PNG Haus Bung

Divine Word University medical laboratory scientist Henao Rakatani topped her class in an external competency training for malaria microscopists in the country. Heano achieved a level one status. She was among 12 other microscopists who participated in a World Health Organization (WHO) virtual malaria competency assessment in Port Moresby from November 9-13. The virtual training was conducted by WHO consultant Lieutenant Ken Lilley, with cofacilitation by Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) quality assurance manager Ernest Velemu and malaria scientist Dorothy Abala. Lieutenant Lilley connected with the participants and cofacilitators in Port Moresby via video link from the Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Diseases Institute. Participants came in from Modilon, Kundiawa, Vunapope and Tari hospitals, Yagaum and Butuwin health centres, the PNG Institute of Medical Research, Divine Word University (DWU), and the CPHL Malaria and Quality Assurance units. Henao said the training will help microscopists across PNG improve malaria diagnoses and health outcomes for patients. “It enhances and enriches me as a medical laboratory scientist, especially in the diagnosis of malaria,” she said. “Laboratory confirmation of diseases is very important because it helps doctors to effectively treat the patients. “I love my job because it contributes to the health of Papua New Guinea.” Sosenue Sokoemuc, a medical laboratory assistant at Yagaum Health Centre in Madang said: “This is a very useful training for Yagaum because many patients are presenting with symptoms malaria at the health center. Sosenue Sokoemuc – Medical laboratory assistant, Yagaum Health Centre, Madang and participant of the ECAM training. He added that there has been progress in the fight against malaria in the country and specialised training for health workers will help them even more in malaria diagnosis and treatment. Each year, CPHL conducts two external competency assessments of malaria microscopists supported through the Australia-China-PNG Trilateral Malaria Project. Through species identification and parasite count, the assessments allow them to grade, identify and map the gaps in malaria microscopists in PNG and to plan strategic approaches to address and improve malaria diagnosis throughout the country. Sosenue (left) and Henao (right) with other participants at the ECAM training.

Opposition leader Belden Namah was satisfied with the Supreme Court's decision yesterday on the sitting dates of Parliament.The Supreme Court has stayed both decisions made by Parliament.This is referring to Parliament decision on the 13th of November for Parliament to be adjourned to December 1st and on the 17th of November for Parliament to be adjourned to April 20th 2021 respectively."It's a fair decision by the Court""Court has been adjourned to the 3rd and our Lawyers will be at work till then"" So I'm happy with the decision by the Court " Namah said. Meanwhile from the government side, member for Sinesine Yongomul Kerenga Kua was also pleased with the ruling indicating the likely chaos today if a Parliament sitting had took place today."We don't want to face a confrontation with the Opposition trying to forcefully reopen Parliament and convene a sitting""So this Court Ruling is stopping them from doing this until the Court completes the hearing on the substantive matter, then Court will decide when Parliament will meet"Kua said both decisions by Parliament on the November 13th and 17th have been iced, which is a relief to both parties.

The Waigani District Court has found sufficient evidence on the K50M fraud case against former PM and member of Ialibu Pangia Peter O'Neill on the purchase of the two turbo-diesel generators. O'Neill was charged with one count each on misappropriation,  official corruption and conspiracy. Magistrate Tracy Ganaii said there was insufficient evidence on the conspiracy charges but  there was sufficient evidence on the other two charges of misappropriation and corruption. Therefore, the magistrate dismissed the conspiracy charge and announced that the remaining  two charges against Mr O'Neill is likely to proceed onto the National Court. Ganaii then asked O'Neill if he wished to make the section 96 statement today or make that in a written form to the Court later.  In response to the  magistrate, O'Neill's lawyer Greg Sheppard asked the Court for an adjournment of one week for his client to have is section 96 statement available by then. The Court then adjourned the case to 9th of December when O'Neill is expected to present his section 96 statement. Meanwhile Peter O'Neill said he is looking forward to National Court when the matter is officially committed to the National Court. "There is a suggestion by some of the witnesses that it was a official corruption and missapropriaton  of  unbudgeted items" " But we have not presented our evidence in Court, which we will do so in the National Court " "We look forward to appearing and arguing this case in the National Court." O'Neill said.

The accused in late Jennelyn Kennedy’s death Bhosip Kaiwi’s charge on wilful murder has been downgraded to murder by the Waigani District Court today. This after the Police Prosecutor Joseph Sangam withdrew the initial charge and substituted with Murder. Sangam said the evidence surrounding the case can only define a Murder charge; therefore the charge had to be changed if the case is to proceed onto National Court.   Magistrate Tracy Ganaii advised Kaiwi’s lawyer to start filing submissions based on the new charge after she officially made the changes to the charge. The  case will return to Court on the 8th of December 2020.

The slash in subsidies received by schools has been a case of concern for Mr Steven Taharin, the Head teacher of the Vunakanau Primary School in the Gazelle District of the East New Britain Province. He said after becoming accustomed to the Tuition Fee Free Education system there has been a slow response in fee payments from parents. Approaching the completion of the first academic year since coming into effect, parents are still trying to adapt to the new Government Tuition Fee Subsidy (GTFS) Policy. Mr Taharin stated that while on TFF, around K80, 000 is received by the school for the running of each academic year. However, with the switch to GTSF, a total of only K14, 000 has been received in 2020 to date. The school administration is relying on these subsidies, as well as school fees collected from the students for the operations of the school year. With a student population of 637, Taharin revealed to parents during a recent PNC meeting that there was K140, 000 yet to be paid in outstanding fees. “What is expected by the government is that they [the parents] pay 50% and the government pays the other 50%, but that has not been happening. It is very slow.” Taharin added that although parents have become used to the TFF system, they will need to adapt to tuition fee subsidies. “It’s not bad that parents shoulder most of the funding for their children’s learning.” “It’s a good idea because they [parents] will really stand behind their kids and make them study hard and learn well.” Photo courtesy of Taka Oda

The Supreme Court has stayed both decisions made by Parliament. This is referring to Parliament decision on the 13th of November for Parliament to be adjourned to December 1st and also applies to decision on the 17th of November for Parliament to be adjourned to April 20th 2021 respectively. The Supreme Court has ordered parties to file affidavits for the substantive matter by tomorrow. Meanwhile, Court has been adjourned to 3rd of December 2020.

All parties have agreed for the Supreme Court to make a ruling this afternoon for tomorrow's sitting. Court adjourned for 10 minutes for the bench to deliberate on the decision. A ruling will be made in 10 minutes time. Stay tuned for more updates.  

Six parties submitted their application this morning at the Supreme Court to be interveners to the substantive matter on the legality of the Speaker's actions regarding the parliament sitting on the 17th of November.   The six interested parties were,   1. The Prime Minister   2. The Clerk of Parliament   3. Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey   4. Leader of Government Business, Renbo Paita   5. The Opposition leader, Belden Namah   6. And Paul Paraka claiming to represent himself and the eight million people.   Mr. Greg Sheppard lawyer representing the applicant (Peter O'Neill) said the other five parties had no substantive interest to be part of the proceedings and therefore he objected to their submissions.   A five-man bench lead by Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika adjourned court for an hour to deliberate on the applications to be interveners and when Court resumed at 12:30pm, the Supreme Court bench refused all five applications, while Belden Namah's Lawyer Alois Jerewai, withdrew his client's application just before the ruling was made.   It is understood the Supreme Court accepted two intervener applications from the Attorney General and the Speaker last week, which means these are the only two parties that will be part of the proceedings.   Meanwhile, the substantive matter has been adjourned to 2:30pm after lawyers representing the Speaker and Attorney General said they were not prepared to argue on the standing. Sir Gibbs Salika has instructed all parties to prepare to argue on standing when Court resumes. 

For the first time ever, The YUMIFM PNG MusiK Awards 2020 was broadcast live on radio. The awards were for local artists who stood out during 2019 whose songs were most requested by listeners on 93 Yumi FM. The Song of the year Category award was for songs that sat on the #1 spot during the Yumifm Top 20 countdown on Saturdays, #1 Spot on the Top 8@8 on weeknights and Top 4@4 on the weekdays. The songs that were in the running for the Song of the year award were Avorong – Junky, Nambawan Blo Mi – McDonald Taila, Humble Huli – Ragga Siai and Mezzi – Mal Meninga Kuri. Ragga Siai’s song Humble Huli which was recorded under Wexide Production took out this year’s YUMI FM PNG MUSIK Awards Song of the Year. The song was done as a tribute to the current Prime Minister, James Marape. Ragga Siai was surprised and pleased to have bagged this award. “I am privileged and thankful for the award. Thank you so much to PNGFM and Yumi FM for recognising local artists and coming up with these awards. Thanks to everyone for supporting my music and my fans around the nation. Thanks so much” Meanwhile the artists said he has recorded 4 new singles and more to be released come January 2021.

The Gold Coast SUNS are excited to announce the promotion of International Scholarship holder Hewago Paul Oea to the club’s Rookie List for the 2021 season. Affectionately known as Ace, the 19-year-old is a talented footballer who originates from Papua New Guinea (Gulf/Central - PNG). “Ace has displayed significant improvement since coming to the club as a 16-year-old and we’re proud to see him progress onto the club’s list,” SUNS GM – Football Operations Jon Haines said. “He is a terrific young man, with an outstanding appetite to learn and work hard.  Ace’s development is a credit to his family, AFL PNG and most importantly himself. “Ace made a difficult decision to leave his family in PNG to follow his dream and his progression onto the list is an acknowledgement that his dedication and commitment is beginning to show real dividends.” An interview and overlay with Ace and SUNS National Recruiting Manager Kall Burns can be downloaded here. Growing up in Gordons, a suburb in Port Moresby, Ace first started playing football when he was 12 in the EmNau Niukick community competition and played senior football with the Gordons Kokofas. Shortly after he joined the AFL PNG Talent Academy which saw him represent his country from ages 13-16 at the annual Queensland Under-14 and Under-16 State Championships. In 2017, when he was 15, Ace played in the AFL International Cup for the PNG open men’s side and won best-on-ground in the Grand Final against New Zealand. He was coached in that team by now SUNS AFLW Head Coach David Lake. At 16 he joined the SUNS Academy and was involved in the AFL Queensland talent program, before earning selection in the national NAB AFL Academy program (the first-ever PNG player to do so). In 2018, Ace was granted an International Scholarship with the SUNS which saw him train and play with the reserves team while continuing to develop in an elite environment, earning a NEAFL Rising Star nomination in 2019. “I love playing football for the Gold Coast SUNS and I am very excited to continue my career here,” Ace said. “I want to thank all my family back in PNG for believing in me, AFL PNG for everything they’ve done and my Gold Coast family Kris and Tim Searl who have supported me with my dream. “I love all the boys at the SUNS, they are very welcoming and I can’t wait to get back into training at the club.” “Everyone at AFL PNG are extremely proud of Ace and the dedication he has shown from a young age to constantly improve himself,” AFL Development Manager – South Pacific, Ben Drew, said.   “Ace has overcome many challenges to earn the opportunity he has now and we can not be more exited for him and his family”. “AFL PNG are immensely thankful for the wonderful support the Gold Coast Suns and AFL QLD have provided Ace in his journey so far, and are extremely grateful to Ace’s family in PNG for their trust for Ace’s welfare, and the Searl family for their consistent belief and support throughout”. Ace will join his SUNS teammates when pre-season training resumes on December 7.

For the first time ever, The YUMIFM PNG Music award was broadcasted live on Radio. The awards were for local artists who stood out during 2019 whose songs were most requested by listeners on 93 Yumi FM.  One of the winners who really stood out was Stanis Yohang who bagged the award for Producer of The Year. Some artists that have come out from his studio are Eldiz Mune, Twin Tribe and Ragga Siai.  “I would like to thank 93 Yumi FM, all my fans, my friends and my family but especially to my artists. I will continue to maintain my studio and release more songs for my artists in the coming months.”  “I would also like to thank my artists fans for you requests and votes to get my artists this far. Thank You so much.”  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, he decided to host a mini barbeque for his artists and close friends for them to listen to the awards and listen to the live event.  “I wanted to host the barbeque for the boys to come over and have a few drinks and food and listen to the awards together. This was to help the boys unite and support each other.”  He added that fans can expect more music from Ragga Siai, Eldiz Mune, Willie Tropu, Nathan Nakikus and more to come from his studio. 

Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Superintendent Peter Barkie, has confirmed reports of a shooting in Alotau this week which has left one dead. PPC Barkie this morning confirmed that the incident, which took place in Garuboi Street in Alotau on Wednesday night (25/11/20) following an internal conflict between a group of men, has left one dead while the suspects have gone into hiding. “All we know at this stage is that it’s an internal conflict between a group of men within that street.” “Apparently, one pulled out a pistol and put it on the head (of the victim) at close range and he was instantly killed.” “The police investigation is continuing because the people who are alleged to be responsible have disappeared from the location.” Police have a general idea of suspects. However, until it is confirmed their identities have been withheld.  “When the body was recovered on Wednesday night, there was tension,” PPC Barkie added. Although retaliation was anticipated, the situation in Alotau has since been peaceful as investigations continue.