it to show Papua New Guineans that the vaccine can boost their immune system to fight COVID-19.