When Phillip Solomon walked into the classroom in 2018 his students could not read or write – and he was determined to change this. Phillip is an elementary teacher at Ruatoka Elementary School in Rigo, Central Province – just an hour and a half drive from Port Moresby. He started teaching after being selected by his community to attend an elementary teacher training at the PNG Education Institute in 2003. After three years of training, he returned home to Rigo to teach in Ruatoko Elementary. With eight teachers and 189 students, Ruatoka Elementary is the largest school in Rigo. It teaches the standards-based curriculum in a mix of local languages including Sinagoro, Motu, Tok Pisin and English. In January 2018, Ruatoka was selected to take part in the Together for Education (T4E) project supported through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership. Phillip was among 40 teachers from 26 Rigo schools who attended the first teacher training in early 2018. Mr Philip Solomon addresses a school assembly at Ruatoka Elementary School “He demonstrated enthusiasm, commitment and was an active participant during the training,” said Child Fund project coordinator Dulcie Wefin. “His group presentation skills were outstanding, which earned himself a spot for further training as a resource teacher.” He was also trained to use the tools of Peer Observation and Teacher Learning Circle, where resource teachers conduct school-based or cluster in-service training on identified areas for improvement. An analysis conducted with support from former Ruatoka Elementary School teacher-in-charge Belline Kila identified reading problems as a key issue to address. Belline said what was required was strengthening phonics, reducing language barriers, improving access to reading materials and merging of language and English syllabi to teach reading. “Phillip organized a meeting with parents who identified the same issues. He then created an action plan that pointed to staff meetings, peer observation, school assemblies, teacher learning circles and cluster in-service training ways to overcome the reading problem,” she said. Phillip immediately started the teacher learning circles on phonics and assisted teachers with difficulty in phonics teaching. Fellow teacher Barbara James was drawn to Philip’s style of teaching phonics. “I fell in love with Phillip’s phonics teaching. I wanted to learn more so I would stand outside Phillip’s classroom to hear how he teaches phonics,” Barbara said. Barbara also participated in the training program which provided a boost to her teaching skills and students’ academic performance. “After observing and listening to how Phillip teaches phonics, I can now confidently teach phonics to my class,” said Barbara. With support and commitment from the teachers at the school, reading has now been included as part of the school assembly. While teaching at Makerupu Elementary in 2019, Phillip was rewarded for his performance with a promotion from base level teacher to head teacher. In 2020 he was asked by the Rigo District Education Office to mentor teachers throughout the District. Phillip works alongside the Central Provincial Elementary Coordinator and resource teachers from Launakalana to share knowledge about lesson planning and teach English or Language to improve literacy throughout Rigo. “My students are now in elementary one and can confidently read simple sentences and comprehend,” he said. “This is my success story and what makes me content at the end of the day.” Phillip is training teachers on effective teaching and learning strategies to improve elementary children’s reading skills. T4E aims to improve literacy and numeracy of early grade learners in Central, Morobe and Madang provinces. The project involves collaboration from the National Department of Education, provincial education divisions, church education agencies and schools and communities in the areas where this project is present. The project is delivered by World Vision and its partners Child Fund, the Consultative Implementation & Monitoring Council, Library For All Australia and the University of Canberra. A student from Mr Solomon's class demonstrating his reading skills

News just in! The National Court this afternoon has ordered for the removal of David Manning as Police Commissioner and declared his appointment UNLAWFUL. This decision was based on the facts that Mr Manning does not qualify for the position as he does not have a tertiary qualification. The order will take effect within 7 days from today. Listen to the LegendFM news, NauFM news and YumiFM news or follow our news website pnghausbung.com for more on this story. Picture courtesy: David Dotaona

All 175 passengers who arrived in PNG on Wedneaday on board a Malaysian Airlines aircraft had the necessary approval from the National Control Centre, said the Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response and Commissioner of Police David Manning. Mr Manning said this was revealed from the preliminary investigation he initiated. He said the flight was also approved by the Deputy Controller Dr Paison Dakulala upon the request of the United Nations Development Program office in Port Moresby. "Most of the passengers were aid workers and missionaries including officers from the Summer Institute of Linguistics. They had all submitted their International Air Passenger Approval Forms together with other requirements including COVID-19 test results," Mr Manning said. He said all the passengers are now in 14 day quarantine at various quarantine facilities. Staff of SIL are believed to have flown out of Port Moresby in a charter and are currently in quarantine as well. Mr Manning said the Malaysian Airlines flight, which flew onto Nandi, Fiji, with the rest of the passengers, was also cleared by the Department of Transport. However, Mr Manning said the issue is lack of communication between line agencies including the Department of Transport which approved the flight without consultation with the NCC. "Whilst it is the function of the Department of Transport to approve flights into and out of PNG we are in a pandemic and all flights must be endorsed by the NCC as well. The full and final investigation report will of course ensure that we set in place measures that will allow for more communication and cooperation between responsible line agencies including DOT, Immigration and our partners, both local and international," Mr Manning said.

It is indeed shocking news for the Papua New Guinean Music Industry and especially for the family, friends, and fans; waking up to news of the untimely passing of a young and promising singer, song writer and producer B-Rad. Only 30 years old, Bradley Isaac Ralewa, or better known as “B-Rad” passed away at the Pacific International Hospital on Wednesday this week. Turner Arifeae aka “Kasty” of 93 YUMI FM said many are still coming to terms with this shocking news and this is a loss to the industry. “It was shocking to all of us and especially all the artists here in the country and all the fans, recording artists who B-Rad has helped in producing their tracks and those artists he has played and travelled along with.” Well known for hit songs, ‘Husait Lewa’, ‘Buka Meri’, ‘Mt Lemina’ and 'Peren Oh', the late B-Rad has collaborated and played alongside a number of well-known PNG artists like Wame Blood, Kronos, DPJ, Jokema, Anslom and Saii Kay to name a few. B-Rad helped a lot of young and upcoming musicians, guiding them through in recording and producing their songs under his studio name ‘Block Music’ and some of the singers who are well known today all recorded under B-Rads studio. “The late B-Rad has been nominated ‘Producer of the Year’ four (4) times and he even took out the award in the 2019 YUMI FM PNG MUSIK AWARDS – recognizing his work from 2018.” Kasty added that B-Rad has come a long way in the PNG Music Industry through his hard work. “I remember one of the events that he performed which I witnessed, did not have a lot of crowd and there were people screaming and shouting ‘Rausim Em! Rausim Em!’.” Kasty also recalled a moment backstage when the late Moses Tau was called up to go perform, there was a lot of noise and cheering from fans of the late Moses Tau. Upon hearing this, the late B-Rad told Kasty that one fine day, he would have a lot of listeners and fans screaming and cheering for him like the late Moses Tau. “I encouraged him and told him that he has a long way to go in the music industry and would always tell him to never give up as the sky is the limit.” PNGFM was the first Radio Station to play on air the late B-Rads first single ‘Touch the Sky’. Kasty also stated that B-Rad was one producer that could really balance life’s situations through his music on all walks of life and he could relate his music based on our provinces and its cultures. “And this is one very thing that I found unique about the late B-Rad and he is a very talented musician in the new era and when he stepped into the scene, PNG Music has changed.” The Late B-Rad has left his mark and legacy for all the young and upcoming artists and he left some big shoes to fill in the industry with his untimely passing. “Lo markim maus blong PNGFM, ol radio stations, NauFM, YumiFm na LegendFm, bikpla tok sori blong mipla igo long ol mama papa na ol femli blong leit B-Rad na mipla stap wantaim upla long displa taim bilong sore, Rest In Peace B-Rad inap yumi bung ken.”

A major landmark housing project is set to transform squatter settlement settings into suburban residential areas in the Nations Capital, Port Moresby. NCD governor Powes Parkop, Housing and Urbanization Minister Justin Tkatchenko and Lands and Physical Planning Minister John Rosso have jointly taken the lead under their respective ministerial and electoral jurisdiction to make the project Sarage Estate, 6 mile in the Moresby South electorate a reality. The project will include 165 blocks of land that will become the catalyst to transforming a settlement setting into a properly established suburban residential area with water and electricity utilities, proper road links, and drainage systems. A launching of the Saraga Estate project is set to get underway next Monday at Sarage, 6 mile area, just next door to the Saraga Market.

Papua New Guinea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Sam Basil, MP, has welcomed the start of the new Government in the United States, and the ground-breaking achievements of the new Vice President. “Our Government applauds the peaceful transition of power in the United States to the Presidency of Joseph Biden and his administration,” Deputy Prime Minister Basil said. “It was also very heartening to watch the swearing-in of Kamala Harris as the Vice President of the United States. “As a person of African and Asian heritage, and as a woman, she has broken many of the barriers that should not exist and are slowly being removed right around the world. “All people are created equal and should never be held back because of the colour of their skin, their gender, or if they are from rich families or poor. “I hope seeing Vice President Harris in her new position will also serve as an inspiration for women and girls in our Nation, and they can see that there should be no barrier to stop you from realising your dreams and rising to high office. “At the next General Election I hope there will be many women voted into Parliament, and in the future we will have women Deputy Prime Ministers and Prime Ministers. “The United Labour Party is seeking to endorse a record number of women candidates at the next election who represent workers from right around the country.” Mr. Basil reaffirmed Papua New Guinea’s commitment to work with the new United States Government, as with all bilateral partners, to enhance prosperity in the region. “I look forward to working with Vice President Harris, and the incoming United States Government Secretaries in economic portfolios, to promote increased trade an investment in our region. “There are a number of American companies that are important investors and employers in Papua New Guinea, and we will continue to work together for profitable and shared benefits. “In foreign affairs Papua New Guinea has long been and will continue to be a friend to all and enemy to none, and this will always remain our position.” Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States.

Prime Minister James Marape was on Monday (Jan 18th 2021) briefed on various Chinese projects and investments throughout Papua New Guinea.Chinese Ambassador to PNG, His Excellency Xue Bing, paid a courtesy call to PM Marape to update him on progress of some of the main Chinese Government-funded projects and investments throughout PNG.PM Marape thanked the Chinese Government for its continued support and assistance through infrastructure projects and development aid.He said the PNG-Chinese relations continued to grow from strength to strength and has remained cordially robust since establishing diplomatic ties in 1976.“China is a significant provider in both investment and development aid to PNG  and this Government is grateful for our enhanced relations over the years,” PM Marape said.After his meeting with the Chinese Ambassador, PM Marape attended the 2021 Public Service Dedication at the Sir John Guise Stadium, Port Moresby, and addressed the public servants present. Chinese Ambassador to PNG, His Excellency Xue Bing and PM James Marape

Another 5 new cases were reported in PNG in the last 24 hours, further extending the country's total reported cases to 849. Of the 849 cases, 802 people have so far recovered whilst 10 samples are pending in the laboratories. 35 active cases are in isolation. Sixteen provinces including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) have reported cases. The latest cases were reported in Talasea district in the West New Britain province. Three male and two female ages ranging from 15 to 41 were reported positive. They were detected through contact tracing. The country’s COVID-19 cases now stands at 849 with nine known deaths. A total of 40,851 people have tested for the Coronavirus disease. The distribution of the cases is as follows: NCD 367 Western Province 214 West New Britain 167 East New Britain 30 New Ireland 19 Eastern H/lands 13 Western H/lands 10 Central 10 Morobe 6 East Sepik 3 Enga 3 Milne Bay 2 West Sepik 2 Southern H/lands 1 AROB 1 Hela Province 1 TOTAL 849 Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 has reached 94,963,847 including 496,206 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The death toll is 2,050,557; of which 12,933 were reported in the last 24 hours.

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says former Attorney-General and Deputy Prime Minister Steven Davis delayed the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Bill. He said this in response to a statement by Davis that “several conflicting instructions for amendments from the PMJM nearly derailed the ICAC law and at one stage it was almost withdrawn”. Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guineans should also not forget that just a day after passage of the ICAC Bill, last November 12th, Davis jumped ship to the Opposition. “Davis should know I am the driver of this ICAC and reforms on ICAC,” Prime Minister Marape said. “He, as Attorney-General, delayed this bill because he could not spend quality time on this important matter until I put him on notice. “We finally have it done and the new Justice Minister, Hon. Bryan Kramer, is tasked to get it operationalised as soon as possible. “I asked Davis to do amendments to ensure commissioners are overseas-based people, and not local Papua New Guineans, which he failed to do and the new minister will do." “Many prime ministers of the past just talked on ICAC, however, we delivered this into law and now we will set it up in our efforts to fight corruption. “I want to be known as the Prime Minister who delivered and set up ICAC to fight corruption in our country." “If Davis is serious about fighting corruption, perhaps he can explain to the people of PNG as to why he joined Opposition just one day after passage of ICAC Bill, than remain in my Government as Attorney-General and implement it.” Prime Minister Marape said both ICAC and the Ombudsman Commission would be involved in the fight against corruption. “Last week, I summoned both ICAC and Ombudsman in the presence of Justice Minister Kramer and Secretary Dr Eric Kwa to ensure both ICAC and Ombudsman are ‘twin towers’ in fighting corruption and ensuring good governance,” he said. “I will amend further the ‘light work’ Steven did on the Whistle Blowers Act we passed last year to ensure it fully protects all witness who report and assist prosecute corruption." “We will continue along this path to augment the Proceeds of Crime Act, as well as do an Undisclosed Wealth Act.”

Electric Queensland Maroons winger and PNG international Xavier Coates is determined to have a cracking 2021 after a 2020 he described as a year of "huge ups and downs". The 19-year-old, who started last year "fighting for a position in the Broncos", said he was forever grateful his year finished on a high, winning State of Origin, after a year full of struggle. "We didn't have the best year in general at the Broncos," Coates, who played his first game for the year against Manly in Round 5, said. "I was feeling a bit down at the time because all you did was you trained, you played and you'd go home. When we weren't getting the results on the field, you'd just be turning on the TV, seeing it on the news non-stop, then going back to training and there's all media there and you'd be interviewed.... it just wasn't a good atmosphere around the club. "I think at the end of the year, when I got the call up into the Origin squad, I didn't really understand... not understand, but I didn't know how I made the team with the year we had."I think Wayne and a few of the coaching staff saw something in me throughout the year and ended up picking me... I just wanted to go in there and learn as much as I could. "Then I ended up playing the first game and that was... well my interview, you could tell how much excitement I had. It meant so much to me. As a kid, any rugby league kid's dream is to play Origin. To finally fulfil that dream, it's something I hold very dear to my heart."2020 in a nutshell was a lot of ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I can't complain how it turned out... finished on a high. "The Papua New Guinea international said he enjoyed the back end of the year so much, he did not want to leave the Origin bubble on the Gold Coast. "We spent four or five weeks together... we weren't allowed out, we were stuck in the bubble, but that didn't hold us back from having a good time," Coates said. "When we had to leave I was really sad because I didn't want to see all the boys go... we created such a good bond within the camp. "With all the coaching staff, it was an awesome time. I want to get a taste of it again this year. "Coates said he wanted to take all of the lessons he learned during the bubble, under the watchful eyes of coaches Wayne Bennett, Mal Meninga and Neil Henry, and "take that into my club football". "Hopefully I can play some good footy... make a stand in 2021," Coates said. "I had a good, refreshing start to 2021. Had a good break off, so coming back in to the pre-season, it was good to go and get amongst the boys again. See the new coaching staff. It's a real good atmosphere. It's really family-oriented. Kevie has made it really family-orientated, which is good. We're bringing inclusiveness within the club again, so it's good to be around that.""I made sure after Origin I went and looked after my injuries. I went and looked after my groin, got my shoulder looked after, so I'm feeling good... fit and ready to go," Coates said. "I definitely want to put the Origin jersey on one more time... if not more times in the future. I just want to play the best footy I can and just learn as much as I can in this pre-season from Kevie and all of the coaching staff we have, especially with the calibre of players we have there at the club, it's good to learn off them. "We have a lot of old boys coming back and helping us out. I've got Darbs helping me out with the outside backs. If I can learn as much as I can from that and put that into my football, I think everything will go well."Milford has been really impressive. He's been playing really good in the pre-season. He's looking really good and fit and ready to go for 2021. I reckon he's a player to watch out for. "We've got a few new faces. We've got David Mead, who was, as a young kid growing up, one of my idols. As a PNG kid, seeing what he did in NRL at the Titans and moving to the Broncos and over to the UK, seeing how good a footballer he is and where he came from, and how he plays his football, he was definitely an idol of mine. To hopefully take the field with him this year will be really good. "Bring on 2021."

Lawyer Greg Sheppard of Young & Williams Lawyers was arrested on Wednesday in Port Moresby, interviewed at the Police Headquarters and charged with two counts of conspiracy and another two count of false pretense over the K268 million Western Province People’s Dividends Community Mine Continuation Agreement (WPPD CMCA) Trust Funds. He was later taken into custody at Boroko Cell. The Special Police Forensic and Criminal investigations alleged that two transactions totaling K52 Million were paid into the Young & Williams Lawyers' account and three transactions totaling K216 million were paid into the OTFRDF Ltd account. Commissioner of Police David Manning stated that the Special Police Forensic and Criminal investigations (SPFCI) are currently continuing and the other directors of the OTFRDF and other suspects will also be brought in for inquiry into their alleged involvement in committing the fraud. Mr Manning further said that the concept he introduced to build a strong team of investigators comprising not only of selected Police detectives but also the RPNGC Forensic Audit team comprising of Forensic accounting specialists based at the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) headquarters to investigate high-profile criminal cases is working effectively in swiftly identifying and deterring fraud of such significant magnitude allegedly committed by Young & Williams Lawyers and Ok Tedi Fly River Development Foundation Limited. The investigation remains ongoing and includes a detailed forensic investigation into the appointment of the OTFRDF Ltd Directors, the expenditure of the K268 million which police will alleged were not authorised by the Trust Instrument and the bank accounts held by OTFRDF Ltd and Young & William Lawyers. This includes forwarding proceeds from the K268 million to personal bank accounts of OTFRDF directors/employees. Police will also allege that 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. Western Province People’s Dividends Community Mine Continuation Agreement (WPPD CMCA) Trust Funds belong to the 147,000 plus people emanating from 158 villages in the CMCA Trust Regions in Western Province.The WPPD CMCA Trust Funds were as dividends based on 10 per cent equity held in the Ok Tedi Mining Project. The 10 per cent equity was managed by the Independent State of Papua New Guinea for and on behalf of the people of Western Province. The Trust was established in accordance with the Public Finance (Management) Act 1995, and the financial instructions that were issued from time to time to ensure the proper management and strict control of the Trust Account. Clause 6(c) of the Trust Instrument specifically stipulates that all payments or withdrawals from the WPPD CMCA Trust Account shall be solely for the purpose of funding the implementation of development projects and programs identified by Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) and in full compliance with the other requirements of the Trust Instrument. The Trust Instrument restricts WPPD CMCA Trust Funds from being used for any other unauthorized expenditures.Clause 6 of Mining (Ok Tedi Mine Continuation (Ninth Supplemental) Agreement Act 2001, establishes and recognizes OTDF as the sole services delivery vehicle to bring developments to the people of the CMCA Communities and Telefomin District in Western Province.

Papua New Guinea's latest Covid-19 case has been reported in Lihir, New Ireland Province increasing the country’s total cases to 844. A 52 year old male, mining supervisor is the latest to be confirmed positive. The mining supervisor was experiencing fever and muscle aches at the time of testing. He is currently in isolation and that contact tracing has commenced. The country’s COVID-19 cases as a result now stands at 844 with nine known deaths. A total of 40,697 people have tested for COVID-19. Eight hundred people have recovered whilst ten samples are pending at the laboratories. Thirty-five active cases are in isolation. Sixteen provinces including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) have reported cases. The distribution of the cases is as follows: NCD 367 Western Province 214 West New Britain 162 East New Britain 30 New Ireland 19 Eastern Highlands 13 Western Highlands 10 Central 10 Morobe 6 East Sepik 3 Enga 3 Milne Bay 2 West Sepik 2 Southern Highlands 1 AROB 1 Hela Province 1 TOTAL 844 Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 has reached 94,124,612 including 312,202 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The death toll is 2,034,527; of which 8,316 were reported in the last 24 hours. The Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response and Police Commissioner David Manning today issued 12 new pandemic measures. The new measures are effective today until further notice.