280423 New Kieta Police Station ground breaking ceremony

New Dawn FM News

The ground breaking ceremony to rebuild a new Kieta Police Station held yesterday in Kieta signifies the commitment by the Bougainville Police Service to the people of Bougainville.

Minister Police and Correctional Services Hon John Bosco Ragu, Central Bougainville MP Simon Dumarinu, ABG Central Veterans Member Junior Dake, Secretary Technical Services and other relevant officials present at the ceremony.

Chief of the Bougainville Police Service and Deputy Commissioner of Police Francis Tokura, acknowledged also the local landowners who had given their land to the government to return and rebuild the new Kieta Police Station.

Tokura said since assuming office in Bougainville, his team have been visiting locals in the area for the possibility of reopening the New Kieta Police Station, exactly where the old station was built.

"Today, this dream has become a reality and to support the Toroama-Nisira government to achieve Independence, Bougainville Police has been committed to build three new police stations every year.

"We have not succeeded so far due to funding issues for the North, Central and South.

"First construction of the Bana Police Station is well underway. As soon as the ground breaking ceremony yesterday than today materials may arrive in Arawa, according to the contractor.

"I appeal to the people to respect the government properties and facilities to serve the community at large.

"Other police posts will include Kunua, Panguna, Siwai and reopening of Nissan Police Station. ENDS////AK

Kieta Police Station

280423 Member for Central Bougainville thanks local landowners

New Dawn FM News

Member for Central Bougainville, MP Simon Dumarinu, thanked the local landowners for positive approach to nation building.

"You are the important stakeholders in nation building," he said.

Dumarinu expressed his gratitude to the Autonomous Bougainville Government for heading in the right direction.

"For a new nation, our priority is Law and Order, the people, society and government must be in a secured environment.

"The three arms of government a democratic nation must have the executive, legislative and judiciary arm of government.

"The latter two functions are important to us as we anticipate the ratification of Bougainville," he said.

Dumarinu added that we are in the state of building not only in the Police force but the Constitution and Policy, the structure and level of governance the upper and lower of Community government. ENDS////AK

280423 Issue of Writs for By- Election Delayed

New Dawn FM News

The North Bougainville By-Election will be delayed until next month due to non-availability of funds.

The writs were supposed to have been issued yesterday.

This is according to PNG Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai reported by Jeffrey Elapa from Post Courier.

Electoral Commissioner says "The electoral commission is unable to conduct the by-elections for three vacant seats on time due to lack of funds."

As a result the issue of writs for Wewak, North Bougainville and Lagaip open seats have been deferred to next month.

He said the commission needs K14 million to conduct the by-elections. The new date is yet to be determined.

"We initially set the tentative dates, including the date for issue of writs, on 27 April 2023 for the by-election for three vacant seats. However, this can not happen now because the Finance and Treasury have not responded to our budget submission to conduct the by-election," he said.

Mr Sinai said it is the Constitutional right of the people in the affected electorates to have a voice in Parliament and assured the people in these electorates that a by-election will be held as soon as funds are made available.

"I am of the view that as responsible agencies of State, we will respect their wishes and ensure that the by-election are held so people are given the opportunity to vote their leader,". Ends/////ak

280423 North Bougainville Open By-Election budget K2652,660.00

New Dawn FM News

The North Bougainville Open By-Election budget is K2652,660.00 as part of the K14 million budget submitted by PNG Electoral Commissioners office Mr Simon Sinai to Department of Finance and Treasury.

The cost of by-election per affected electorate as follows:
Lagaip-Enga Province- K5792,807.00
North Bougainville Open- K2652,660.00
Wewak Open- K5614,075.00

Secretary for Finance Dr Ken Ngangan said the budgets for by-election are with PNGEC and the funds are released to them from Treasury.

He said there are no issues with government cash flow so funding should not be a problem, but funding warrants need to be released by Treasury according to their by-election schedules.

Attempts to contact Treasurer Ian Ling Stuckey were unsuccessful.

The North Bougainville seat was left vacant when the incumbent MP and candidate who the seat in the last years election, William Nakin, died on before polling was completed.

For the Wewak Open, the incumbent MP who retained his seat was sworn in as Member of the 11th Parliament, Kevin Isufu, died after a long illness, while the Lagaip Open Seat election was failed following widespread violence and disruptions during polling.

Mr Sinai said the issue of writs for Wewak will be further delayed as an election petition filed against the deceased MP is still before the court.

He will announce the fixed date for the issue of writs later when funding is made available. ENDS////AK

An employee of Papua New Guinea's Airline  Air Niugini  has created history by being the first and only female staff operating the Main Deck Loader(MDL), an equipment  responsible for loading and unloading larger containerised cargo from the main deck of widebody aircraft.  

Michelle Geekala from East Sepik and Gulf provinces, works with Air Niugini Cargo Departments operations section and is the only specialised female operator of the MDL equipment. 

Her most recent task was unloading heavy mining equipment from the main deck of a Boeing 747-400 series freighter here in Port Moresby. While passenger planes carry people with minimal luggage at the cargo hold, freighters specifically uplift cargo, their empty galleys are modified to fit various types of cargo. 

She was previously engaged in and operated the Lower Deck Loader (LDL) for both the B747 and B737 freighters but the recent task was her first on the Main Deck Loader. The Main Deck Loader Equipment is higher and has larger weight capacity while the Lower Deck Loader is used to load and unload cargo from the lower lobe of wide body aircraft and also main deck of the narrow body aircraft.

Air Niuginis Manager for Cargo Operations, Trevor Elly said the airlines cargo department has always maintained a healthy level of female presence in its business and in particular its operational areas both within Port Moresby and the domestic network.

We are proud of Michelles progress, breaking into an area where you find only men working there. She is currently the only female in the Port Moresby Operations unit who operates the MDL equipment and joins a legacy of other female Cargo Operations Staff including our current Cargo Business Development Manager, Ms. Donna Hevoho as well as General Manager Cargo, Ms. Paila Leka and many other women through Air Niuginis 50-year history. Elly said 

Air...

 (Report by Police Media Officer Andrew Philip.)

Papua New Guinea's Hela Province will change for the better, says a confident Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Superintendent Joseph Tondop following the capture and arrest of four criminals wanted for a string of serious crimes in the province.

Mr Tondop said the suspects were arrested between the months of March and April, 2023 by the joint security forces in Hides and Tari in the Hela province with the assistance of communities within Hela.

The PPC said among the four arrested was the most wanted criminal (name withheld) believed to be from Pureni village, South Koroba. He was apprehended at the Tari market on Friday March 31, 2023 by police with the assistance of the PNG Defense Force personnel, acting from a tip off.

Mr Tondop said the suspect was wanted for escaping from lawful custody, Armed Robbery, Willful Murder, and rape. He was re-arrested and charged again for escaping from lawful custody in 2019 from the Baisu Correctional Services facility in the Western Highlands province. He is remanded in custody at Baisu and will appear in the District Court in May, 2023.

PPC Tondop said the other three (names withheld) were arrested and charged on Saturday April 1, 2023 at Paivali, Tari Pori check point with the help of PNGDF personnel acting on a tip off as well.

He said the suspects were from Tugupe village, Wai Linipini village, Hayapuga Local Level Government in Tari Pori district and Kupari village in Tari Urban. The suspects were wanted for wilful murders.

Mr Tondop said one suspect was taken to the Baisu Prison in the Western Highlands Province and the other three were taken to Buiyabi Prison in the Southern Highlands Province due to reports received of a possible re...

 The SP PNG Hunters are back at the Santos National Football Stadium this Saturday, 29th April when they host the Mackay Cutters in Round 7 of the QRL Hostplus Cup. Kickoff is at 3pm.

The Hunters will have plenty to play for when they run out to a home crowd this weekend, having fallen short to the Burleigh Bears in Round 6 last week. The Bears ran out to a big early lead having played with 90% of possession in the opening stages of the match. Starved of possession and field position, the Hunters had no chance to answer back as Burleigh dominated proceedings.

QRL Round 7 Preview: SP PNG Hunters v Mackay Cutters [Photo by SP PNG Hunters Media]

The Hunters will be without suspended five-eighth Sakias Komati this week but will be confident of returning to the winners circle against the 14th placed Cutters. The last time these sides met was in Round 20 last year, when the Hunters produced one of the performances of the season. Down on the scoreboard with just minutes remaining, a length of the field try in the 77th minute clinched the result for the Hunters to ensure they finished the 2022 season on a high.

Current Hunters players Rodrick Tai, Judah Rimbu, Ila Alu and Brandon Nima were instrumental to that result and shape as key players for PNG again, this week.

The Cutters will travel to Port Moresby for Saturdays match on the back of a 42-16 thumping at the hands of Norths Devils. Two sinbins to Cutters players Kyle Schneider and Sean Mullany made the task all too difficult for Mackay in that game as Norths ran in seven tries against a depleted defensive line.

Mackay h...

 A female officer was amongst seven officers promoted recently by PNG  Police Commissioner David Manning at the Police Headquarters in the National Capital District.

The female is Mt Hagen Police Station Commander, Policewoman Inspector Maureen Undaba, who was elevated to the rank of Senior Inspector.

Female officer amongst seven promoted by PNG Commissioner Manning

NCD Metropolitan Commander Chief Inspector Silva Sika to Superintendent;

Western Highlands Provincial Police Commander Superintendent John Sagom to Chief Superintendent;

Simbu Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Epenes Nili to Superintendent;

North Fly acting Provincial Police Commander Senior Inspector Oena Afeke to Chief Inspector and confirmed as PPC North Fly;

Porgera Police Station Commander Senior Inspector Martin Kelei to Chief Inspector; and

Rural Commander Eastern Highlands Province Inspector Benae Neneo to Senior Inspector.

Commissioner Manning in his remarks said the Executive Management has made a collective and deliberate attempt in the recent promotion to ensure that the right people were placed in the right positions.

Mr Manning told the newly promoted officers that, We have seen the potential that you have and this is just a push along to make sure to keep you all focused, keep you all motivated...Promotions are one thing, qualifying courses will come.

Mr Manning said the decision to acknowledge their performance, and commitment to deliver on expectations as well as providing the leadership is basically an attempt to fill the critical gaps that has crept into the Constabulary over the years.

Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Operations Philip Mitna said the elevation comes with more responsibility and expectations from the executive management for them to deliver. ...

Before he handed over the baton to incoming CEO Rajeev Sharma last month, Nasfunds long-serving CEO Ian Tarutia, spoke to Business Advantage PNG about his time in charge of Papua New Guineas largest private sector superannuation fund and where PNGs economy might go from here.

Outgoing Nasfund CEO Ian Tarutia cuts a farewell cake during a Gala Dinner in February 2023. Credit: Nasfund

Business Advantage PNG (BAPNG): Looking back over your time restructuring Nasfund, what key milestones resonate strongest with you?

Ian Tarutia (IT): Over the decade from 2000 up to 2010, success was driven primarily through the implementation of good governance. Underpinning a good governance framework were high levels of transparency and accountability, plus strong engagement with key stakeholders.

Im a firm believer that if you get governance right adopting sound commercial principles, understanding risks and ensuring audited accounts are completed on time everything else will fall into place.

BAPNG: Based on what happened with the last [resources] boom, what are your expectations over the next three years in PNG?

IT: Its encouraging that TotalEnergies has launched the first phase of front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies for the Papua LNG projects upstream production facilities. But, in terms of the real cash flowing in to kick start a lot of the groundwork, I believe it will be towards the back end of next year, 2024.

Business appreciates the sovereign rights of the state to raise taxes but, if it is implemented without adequate consultation, the outcome is counterproductive.

Assuming things progress as expected, there should be increased demand for goods and services. Additionally, the workforce required should close existing vacanc...

Barrick Niugini and Kumul Mineral Holdings transfer Porgera special mining lease to New Porgera, Nadzab Airport expected to be completed by August and Geopacific Resources completes capital raising. Your business news in brief.

Launching of the Edevu Hydropower Reservoir Impoundment at Edevu in Koiari. Credit: Prime Minister Office

Mining

Barrick Niugini and Kumul Mineral Holdings have transferred the special mining lease covering the Porgera gold mine (SML11) to New Porgera.

Now that New Porgera has the document, it can apply for a new special mining lease for the mine.

Kumul Mineral Holdings Chairman, Dr Ila Temu, reportedly said that the new mining lease application will go in sometime next week. He hopes that, given the urgency to reopen the Porgera mine, the new lease will be ready in about two months time. (The National)

***

Finance

K92 Mining appoints new Chair, BSP Financial Group welcomes a new Director and board changes at Coppermoly.

Anne Giardini has been named the new Chair of the Board of Directors at K92 Mining. She has served as Independent Director of K92 since 2020.

***

Ian Tarutia has joined BSP Financial Group as a Non-Independent Director.

***

The post People moves: K92 Mining, BSP Financial Group, CopperMoly appeared first on Business Advantage PNG.

The devastating news of Sir Rabbie Namalius untimely passing has been difficult for us all to understand. It has not been so long since Papua New Guinea mourned the passing of our founding father, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, and another great leader and Prime Minister and someone whom I also regard as a close friend and brother Sir Mekere Morauta. Now the nation is in mourning again at the loss of another foundational leader.

I first came to know Rabbie for a brief period in 1967 and 1968 during our initial University of Papua New Guinea days, before I left to continue my studies in Australia. But even for that brief period of two years, among the students in the pioneering cohort of UPNG students in 1966 and the second intake of students in 1967, I saw in Rabbie an emerging student activist asserting political leadership and influence in the life of the nascent institution of learning, not only preparing us to take on the challenges of decolonising Papua New Guinea, but demonstrating the makings of a leader in the political life of a future independent Papua New Guinea. He was at the helm of history making. His was a voice that resonated well in our student debates, and I suspect he had a lot to do with the naming of our student news magazine, NILAIDAT, suspiciously a very Kuanua sounding word.

During the time of self-government leading to independence, several young men and women were working in the office of the then Chief Minister, Hon Michael Somare. Key among them were Rabbie Namaliu, Meg Taylor, Nahau Rooney and Moi Avei. They were making their mark as political operatives advising the Chief Minister and his cohort of PANGU ministers, agitating for the colonial administration to be localised and for PNG to attain independence sooner rather than later, and, of course, attending to the serious business of setting policies for an independent PNG.

To illustrate Rabbies overarching reach in shaping the history of our nation, I make mention of two significant points of reference. One was the work of the Constitutional Planning Committee spearheaded by John Momis and John Kaputin, who strongly advocated for a decentralised form of government to be an essential element in our constitution and in our development policies. The other was the emerging economic crisis of inflation at the time, which shaped a key element of our evolving macro-economic management policy.

Rabbie had an invisible hand in guiding these two foundational elements of PNGs progress to independence. As Principal Private Secretary to the Chief Minister, Rabbie was tasked with coordinating a weekly crisis management meeting. As inflation loomed large, he brought in Mekere and Ross Garnaut to advise, which led to t...

Developing countries that have avoided record-breaking heat for many decades are the least prepared for future exceptional heatwaves, new research warns.

Climate change is driving a rise in record-shattering heatwaves that break existing temperature records by unprecedented margins. The 2021 Pacific north-west heatwave which broke long-standing temperature records across much of the US and Canada by as much as 5C is a clear example.

New research, published in Nature Communications, finds that 41 regions around the world have experienced statistically implausible heat since 1959 accounting for 31% of the planets surface. It appears that such extremes could occur anywhere and at any time, the paper says.

Some regions including eastern Russia, Central America, Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea have been lucky to not have seen such extreme temperatures over this time, the paper says. However, there is a downside to this luck.

The authors explain that regions which have not seen exceptional heat events recently have had no need to adapt to such events, and so may be more susceptible to the[ir] impacts. Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea are particularly at risk thanks to their growing populations and limited healthcare and energy resources, the paper says.

The research highlights the importance of adapting to heatwaves more extreme than those seen so far. Heatwaves are deadly but better preparation can save lives, the study concludes.

Record-shattering heat

The June 2021 Pacific north-west heat dome is one of the most extreme heat events on record. During the heatwave, the Canadian village of Lytton recorded temperatures of 46.1C, 47.9C and 49.6C on three consecutive days, shattering the regions previous record of 45C.

The impacts were widespread and deadly. Wildfires raged,...