Investigation undertaken into the misappropriation and stealing of K268 Million belonging to Community Mine Continuation Agreement Communities in Western  Province by Special Police Forensic Criminal Investigation Team which is headed by  Commissioner of Police David Manning made two more arrests early this week.  About a fortnight ago, Managing Partner of Young & Williams Lawyers Mr. Gregory  James Sheppard was arrested and charged with two (2) counts of false pretense and another 2 counts of conspiracy after his law firm was paid K52 Million from the  WPPD CMCA Trust Funds as legal fees.  Two directors of Ok Tedi Fly River Development Foundation Limited (OTFRDF) namely Mr. Boston Kasiman and Mrs. Annie Smerewai were arrested in Ningerum,  a sub-station of Kiunga in Western Province at about 4am on Tuesday 02nd February  2021. The suspects were flown to Port Moresby where they were interviewed and each of them were slapped with 15 charges comprising of five (5) counts of false  pretense, 5 counts of conspiracy and 5 counts of misappropriation.  Police confirmed that Mrs. Annie Smerewai has been the director of OTFRDF since the formation of the company on 23rd September 2016, and Mr. Boston Kasiman was appointed as director on 10th of July 2019.  Police formally searched the company’s records held with Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) and noted that mandatory forms required by Companies Act 1997, that must be completed and lodged when registering an entity, appointing directors,  secretary, shareholders and changing company’s addresses were never completed and lodged with IPA. No such records were found for years covering 2016 to 2020. The changes in the company’s records were simply made through online by the  company’s appointed agent Mr. Samson Jubi whilst residing in Cairns, Australia.  In the absence of the compulsory company forms, the manner in which the  directors, shareholders, and secretary of OTFRDF were appointed are highly suspicious and questionable. Police developed an impression that 147,000 plus  people of CMCA Communities who are owners of the K268 Million WPPD CMCA Trust  Funds never authorized the registration of OTFRDF and the appointment of its  directors, secretary and sharehoders.  Mr. Boston Kasiman and Mrs. Annie Smerewai were among other directors who were  present and passed number of Board Resolutions during two (2) separate Board  Meetings held in Port Moresby in 2018 and 2019 to illegally pay total of K268 Million  out of the WPPD CMCA Trust Account held with Australia & New  Zealand Banking Group (PNG) Ltd. The following payments were released after the Board Resolutions of the two Board Meeting Minutes, Approved Instruction Application Forms and other necessary  documents were submitted to Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (PNG) Ltd by  OTFRDF:  No. Date of  WithdrawalAmount   Withdrawn-KinaRecipients Purpose of  Payment per “ANZ Payment  Instruction   Application Form”1). 17th August  2018K15,000,000.00 Young & William  LawyersLegal Fees2). 04th  September  2018K5,000,000.00 OTFRDF Ltd For International  Draft and  Telegraphic Transfer 3). 23rd  December   2019K37,000,000.00 Young & William  LawyersLegal Fees (Ex.  Report &  Disbursement)4). 23rd  December   2019K21,000,000.00 OTFRDF Ltd Payment to 7 CMCA  Regions5). 21st  February   2020K190,000,000.00 OTFRDF Ltd Payment to CMCA  Family AccountK268,000,050.00 Total withdrawn To Date The operations of the WPPD CMCA Trust Account held with Australia & New  Zealand Banking Group (PNG) Ltd is administered by the Trust Instrument underpinning the Trust Account. The Instrument issued from time to time clearly stipulates that WPPD CMCA Trust Funds must only be used for funding development  projects and programs implemented by Ok Tedi Fly River Development Foundation along the CMCA Communities in Western Province, and not for any other purpose.   The Instrument also outlines that the WPPD CMCA Trust Funds will only be released to Ok Tedi Development Foundation to undertake the approved projects and  programs after all the requirements stated therein are satisfactorily complied and  approved by Minister for Mining.  Police established that the payments were withdrawn not in compliance with the requirements of the Trust Instrument and the expenditures were not consistent with  the spirit, tenor and intended purpose of the WPPD CMCA Trust Funds, and used for  purposes contrary to the CMCA beneficiaries.  Police also learnt that none of the directors including the two that were arrested are  current formally recognized leaders of the CMCA Communities representing 147,000  people emanating from 158 villages along the CMCA Corridor in Western Province.  Police are now calling on the Chairman Mr. Steven Bagari, Secretary Mr. Samson  Jubi and other five (5) Directors of the purported entity OTFRDF who are currently hiding to voluntarily present themselves to the Special Police Forensic Criminal  Investigation Team for appropriate inquiry. 2 | P a g e  Commissioner of Police David Manning further said the combined forensic and criminal investigation currently undertaken by the Police are also scrutinizing all payments that were made from K268 Million to certain unrelated individuals and  entities. The payees will be asked to provide proof of goods and services that they  delivered for the benefit of CMCA Communities, and inquired on how their goods  and services were procured by OTFRDF. 

Police Commissioner David Manning has expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the 19 people recently killed in Tari and vowed that he will do everything within his powers to contain the flight and put an end to the senseless killings. Immediately after the killings Mr Manning sent acting Deputy Police Commissioner and Chief of Operation Donald Yamasombi and senior officers from Port Moresby to Tari to explore strategic interventions to be taken both in the short and long terms to ensure lasting peace and stability within the Tari district and the Hela Province as a whole.  Mr Yamasombi upon arrival visited several essential government services in the Tari township and further visited the PNG LNG Hides 4 project site and Komo airport. He said, “Law-and-order problems across the country are distinct and our biggest challenge is to come up with policing strategies that work for each of them and Hela is no exception.” Mr Yamasombi addressed the Hela Police as well as the policemen engaged with the PNG LNG special operation today in Tari Town on the way forward for policing with the Hela province.  Mr Yamasombi is accompanied by the Director Special Service Division Superintendent Julius Tasion, acting Director Information and Communication Superintendent Dennis Corcoran and senior advisors from the Australia Federal Police.

Papua New Guinea reported 16 new cases of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Wednesday 3rd January increasing the country’s total cases to 891. The latest cases were reported In West New Britain and New Ireland provinces. West New Britain reported 15 cases whilst New Ireland reported one positive case. In West New Britain, 11 male and four female, ages ranging from 19 years to 66 have been tested positive. Among those tested positive are two pastors, three students, three drivers and a health care worker. Fourteen cases did not show symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of testing whilst one was experiencing cough. In the New Ireland province, a 44 year old male mine worker has been tested positive. He is currently in isolation while contact tracing is continuing.  The country's Covid 19 cases as a result stands at 891 with nine known deaths. Seventeen provinces including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) have reported cases. The distribution of the cases is as follows: Provinces Confirmed Cases NCD 368 Western Province 221 West New Britain 194 East New Britain 30 New Ireland 22 Eastern Highlands 13 Western Highlands 10 Central  10 Morobe 9 East Sepik 3 Enga 3 Milne Bay 2 West Sepik 2 Southern Highlands 1 AROB 1 Hela Province 1 Madang                               1 TOTAL 891 Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 has reached 102,942,987 lincluding 349,263 new cases reported in the last 24 hours.  The death toll is 2,232,233 of which 9,423 were reported in the last 24 hours.

Students of Gordons Secondary School in the National Capital District (NCD) will have to work harder this year to enable their school to be competitive with the rest the schools in PNG. The school aims to make 2021 academic year the year for the school to become one of the country’s top 5 performing schools like they did in the past. The Principal of the School, Mr George Kenega said that the past two years, the school didn’t make it into the top 5 but this year will be different. “I have spoken to my teachers and I will work with them to achieve this aim for this year." “If we were to be rated according to the number of our students that make it into tertiary institution, then our school will definitely be in the top 5. It is a bit unfair that we have been rated against schools that have lesser number of students sitting for the exams so their average is higher than ours.” He added that last year the school had over 200 grade 12's sit for the exams and the schools that were ranked in the top 5 had lesser students. “When my students don’t do well, I lose sleep so this year we will work very hard.” “We have 50 teachers in the school but we need another 11 more so that the lesson load can be shared equally and we can achieve our aim for this year.” This week most students braved the heavy rain and turned up at school for the first day of the schooling year. However, due to the heavy rains and wet conditions in the city, classes did not eventuate and grade 10's and 12's had to be sent home while the grade 9's and 11's stayed back for their orientation. Students that missed out on registration last week also turned up for late registrations.

Young people in PNG, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are the target of a new online campaign by the Save the Children in partnership with tech giant, Facebook in the hope to educate and empower youths to have more safe and positive experiences on Facebook. Launched this week, the 5 week long campaign, "I am Digital" will highlight issues that are faced by the youths from this region and what to do if they find themselves victims of the many threats and cyber bullying faced online, especially Facebook. Save the Children PNG Deputy Country Director Rosario Sam said they have engaged students from various universities in the country to better identify the issues that are on Facebook and how they (Save the Children PNG) can help provide tools and platforms to avoid such experiences. “We are at the back of this children to create such initiative like this to help them empower themselves and also by engaging them as contributors in this campaign,” said Ms. Sam. “This online campaign allows young people to lead the program for themselves and we from behind can support and identify any gaps and then identify any support so we can contribute meaningfully to the campaign.” She further said that with the modern access of internet, something very new to our culture, parents and adults must begin to address issues at home. “Parents need to get to start open dialogue with their children so they do not end up online searching for questions that will end up compromising their safety on the internet,” Ms. Sam said. "I am Digital" campaign will only take us forward and ensure that young people are online to learn, to share and to create an environment on Facebook that they are connected and for parents to ensure of the risks that are involved and that these youths are protected. This is the first of its kind for Facebook to partner with the Pacific region and launch such campaign with the intent to make sure everyone has a positive experience when on Facebook.

The Media Council of PNG is partnering with ExxonMobil PNG to facilitate a Social Media Training over Zoom video conferencing. This is an initiative by ExxonMobil PNG, the operator of the PNG LNG Project, to open up its access to social media training expertise, to the members of the MCPNG, with a specific focus on mainstream media news online teams. Social Media has become the ‘go to’ place for news and current issues, and its scope and use by mainstream newsrooms has expanded to include advocacy, crowd-sourcing of information, and identifying audiences, listener and readership. It is encouraging to see mainstream newsrooms being innovative in their online platforms, and integrating multiplatform delivery of news services to our people. The MCPNG is excited that ExxonMobil PNG is willing to sponsor this training by providing a virtual trainer from an international social media organisation – Social Stimulator, who will facilitate this training. The objective of the training is to provide participants with some skills to develop social media content and guiding principles and tactics to engage effectively on your social media channels. The training is scheduled for Friday 12th February 2021.

Contributors to National Superannuation Fund, Nasfund, are reminded to update their membership details to ensure important information such as member contact details, address, and more importantly, member beneficiaries are included and are current. Nasfund Chief Officer Member Services Anne Wilson made this call when outlining the Fund’s Member Service engagements for this year. Nasfund intends to increase our engagement with our members throughout the country, through shopfloor presentations within covid-19 safety protocols, and online via Zoom. This will be done regularly to update our members on what the Fund is doing to add value to your membership. The updating of member details and the need for a Nasfund ID card will be at the forefront of our engagements in the coming months. Member Detail Update Exercise + Nasfund ID With the Fund now increasing electronic and physical engagements with members this year, there will be a focus on getting members to update their details – via the Member Detail Update Form (MDUF). The form can be downloaded on the Fund’s website via the following link: https://nasfund.com.pg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Member-Details-Update-Form.pdf  Members who update their details are also encouraged to get a new-look Nasfund ID card. In addition to being an official Nasfund member ID card, the Nasfund ID can also be used by our members to save money through the Fund’s Membership Discount Program. This is our way of adding value to our members while they remain in active employment. Member Detail Update Exercise & Nasfund ID Although superannuation is primarily for retirement, we recognize that our members need value for their membership in active employment. We are improving our Membership Discount Program so that our members can save that extra Kina now, wherever they are. Our MDP offering is across the retail, wholesale, hardware, transport, tourism & hospitality, and medical sectors. In essence, we are taking care of our members now, so that they are ready for tomorrow (retirement). All you need to do to utilize our MDP is to present your Nasfund Membership ID Card to our MDP providers.

Prime Minister James Marape, MP has conveyed his congratulations to the new Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Mr Henry Puna, the immediate former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. In a marathon telephone secret ballot during the Special PIF Leaders Retreat held yesterday 03 February 2021, Mr Puna was successfully appointed as the new Secretary General. Apart from Mr Puna, three other candidates from Tonga, Solomon Islands and Republic of Marshall Island also contested. In offering his congratulations soon after the election outcome at 10:30pm (PNG time) last night, Prime Minister Marape commended Mr Puna for his appointment, stating that he was well credentialed and suitably qualified for this important post given his vast knowledge and experience in addressing and managing political, socio-economic development, climate and environment issues affecting the Pacific. Prime Minister Marape also conveyed his profound appreciation to the out-going Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor who he described ‘as one of PNG’s most highly respected and distinguished daughter’ who had served the Pacific with great distinction, meritoriously. “It is under her watch over the last two terms that she was able to successfully rationalize the Secretariat to make it more practically responsive to its Leadership and Mandate”, said Prime Minister Marape. “I wish her well in whatever career pursuits she embarks upon following her successful tour of duty at the PIFS.”

Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have concluded their Special Leaders Retreat overnight and have announced Henry Puna as the incoming Secretary General. Also on the agenda of the Special Leaders Retreat was the COVID-19 pandemic, including the distribution of vaccines to the region. Henry Puna Leaders acknowledged the region’s efforts to date to manage the spread of the COIVD-19 pandemic in the Pacific region, including through the establishment and operationalisation of the Pacific Humanitarian Pathway on COVID-19. Dame Meg Taylor Leaders also welcomed the significant support from Australia and New Zealand to secure vaccines for all Pacific people and the multilateral and bilateral partnerships working to ensure one hundred percent coverage.   “Leaders discussed the complexities facing the Pacific region at this time in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and including the ongoing threat of climate change and the increasing geostrategic competition in the region,” said Forum Chair and Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Hon. Kausea Natano. Puna assumes the position of Secretary General at a critical time in the region’s history and will need to guide the region through the COVID-19 recovery.    The appointment also signals the conclusion of the tenure of the incumbent Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor. “Leaders commended her stellar leadership and guidance to the Pacific Islands Forum on regional issues over the past 6 years and wished her well in her future endeavours.” The Special Leaders Retreat discussions began with reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the region. Leaders reaffirmed that the wellbeing of the Pacific people remain their highest priority and emphasised the importance of the equitable distribution of safe and effective vaccines in the region. Source: THEWRITERSTUFFPNG.COM

Fiji authorities have detained the vice-chancellor of the University of the South Pacific and are to deport him today. Professor Pal Ahluwalia and his wife were awoken and whisked away from their home late last night by plain-clothed Fiji immigration officers who broke into the residence. The vice-chancellor and his wife were transported to Nadi from where they will be deported to Brisbane today. The academic asked for the grounds of his deportation and was told he posed a "public risk". A letter signed by Fiji's Acting Director of Immigration Amelia Komaisavai further explained that the government deemed Professor Ahluwalia to be "a person who is or has been conducting himself in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security or good government of the Fiji Islands". Since taking on the job two years ago, Professor Ahluwalia had been driving efforts to clean up the governance of the Suva-based university. However last June, the vice-chancellor was suspended by the USP's executive committee led by Winston Thompson over alleged malpractice. After weeks of protests by students and staff, and regional concern, Professor Ahluwalia was reinstated when the council ruled that due process had not been followed in the suspension. The council also subsequently cleared Professor Ahluwalia of all the allegations. The Fiji government later announced it was suspending its grants of more than $US10 million to the university. Today the USP council was due to meet to confirm reforms Professor Ahluwalia had worked on. Professor Pal Ahluwalia has been appointed the new vice chancellor and president of the University of the South Pacific. Photo: University of Portsmouth Source: RNZ News

Students affected by Tropical Cyclone Ana have been assured by the Ministry of Education that they will be provided with the necessary assistance. Minister Rosy Akbar says they do not want parents to worry about sending their children to school. She says the parents should focus on getting their lives back together. Akbar also says they will allow parents to assess whether it will be safe to send their children to school on Monday. Schools are scheduled to be re-opened on Monday. Source: Fijivillage.com

The huge clean up has started in Fiji following the recent cyclone, but thousands of Fijians are still in evacuation centres. Tropical Cyclone Ana went through Fiji and left behind a trail of damage to fragile settlements, properties and livestock. RNZ Pacific correspondent Lice Movono said the flooding and rain activity recently is one of the biggest rainfalls the country has experienced. The heavy rain led to major flooding and some roads washed away. Photo: Fiji government Ms Movono said Fijians have become quite resilient and despite the intensity of the flooding, people were able to transition into repair mode quickly. "The morning after when flood waters recede, it's business as usual, so immediately after the water levels went down, people were cleaning up the streets, cleaning up their homes and those who could have gone back... I'm waiting for NDMO to update us on just how many people are still left in evacuation centres." The government has also cautioned Fijians to be aware of waterborne diseases following the recent flooding due to Tropical Cyclone Ana. Lice Movono describes the recent rain activity as one of the biggest rainfalls ever, causing flooding that was widespread and affected the whole country. She said the government's message to everyone has been focused on waterborne diseases. "In the past 48 hours there has been reinforcement and medical teams are now going out to the rural areas just to make sure that peoples' awareness levels have increased, but also to treat the inevitable diseases that will come immediately after the cyclone," she said. Source: RNZ News