Member for Samarai-Murua Isi Henry Leonard is calling on other Papuan members of Parliament to step down and move-out from the Government and join the Opposition. He said the denial of the people of the Gulf Province on their allocated Business Development Grant is an example of the day light robbery and corruption that is so rampant in the Government today. The unilateral transfer of the Business Development Grant approved by Parliament from the people of Gulf to another Province is day light corruption and the denial of the Papuan people of the Gulf Province the right to develop their Province. “I’ve seen what has unfolded in terms of sharing the foundation wealth especially for the people of Gulf in terms of their business development grant, where the Government called a ‘Typo-Error’ and given that business development grant to Enga Provincial Government." "And I think this has now called for closed scrutiny of Government in terms of discretion of public funds that are been captured in the 2024 budget.” “As we all are aware, what’s been given to the Enga provincial government from the Gulf provincial government was actually captured in the 2024 National Budget Bill in Parliament and it was passed.” MP Leonard stated that, since that Bill was passed in Parliament, it is a law. “That grant is for the people of Gulf and nothing more.” After what transpired, he has called for all leaders to be mindful of the offices they hold and the interest they serve in that office that is meant for the people. “It is our people who will mandate us back, not the party." "It is based on our performance and how we represent the interest of our people that will mandate us back in 2027." "Let us not be blind and deaf and hear what the people are saying and make that decision well.” “I call on the Treasurer and the Government to honour and respect the dignity and commitment of the early Papuan pioneers, including the Puzzy- Wazzy angels of the Kokoda track." “The visions and expectations of the early Papuan political Leaders in the likes of Sir Albert Maori Kiki, Sir Ebia Olewale, Sir Ruben Taureka, Mr Paulus Arek and Mr Jacob Lemeki, for a united and prosperous Papua New Guinea, based on the ownership and equal distribution of the wealth of our national resources must respected.” He added the Treasurer and the Government is deviating from these core values and commitment of the past and present Papuan leaders and their people. In supporting the call by the Papuan people of the Gulf Province, he appealed to the remaining Papuan Leaders from Western, Gulf, Central, Milne Bay and Oro Provinces to leave the Government and joint the Opposition. “Our integrity is far more important than the packs and privileges in parliament." "This is what defines us as leaders." "So I’m calling on my brothers to protect their integrity and come out because once damaged, it’s irreparable.”

The Ministry of Education recently announced the launch of its Regional Public Consultations for the PNG Education Transformation Vision 2025-2075 (PNGETV 2075). These public meetings will provide a unique opportunity for stakeholders and community members to actively participate in shaping the future of education in their provinces and the country for the next 50 years. Over the next two months, the PNGETV 2075 will be hosting a series of regional consultations in multiple provinces, inviting educators, parents, students, community leaders, and other stakeholders to join in the discussions and share their valuable insights. These consultations aim to gather diverse perspectives and input from participants, ultimately informing the development of a comprehensive and inclusive vision for the transformation of education in PNG. Attendees will have a chance to engage in meaningful dialogue, voice their concerns, and contribute towards the creation of impactful policies and initiatives. The regional consultations will cover a wide range of topics, including curriculum development, teacher training, educational infrastructure, technology integration, and community engagement. Participants can expect interactive sessions, group discussions, and expert presentations that will foster a collaborative and inclusive environment for constructive dialogue and idea-sharing. Additionally, the PNGETV 2075 encourages all attendees to visit the official website at www.education.gov.pg for further information, updates, and resources related to the regional consultations. The website will feature details about the schedule, locations, and specific themes for each consultation. In a statement, the Minister for Education, Hon. Lucas Dekena MP, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming regional consultations, emphasizing the significance in shaping the future of education across the country. “The PNG Education Transformation Vision 2025 – 2075 (PNGETV2075) will propose a new direction and philosophy for education in the country that will shift education services delivery to meet the development needs and aspiration of the current 21st century, over the next 50 years.” “I encourage everyone to look out for these regional consultations and have your say in the type of education you want for PNG in the next 50 years.” The PNGETV 2075 is committed to cultivating a dynamic and inclusive educational ecosystem that reflects the aspirations and needs of all Papua New Guineans. The regional consultations are a vital step towards realizing this vision and ensuring that the education system evolves to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. To learn more about the consultations and how to participate, please visit www.education.gov.pg

Kina Bank customers residing in the Nation’s capital and Lae don’t need to waste time queuing up. The Kina Bank staff will conduct another Loan Drive this weekend in the 2 provinces on Saturday, 27th and Sunday, 28th July, to assist customers with their loan eligibility checks and loan applications. Kina Bank General Manager Branch Distribution, Judith Ugava Taunao said, “At Kina Bank, we prioritize understanding our customers’ needs and delivering exceptional service.” “Acknowledging that weekdays can be busy, we have introduced the Weekend Loan Drive, providing customers with a convenient time to visit our branches for their Motor Vehicle or Personal loan requirements.” She said the team would be available from 9 AM to 2 PM on both days at the Waigani, Cameron branch in Port Moresby, as well as the Lae Market branch. “We are pleased by the positive feedback from our customers and the growing demand for our loan products.” “Therefore, we are excited to be available this weekend to cater for our customers loan needs,” Taunao said. The Loan Drive is the second, following the first one that was held in Port Moresby in June. There are plans to have all Kina Bank branches offer this service to our customers over a weekend period. Kina Bank customers are asked to bring the following documents to check their eligibility for loan: 1. Employment Confirmation Letter 2. Superannuation statements 3. Pay slips for the past three fortnights 4. Statements or records of current loans, credit card balances, or other debt obligations 5. Two valid forms of ID (Passport, Driver’s License, National Identification Card). All ID documents must contain the customer’s official name and match the names on all other documents.

Rugby League in Papua New Guinea is described as the sport that unites the country. A giant step has been taken to strengthen that role with the launch of the Santos Cup. The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and Santos today announced the formation of the first ever National Women’s Rugby League Competition, to be known as the Santos Cup. The PNGRFL, in partnership with Santos, PacificAus Sports and Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited, will support the women’s competition which will see talented female players compete in a six-team competition across seven weeks. The competition will empower our female players, energise the sport and excite our fans. PNGRFL Chief Executive Officer Mr Stanley Hondina said, “This is a proud and historic day in the history of rugby league in this country.” “It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talent of our female players in a high-performance environment.” “It demonstrates the opening of our pathway to be more inclusive of females in the game.” “Creating a new competition wouldn’t be possible without the support of our wonderful partners.” “Santos is our long-term corporate friend and is deeply committed to the women's game.” “In this partnership, the business is extending its support of rugby league beyond the Santos PNG Orchids to become the naming rights sponsor of this inaugural competition, the Santos Cup.” “The commitment of PacificAus Sports to the growth of our women’s game in this country is unwavering.” “We should be so excited to use rugby league as the vehicle to empower our women in this country and to recognise their contribution to the sport.” Santos Country Chair - PNG, Mr Leon Buskens, said, “Equal opportunity for women continues to be a priority for us at Santos and we are extremely proud to be an ongoing sponsor of women’s rugby league in Papua New Guinea.” “The Santos Cup is further testament of our commitment towards empowering women and girls.” Through sports and rugby league, we are influencing mindsets and providing a great platform for our women and girls to achieve their dreams and to be heard and seen as a positive and powerful force in society. This was clearly demonstrated by the national women’s rugby league team, the Santos PNG Orchids, who finished just one game away from the last Rugby League World Cup in 2022. The Santos Cup, the first ever Women’s Rugby League Competition in PNG, will provide more opportunities for our women and girls to excel in the sport and beyond. This is a significant step forward for us as a country and at Santos, this goes to our values and building a better future for PNG.” The 2024 women’s competition will see the participation of the six franchises which are Central Dabaris, East New Britain Gurias, Goroka Lahanis, Lae Tigers, Mt. Hagen Eagles and the Port Moresby Vipers. The competition will kick off with all teams playing a triple header on Saturday the 3rd of August at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby with matches to be played in Goroka, Kokopo, Lae and Minj in the coming rounds. The Santos Cup will culminate on grand final day on the 15th of September 2024.

The International Rugby League has announced that Australia will host the most competitive and culturally rich IRL Rugby League World Cup in 2026, featuring Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair tournaments. RLWC2026, which has been awarded to the Australian Rugby League Commission by the IRL Board, will be contested by a total of 26 teams – comprising of ten men’s, eight women’s and eight wheelchair teams - in October and November 2026. The tournament will include matches in Papua New Guinea, and will showcase the cultures of the Pacific, where the majority of men’s and women’s teams hail from. Matches will be staged at first class rugby league venues in Australia and Papua New Guinea. The schedule is expected to include double-headers and triple-headers to give fans added value for ticket prices. With the IRL Board making the decision to reduce the number of men’s teams from 16 to 10, the 17th iteration of the Rugby League World Cup promises to be the most keenly contested yet. First held in France in 1954, the Rugby League World Cup is the second oldest sporting world cup after the FIFA World Cup and has followed a variety of formats, with the number of teams ranging from four to 10 in 2008, 14 in 2013 and 16 in 2017 and 2022. With Tonga’s emergence as a Pacific powerhouse in 2017, Samoa creating history by qualifying for the final of RLWC2021 at Old Trafford, Fiji having been semi-finalists in 2008, 2013 and 2017 and losing narrowly to New Zealand in the quarter-final of the last World Cup, and PNG being on the rise, the international game has never been more competitive. IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport and RLWC2026 promises to be the best and most competitive ever staged." “On behalf of the IRL Board, I would like to congratulate ARLC Chair Peter V’landys, the ARLC Board, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and his team on the quality of their bid and I have every confidence that they will deliver the best World Cup on record." “We have all been impressed by the ARLC’s ventures into Las Vegas, led by Peter and Andrew, and have no doubt that they will elevate the Rugby League World Cup to a new level." “Rugby League has never been stronger in Australia and the Pacific, with sold-out stadiums, record television ratings and much excitement about Pacific expansion." “The 2026 World Cup in Australia, with matches to played in Papua New Guinea, will see the rise of the game in the Pacific reach greater heights and ensure Rugby League is the No.1 sport in the region." “The condensed format at RLWC2026 will mean every single match is competitive, while the possibility of some games being played as double or triple headers represents great value for fans wanting to see the best rugby league talent on the planet." “The culture, diversity and competitiveness of the nations involved will capture the attention of global audiences and grow the game ever further.” Australia has a proud history of hosting successful World Cups in 2008 and 2017, which featured the women’s tournament being played alongside the men’s tournament for the first time. The Wheelchair World Cup was also played simultaneously with the Men’s and Women’s World Cups at RLWC2021 in England and generated huge interest due to the skill, speed and intensity of the game and players. The three tournaments will again be staged together in 2026 in a celebration of inclusion and culture that will cement rugby league’s position as the No.1 sport of the Pacific.

The United Nations in Papua New Guinea strongly condemns the recent brutal rapes and killings of women and children in the Angoram district of East Sepik province, calling on local authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay. At least 26 people were reportedly slaughtered in an outburst of violence following an alleged land dispute in the Sepik River villages of Tamara, Tambari, and Agrumara. Expressing deep shock and grief, United Nations Resident Coordinator Mr. Richard Howard said the latest atrocities were “a profound violation of human rights and dignity.” “This heinous crime is an affront to our shared humanity." “The brutalization of innocent villagers, especially the sexual violence against women and girls, is utterly unacceptable." The highest UN representative in the country said it was imperative that the perpetrators were held accountable, and justice was served for the victims and their families. The UNICEF Papua New Guinea Representative Angela Kearney said the drama was indicative of a disturbing trend of tribal violence aimed at the most vulnerable, particularly women and children. “What happened in East Sepik strikes at the heart of what we stand against— blatant disregard for life and dignity, particularly of the most defenseless among us,” Kearney said. The United Nations’ first priority is to ensure that survivors are protected from further harm and to provide comprehensive psychosocial support to mitigate the risk of lasting mental trauma. Resident Coordinator Mr. Richard Howard said the United Nations stands in solidarity with the affected communities and reinforced his call for swift action from law enforcement agencies to investigate, identify and charge the perpetrators. “We look forward to working with the Government of Papua New Guinea and other partners to ensure that the survivors receive the necessary support, such atrocities do not go unpunished, and underlying conditions in the affected communities are addressed so that these atrocities are prevented in the future."

With the announcement of several impact projects to be implemented in the Samarai- Murua district of Milne Bay Province, MP Isi Henry Leonard announced that one of them will be Alluvial and Hard Rock Mining. Blessed with an abundant of mineral resources, MP Leonard stated that they have registered a company under the name Eastern Star Mineral Resources that will work in partnership with a 100% nationally owned company, Wilhelm Holding Limited along with the landowners. This partnership through the District Development Authority’s (DDA) decision to have these mineralization opportunities to be owned and mined by the resource owners through benefit sharing arrangements, where they will own the license and mine the resources with investment partners providing technical, financial and marketing support. “The idea is that we engage with landowners. People who own the land and the resources and the district company will come and support them. If we give them the right machines and they mechanize Alluvial mining, the yield will be higher and gold recovery will be higher.” “And through our joint venture partners, the Dubai’s will give us support to engage with our people. Increase our yield, we process it, then we export our volume and I believe we can hit the mark. Then we can sell or trade the volume and the money will go back to the people.” “The Alluvial and hard rock mining potentials will exist on Misima, Sudest, Woodlark and Rossel Islands”. The nationally owned company will provide technical and operational support as well as funding and support through venture finance arrangements with foreign investment partners, where the mining operations will be based on Misima Island. The Board also noted that the District Economic Development Stimulus Strategy has the potential to create employment and alleviate poverty by developing the micro economy of the district through the mining project and two other projects ready for implementation. Therefore, the DDA Board approved to allocate a total of K8million to the Samarai Murua District Development Company, Kubwana Limited, to partner with investors to develop the district’s resource potentials in Eco Tourism and Carbon Trade, Fishing and Alluvial and Hard Rock Mining, as part of the Economic Development Stimulus Strategy. In order to facilitate the implementation of the Economic Development Stimulus Strategy and other services for the District, the Board noted the need to have an effective and sound mobility infrastructure, hence the Board approved funds, under the district infrastructure improvement program to rehabilitate basic infrastructure facilities at Misima, the District Capital. “This includes the airport re-grading and upgrade program,” said the MP.

Alternative Prime Minister Nominee and Member for Finschhafen Rainbo Paita is calling for an independent inquiry by ICAC and the Ombudsman Commission into the Government’s actions to transfer funds outside of the budgetary appropriation approved by the National Parliament. Mr Paita expressed serious concerns regarding the actions of the Prime Minister and the Treasurer following the alleged misappropriation of funds allocated to the people of Gulf Province. "In his statement, Governor Sir Chris Haiveta outlined how a Department of Treasury warrant (warrant 07.02 dated 8 July 2024) approved the release of K60 million to the Enga Provincial Government (EPG) was in direct contravention of the 2024 Appropriations Act." Mr Paita said that of the K60 million to be released, K20 million had in fact been appropriated to the Gulf Provincial Government. “Clearly, the K20 million of the K60 million approved for release to EPG rightly belongs to the people of Gulf Province and K30 million was part of the IDG funds budgeted for the people of Hela and Southern Highlands (PNG LNG)." “I am trying to understand why all of a sudden, EPG is more important than the rest of the country right now that, we have to cut and misapply funds allocated for other provinces to cater for expenditures." "This right after I hear in the previous week a K10 million from the Special Intervention Program (SIP) Funds under Department of National Planning was also paid to EPG – thus a total of K70 Million was paid to EPG." Alternate PM candidate added that the actions of the Prime Minister and the Treasurer amount to gross misappropriation of funds and abuse of the office. “The actions of the Prime Minister and the Treasurer are illegal." "Under law, it is an offence to misappropriate funds approved by Parliament in the National Budget." "To act outside of the law is both wrong and arrogant and reflects flagrant disregard to due legal process." Mr Paita said that this incident warrants a full investigation. Mr Paita further stated: “The Prime Minister has been asking State Agencies to investigate use of Funds in Department of Works, Department of Finance and Department of National Planning so now might be a good time to investigate the Department of Treasury especially how the warrants are being done and under whose instructions they are being done – the Treasurer or the Prime Minister?" “As the good Governor indicated in his statement, immediate action must be taken to stop funds that rightly belong to the people of Gulf Province from being redirected." "As Alternative Prime Minister, I am calling for a full investigation, not just in relation to this specific issue, but the actions of the Treasurer and the Prime Minister more generally to determine if there are other instances of misappropriation.” Meanwhile, via a WhatsApp Message, the Prime Minister stated that ‘there was an incorrect wording’. “Now it begs the question, ministerial warrants as we all know are the end product of a tedious process that starts with the warrant officers and up to the Secretary’s office, then to the Minister’s office through various checks and procedures." “Now are we saying Treasury is being run by incompetent people who cannot spell or by those who do not know PNG geography to send Gulf funds to EPG?" “Also, I’m curious to know, how many ‘incorrect wording’ warrants have been done so far and funds disbursed which we do not know yet.” “I also challenge the Government to release a list of all ministerial warrants that have taken place during the VONC period to ascertain whether the government has been using public funds to maintain its grip on power." Paita concluded by saying that these actions are simply desperate play for power at the expense of appropriated funds by Parliament through its leaders on the floor. “The Prime Minister needs to explain to the people of this country, why funds are being diverted at a time like this.”

Frustrated landowners of the Papua Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in Gulf Province are requesting that the government reallocate the K60 million allocated for Business Development Grants to Gulf LO’s. Dominic Evere, Chairman of MEPO Holdings Ltd. and Papua LNG announced that K120 million, of which K60 million was allocated for in the 2024 National Budget, would be granted as a Business Development Grant to the Gulf Papua LNG landowners. The K60 million, he claimed, was budgeted and accessible for the landowners of Papua LNG to engage in economic prospects. However, he added they were shocked to learn that the funds had just been transferred to the Enga Provincial Government. "In the last few days, we were surprised and shocked to learn that our Business Development Grants are now written to Enga Provincial Government." "Why did the Prime Minister in his wisdom direct his Treasurer to write a letter to his Secretary to make a warrant to release this money to Enga Provincial Government?" "Do the Prime Minister, the Secretary, and the Treasurer know the rules and laws that govern the finance management act and the rules and laws that govern the budgetary appropriation?"Mr Evere questioned. "When money is appropriated for a certain project, it has to go to that project, but this is a clear sign of misappropriation." Evere and other concerned landowners are now calling on the Prime Minister to return the money and stop the corruption. Some of their demands are as follows; 1. Prime Minister James Marape to return the K60million. 2. They are calling upon their leaders from Gulf to resign and leave the Pangu Pati. 3. Police Fraud squad and the Ombudsman Commission to arrest the Treasurer and his Secretary for signing the letter for the grants to be released. 4. The treasurer, and the secretary to be arrested for misappropriation. 5. For all Southern region and Papuan MPs from Western, Gulf, NCD, Central, Milne Bay and Oro provinces to do a mass resignation from the PANGU led government. "Our resources are being used yet, and we are not recognized." "Enough is enough. Put an end to all these misappropriations." "We want to tell the Prime Minister and Treasurer in no uncertain terms to return our funds that belongs to us."

The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), supported a five-day workshop on community-level sustainable land use planning in Lae from July 8-13. The workshop was led by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Forests for Certain: Forests for Life! (FORCERT) and was attended by representatives from national and provincial level government departments and NGOs. Participants shared best practices in sustainable land use planning, including integrating traditional knowledge, working within existing structures, and applying sustainable land-use approaches at the community level. The workshop was held as part of USAID’s ongoing partnership with the Department of Lands and Physical Planning (DLPP) to support implementation of PNG’s National Sustainable Land Use Policy (SLUP). USAID’s Country Representative Nino Nadiradze reaffirmed USAID’s support for sustainable land use in PNG. “This workshop will equip local communities with the knowledge and skills they need to manage their land sustainably and to promote conservation.” “USAID is proud to partner with DLPP to support the PNG National Sustainable Land Use Policy.” Participants discussed different tools and processes for land use management and shared best practices for supporting participatory land use planning processes at the community, ward, and district levels. FORCERT Manager Cosmas Makamet shared, “We are excited about the excellent collaboration between the Department of Lands and Physical Planning, USAID, and NGOs with experience in sustainable landscape planning at the community level.” “This collaboration will result in a practical and workable system of community SLUP best practices that can be used by local governments throughout the country.” USAID’s PNG Sustainable Landscapes (PNGSL) Program supports the Government of Papua New Guinea’s efforts to improve natural resource management and promote sustainable land use. PNGSL is implemented by Palladium.

Air Niugini’s PX100 cabin crew on the morning flight of Wednesday 17th July, acted swiftly to extinguish the smoke and fire from a damaged mobile phone battery belonging to a passenger and evacuated all 63 passengers. The Board and Management of Air Niugini are very grateful that there were no injuries from this incident. They commended the crew's actions. This shows the high standard of training and experience of our staff. Air Niugini CEO Gary Seddon said, “our cabin crew are first and foremost safety professionals.” “They are well trained to deal with situations such as a fire in the cabin.” “I am very proud of the crew of PX100.” “I am grateful that all passengers and crew are safe.” “The aircraft was evacuated in less than 60 seconds.” “The airport firefighting service came across the tarmac to attend to the situation.” “Senior cabin crew acted fast and skillfully handled the situation and got everyone off the plane. They did a great job.” Mr. Seddon also thanked the emergency services and members of the National Airport Corporation for their support. Airlines have policies for the carriage of lithium-ion batteries on aircraft. Air Niugini prohibits the carriage of lithium-ion batteries that are damaged. If passengers are unsure, they should immediately seek guidance from an airline ground staff or cabin crew.

Rugby League in PNG has received an enormous boost with the news that Digicel PNG, will televise the NRL Bid Academy Tournament on TVWAN 3 on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July. The tournament, which will take place in Goroka, will see the eyes of the PNG Rugby League world focused on the best school-based U19 males and U18 females in the country showcasing their skills. As part of this historic outcome for the sport, Digicel PNG will televise 16 of the 22 matches in the tournament. Coverage will begin at 9am on Saturday 20th, with eight male and female matches to be shown over the course of the day. On Sunday, Digicel PNG will broadcast several elimination matches, plus all male and female semifinals and finals. In addition, for those unable to access Digicel PNG, the whole tournament will be live streamed through the PNG NRL Bid Facebook page. This means that fans can watch all 22 male and female matches in the tournament. To access the live stream, click on the link below: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556877715213&mibextd=LQQJ4d The broadcasting of the tournament is a major stride forward for the sport in PNG and highlights the level of professionalism that the game is achieving. Fans will now be able to watch the most talented youngsters in the country compete in another major boost for the NRL Bid team as they look to create the structure to carry the sport to the next level. PNG NRL Bid Chief Executive, Andrew Hill, saw the enormous benefit that rugby league would receive through Digicel PNG’s decision to broadcast the tournament: “It is a major boost for our game in PNG when we are able to create a partnership with Digicel PNG that will allow the best young players in the country to showcase their talent to the fans of the game in this country.” “The NRL Bid Academy tournament shows how far we have come in relation to professionalism and player development, and that will be important as we look to become part of the NRL.” “The players taking part in the tournament are the future of the game in PNG and to be able to see them perform in front of a television audience is an enormous boost for our sport.” “I sincerely thank Digicel PNG for their support and look forward to everyone tuning in on the 20th and 21st to see the talent that exists at this level.”