Mahlon WINSTON

Buria Reds of Lealea village have cemented their place as the undisputed Motu-Koita Rugby League champions, winning their third consecutive title with a 28–18 victory over RHP Cowboys of Koukou village at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium yesterday.Despite facing a much larger Cowboys forward pack, the Reds’ smaller, mobile forwards stood their ground and repeatedly carried the ball directly into the defense. Their hard work through the middle, created opportunities for a sharp backline led by captain and halfback Merea Heni-Jnr.Fullback Uda Morea, five-eighth Avuru Nou and centre Tegana Apa helped steer the attack, while winger Tau Vagi crossed for two tries in an influential performance.Coach Danny Doko praised his players’ effort and resilience, saying the side had prepared hard during the week and made a strong start. He acknowledged that the match became scrappy in the second half, but said the Reds stayed composed and maintained their advantage through to full time.Doko also commended the Cowboys for reaching the grand final after finishing outside the top four. He said they played with determination and gave their best, but the Reds were able to close out the contest.The coach highlighted the importance of discipline and structure, particularly in defense, and praised the contributions of both experienced players and younger members of the squad. He also thanked the supporters who turned out to cheer the team on throughout the season.The victory extends Buria Reds’ remarkable run to three successive Motu-Koita Rugby League grand final wins.Meanwhile, competition leaders and undefeated Bese Eagles beat Porebada Bulldogs 14-4 to win the shield and crowned the Inaugural Women’s Premiers in the 2026 Motu Koita Rugby Legue competition.In the Under 20 grand final, MGF Bloods defeated Mahuru K Warriors 10-8 in a close encounter and crowned the Juniors champions for 2026.

Gereka Bombers have secured a place in next week’s JakiPom AFL Premiership grand final after defeating minor premiers Gordons Kokofas 70–58 on Saturday, November 7.The Bombers will face the RoyalTigers in the premiership decider after controlling much of the semifinal against last year’s competition winners, ending Kokofas’ hopes of reaching back-to-back grand finals.Gereka made a flying start, kicking five unanswered goals in the opening quarter while holding Kokofas to one. The teams traded a goal apiece in the second quarter, and the Bombers went halftime ahead 37–15.Kokofas lifted after the break and dominated the second half, scoring seven goals and a behind, Gereka’s five goals and three behinds. But the Bombers’ first-half advantage proved decisive, as they held on to win 11.4 (70) to 9.4 (58).In the A Reserves division, the West Eagles advanced to the grand final with a comfortable 7.6 (48) to 2.6 (18) victory over Taikone Hawks. They will meet the Royal Tigers in the decider.The women’s grand final will feature Gerehu Magpies and West Eagles. Magpies booked their place with a strong second-half performance, defeating Gereka Bombers 5.7 (37) to 3.2 (20).

The New Ireland Provincial Government has commenced the rollout of its second batch of relief supplies, targeting hard-hit communities in the Lovongai and Tikana Local Level Governments (LLGs).The latest dispatch specifically targets the Lovongai LLG alongside Wards 1, 2, 17, and 18 of the Tikana LLG. Provincial authorities confirmed that mainland communities are scheduled to receive their allocations in the upcoming distribution phase.New Ireland Governor Byron Chan emphasized that the program is strategically structured to ensure no community is left behind, particularly those in isolated maritime zones.“Our responsibility is to make sure that no community is forgotten,” Governor Chan stated. “Whether our people live on the islands or on the mainland, they deserve to feel the presence of their government, especially during difficult times.”To ensure accountability, Provincial Administrator Dennis Kosam clarified that the administration is directly collaborating with LLG authorities, ward councillors, government officers, and community leaders. This grassroots coordination aims to guarantee that the emergency provisions reach the intended beneficiaries systematically.Kosam added that a phased rollout remains critical to navigating the complex transport and logistics required to reach New Ireland’s widely dispersed population.The ongoing humanitarian framework is backed by significant fiscal support:• Initial Phase: Funded by K2.5 million in national disaster assistance from the National Government.• Second Phase: Sustained by an additional K6 million allocation derived from Provincial Services Improvement Program (PSIP) funds.The Provincial Administration is currently working alongside district administrations to finalize the logistics for the mainland rollout. Both Governor Chan and Administrator Kosam extended their gratitude to local leadership and communities for their cooperation in facilitating the orderly delivery of these essential supplies.

The Tolukuma Landowners Association has issued an urgent call to Tolu Minerals management to resolve a severe communication breakdown that saw landowner vehicles turned back at a company checkpoint.Association Executive Officer Brian Seba confirmed that the convoy was transporting local landowners to a vital traditional program and peace negotiation. Led by Deputy Chairman Peter Bugi, the group travelled along the newly established road on Friday night, November 6, but was denied passage at the first checkpoint located at Dog Mountain.The turned-back vehicles and passengers have since returned to the association’s base office, where they remain stranded. In a distressing development, Seba revealed that five pigs being transported for the traditional customary ceremony died while the group was held up at the location."We need immediate intervention from management," Seba stated, appealing directly to Tolu Minerals and its Community Affairs team to rectify the issue so the landowners can resume their journey.Seba clarified that the association had complied fully with established clearance protocols. The registration numbers of the vehicles and the driver's license details had been formally submitted to the company ahead of time via both email and WhatsApp.Under the agreed process, the Tolu Minerals Community Affairs Office is responsible for relaying these details to security personnel at the checkpoints. Seba believes that while the information was successfully delivered to the office, it was never forwarded to the front line, resulting in the misunderstanding.Formal letters and emails have been dispatched to Tolu Minerals executives. The landowners are urging management to respond promptly and grant them immediate passage while the internal communication error is being investigated.Tolu Minerals and the Community Affairs Office have yet to issue an official response.The executive officer of the Tolukuma Landowners Association, Brian Seba, has called on Tolu Minerals management to urgently resolve a communication breakdown that resulted in landowner vehicles being turned back at a checkpoint.Speaking after the incident, Seba said the vehicles were transporting landowners to a traditional programme and peace negotiations at home, led by Deputy Chairman Peter Bugi. The convoy had travelled as far as the newly established road’s first checkpoint at Dog Mountain before being sent back on Friday night, November 06th.Seba said the vehicles had been returned to the association’s office base, where their occupants were waiting to continue their journey. He also said five pigs being transported for the programme had died while the group was waiting.“We need immediate intervention from management,” Seba said, appealing to Tolu Minerals and its Community Affairs team to address the issue and allow the landowners to resume their trip.He said the convoy’s vehicle registration numbers and drivers’ licence details had been sent to the company through email and WhatsApp, in line with an established process for confirming vehicles at checkpoints.According to Seba, the Community Affairs Office was responsible for passing those details to checkpoint personnel so the vehicles could be cleared. He said he believed the information had reached the office but had not been relayed to the checkpoints, leading to a misunderstanding and the convoy being turned back.Seba said letters and emails had already been sent to the company and urged management to respond promptly. He also called for the landowners to be allowed to continue their journey while the matter was addressed.They are still waiting on the response from Tolu Minerals or the Community Affairs Office.

Morobe Pride head coach Mark Mexico says his side is fully prepared for the challenge of this Sunday’s 2026 Rigo Rice Cup Grand Final, marking the team's second consecutive appearance in the tournament decider.Mexico, Kumul No. 249 and a former PNG Hunter, noted that the team capitalized on a two-week break to recover both physically and mentally following a grueling six-to-seven-month campaign. The time away from competition also allowed the players to strengthen their bonds and reconnect as a unit.He credited the squad’s discipline, commitment, and collective effort for driving the Pride back to the Grand Final, stating that their return to the ultimate match is a direct reflection of their hard work all season.Reflecting on the campaign, Mexico described their semi-final clash against 5mile Heights as a tight, testing contest that pushed the team's composure to its limits. Moving into the final, he emphasized that the team is strictly focused on maintaining control, minimizing errors under grand final pressure, and responding instantly to setbacks.The former Kumul stressed that internal trust and thorough preparation will dictate their approach on Sunday. Rather than searching for answers outside, he urged his players to trust the coaching staff, their internal systems, and the high standards they established themselves.While finalizing the match-day lineup proved difficult, Mexico expressed absolute confidence in his selected squad to deliver a commanding performance. After finishing as runners-up last year, the Pride are determined to go one step further and finish this campaign with the silverware.Mexico also spoke candidly about the financial hardships the team endured while based in Port Moresby this season, highlighting the strain of rising living costs and the growing expenses of maintaining a team away from home. Despite these hurdles, he expressed deep gratitude to their major sponsor, Lae City Lord Mayor Hon. Jacob Maragau, for his unwavering backing.Mexico hopes the boys can repay the Mayor's generosity by capturing the 2026 Rigo Rice Cup title this Sunday against Western Highlands rivals, the 3rd City Rangers from Mt. Hagen.Finally, Mexico rallied the Morobean community living in the nation's capital to turn out in droves. He urged supporters to fill the stands at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium this Sunday, calling on the Morobean family to bring the noise and help the Pride make their second consecutive Grand Final appearance a winning one.

Tolukuma Landowner Association Chairman George Gusi has rejected media reports claiming that landowners threatened to shut down the Tolukuma Gold Mine following the deaths of two Goilala men at 15 Mile on October 30.Mr. Gusi clarified that the incident occurred within the Port Moresby city limits—outside Central Province—and was entirely unrelated to the mine's operations. He emphasized that landowners have no intention of disrupting work at the site.Furthermore, Mr. Gusi stated that reports suggesting landowners had threatened a shutdown were false and did not reflect the views of the mine’s direct landowners.While he welcomed Central Governor Rufina Peter’s public call for authorities to expedite investigations and bring those responsible to justice, Mr. Gusi noted that the Governor and her executive had not consulted the landowners to hear their perspective on the killings.According to Mr. Gusi, the two victims were from the exploration and corridor areas rather than the mine’s direct landowner groups. Consequently, he reiterated that their deaths do not pose any threat to ongoing mine operations.While supporting the call for a thorough police investigation, Mr. Gusi highlighted the urgent need to support the victims' families, noting that their deaths have left their wives and children facing an uncertain future.He urged authorities to look beyond legal justice and consider long-term welfare support for the grieving families. He also called on police and Hela leaders to explore avenues to take responsibility for the welfare of the victims’ dependents.Finally, Mr. Gusi urged Tolukuma mine operators, partners, and stakeholders not to be misled by unverified reports and to maintain normal operations for the benefit of both the landowners and the country.He also appealed to the people of Goilala and local landowners to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, urging them instead to cooperate with the police and allow the legal process to take its course.

Deputy Opposition Leader and Hiri-Koiari MP Hon. Keith Iduhu has officially opened a new double classroom at Brown River St Margaret’s Catholic Primary School, describing it as a shared investment in the education and future of local children.Iduhu cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, recognizing Vanapa Browns Local-level Government president Hon. Francis Isoaimo for driving the project from proposal to completion.He said Isoaimo had identified the need for additional classroom space, prepared the proposal, and worked to secure the facility.“Credit needs to go where it is due,” Iduhu said, thanking the LLG president for his vision and commitment to improving learning opportunities for children.Iduhu also acknowledged the contributions of the school board, head teacher and teachers, parents, and the wider Brown River community. He said the classroom reflected what could be achieved when local leaders and communities worked together.Addressing students, Iduhu urged them to care for the new facility and take pride in their school environment.“This classroom is yours. Look after it, keep it clean, and treat it with pride so that the students after you can learn in it too,” he said.He encouraged the students to make the most of their learning opportunities, saying education was essential to building a better future for them, their families and the district.The opening adds to efforts to improve education facilities in Hiri-Koiari. Iduhu said continued cooperation among leaders, schools and communities would help build a stronger district.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has completed a 10-day audit of the PNG Civil and Identity Registry’s information and communications technology systems, infrastructure and security arrangements.The final audit report was formally presented to Registrar-General Leslie Simon by Jessy Sekere, DICT Acting Deputy Secretary for Digital Government Delivery and Coordination. The report was approved by DICT Secretary Steven Matainaho.A team of DICT specialists carried out the assessment, covering ICT compliance, cybersecurity, government cloud services, infrastructure, and data governance. The team was granted temporary access to relevant systems to conduct technical reviews and checks.Simon commended the auditors for their professionalism and expertise, saying the Registry welcomed the findings and recommendations.“Your team has really done a good job. We witnessed a high level of professionalism, and we are very happy to receive this audit report,” he said.Simon said the Registry’s management had identified legacy ICT challenges after taking office earlier this year and requested DICT’s assistance to assess the organization’s technology environment.“With your expertise, we believe DICT is the right department to assess the situation, identify what is working, what is not working, and provide direction on where we can move forward from here,” he said.He described the age of some existing systems and the risk of losing critical government data as major concerns. The audit, he said, has given the Registry a clearer understanding of its current ICT position and outlined practical areas for improvement.“This audit was necessary to help us understand where we stand. It has provided recommendations that will help us strengthen our ICT infrastructure and address long-standing issues, including disaster recovery and core database management,” Simon said.The review covered the Registry’s ICT environment and compliance standards, with recommendations intended to guide improvements to system resilience, data protection and service continuity. The organizations did not disclose the report’s detailed findings or implementation timetable.The audit completion marks a step in the Registry’s efforts to address legacy technology challenges and strengthen the systems used to manage civil and identity records.

Former Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary sergeant William Hoiba has welcomed Hela’s ongoing firearms surrender program, while calling for public disclosure of how the weapons are being stored, recorded and ultimately destroyed.Hoiba, who now lives in Central Province, credited Governor Philip Undialu with encouraging the surrender of firearms as part of efforts to restore peace. But he said the program needed stronger safeguards to ensure surrendered weapons could not return to circulation.“I support the firearms surrender program. But accountability for the recovered firearms must be ensured. They must be disposed of or destroyed where the public can witness it. I don’t trust anyone to keep those surrendered firearms unless they are destroyed in public,” Hoiba said.In correspondence to the governor and his chief of staff, Hoiba sought answers on six issues: where the firearms are being held; who is responsible for their custody; how they are being inventoried; the proposed timeline and process for destruction; and what independent oversight will be provided.He called for the provincial government to identify the armory holding the weapons and the officer responsible, and to confirm that secure storage is in place.He also proposed that every firearm be tagged and photographed, with its details entered in a surrender register countersigned by the person handing it in, a police officer and a ward member.Hoiba wants the inventory independently checked before destruction, with church, women’s and youth representatives involved. He also urged authorities to publish the criteria for any rewards or amnesty certificates and give communities advance notice of verification.He cited provisions of the Firearms Act 1977 and the National Policy on Small Arms and Light Weapons 2005 in support of his calls. His interpretation of those laws and policies has not been independently verified for this article.Hoiba said Hela had endured years of violence involving illegal firearms and argued that surrender alone would not deliver lasting peace. He called for alleged arms trafficking to be investigated and for rehabilitation support for young people affected by tribal conflict.“People must see with their own eyes that the guns that killed their brothers are no more,” he said. “Keeping them in an unknown container or house breeds distrust and fear that they will reappear in the next tribal fight.”Hoiba has given the Governor’s Office 14 days to respond with proposed dates and locations for public destruction in Tari, Koroba and Komo. If there is no response, he said, he may refer the matter to the Commissioner of Police, the Minister for Police, the Ombudsman Commission and the National Court.The surrender program is reported to be underway in parts of Hela, including Tari, Hulia, Koroba and Komo. The provincial government has not announced a public destruction date.

Tokarara Nest RLC has today launched its first ever Life Skills Training (BASIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS) for unemployed youths and players from June Valley, Tokarara, Waigani, and parts of Morata, under the NEST PROGRAM.30 youths will be taken through 2 weeks of training to help build their confidence.“Every youth is taking up sports without proper guidance in life so here in the NEST under the Nest Program, we have decided to take this step and direction to give a second chance in life for our unemployed youths,” said Nelson Stone.He also emphasized that at NEST they are all about promoting creativity, inspired ideas, and innovation.“Here at NEST, we won’t sit down and wait for help or free handouts. We are a community program, and we try to be creative with the way we do things and support the needs of the communities we grew up and lived in,” Stone added.The training will at least give hope for the future of these unemployed youths as they learn basic life skills to a great opportunity for a better tomorrow. The training will be facilitated by the NEST Training Consultancy.Meanwhile, the NEST Program will be running 2 sports programs concurrently on Sunday 8th November, at the Sir John Guise Stadium, Port Moresby.The NEST Kids Athletics and NEST Kids Rugby League Academy will run from 7am to 9am in the morning."Running and rugby league together will definitely be great for kids’ skills development for the future. Not only that, but we will also start off by going through teachings of discipline, proper manners, respect and fairness, most importantly emphasizing Education which is one of most important things for an upbringing of a child,” said Stone.According to Stone, there are no registration fees, just K15 per head every Sunday from 8th November to 20th December 2026 and will resume in January 2027.  “We have no partnership to this program and we hope to have a partnership with any organization to continue this good program for the development of our kids,” said Stone, who hopes for a potential long-term partnership from any organization to drive these programs forward.

Department for Community Development and Religion Secretary, Jerry Ubase, has urged provincial governments and civil society organizations (CSOs) to unite and convert gender-based violence (GBV) priorities into tangible action.Secretary Ubase made the call today as he closed the three-day Second GBV Workplan Plenary Workshop at the Airways Hotel in Port Moresby, which focused heavily on strategic planning and financing frameworks to prevent and respond to GBV.He noted that the three days of intense discussions reaffirmed that GBV is far more than an isolated human rights issue; it remains a profound social, economic, and development roadblock for Papua New Guinea.“Gender-based violence undermines the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of individuals and families. It affects children’s futures, limits economic participation, and places immense pressure on our health, justice, and social services," Secretary Ubase stated. He added that widespread violence fractures community cohesion and lowers productivity, directly hindering the country’s broader sustainable development milestones.Secretary Ubase stressed that managing GBV cannot be treated as the standalone burden of a single department or agency. Instead, it demands deep political will, synchronized institutional actions, robust prevention initiatives, accessible frontline support infrastructure, and sustainable funding structures.“Commitment must be reflected not only in our policies and plans, but also in the resources we allocate and the actions we take,” he emphasized.He identified the newly revised National GBV Strategy (2026–2035) as the country's updated roadmap for the next decade. He insisted that the strategy must be rigorously backed by sufficient national and provincial funding to protect frontline services and effectively reach the vulnerable women, girls, and rural communities bearing the brunt of violence. He welcomed the strategy's dedicated implementation planning scheduled for 2027, noting it instills vital stakeholder confidence.The plenary workshop offered provincial and district representatives a transparent platform to present their localized requirements, helping to uncover hidden funding gaps and direct resources precisely where communities need them most.Secretary Ubase emphasized that provincial administrations must take the driver's seat in steering sub-national GBV initiatives. To do this effectively, he called for clear operational boundaries, transparent resource allocations, structured baseline reporting, and firm accountability mechanisms. He thanked provincial teams for their tireless efforts, acknowledging that high-level national strategies depend completely on accurate field data collected from local communities.Secretary Ubase highly commended National GBV Secretariat Director, Ms. Kambani, and her small team for their exceptional orchestration of the plenary. He specifically highlighted the direct state grants provided to 23 frontline civil society organizations (CSOs), charging provincial administrations to forge immediate operational ties with these grassroots service providers.“The grants they are receiving are from the government, and you are part of the government. It is your responsibility to work with them and help ensure that the services reach the communities they are intended to support," he told provincial delegates.He called for immediate, proactive collaborations across provincial entities, national bodies, CSOs, and international development partners to close the systematic gaps exposed during the sessions.Closing the plenary, Secretary Ubase called for a completely united and long-term front to eliminate GBV across Papua New Guinea.“No single agency can address GBV alone. Through greater collaboration, shared responsibility, and coordinated action, we can close the gaps we are experiencing today. I look forward to seeing our shared provincial priorities translated into impactful, visible action in 2027 and beyond," Secretary Ubase concluded.

Development partners, civil society organizations (CSOs), and donor agencies have highly praised provincial representatives at the Second Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Plenary for directly presenting their own operational priorities, hailing the shift as a powerful milestone for local government ownership.Speaking at the plenary in Port Moresby, Ayesha Lutchini, Team Lead for PNG Women Lead (PNGWL) under the PNG-Aus Partnership, stated that the targeted provincial presentations marked a profound evolution in how national efforts to combat gender-based violence is directed.“Today is a significant demonstration of government ownership of gender-based violence,” Lutchini remarked, reflecting on the strategies presented by the various provincial teams.She noted that a decade ago, a similar plenary would have looked vastly different, with international development partners taking the lead to dictate action plans. This year, the dynamic completely shifted: provincial representatives took the podium to lay out their localized priorities directly to donor partners, specifying exactly where support is needed to advance their goals.“That is government ownership in action,” Lutchini said, congratulating the provincial delegates and urging them to take pride in their proactive institutional leadership.Lutchini reaffirmed that PNGWL and its allied partners stand firmly behind the Government of Papua New Guinea in driving these legislative and social reforms. Her remarks underscored a vital principle for sustainable development: provinces must set their own agendas for GBV responses, while external partners align funding and technical support to match those locally defined priorities.The plenary presentations signal a major institutional shift toward locally led, bottom-up action—where government representatives identify the unique issues affecting their immediate communities and aggressively seek targeted collaborations to make measurable progress.