Tasminnie ISIMELI

Meaningful board accountability on gender-based violence requires clear standards, measurable targets and deadlines, but corporate action alone cannot address the wider prevalence of GBV in communities.BSP Financial Group’s Group Chief Compliance Officer and Chair of its GBV Committee, Vandhna Narayan, made the remarks during a panel discussion at the Bel Isi PNG Leadership Forum.Narayan was responding to a question on what meaningful board accountability should look like when implementation gaps, cultural barriers or inconsistent management practices are identified.She said organisations need to hold people accountable by setting clear Key Performance Indicators, deadlines and standards that must be met.“That’s about holding people accountable, having KPIs in place, having deadlines, setting standards that need to be reached,” she said.But Narayan said corporate efforts must also be considered within the broader community where employees and customers live.She said businesses can implement measures for their staff and customers, but those efforts will have limitations if GBV continues to be widespread in communities.“As corporates, we do what we can do with our staff, with our customers. But all of our staff, all of our customers, are members of the community,” she said. Narayan, who is originally from Fiji and has lived in Papua New Guinea for more than six years, said the prevalence of GBV is a wider Pacific concern.She said cultural practices should not be used to excuse violence or prevent action to address it.She also challenged communities to place greater value on the safety and dignity of their people.“Unless and until we actually start to value our people, very often we use culture as an excuse,” Narayan said.She acknowledged the work of the Public Solicitor’s Office, the National GBV Secretariat and development partners in addressing GBV, while stressing that the private sector also has a role to play.However, she said reducing and eventually eliminating GBV requires change beyond workplaces and corporate policies.Her comments highlighted the need for accountability inside organisations to be matched by broader community action, particularly in addressing attitudes and practices that allow violence to continue.

Turning Papua New Guinea’s commitments on gender-based violence and family sexual violence into practical services will require stronger access to justice, better referral systems and coordinated action at provincial and district levels.That was the message from Public Solicitor Leslie Mamu and Executive Director of the National Gender-Based Violence Secretariat, Dianne Kambanei, during a panel discussion at the Bel Isi PNG Leadership Forum this week in Port Moresby.The discussion focused on what it means to move GBV and FSV policies from commitment to action, particularly for survivors seeking help outside major urban centres.Mr. Mamu said the Public Solicitor’s Office has a constitutional mandate to provide legal aid, with its primary responsibility focused on criminal law.However, he said the Constitution also allows the office to assist with civil matters where resources permit, including cases involving GBV and family sexual violence.The office has a dedicated family section with three lawyers assisting people seeking restraining orders and Interim Protection Orders.“When it comes to moving the ink into practical terms, we can attend as far as our mandate is concerned,” Mr. Mamu said.He said one of the key challenges is ensuring survivors can obtain protection orders quickly, including those living in rural areas where the Public Solicitor’s Office may not have a physical presence.The office has therefore expanded its work to train referral partners, including those working along the referral pathway, on how to assist survivors with applications.Mr. Mamu said this includes training on applications for Interim Protection Orders and forms used to seek permanent restraining orders through the National Court.He said the approach is particularly important in cases where perpetrators do not comply with protection orders issued by district court magistrates.Mr. Mamu said a practice direction issued to Public Solicitor lawyers in 2024 allows them to identify serious cases where intervention through the National Court is necessary.He said the office is also working to ensure referral partners in rural areas can help survivors access the legal process without having to travel to locations where Public Solicitor services are available.Meanwhile, Ms. Kambanei said implementation of the new National GBV Strategy requires all levels of government and other partners to work together.She said the strategy, launched by the Prime Minister and a Governor on March 10 this year, is designed to ensure survivors at district level can access services.The strategy has an annual projected cost of K180 million, with 60 percent expected from government, 30 percent from donors and 10 percent from the private sector, according to Ms. Kambanei.She said implementation is being linked to provincial planning, with the National GBV Secretariat working with provincial governments to ensure GBV activities are included in their plans and supported through funding.Ms. Kambanei said 18 provincial governments were brought together last year for combined work planning, while the Secretariat is preparing to work with all 22 provinces.She said the Secretariat’s national surveys, which involved more than 5,000 people across 13 provinces, also highlighted the importance of strengthening services at the local level.According to Ms. Kambanei, people surveyed identified churches and health workers as institutions they trusted within their communities, while also saying they were often unsure where to seek GBV services.She said the strategy has five pillars, covering transformative governance, survivor-centred services, prevention and youth engagement, justice and rehabilitation, and other justice-related measures.Access to safe houses remains a major concern, with Ms. Kambanei saying there are currently 51 safe houses across 17 provinces, leaving some provinces without such services.She also highlighted the need for stronger prevention programs, particularly targeting young people and behavioural change.Ms. Kambanei said the justice system also faces challenges, including low completion rates for GBV cases and gaps in access to free legal services.She said the Secretariat has proposed a dedicated GBV track within the justice system, similar to existing specialised court tracks, to increase capacity to deal with GBV cases.For both panelists, moving policy into action means ensuring the systems outlined in national strategies and legislation reach survivors at community level.That includes legal assistance, protection orders, referral pathways, safe houses, provincial funding, prevention programs and stronger coordination between government, communities, churches, private sector and civil society.Ms. Kambanei said sustained cooperation across those levels would be necessary to achieve long-term change in GBV outcomes.

Defending champions 1134 Igam Crocs have opened their 2026 Commander’s Cup campaign with a convincing 47–10 win over Goldie Warriors.The Crocs showed their experience and composure in their first match of the tournament but the captain, Corporal Butler Lokora, says the team still has areas to improve as they prepare for their next outing.Lokora says the squad will use the coming days to work on mistakes identified from their opening match.“We have some little areas to work on. Maybe later on, tomorrow and onwards, we're going to polish up on some of our areas, some of the mistakes we need to polish up and get ready for the next game,” he said.While the Crocs are pleased with the opening result, Lokora says the defending champions are not taking their next opponents lightly.The captain says the team is looking forward to their next challenge and will use the time between matches to prepare.The Crocs have also brought back some of the players from their previous championship-winning side, while introducing a number of new faces to strengthen the squad.Lokora says the combination of experienced players and newcomers has given the team confidence heading into the tournament.“We have some of our old players back from 2023 when we won the championship, and we are still defending this cup. We have a few new boys coming up and they are really boosting this team,” he said.He says the players have built confidence in one another and are determined to make another strong push for the title.The Crocs are also adapting to the change from rugby 10s to 15s, with Lokora explaining that the transition provides an opportunity to select more players to represent the team.With two more games expected in the coming weeks, Lokora says the Crocs know there is still plenty of work ahead.“We have more games coming up in two weeks' time, so we have to humble ourselves and defend this cup, and win it with a lot of the boys,” he said.Lokora also thanked the Crocs supporters for continuing to stand behind the team, particularly those who have travelled to support the defending champions.For the Crocs, the opening win provides an early boost, but the focus now turns to correcting their mistakes and preparing for the next stage of their title defence.

Bel Isi is calling on leaders and organisations across Papua New Guinea (PNG) to move beyond commitments and take practical action to address family and sexual violence.Speaking at the 2026 Bel Isi 7th Leadership Forum in Port Moresby, Bel Isi Chair Doreen Iga said lasting change requires strong partnerships between government, the private sector, civil society, development partners and communities.The forum was held on September 21, the United Nations International Day of Peace, under the 2026 theme “Investing in Peace for Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday.”Ms. Iga said peace must be more than the absence of violence, with people needing to feel safe at home and in the workplace and know where to seek help when they face unsafe situations.She said Bel Isi was established on the understanding that no single organisation can address family and sexual violence alone.“Through partnership we work to improve access to support services, strengthen workplace responses, raise awareness and help change attitudes towards family and sexual violence,” Ms Iga said.She said the leadership forum was intended to provide more than awareness, bringing leaders together to strengthen partnerships and discuss how existing commitments can be translated into meaningful action.Ms. Iga identified three areas of leadership needed to drive change — leadership through example, partnership and action.She said leaders must create environments where respect is demonstrated through their actions and decisions, while harmful behaviour is challenged, and people seeking support can do so without fear, shame or judgement.She also stressed that policies and statements of support must be backed by practical measures.“Good intentions alone are not enough. We must move beyond statements of support and ensure that policies are translated into practical actions,” she said.Ms. Iga said this includes investing in people, strengthening systems, establishing trusted pathways for support, and ensuring accountability for commitments made.She said family and sexual violence continues to affect individuals, families and communities, as well as workplaces, staff wellbeing and organisational performance.The forum's theme was “Beyond the Ink: Moving Gender-Based Violence and Family Sexual Violence Policy from Commitment to Action.”Ms. Iga said the national strategy on preventing and responding to gender-based violence provides a clear direction for stronger coordination across government, civil society, the private sector, development partners and communities.She called on women and men to play their part in creating safer homes, workplaces and communities.“Our compassion, our courage, our commitment brings hope and meaning to so many, and your work is peace in action,” Ms. Iga said, acknowledging frontline workers, advocates and service providers supporting survivors.She said the forum should strengthen existing partnerships and encourage continued collaboration to create safer communities across Papua New Guinea.

Peace in Papua New Guinea must go beyond the absence of conflict and be reflected in the everyday safety and dignity of women, children and families.That was the message from UNICEF Papua New Guinea Representative Dr Veera Mendonca, speaking at the Bel Isi PNG Leadership Forum to mark the International Day of Peace.Dr Mendonca said peace should be experienced by women who are safe in their homes, children who can learn safely, and employees who can speak up about violence or concerns without fear of stigma or retaliation.She pointed to national data showing that more than 58 percent of ever-partnered women in Papua New Guinea have experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner.“Behind every statistic is a person, and so very often a family whose safety, dignity and futures have been diminished,” Dr Mendonca said.She said children also carry the consequences of violence, with an estimated four in five children in PNG experiencing some form of violence during childhood.According to Dr Mendonca, violence can disrupt children's education, damage their health, and increase the risk of violence being passed on to the next generation.She also highlighted the economic impact of family and sexual violence, saying research involving private-sector companies in PNG found that violence costs almost 10 working days per employee each year.Dr Mendonca said PNG already has important commitments and legal frameworks, including the Family Protection Act and national strategies, but stressed that policies must translate into services people can actually access.“For me, as I travel across provinces, what I hear is policies have very little meaning for people, for survivors, especially in a remote district, if they cannot access healthcare, if they cannot have police protection, safe accommodation or a functioning referral pathway,” she said.She pointed to partnerships between government, businesses and civil society as an example of how policy can be turned into practical support for survivors.She said participating companies had recorded an average reduction of 1.4 days of work lost per employee, demonstrating that action to address violence can produce measurable results.Dr Mendonca said the United Nations is also working with government and communities through peacebuilding initiatives in the Highlands and other parts of the country to prevent violence, address drivers of conflict and strengthen local capacity.She said the lessons from Bougainville, the Highlands and Port Moresby are similar.“Peace must be built deliberately, together,” she said.Dr Mendonca said peace should ultimately begin in safe homes and workplaces and be sustained by institutions that deliver services and protection.“Peace does not begin at the negotiating table. It begins in a safe home, a safe workplace, but what it is sustained by institutions that deliver,” she said.

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force is looking to use the Commander’s Cup rugby tournament as more than just a competition, with plans to rebuild sporting pathways for soldiers and potentially produce future national representatives.PNGDF Commander Rear Admiral Philip Polewara says the tournament provides an important opportunity for personnel to come together after spending long periods deployed across the country and overseas.He says sport is helping strengthen the bond within the force while also supporting the wellbeing of soldiers.“We've come through a very hard time. We've been deployed throughout the country for operations overseas, and we didn't look back at our wellbeing,” Rear Admiral Polewara said.“These are some of the opportunities that present to us to come together as a force. It's not only just a game, but it's bonding, bringing the force together.”Rear Admiral Polewara says the PNGDF has a long history of producing athletes who have represented the country, and he wants to see that tradition restored.He recalled former Defence personnel who became national sporting icons, including rugby union players and track and field athletes.He says the current generation of soldiers could also have the potential to represent PNG at the national level if given the opportunity.“Can my men and women make some of these our legends again? Not only for the Defence Force, but on the national team, represent our country,” he said.The Commander says the Defence Force has some of the fittest personnel in the country, but their operational responsibilities often limit their involvement in competitive sport.He says the PNGDF is now looking at establishing a permanent 15-a-side rugby union team as well as a rugby sevens team following the Commander’s Cup.The teams would compete in domestic competitions while also preparing for regional Defence sporting events, including competitions involving Pacific Defence forces.Rear Admiral Polewara says the sporting programme can also contribute to strengthening PNG's international and bilateral relations.“We have to prepare for both sides, because we have to increase our bilateral relations,” he said.Meanwhile, he says the Commander’s Cup has also demonstrated the importance of teamwork and leadership, values that directly apply to military operations.He says success on the field depends on every individual understanding their responsibility, supporting their teammates, and following the coach's plan.Rear Admiral Polewara also stressed that discipline starts with individual responsibility.“It's not only like not to dress properly. These are some of the things that make them individually. They can take it as their own individual responsibility to look after themselves and discipline themselves,” he said.He says self-leadership is the foundation for leading others, teams, and organisations.The Commander has also praised the tournament's organisation and the support provided by rugby officials, including referees who are not PNGDF personnel.With the defending champions, 1134 Igam Crocs, among the teams competing, Rear Admiral Polewara says he will not single out a team to win the tournament.“As the Commander of the Defence Force, all teams are mine,” he said.He says the priority is for the tournament to run smoothly, with teams accepting the result and respecting the rules once a winner is decided.“When it comes to the tournament winners, it's everybody. Everybody won,” Rear Admiral Polewara said.He says the Commander’s Cup should ultimately leave the PNGDF stronger, more united, and with a renewed pathway for soldiers with sporting ability to represent the Defence Force and potentially the country.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has been urged to remain united and proud of its identity as the country marks 51 years of independence.Speaking during the Independence celebrations, the Governor of the National Capital District (NCD) said PNG’s diversity remains one of its greatest strengths, despite the challenges faced over the past 51 years.He said the country’s thousands of tribes, languages, cultures and traditions have not prevented its people from coming together as one nation.“Despite all our diversity, plenty culture, thousands of them, plenty languages, plenty custom, plenty tradition too, we can still come together and be one nation, one people, one country,” he said.The Governor said Papua New Guineans should recognise the journey the country has taken since independence and celebrate its achievements while acknowledging the work still to be done.He said economic, political, security, infrastructure, employment, health and education challenges remain, but these should not be used to undermine the country’s progress.The Governor encouraged Papua New Guineans to have faith in their country, appreciate its uniqueness and recognise that cultural diversity is not a barrier to national unity.He said the ability of people from different provinces and cultural backgrounds to sing, dance and celebrate together demonstrates the strong national identity that has developed over the past 51 years.“Today our diversity is not a barrier. It is our strength,” he said.The Governor said Papua New Guinea should now look ahead to the next 50 years and work towards improving the quality of life for its people.He also encouraged citizens to take collective responsibility for addressing the challenges facing the country and to support one another.The Independence celebrations brought together thousands of people across the country, with communities, students, artists and cultural groups joining in celebrations under the national colours of red, black and gold.

Chief of Defence Force Rear Admiral Philip Polewara has called for the establishment of permanent Papua New Guinea Defence Force rugby union teams as part of efforts to improve fitness and restore the force’s sporting reputation.Speaking at the PNGDF rugby tournament, Rear Admiral Philip Polewara said the Defence Force had historically dominated athletics, rugby league and rugby union, but that was no longer the case.He has directed the Defence Force leadership to establish standing 15-a-side and sevens rugby union teams, including a women’s team.“After this tournament, Deputy Commander, I want to see the seven (7) rugby union Defence team standing. Rugby union Defence, 15 men’s team standing and women’s too,” he said.Rear Admiral Polewara said maintaining permanent teams would also require Defence personnel to remain physically fit throughout the year, rather than only training when tournaments were approaching.He said declining participation in sport was contributing to poor fitness among personnel and highlighted the need for members to take greater responsibility for their physical wellbeing.“You have to keep yourself fit. I don’t control your fitness. I don’t control the tracks. I don’t control the ropes. They are within your control. Find time,” he said.He also challenged commanding officers to ensure both male and female personnel remained fit and ready to represent the Defence Force when called upon.Major General Polewara said the Defence Force should also aim to produce athletes capable of representing PNG at the highest level, including the national men’s and women’s rugby teams.“I want to see after this game going forward, some of our members to be in the Kumuls, some of our members to be in the Kukus, and that is the highest we can go,” he said.He said the same approach was being applied to military training, pointing to recent paratrooper training where 11 of 20 personnel successfully qualified, with another group expected to undertake training in November.Major General Polewara said Defence personnel were highly educated and capable of competing with human resources around the world.“So, let’s show the world we are no longer in the caves. We are out there with the rest of the world moving forward,” he said.He also reminded teams that while competition and rivalry were important on the field, personnel remained part of one Defence Force once the game ended.“Whatever happens on the field, I leave it to the teams and the COs. I’m referring to the rivalry on the field. Leave it on the field. Once you come out, we are one Defence Force,” he said.Major General Polewara thanked the tournament sponsors for supporting the event, particularly during difficult economic times.He also acknowledged the service of Defence personnel during the Black Wednesday events in Port Moresby, saying the support from businesses was one way companies were recognising the role of soldiers in protecting businesses and communities during the unrest.He urged players to compete safely, work together and uphold the Defence Force’s leadership values.“If you play individually, I doubt it. It is a team effort. But play safe and all the best, everyone, and God bless you,” he said.

Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited has declared a K48.2 million annual cash dividend to Kumul Consolidated Holdings, following strong performance in its 2024 financial year.The MVIL Board declared a dividend of K1.44 per share, amounting to K48,267,459.36, at its meeting on September 2, 2026.The dividend is being paid to KCH, MVIL's shareholder, in line with the shareholder dividend policy and the company's achievement of its performance targets.MVIL Chairman Dr John McKup said the dividend reflects the company's strong financial position and continued performance across its business operations.“Our investment portfolio and our core third-party motor vehicle insurance business continues to perform strongly,” Dr McKup said.He said this has been achieved through “prudent underwriting discipline, claims management and sound financial stewardship.”Dr McKup said the K48.2 million dividend reflects both MVIL's strong capital position and its commitment to providing sustainable returns to the State.“This $48.2 million dividend reflects two things. One is MVIL's solid capital position. And second, our commitment to delivering sustainable returns to the shareholder while maintaining the financial strength required to meet our obligations to every third-party policyholder across Papua New Guinea,” he said.The dividend is based on 50 percent of MVIL's Net Operating Profit After Tax for the 2024 financial year, excluding revaluation gains.Dr McKup said the dividend was also supported by a solvency assessment conducted by Deloitte. He said MVIL's financial performance demonstrates the importance of maintaining strong internal controls and responsible financial management.“This result is built on discipline, basically,” Dr McKup said.The latest payment brings MVIL's dividends to KCH over the past three years to K128.038 million. MVIL paid K36.839 million in dividends in 2022 and K42.931 million in 2023.Dr McKup said the company's continued dividend payments demonstrate the board's focus on profitability, good governance and creating long-term value for the State.“The fact that MVIL has paid dividends for many consecutive years is a testament to the board's focus, consistent profitability, good governance and long-term value creation for the State,” he said.He said MVIL's mandate remains focused on protecting motorists through compulsory third-party insurance while maintaining its financial capacity to meet policyholder obligations.“Our mandate is clear and that is to provide protection to motorists and ensure regulatory compliance with the Insurance Commissioner and ICCC and deliver quality services to the people of Papua New Guinea,” Dr McKup said.KCH Managing Director Professor David Kavanamur said MVIL has demonstrated strong financial discipline through its consistent dividend payments to the State.He said KCH has strengthened the process around dividend payments, including requiring state-owned enterprises to hold Annual General Meetings, declare dividends and complete solvency assessments and audited accounts before payments are made.Professor Kavanamur thanked MVIL's board and management for maintaining the company's dividend record.The K48.2 million cheque was presented by Dr McKup to Professor Kavanamur in Port Moresby in the presence of State-Owned Enterprises Minister William Duma.The dividend is scheduled to be paid to KCH on September 15, 2026.

For Murray Oa, supporting the Force Support Battalion (FSB) Tigers in this year’s PNG Defence Force Commander’s Cup is about more than putting a company name on a rugby jersey.It is personal.Oa, the Managing Director of Zero Alpha Group and a former PNG Defence Force officer, knows what the Commander’s Cup means to servicemen. He played in the competition during his time in the PNGDF before later moving into coaching.His connection with military rugby continued in 2019 when he was part of the coaching staff of a PNGDF select team that competed at the Defence Force International Rugby competition in Tokyo, Japan.So, when the FSB Tigers approached Zero Alpha Group for support ahead of this year’s Commander’s Cup, Oa said it was an easy decision.“When FSB approached Zero Alpha Group for assistance, I did not hesitate to support the team,” he said.Oa then reached out to BeSelect Transport Managing Director Victor Aisa, who also has longstanding connections with members of the PNGDF, and invited him to come on board as a sponsor.Together, Zero Alpha Group and BeSelect Transport are backing the Tigers as they prepare for the 2026 Commander’s Cup, which runs from September 15 to 28.For Oa, the sponsorship is a way of giving back to an institution and a competition that played an important part in his own life.“It is about supporting our servicemen, promoting teamwork and discipline, and contributing to a competition that has a proud tradition within the PNG Defence Force,” he said.The FSB Tigers will have some experienced players in their ranks, including PNG Pukpuks representatives Limbert Suang and Baba Noga.Oa believes their experience at the representative level will be important, particularly in helping guide some of the younger players in the squad.But he also pointed to the people working behind the scenes, the coaches, team management and support staff, whose efforts often go unnoticed once the players take the field.He said he hopes the Tigers will play with confidence, discipline and professionalism while showing the fighting spirit expected of a PNGDF team.The Tigers will face strong competition as they chase the Commander’s Cup from defending champions IGAM 1134 CROCS.For Oa, however, winning is only part of the bigger picture.The Commander’s Cup gives PNGDF units an opportunity to come together, build friendships and strengthen the sense of camaraderie that exists within the Force.“It is more than a rugby competition,” Oa said.“It strengthens camaraderie between PNGDF units and provides an opportunity for servicemen to showcase their sporting talent while building teamwork and esprit de corps.”As the Tigers take the field, their sponsors will be hoping to see them make a strong run towards the finals.But whatever the final result, Oa wants the players to walk away knowing they represented the Force Support Battalion with pride.For a former serviceman who once played in the same competition, backing the Tigers is ultimately about helping the next generation of PNGDF rugby players have their own chance to compete, grow and make their mark.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop is urging Papua New Guineans to do more to protect the country’s rich biodiversity as PNG enters its 51st year of independence.Parkop made the call while officially opening the 2026 National Orchid and Flower Show, saying the event provides an opportunity to appreciate not only the country’s orchids and flowers but its wider natural heritage. He said Papua New Guinea’s rainforests, lowlands, swamps, islands and atolls have sustained generations of people for thousands of years.According to Parkop, these natural environments are part of a proven system that has supported communities for generations and must now be protected for the future and that the responsibility is not only to respect PNG’s heritage but to ensure its natural resources are maintained and passed on to the next generation.“We need to value and protect and maintain” the natural environment, Parkop said.Parkop described PNG’s biodiversity as a national treasure inherited from the country’s ancestors.Stating more that the current generation has a responsibility to protect that inheritance while recognising its importance to the rest of the world.The Governor aso added tha the National Orchid and Flower Show helps remind Papua New Guineans of the natural beauty that makes the country unique.He said the country’s 51st Independence anniversary should also be a time for reflection and a challenge to do better in the years ahead.Parkop said PNG has an opportunity to build on its achievements over the past 50 years and address the challenges that have held the country back. He further encouraged Papua New Guineans to appreciate the country’s culture, arts, flora and fauna as part of its national identity.He also linked the need for greater environmental protection to the country’s future, saying natural resources must be preserved so that future generations can continue to benefit from them.Parkop said the celebration of independence should therefore go beyond culture and entertainment and include greater appreciation of the natural environment that has sustained Papua New Guineans for generations.He urged the public to support conservation and appreciate the orchids, flowers, artwork and other cultural displays featured at the National Orchid and Flower Show.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop has challenged the PNG Orchid Society to take Papua New Guinea’s orchid and flower industry to the international stage. Speaking at the opening of the 2026 National Orchid and Flower Show, Parkop said the annual event has reached a higher standard and should now be taken beyond Papua New Guinea. He called on the PNG Orchid Society to explore partnerships with tourism organisations and international stakeholders to showcase the country’s orchids, flora, fauna and biodiversity to the world. Parkop suggested taking the show to countries including Singapore, Thailand, Japan and the United States. He said international exposure would not only promote PNG’s natural beauty but could also help generate greater support for protecting the country’s natural resources. “Let’s bring the beauty of Papua New Guinea to the rest of the world,” Parkop said. He said Papua New Guinea’s rainforests, orchids, flowers and diverse wildlife are valuable resources that have been passed down through generations. Parkop said while these resources belong to Papua New Guinea, they also have importance for the wider world. He urged the Orchid Society and other stakeholders to build on the success of the annual show and look at new ways of promoting the country’s natural heritage. Parkop also acknowledged Foreign Affairs Minister and PNG Orchid Society President Justin Tkatchenko for his continued commitment to promoting PNG’s orchids, flora and fauna, highlighting Tkatchenko’s passion for the sector still continues despite his political responsibilities. Parkop said greater international promotion of PNG’s natural environment could also contribute to conservation efforts by increasing awareness of the country’s unique biodiversity. He encouraged visitors to support the exhibitors by purchasing orchids, artwork and other products displayed at the show. Parkop officially declared the 2026 National Orchid and Flower Show opened.