Work has begun on the new Australian-funded K100 million police housing project in the country, starting first in the National Capital District and Western Highlands Province, following separate ground breaking ceremonies at Gordons Barracks in Port Moresby on Thursday, May 10th, and at Kimininga Barracks in Mt. Hagen on Monday, May 6th. Police Commissioner David Manning, on both occasions, said the new housing project, funded by an Australian investment of $37 million, is vital for rebuilding efforts of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC). He said the Constabulary is growing at a fast rate, anticipated to reach over 10, 000 personnel in the coming years, thus, police must have the support that they need to do their jobs, and this requires having a “safe and functional place to live”. "The priority is to increase the available accommodation for graduating recruits and to move out of housing that has fallen into disrepair, which can then be refurbished.” “Work on the Gordons and Kimininga Barracks sites is to begin immediately,” Commissioner Manning said on Thursday, with the groundbreaking at Gordons being officiated by Internal Security Minister, Peter Tsiamalili Junior. The two sites are the first of other priority sites identified under Phase One of the police housing project across the country valued around K100 million, which will provide hundreds of single and married quarters to support the growing police numbers around the country. "An effective police force requires taking care of our police men and women in their daily lives, especially when it comes to having a safe and functional place to live.” The new buildings have been designed according to PNG requirements in areas around the country, funded under the PNG-Australia Bilateral Agreement. "Phase One will construct new housing in NCD, East New Britain, and Western Highlands, providing barracks for more than 260 male and female police, and duplex married quarters for 120 people, by 2025.” “The RPNGC Police housing program then expands over four years to other provinces including West New Britain, New Ireland, Milne Bay, Hela, Enga, Madang, and Morobe.” "Annual RPNGC budgets will fund additional housing and refurbishments in all other provinces, including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.” The Australian investment in the program is valued at 37 million Australian dollars, around K100 million.

Finalists for the prestigious SP Sports Awards (SPSA) for 2024 have been announced today (Thursday, May 9) in Port Moresby, and veteran female heavy-weight lifter, and Olympian, Dika Toua stands among those final 33. Toua, the 49kg athlete, who in April had narrowly missed qualifying for a spot in the Paris Olympics, dashing hopes for a sixth Olympic appearance, is one of the three named finalists for the Female Athlete of the Year award. Alongside is tennis star, Abigail Tere-Apisah which a colourful tennis career, and Rachel Laing, the inspirational 62-year athletics sprinter, who is currently preparing for the World Masters Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden later this year. Laing started sprinting at 57 and is PNG’s first and only Masters Athlete, who believes that age should not hold you back. In making the announcement today, Chairman of the SPSA Selection Panel, Warwick Vele said there has been a significant jump in the number and quality of nominations. “It was very pleasing…a good mix of online and paper-based nominations.” “There were a couple of categories where we would have liked to see more nominations, especially with our junior athletes, so we would like to encourage federations to continue highlighting their juniors coming through.” Rising tennis star siblings, Sugar-Ray Hakena (U-16) and younger sister, Colita Hakena, PNG’s top-ranked Under-14 girls’ tennis player, are finalists in the Cocoa-Cola Europacific Partners PNG Junior Male and Female Athletes of the Year respectively. The other junior male athletes of the year are basketballers, Adam Maikai and Noah Yangomina, while the other two junior female athletes of the year finalists are Bede Dorothy Igo (weightlifting) and Timonaliz Alarcos Kriebisch (squash). “We took great delight in seeing what’s happening in our communities around the country, and giving opportunities for recognition to those participants and programs that don’t always get the high level of exposure that our more recognized sports do.” This includes the Community Sports Initiative finalists comprising the National Kickboxing Federation, Cecilla Kanawi for her Break A Sweat (fitness & Nutrition Club), and Timothy Mako. Finalists in the Trukai Industries Limited Sports Official of the Year are Mark Keto (boxing), Frederica Sakatte (football), Nelson Stone (multi-sport) and Trukai Limited Sports Media of the Year finalists are NBC Sports Desk, Jamie Haro and Patricia Keamo. Jamie Haro, a sports journalist from The National Newspaper, was one of four recipients of the Women in News and Sports (Wins) initiative under the Australia Broadcasting Corporation’s International Development Unit (ABCID) in 2023 during the FIBA U17 Oceania Championship, receiving sports commentary training. She has also been named a finalist in the Sports Photo category, along with Patricia Keamo and Kora Mea. Chairman of the SPSA Selection Panel, Warwick Vele said the Sports Photo category is one of those that do not always get the high level of exposure that more recognised sports do. Vele also said the achievements of our Para-athletes were of a very high standard, competing in regional and global meets and this is a great platform to acknowledge their achievements and successes. Para-Athlete of the Year finalists, sponsored by CPL, are Haoda Agari (table tennis), Martha Awong (badminton), and Samantha Maiasa (athletics). For Team of the Year, it's no surprise that PNG Barramundis has been named a finalist, as the PNG cricket boys just keep going from strength to strength on the cricket scene. The Baras, captained by Assad Vala, head off next week to the West Indies for their second appearance in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup with their first game on June 2 against hosts, West Indies. Other finalists in this category, sponsored by Carbine Club, are PNG Amoa (volleyball) and PNG Lakatois (football). Rugby Union 7s has locked all the finalist spots for the Brands Pacific’s National Performance of the Year category, which includes Morobe Hammerheads, Kimbe Pirates, and Biala Suaras. Mr Vele further said the announcement of the finalists also marks the opening of the People’s Choice voting for the 12th category of the People’s Choice Award. “The winner of the People’s Choice Award is selected through a public vote… (and)…the more votes a finalist gets, the more chances of them winning.” Candidates for this category come from four finalists from the Male & Female Athlete, Team, and National Performance of the Year categories. “Voting for the People’s Choice Award category will close on 19th May 2024… (and) …the Presentation Night will be held at the home of the SP Sports Awards, Crown Hotel on Saturday 01st June 2024.”

Three judges, with substantive appointments to the National and Supreme Court benches in the PNG Judiciary, along with the new acting Solicitor-General E’ava Geita were sworn into office today before the Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae at Government House in Port Moresby. The three judges – two females and one male - are from a group of five judges recently appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC). They are expatriate judges, Justices Karen Carmody and Stephen Patrick Coates who have a three-year term on the bench, and a national who was formerly a magistrate, and recently been an acting National and Supreme Court judge, Justice Laura Wawun-Kuvi. JLSC Chairman, Pila Niningi, who is also Minister for Justice, and the Attorney-General, witnessed the swearing-in ceremony, alongside Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi, several other senior judges, the Chief Magistrate, and other members of the legal fraternity. Minister Niningi, when congratulating the three judges and the senior State Law Officer, said the JLSC had recently appointed five judges when the JLSC met at Walume in Imbonggu of Southern Highlands. Minister Niningi is the local MP for Imbonggu, and Walume houses the district office, where a court facility was opened in the last two years. At today’s event, Minister Niningi thanked the JLSC for the appointments, and subsequent swearing-in that took place. “On behalf of the people of Papua New Guinea, I thank the members of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, namely; Sir Gibbs Salika, Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea, Justice Kandakasi - Deputy Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea, Mr. Richard Pagen- Chief Ombudsman for the appointments and subsequent swearing-in of ix (6) important, qualified and experienced persons as Judges to the Bench and a senior lawyer as a State Law Officer, respectively.” “The five recently appointed Judges comprise four expatriate judges from the Australian Federal High Court and are appointed for a term of three years, and one national Judge appointed for a term of 10 years pursuant to the Organic Law on the Terms and Conditions of Employment of Judges and the National Court (Number of Judges, Amendment) Act 2023.” “Although there were 5 Judges appointed, only 3 Judges are sworn-in today.” “Additionally, Mr. E'ava Geita, a senior lawyer from the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, was also recently appointed due to a vacancy in the Office of the Solicitor-General and now sworn in as the Acting Solicitor-General pursuant to the Attorney-Genera/ Act 1979 (as amended) for such a period of time until a substantive appointment is made.” “The acting Solicitor-General is over-qualified and has served in various capacities, from litigation to administration and all other sectors.” “JLSC is satisfied with the appointment and congratulates the Acting Solicitor-General for taking up this position as the number one litigation officer and possesses the necessary qualification and experience.” “By virtue of my office, I would like to congratulate and thank all appointees for your availability to serve in the Judiciary and State Law Office, respectively.” “To commemorate the recent appointments made, it is fitting that all persons responsible for making these appointments are present today to witness the formalities of the official swearing-in ceremony.” “I also take this time to thank the Chief Justice and members of the Judiciary for their foresight in negotiating the process of appointment, considering that their judicial time is very valuable, for interested sought and Federal Courts Australian applicants from the recommendation to be considered for appointment of the 4 Judges.” “I would like to thank the Marape-Rosso Government for the confidence and support provided through funding and resourcing for the Judiciary, Magisterial Services and State Law Offices in the dispensation of justice.” “In doing so, it is deemed as an assurance to the people of Papua New Guinea that the three arms of Government are working together and are serious about your right to efficient access to justice and this is one such initiative.”