Member for Samarai-Murua Isi Henry Leonard officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for a new boat-building project at Galowa village near Bwagaoia Station on Misima Island in the Milne Bay province last Friday. He announced that the project would support the locals in promoting the district's coastal fisheries program. The boat-building initiative is part of a larger fishing project launched on the Island. Mr. Leonard confirmed that the first phase, including land identification at Galowa village, had been completed. “The landowners have all come to an agreement for the project to take place on their land and have started clearing the area by cleaning and preparing it for its availability. “The second phase of the boat building project would be to set up the basic infrastructure with funding to come from the District’s Fishing program Kekeisi Investment Limited and from the district services improvement programme (DSIP),” Mr. Leonard said. The funding would come after the district development authority (DDA) sat for its meeting in the coming months. “We will build our own fishing boats and give to fisherman across the district in all four local level governments (LLG) to assist with fishing. “The boat building is part of the greater coastal fisheries program that the district is now engaged into fish and export to international markets. It plays a very important role as we seriously go into the fishing business for the district,” he said. Mr. Leonard indicated that the timber species that would be used for boat building would the HOPIA tree, mostly found in Loani in Bwanabwana LLG and Sudest in Yaleamba LLG both in the Samarai Murua district according to the forest resource inventory. The hopia trees would be the most suitable material and timber used to develop the fishing boats for the fishermen in the district. Since the kekeisi-1 factory fishing vessel would mostly be doing its work outside the three nautical miles from the islands, the smaller fishing boats built in Galowa would be used by fishermen and villagers to use in their daily fishing activity. From these catches, they would sell to Kekeisi-1 and others for their daily consumption. Mr. Leonard commended the landowners and clan leaders from Galowa who partnered with the DDA to be part of this project in boat building. He also launched the Fishing program and the newly built Mama Bank office in Bwagaoia Station.

As part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Pacific Sports Program, first aid and sports medicine training were conducted in Papua New Guinea (PNG) recently at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby. This followed previous sessions focused on coaching and refereeing for rugby league and touch football. The first aid course covered key skills, including CPR, the use of defibrillators, and the management of common injuries such as asthma and allergic reactions. Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael Alison, one of the ADF Sports Trainer Facilitators, shared that stage two of the Sports Trainer Course will concentrate on field behavior, injury prevention, and effective management. "Our focus will be on the practical aspects of fieldwork and injury prevention," said Warrant Officer Alison. Lieutenant Issac Ramson, a physiotherapist with the PNG Defence Force, took part in both the first aid and rugby league coaching and refereeing courses. He was one of eight PNG Defence Force members involved in the program. Reflecting on the training, Lieutenant Ramson highlighted its direct relevance to his work at the military hospital at Taurama Barracks. "This course has been incredibly relevant to my role," he explained. "The hands-on skills I've gained will be very useful in my daily work, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to be part of it." “It’s also been exciting to meet Australian military personnel and learn from their wealth of experience.” “The content was very valuable," he added. In addition to the medical training, participants also engaged in coaching and refereeing courses that stressed the importance of sportsmanship and leadership within their communities. "The coaching and referee course was really insightful," said Lieutenant Ramson. "It highlighted the core values of sport and how to live by those values.” “It also emphasized the importance of being positive role models for both our sports and our communities, which I think is essential."

The Samarai-Murua District in Milne Bay Province launched its fishing program on Friday at Bwagaoia Station, on Misima Island. The event featured singing groups, traditional performances, and a live band, providing entertainment for delegates and attendees who travelled from nearby islands and throughout Misima to celebrate the occasion. Member for Samarai-Murua Isi Henry Leonard in his official remarks, said he shared a similar vision with others since the closure of the Misima Mines in 2004. It had been 27 long years from 1998 to 2025, and this vision of the people and dream was now becoming a reality. He said this fishing program was the wisdom of his people, and the mine closure committee who had talked about a project of this magnitude that would bring change and an impact to their lives. He added this started off as a dream and this was the story of what the mines committee representing the people wanted to achieve after the closure of the mines for the island and the district. “Only when you know where came from and only where you are, then you can see what is ahead and that is the future.” “When you are certain of your past, your present is where you can gauge your future with confidence,” Mr Leonard said. He said it was time for Samarai-Murua district to realise its full potential through the Coastal Fisheries Program with the National Fisheries Authority who had approved the fishing license and export license to go ahead with the project. “We have a boat Kekeisi -1, a fishing license, we have a secured market, and for us we reverse engineer the process, we start from the market to where the technology and expertise are and bring them back to the district to do the coastal fisheries program.” “There is a model we are working towards, and it is kekeisi (Small Small) fishing program and the concept is different from the usual.” “We have to secure the market for our resources from fishing. There is no market in the country for our resources that is the reason we must secure the Thai market overseas.” He indicated that shore base facilities for fishing were expensive and had too many infrastructure developments. “We must bring in the factory fishing boat that will catch fish and be packaged in its freezers carrying 3000 metric tonnes of fish at any one trip. We will give you ice boxes, fishing lines and we will go into boat building to also help you fish,” Mr Leonard told his people. Indicating that it was the way forward for his people on the islands through coastal fishing. Mr Leonard acknowledged NFA for processing the approval of the fishing and export licenses among other requirements so that the district could launch the project. He also pointed out the purpose of setting up the Mama Bank branch in the district to cater for convenience in its fishing program among other economic stimulus projects for the district as there were no banking facilities since the closure of the mines. NFA Executive Manager Fisheries Development and Liasion Business Group Joshua Ryan while representing the NFA CEO Mr Justin Ilakini, recognized the efforts of Mr Leonard for his foresight, leadership and conceptualizing and materializing this initiative. “The government of PNG is committed to developing our oceanic and coastal fisheries sector through close collaboration with all the 14 maritime provinces of PNG.” “We do this by entering into memorandum of agreements (MOA) with each of the  14 maritime provinces and Milne Bay is no different,” Mr Ryan said. The MOA with NFA and Milne Bay was signed in November 2023 by Minister for Fisheries’ and Marine Resources Hon. Jelta Wong Milne Bay Governor Hon. Gordon Wesley. The MOA provides the framework for a formal arrangement for the NFA to work with the provinces as necessitated by the organic law on local and provincial level government. Mr Ryan said the NFA had a good working relationship with the Milne Bay Provincial Administration and assists the province in delivery of fisheries management and enforcement functions that is also extended to fisheries development as witnessed in the building of a number of jetties in the province, trap net projects, and sea weed projects in collaboration with the development partners among others. Further adding that NFA also supported through its health, education and social sectors as part of its social corporate responsibilities to the communities. “The Samarai-Murua DDA’s initiative to participate in developing its coastal fisheries for its people is not only a good start but one that is well overdue and NFA commends you and your DDA for a bold step. “Backed with the package of capital created through the Mama Bank’s services to support boat building program for fishing and logistics, this is a promising model that has the potential to be scaled out to the other 13 maritime provinces throughout our country,” Mr Ryan said. Mr Ryan was accompanied by NFA Executive Manager Licensing and Data Management and Business Group Jerome Tioti among other delegates.

Following a recent visit from PNG Football Association Futsal and Beach Soccer Coordinator Tonga Esira, there was a strong surge of interest in beach soccer and futsal in Manus Province. The visit has ignited enthusiasm for football lovers, with strong backing from Provincial Administrator Mr. Mame Kasalau MBE, showcasing that both beach soccer and futsal are ready to kick off on a high note. Mr. Kasalau, a member of bronze medal winning team in 1987 Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia has demonstrated a deep commitment to football and pledged his support through the Manus Soccer Association. "I am challenging the Manus Soccer Association and soccer enthusiasts in the province to embrace this opportunity and run with the program." He further expressed his ambition for Manus Island to become a talent pipeline for the upcoming Professional League set to launch in 2026. Although Manus may not be able to field its own team, he believes it has significant potential to supply players to the professional market and has extended his support for football's growth in the province. Since assuming his role as Provincial Administrator, Mr. Kasalau's presence has profoundly impacted Manus, bringing about positive changes and showcasing visionary leadership. The 36 club managers present at the Seeadler Bay Hotel expressed their enthusiasm for beach soccer and futsal, noting that the gathering and awareness session from PNG FA marked a significant milestone for Manus, particularly for local soccer fans. These managers were part of the on-going Governor's Cup tournament, where 36 teams were qualified from an initial 72, with plans to reach a grand final by next week. The timing of PNG FA's visit could not have been better, further enhancing the excitement around the gathering. The support and commitment from the provincial government are substantial, with predictions that Manus will emerge as a powerhouse, producing top soccer talent in the near future. With the unwavering backing of Mr. Kasalau, Manus Island is poised to become a formidable force in the football landscape.

Mama Bank opened a new office on Misima Island in Samarai-Murua District, Milne Bay Province, last Friday. This marks a significant milestone for the Samarai-Murua District Development Authority and local member Isi Henry Leonard, as it reintroduces banking services to the island for the first time since the closure of Misima Mine in 2004. When giving his remarks, Mr. Leonard said banking services was a vital need in the carrying out of business in the district and it was necessary for people and SMEs among other economic activity. The banking system had been lacking since the mine closure and partnering with MAMA Bank to establish its services in the district, starting on Misima island as the district headquarters, was timely. “We can put our portion, and the National Government will put its portion through its SME programs and through this we are able to help our people. My idea is simple, whatever money we put in here it must be used to buy resources, your gold, your fish, your vanilla and all other economic programs that we can envisage." “The fact of the matter is that the money will be parked here, if you sell your fish with Kekeisi fishing program, there will be an arrangement, you come here and collect your cash through your account,” Mr. Leonard said. He encouraged a savings culture and a community where everyone in the district had access to bank accounts and with Mama Bank running financial literacy programs on banking, this would be appropriate for his people. Now that the bank is established, they would be able to do three things, first the National Identification (NID), secondly company SME registration and thirdly open bank accounts so people do not have to travel to Alotau as these services would be provided at the Mama Bank. “When you sell your fish with Kekeisi, you pick up your cash from the Mama Bank through this arrangement. We create a cashflow in the local community. Once there is cashflow, it will stimulate other economic programs,” Mr. Leonard said. This would stimulate cashflow into other parts of the district like Rossel, Sudest in Yaliemba Local Level Government (LLG), Woodlark in Murua LLG and Bwanabwana LLG. He said the only reasonable thing to do was to bring a bank, a bank that was able to fit into their way of life as there were banking challenges when trying to open an account, the requirements and the compliance all added up to the whole process. MAMA Bank Project Manager Prabhash Misha commended the MP for Samarai-Murua for his foresight in enabling the bank to establish in the district. “Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this partnership, we appreciate your leadership, your commitment and your vision to develop the district to its greater potential. We are with you on this journey, and we assure you the best of our services tailored in meeting the needs and requirements of the women, men and their families,” Mr. Misha said. Mr. Misha said this was an opportunity for the MAMA Bank operations to see where they stood with their operations in Misima, and once the final report was submitted to the Bank of PNG for the final clearance, they would then return with their staff and regular operations as soon as possible. Mama Bank has 21 branches and mini branches within 12 provinces so far, as its services continued to grow stronger and better.

Air Niugini is happy to announce that it has resumed its flights to Brisbane, Australia, today, Sunday, 9th March, following assessments of Ex-Tropical Storm Alfred and the reopening of Brisbane Airport. Flight PX003 departed Port Moresby at the regular time of 10:30 AM, arriving in Brisbane at 1:40 PM. The return flight, PX004, will depart Brisbane at 2:40 PM, arriving in Port Moresby at 5:50 PM. With the severe weather conditions in Southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales now easing, flights are set to resume. Air Niugini, along with other airlines, had suspended services to Brisbane on Thursday due to Cyclone Alfred's impact and as a safety precaution for passengers, crew, and aircraft. They will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates if there are any changes. "Customers are encouraged to check the Air Niugini website (www.airniugini.com.pg) and follow our official social media channels for the latest information," said the airline company. Air Niugini greatly appreciates all travelling customers' patience and understanding during this disruption caused by the storm. "The safety and well-being of our passengers and employees remain our top priority."

As part of its ongoing efforts to foster the growth of young athletes, the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) is hosting its first Kumuls Blo Tumoro camp this week in Port Moresby. The camp includes twenty-four (24) players predominantly drawn from the 2024 Junior Kumuls and the National School Boys team. Under the guidance and leadership of Joe Grima who was Head Coach of the 2023 -2024 Junior Kumuls and current Coaching and Pathways Manager for the PNG NRL Bid, the three-day camp will include educational sessions from former players, subject matter experts as well as on-field training, testing and strength sessions. Chief Executive Officer, PNGRFL Stanley Hondina speaking on the importance of the camp: “The PNGRFL continues to focus and invest in these opportunities for our young players." "This being the first of its kind to be held, it is a wonderful chance to come together and to develop as rugby league players." "More importantly we want to see our players become better young men through their involvement with the sport." "We continue to strengthen our partnerships with PacificAus Sport and the Australian Defence Force in delivering camps like this." “It is only through continuous development with camps like this that these young players will be able to achieve their dreams." "Just as important, a similar program will be rolled out for our female players over the next month,” said Hondina. Bradley Orosambo, 2024 National School boys and Junior Kumuls halfback who is part of the PNGRFL Elite Youth Program spent four weeks training with the SP PNG Hunters pre-Christmas. Following that, he has returned to training with the Lae Snax Tigers. Bradley will be part of the camp over the weekend. Orosambo said, “I feel very excited and happy, and my family is also happy and proud that I got selected for the camp." "It is a great opportunity for me to make progress in my rugby league career." "This makes us focus on our skills, talents and our bond with each other as a team with little distraction from the outside. This is a steppingstone to help us reach our goals of eventually becoming a Kumul and part of our very own NRL team.” "The Kumuls Blo Tumoro camp is a groundbreaking opportunity to work with the best junior and local rugby league talent across Papua New Guinea," Grima said when describing the advantages of the camp. It demonstrates the serious direction rugby league is taking in PNG and acts as an investment in the players who would be considered for the nation's 2028 admission into the NRL. He added “This is the first time a camp of this nature has been held in PNG, reinforcing the nation's commitment to structured player development." "Combined with a strengthening school competition, national school aged championship, the Santos Cup and Digicel ExxonMobil Cup and the Hunters, the pathways from grassroots to elite level are being developed to match these NRL Clubs.” “By the end of the three-day camp, we will have a clear understanding of where these players stand and the areas that need improvement, ensuring we continue to drive development at the highest level.” “The success of the PNGRFL Elite Youth Program is illustrated with the selection of the last two Junior Kumuls Captains’, Finley Glare and Gairo Voro, as part of the original starting line-up for the SP PNG Hunters opening round match which has now been postponed due to the pending cyclone in Queensland."

Following the passing of the late Governor of New Ireland Province, the Late Sir Julius Chan, conversations have been ongoing both in the community and on social media regarding who will be the next Governor. Upon Sir J’s passing the deputy governor, Sammy Missen, automatically took over as care-taker governor, as was the usual practice when Sir J went on duty travel out of the province when he was still alive. Pending a by-election date, yet to be set by the Electoral Commission, the Provincial Assembly will sit on the 26th of March and go ahead with the Election of an Acting Governor on the day. Per the advice from the Secretary of the Department of Provincial & Local Level Government Affairs Mr. Philip Leo, upon the passing of the late Provincial Governor, there is now effectively a vacancy in the seat of the Provincial Governor as per section 19(1)(e) of the Organic Law on Provincial Governments & Local Level Governments (OLPGLLG). New Ireland Legislative Assembly Under section 21(1 ), establishes who is eligible to be elected. It clearly states that the Open Members are eligible to be elected as the Provincial Governor when the current scenario occurs. Section 21 (3) together with section 19(1) (b), also clarifies that if a member of Parliament from the New Ireland Provincial Assembly is holding a Ministry, as is the case with the two Open MPs of the Province, they are automatically disqualified from being eligible to be elected as Provincial Governor. However, in the event they wish to be eligible to be elected they will have to resign from their Ministerial Portfolios. “If only one of the Open MPs resigns to become eligible for the Governor’s post, that Open MP will have to be seconded and the Deputy Chairman will declare him as the Provincial Governor,” said OLPGLLG Secretary Philip Leo. Secretary Leo also advised that should the Deputy Governor wish to be eligible to be elected as the Provincial Governor on the floor of the Assembly, he will have to tender his resignation to the Minister. An assistant Chairman will have to be appointed by the Assembly from amongst the members of the Assembly, to perform the duties of Chairman during the Assembly sitting that elects the Provincial Governor. The Clerk of the New Ireland Legislative Assembly, Ao Ure, confirmed that the voting will be carried out through an Open Ballot.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Papua New Guinea (CCEP PNG) is excited to announce the successful induction of eight new graduates into its Graduate Program. The induction took place at the Head Office in Lae city last month, and the graduates have now begun their on-the-job training in Sales and Marketing. Over the next 18 months, the graduates will rotate through various roles in Sales, Marketing, Corporate, and Supply Chain functions to gain valuable experience across multiple areas of the business. Tim Solly, Sales and Commercials Director at CCEP PNG, congratulated the new graduates, stating, “At CCEP, developing talent is central to our long-term strategy. We are thrilled to welcome these eight graduates into the program. Our goal is to accelerate their career growth, equipping them with the necessary skills, leadership experience, and a strong professional network to thrive in their careers.” The 2025 graduate cohorts are Hannah Kusunan, Yaldie Dua, Geoffery Nongon, Jane Panau, Maylyn Anegi, Geraldine Tapili, Lyandi Kalyo, and Oliver Woyengu. This marks the fourth cohort to join the program since its launch in 2019. CCEP PNG continues to build its reputation as an employer of choice by offering meaningful career opportunities and growth pathways for young talent in Papua New Guinea.

The Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) is pleased to announce that it is now inviting franchises, government statutory bodies, and business organizations interested in participating in the 2025 football season to submit their Expressions of Interest (EOI). PNGFA Competition Manager, Paul Isorua, confirmed that applications are open for several key competitions scheduled for the upcoming year. These include the Premier Soccer League 2025, Women’s Conference Soccer League 2025, and the National Youth Soccer League 2025 for both U19 Men, U19 Women, and U17 Men divisions. Clubs and franchises who wish to participate can collect EOI forms at the PNGFA Headquarters or request a soft copy by emailing the Competitions Department at CompetitionsDepartment@pngfootball.com.pg. All completed EOIs, accompanied by receipts for the EOI fee, must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Additionally, the full payment for affiliation fees is due by Friday, May 30, 2025. Mr. Isorua emphasized that all PNGFA competitions for 2025 are scheduled to kick off in June. The first transfer window for the 2025 season will open for five weeks, running from April 30 to May 30, 2025. For further details or inquiries, please contact the PNGFA Competitions Department via email at CompetitionsDepartment@pngfootball.com.pg. The PNGFA looks forward to an exciting and competitive 2025 football season and encourages all interested parties to submit their EOIs promptly.

PNGFA Acting Technical Director, Felipe Arango Alonso, wasted no time in engaging with schools in Lae to reignite school football and its league. During his recent visit to Lae, Felipe, alongside his team members Harrison Kamake (Head of Education) and Talent Development Officer David Muta, met with teachers at the PNGFA Education Centre, located at 11-Mile outside Lae City. The meeting saw attendance from school representatives, including Martin Thomas and Lopath Bokifa (Bowali Primary School), Lipu Pamba and Kepus John (Omili Primary School), Rudolf Fred (Tent City Primary School), Jothan Aarom (Lae Secondary School), Kinock E. Gindo (Ganton Primary School), Ere Baizah (Butibam Primary School), and Garung Zoriky Miadu (Bugandy Secondary School). Felipe expressed that the feedback from the meeting was overwhelmingly positive. He emphasized that the schools are well-established, with a pool of student-athletes and fields for training. However, he noted that while schools play a crucial role in the country’s football development, they still require support. Currently, the Lae Primary School Football Association has 19 registered schools participating in the program. Felipe explained that the purpose of the meeting was to understand the schools' current challenges, followed by a presentation covering various aspects of football, including competition structure, coaching pathways, and player registration and identification. The PNGFA, Felipe stated, can help design the structure and format of the school league, as well as support in key areas such as equipment, coach education, and league organization. A key point discussed was the need for a coaching pathway. To achieve this, all teachers involved in coaching the school teams will need to obtain the MA Grassroots certificate. This certification will not only open doors for future coaches but also increase the number of certified coaches across the country, ultimately raising the level of coaching and, in turn, enhancing the players' performance. For these initiatives to be implemented, approval from the Department of Education is required. Felipe highlighted that PNGFA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Education Department to deliver the FIFA-sanctioned Football for Schools (F4S) program. The PNGFA Technical Department can collaborate with the Education Department to review and approve the school football competition nationwide. A similar meeting is scheduled for school teachers in Port Moresby on Friday, March 8th, 2025.

Prime Minister James Marape has reaffirmed Papua New Guinea's dedication to safeguarding its marine resources by ramping up efforts to combat illegal fishing. He said through the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United States, PNG will enhance surveillance and enforcement in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), ensuring that illegal fishing activities are swiftly detected and dealt with. Prime Minister Marape emphasized the critical economic value of PNG’s fisheries sector, particularly tuna, which accounts for over 55% of the world’s tuna supply. He highlighted that small Pacific Island nations, despite being custodians of vast ocean resources, must not remain economically disadvantaged due to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Papua New Guinea is responsible for approximately 15-20% of the world’s tuna supply. However, when considering the wider Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO)—which includes PNG and other Pacific nations—this region accounts for over 55% of the global tuna catch. PNG has the largest EEZ in the Pacific, rich in skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye, and albacore tuna, making it one of the most significant contributors to the global tuna industry. “Illegal fishing costs us billions in lost revenue. I call on all our partners—including the United States, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Australia—to work with PNG and other Pacific nations to remain vigilant against illegal fishing. As large ocean states, we must ensure that our rich marine resources benefit our people and economies,” PM Marape said. Under the DCA with the U.S., PNG will enhance its capacity to apprehend illegal fishing vessels through joint maritime patrols and real-time surveillance technology. The U.S. military will assist in bolstering PNG’s ability to monitor its waters and swiftly act against unauthorized fishing activities. “We are working with the U.S. military to strengthen our naval and air surveillance capabilities. Any illegal fishing vessels caught in PNG’s waters will be immediately apprehended. We are also exploring advanced satellite technology for real-time monitoring of our waters to improve enforcement,” PM Marape stated. To further safeguard PNG’s fisheries sector, the Government is set to introduce a Fish Domestication Policy in the second quarter of 2025. This policy mandates that all fish caught in PNG’s waters must be processed locally, ensuring value addition before export. “No unprocessed fish will leave our waters. All catches will be brought back to processing facilities in Madang, Lae, and other designated locations to create jobs, boost our economy, and maximize the benefits of our natural resources,” PM Marape said. As a senior member of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), PNG is also committed to supporting other Pacific Island nations in strengthening their fisheries enforcement. Through regional cooperation, PNG will share surveillance capabilities with neighbouring nations, ensuring a united approach against IUU fishing. “We will extend our enforcement capabilities to support our Pacific neighbours. As a leader in regional fisheries management, PNG is committed to ensuring that our ocean resources are properly accounted for and that Pacific nations benefit from our vast marine wealth,” the Prime Minister said. Prime Minister Marape also reaffirmed his government’s broader agenda of protecting national resources, extending beyond fisheries to include forestry and other extractive industries. Through state-led marketing strategies, PNG aims to ensure that timber and other natural resources are harvested responsibly, processed locally, and contribute directly to the national economy. “Just as we are securing our fisheries sector, we will also ensure transparency and accountability in forestry. Our resources must benefit our people first before they are exported,” he said. “The Government remains steadfast in its mission to protect PNG’s sovereignty, enforce sustainable resource management, and ensure that the country derives maximum benefit from our rich natural wealth.”