PNG Haus Bung

Ila Alu has been named captain along with five (5) debutants for the SP PNG Hunters 2021 Intrust Super Cup round one season opener match against Wynnum Manly Seagulls in Brisbane this Saturday March 20. The five debutants are Jokadi Bire, Samuel Yegip, Edwin Ipape, Sylvester Namo and Benji Kot. The extended bench comprises of Jeffery Robert, Judah Rimbu, Solo Wane and Norman Brown. Keven Appo will be deputy to Alu. The 21 -man squad is:1. Terry WAPI2. Junior RAU3. Brendan NIMA4. Jokadi BIRE5. Brendon GOTUNO6. Watson BOAS7. Charlie SIMON8. Enock MAKI9. Wartovo PUARA Jnr10. Samuel YEGIP11. Epel KAPINIAS12. Keven APPO - Vice Captain13. Ila ALU - Captain14. Edwin IPAPE15. Sylvester NAMO16. Emmanuel WAINE17. Benji KOT18. Jeffery ROBERT19. Judah RIMBU20. Solo WANE21. Norman BROWNCoach: Matthew Church This is a ‘home’ game for the SP Hunters at Bycroft oval in Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast. The team will wear black armbands and observe a minutes silence to pay their respects to late Great Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare before kick- off at 2.40pm on Saturday. Television coverage on TV Wan plus starts at 2.30pm.

With the recent increase in positive COVID-19 cases reported in Papua New Guinea, the peak bodies representing business, the private sector and development partners are calling on its members to take the lead in promoting, and implementing necessary COVID-19 prevention protocols. Papua New Guinea Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PNGCCI) and Business Council of PNG (BCPNG) are reminding businesses to implement the Niupela Pasin strategy at every workplace. The following measures under the Niupela Pasin, are aimed to protect employees, clients and the general public at all workplaces 1. If you’re sick, stay home. Don’t go to work. Don’t socialise. 2. If you have fever, cough, sore throat or difficulty breathing, call the COVID-19 Hotline 1-800200. If you are told to self-isolate, you must do so immediately. 3. Maintain at least 1.5 meters between yourself, colleagues and clients. 4. Greet each other with a smile, a nod or a simple hello – no handshakes or fist bumps! 5. Clean and disinfect your workplace regularly – particularly door handles, phones, keyboards, elevator buttons, kitchens and bathrooms. 6. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer. 7. Sneeze and cough into your elbow, or use a tissue and dispose into bin immediately. 8. Reduce gathering in the offices. Limit large in-person meetings or hold meetings via phone or over the internet. 9. Wear a face mask or face covering in all public places to protect yourself and others. 10. If you’re concerned about your wellbeing or have underlying health conditions, work with your doctors to understand how best to stay healthy These are measures that are now a normal part of life. As the voice of business, the private sector and development partners, we remind all our members to ensure that all measures are taken to protect everyone from COVID-19. This is a shared responsibility, which we all must play our part in addressing. Given the recent spike in community transmission resulting in an increased positive COVID-19 cases being reported, and the continued constraints faced by our health facilities, it is important that we take the lead in promoting, and practicing COVID-19 prevention protocols. The PNGCCI and BCPNG acknowledge the efforts taken by Government to contain the spread of COVID-19, and we stand ready to assist where we can as partners in this challenge.

The Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau has brushed aside rumours on social media that refugees, and non-refugees living in Port Moresby are spreading coronavirus in the country. “Coronavirus does not discriminate, and people must understand that the virus is not spread by refugees or non-refugees." Mr Hulahau is concerned about misinformation posted on Facebook recently claiming that refugees and non-refugees residing in Port Moresby are spreading the virus. “The baseless assumptions by an individual is disrespectful to our people and our efforts to provide a safe and healthy environment to people that owe protection." There are 90 refugees and 40 non-refugees under the Regional Resettlement Arrangement (RRA) currently residing in Port Moresby. With a spike in Covid-19 cases in Port Moresby this month, the Australian Government has arranged a private hospital to carry out testing on all 130 men of which 58 tests were done last week. “The Covid-19 test on refugees and non-refugees does not indicate that they are the main transmitters. However, it teaches us a lesson to get tested and protect our loved-ones from the virus." He added that if the test results returned positive, the person of interest would be relocated to a separate accommodation site for isolation and recovery. Mr Hulahau further explained that non-refugees with negative status are held under immigration's supervision while refugees are being managed by an external contractor whilst awaiting resettlement. He added that non-refugees are not held at Bomana Immigration Centre (BIC) because of an external arrangement under the US Resettlement pathway and agreed to by UNHCR that allows all transferee under RRA to settle outside immigration detention. The Australian Government is meeting the bills for all accommodation and medical expenses in Port Moresby.

The country’s biggest referral hospital in the country Port Moresby General Hospital is seeing a massive increase of COVID-19 cases both from its staff and patients. CEO Dr Paki Molumi confirmed that 114 of the hospital staff have tested positive to COVID-19 which is almost the half of the hospital staff. Dr Molumi said, they have allowed those confirmed with COVID-19 to be isolated for two weeks and come back for work after their isolation period is over. “Our staff have undergone full medical examination.” “Those who have core underline diseases and the older ones have been put in the back, away from the frontline to keep them safe.” Dr Molumi clarified that most the hospital staff contracted COVID-19 from their communities and not from the hospital. “About 70% of them have got the disease from the community which means that there is a widespread of the disease in our communities.” He said testing is the only way to determine how far and wide COVID-19 is spreading. “We are picking up more of the cases among our staff because we are doing testing everyday.” Besides the numbers rapidly increasing among the staff at the Port Moresby General Hospital, the staff have undergone a training to stay mentally prepared and readily be available for a COVID-19 situation like this prior to the surge currently experienced. “The staff who have been confirmed with COVID-19 were isolated for two weeks and they return to work after that.” “This is the good thing about POM GEN staff, they are willing to take on the challenges despite the situation and move forward to serve the population.”

Utuyam Catering Services has pledged that 10% of its sales will go towards the Port Moresby General Hospital under the ‘Friends of POM GEN’ Emergency appeal to help with purchasing masks and gloves and necessary items needed for the patients and staffs that are essential during this time as the COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the Nation’s Capital. Clare Tomdia Lokes, 30, from Kiriwina village in the Trobriand Islands in the Milne Bay Province is a Medical Doctor by profession and is currently the Director of Medical Education at the School of Medical Health Sciences at the University of Papua New Guinea. She is married with two (2) daughters. Her husband John Lokes works as an Airline Officer with Air Niugini. “Our first Reach out 2021 is a way of establishing that essence of Utuyam or "Star" being luminous in the dark to all, so you just have to reach out and acknowledge that the Friends of Port Moresby General Hospital have reached out and we want, though little as it may be, respond to that." Utuyam in Biga Kilivila, the local dialect in Kiriwina means ‘Star’ and with the slogan ‘You only have to reach out’ captures the essence of how Clare foresees her business forging relationships and creating networks that is beyond just food and entertainment. Clare said that Utuyam Catering & Entertainment was created out of her passion for Cooking and Music with a notion that food and Music essentially provides an avenue for enrichment. “Food has been in human history a centre piece for most, if not all occasions and we celebrate with food, we mourn with food, food is comfort, food is nourishment." She added that sharing food breaks barriers and creates relationships in so many ways and Music and Entertainment are alike, they both find expressions in our lives. Since 2017, Clare has been cooking and selling, mostly office catering and also random food stalls, however this year she has decided to take the passion and build something tangible, and fulfilling for her and her family. Clare has big plans for Utuyam Catering Services and she always wanted for it to be more than just a business. “So we plan for Utuyam to become more than just a catering business, but also an Event Service provider, the full package to one’s event needs." Clare said she will be hosting another fundraiser this Saturday the 20th March 2021 and the venue will be confirmed on their Facebook Page Utuyam. “I would like to also encourage those who come by or others who wish to, to donate something that the Port Moresby General Hospital has appealed for in their flyer, like masks, gloves and beddings."

PNG will not go into a complete lockdown despite the spike of COVID-19 cases in the country. That’s the confirmation from the Prime Minister James Marape following a massive increase in the number of cases from the weekend bringing the country’s total confirmed cases to over 2000, with Port Moresby recording the highest number of confirmed cases with a total of 1,030. PM Marape said the government opted for a nationwide controlled isolation strategy to prevent and control movement of people unnecessarily. “The isolation strategy should be worked on and released by Wednesday in consultation with the Office of the Pandemic Controller David Manning, the Education Department and relevant bodies. He reminded the people of PNG that the country is currently in code RED which is community transmission breaking loose and further appealed for adherence to all prescribed safe and hygiene measures under the New Normal protocols. PM James Marape is expected to make further announcements today after announcing the new isolation strategies.

Nine (9) new cases of COVID-19 cases where confirmed for the Milne Bay Province in the last week. Milne Bay has only lab in the province for COVID-19 testing located at the Alotau Provincial Hospital that caters for the mainland and island districts in the province. “Only people that show COVID-19 symptoms are being tested due to the limited supply of testing cartridges given by the National Department of Health.” said Ashan Numa, the Milne Bay Provincial COVID-19 Controller. “The current active cases are in self isolation with specialized teams that monitor them to ensure they remain in isolation.” There is an isolated ward allocated for those critical cases however there is no one in the ward at the moment. The Milne Bay Provincial Government has renovated one of its buildings which was meant to be the Women in Business Building and opened at the end of 2019 to be used as the isolation ward for people with COVID-19. The building can house 50 people and is currently available to be used once the isolation ward at the Alotau Provincial Hospital is filled. The District health authorities have been notified to build semi permanent isolation wards to be used when they have confirmed cases in their districts. Some districts have already started building their isolation wards. For those that don’t record any COVID-19 cases, the isolation wards can be used for other illnesses such as TB. Mr Numa said that the Provincial Advisory Committee will meet today to come up with COVID-19 safety measures for the province. They will have to incorporate the current national measures into the provincial measures. New measures will be released on Tuesday, 16th March, 2021. He added that community transmission is happening in Alotau town and all residents must adhere to the prescribed hygiene protocols that in place.

From Friday 26th March, all passengers travelling from Port Moresby to Singapore, Hong Kong and Manila will be required to provide evidence of a negative COVID Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at time of check-in.   This is already a requirement for all flights to Australia. Passengers who do not produce evidence of a negative test will not be able to board their flight. The PCR test must be conducted within three days of the scheduled flight departure. These PCR tests can be completed in Port Moresby for a fee with results provided quickly. Other types of test such as the rapid (or Gen-X test) are not acceptable. Air Niugini continues to operate the six flights per week to Brisbane, four flights per week to Singapore, and twice weekly to Manila. From 28th March flights to Hong Kong and Cairns will each increase to twice weekly, while once weekly direct flight to Sydney will resume on Monday.    Regular flights to other international destinations such as Honiara, Port Vila and Nadi remain suspended due to international border restrictions. 

A total of 90 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the country on Saturday March 13, bringing the national total of confirmed cases to 2,173 with the death toll remaining at 21. The new cases have come from five provinces with the highest of 65 from the National Capital District. The others were: West Sepik – 3; Autonomous Region of Bougainville – 4; Enga -11; and Hela - 7. The reports are showing that everyone is at risk of getting COVID-19 – young and old. Among the 65 new cases from NCD, for instance, 28 were males and 35 were females while two did not state their sex. The age range is from nine to 60 years old. The positive cases are scattered in all the three districts in NCD. Except in WSP where the new cases are found in Vanimo Green, the other provinces also show that the positive cases come from all the districts. For example, in Enga, the 11 new cases come from Wapenamda, Kompian, Wabag and Kandep. The total number of cases in the country are distributed as follows: · NCD – 1030; Western – 324; West New Britain – 197; Morobe – 87; Autonomous Region of Bougainville – 48; Eastern Highlands – 45; · Madang – 44; · East New Britain – 39; · Western Highlands – 37; · Enga – 29; · New Ireland – 23; · Central – 22; · East Sepik – 16; · Jiwaka – 16; · Hela – 8; · Chimbu – 4; · Southern Highlands – 3; Milne Bay – 2. The Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response and Police Commissioner David Manning has once again called on everyone in the country to follow the health measures in place to prevent further spread of the virus in the country. He has appealed particularly to people living in towns or urban areas to ensure they do not carry this virus to the rural and remote areas where it may be difficult for people to seek health care. Mr Manning said, “We must do all we can to ensure this virus does not spread to the rural and remote areas of our country.’’ He urged citizens to continue to practice the health measures such as: regular hand wash; cover your cough or cough into your elbow; avoid crowds; maintain physical distance from the next person by 1.5 to 2 metres; and wear a face mask all the time when in public and in places like shops, markets and on PMVs. “I urge all PMV owners to take some responsibility by talking to the bus-drivers and crew to follow the health measures in place by making sure the PMVs are not over crowded and that all passengers wear face masks. If you want to continue to operate your business without the government imposing strict measures, please do your part by following the health rules in place. It is for the good of everyone,’’ Mr Manning said. Meanwhile, the total confirmed COVID-19 cases around the global has reached 118,268,575 by Saturday March 13. Of this, 467,362 were new cases reported within 24 hours. The global death toll reported was 2,624,677, of which 9, 472, were in the last 24 hours.

A turn of events in the farewell of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare as his casket was about to depart on an Air Niugini Q400 Aircraft to Boram in Wewak, had to be delayed. Reports from on the ground say a rowdy crowd at the Jacksons Airport in Port Moresby ran onto the tarmac and demanded that the Grand Chief Sir Michael's casket be removed from the cargo hold and placed in the main cabin of the Air Niugini aircraft. The family of Sir Michael has agreed and called for calm among people in NCD and Wewak and allowed the body of their father to be removed from Air Niugini's Sana flight and transferred to the Australian Military Aircraft C130. Grand Chief's son Sana Somare spoke on behalf of the family appealing to Papua New Guinean's to allow their dad to be flown home to his final resting place.

"Papa blong PNG" Grand Chief Sir Michael was farewelled with emotional goodbyes for the last time as Papua New Guineans living in and around host city Port Moresby flocked the streets of Erima for a last and final glimpse. Residents again took to the streets as early as they could for an opportunity that no Papua New Guinea would have wanted to miss - saying final goodbyes to "Sana", the Grand Chief. A convoy of vehicles from the Erima Funeral Home escorted the casket of late Sir Michael to the Jacksons APEC VIP terminal to an Air Niugini Q400 aircraft bound for Boram in Wewak. It was sight full of emotions as Papua New Guineans lined up on the road towards Jascksons to farewell for the last time "Papa blong kantri" Great Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare as they wept, waved PNG flags, threw flowers at the passing Funeral Home vehicle and even mothers and children were seeing running after the convoy as the casket of "Sana" the peacemaker, passed by going towards towards Jacksons. The Air Niugini Q400 flight bound for Wewak is flown by an all Papua New Guinean crew, captained by Pilot Steven Ilave, which the Grand Chief would have wanted. More updates to follow...

Port Moresby prepares to say last goodbyes and farewell the Great Grand Chief and "Papa blong PNG", Sir Michael Somare as his casket departs for Wewak tomorrow after midday. As the host province of the National Haus Krai for the Grand Chief over the past two weeks, the Somare Family thanked NCD and the people of Papua New Guinea for the incredible outpouring of love and support during their time of grief. "Yesterday marked the final official event on the program for the National Capital District," said daughter Betha Somare. Sir Michaels Funeral Mass at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium was historical, and fitting for a man who achieved what he wanted for his country and witnessed by hundreds of city residents and watched live on television and via live streaming across the length and breath of Papua New Guinea. "Given this week’s unprecedented rise in COVID19 infections in the National Capital we appeal to each of you to avoid gathering in public spaces and if you feel unwell stay home to keep others safe. Always wear a mask when you are amongst others and avoid unnecessary travel." She said the family was saddened to hear about patients and staff at the Port Moresby General Hospital testing positive for COVID19. "POMGH have always taken excellent care of our parents and our thoughts are with them and all our front-line health workers." "Your messages and warm memories shared about Sir Michael on social media have kept us comforted. His legacy, his kindness and his compassion lives on in all of us." She said Sir Michael would have wanted us all to keep each other safe, especially during these unprecedented times. "Stay home if you can and follow the directions of health authorities, she said.