Puma Energy has had to commence rationing of Unleaded Petrol in Port Moresby due to the late arrive of their fuel tanker, which is scheduled to arrived this Saturday, the 22nd of April. This is according to a statement released yesterday afternoon. The Puma Energy fuel tanker encountered a delay due to cyclonic weather conditions off the North-West Coast of Australia. PUMA further advised that all retail sites are expected to be well stocked with unleaded Petrol by Sunday the 23rd of April. This however, will only impact unleaded Petrol at Puma Service Stations and has prompted the commencement of rationing at their retail sites. 

Coffee growers will now have the opportunity to save for retirement after the country’s leading Superannuation fund, NASFUND and the Nation’s lead coffee agency, Coffee Industry Corporation Limited entered into a partnership that is intended to form a saving culture for participants. This is after the signing of an MoU recently by the Fund’s Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Sharma, and CIC General Manager Industry Operations Steven Tumae on behalf of CIC CEO Steven Dambui. Coffee Industry Corporation’s General Manager Mr. Steven Tumae welcomed this MoU and said this is an important step to financially empower coffee farmers in PNG. “CIC has about 156 registered cooperatives across 17 provinces throughout the country that caters for our farmers. This agreement provides an avenue for our farmers to have access to vital financial services through superannuation.” He stated that Coffee is a leading source of cash income for a large proportion of the population and continues to be an important commodity for PNG, as almost 85% of the coffee produced in PNG, is grown, harvested and partly process by smallholder growers. “The CIC team has been collaborating with the Fund’s Team Leader Highlands Region, Priscilla Wambi, to coordinate awareness to our farmers, starting in the Eastern Highlands Province. The first awareness was conducted in May 2022 at the Makia Community Development Corporative and it was a huge success. It is only fitting to solidify these collaborative efforts under this MoU, and in partnership, plan and roll out financial literacy programs to our farmers across 17 provinces.” The CIC GM added his belief that their farmers will benefit from the financial services provided by NASFUND and they look forward to cooperating to reach their unbanked rural coffee farmers. Coffee farmers are expected to benefit from NASFUND services, which included access to their extensive branch network, an online portal to check your superannuation account, and a dedicated call center to answer your queries. NASFUND will also be providing Financial Literacy education to coffee farmers through the Fund’s partnership with the Center for Financial Inclusion (CEFI), to develop a savings culture through superannuation, so that they can have sufficient retirement savings in the future.

“Sir Rabbie emerged from a simple missionary family into becoming an extra ordinary Papua New Guinean.” These was one of the remarks of PNG Prime Minister James Marape, in his tribute during the State Funeral of the 4th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the late Sir Rabbie Namaliu, at the APEC Haus in Port Moresby today. PM Marape said it had fallen on him the solemn responsibility to preside over the passing of three former Prime Ministers of our country; all whom have played significant roles in the formative years of our country, whether in politics or as public servants. "All of them have laid the foundational building blocks that have anchored our unity and democracy." “On behalf of Rachel and our children, the National Government, the Pangu Pati, and the people of PNG, I rise to say few words on the occasion of the passing of our 4th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Rt. Honorable Sir Rabbie Namaliu, GL, KCMG, PC.” The Prime Minister highlighted the Late Sir Rabbie’s many accomplishments, many of which were the first of its kind when Papua New Guinea first gained independence. “He was amongst the first students for UPNG in 1966. He was in the first UPNG graduation in 1970. He was amongst the first of PNGeans to do postgraduate overseas. He was amongst the first National lecturer at UPNG. He was the first Chief of Staff equivalent to our then Chief Minister Somare prior to independence in 1975.” “He was the first Chief of Staff to our first Prime Minister Somare; He was a key member of the Constitutional Planning Committee. He became our country's 4th Prime Minister; He was the second Pangu Pati Leader to be Prime Minister. He was made member of Her Majesty's Privy Council in 1989; and He held many portfolios and public offices from 1982 up till 2007 and since then has never re contested public offices, and many more unparalleled achievements.” PM Marape also said he appreciated all of those who were present at the funeral service and those who were watching the funeral broadcast, as they were paying respect to a Papua New Guinean giant who assisted the fathers of the country achieve sovereignty and nationhood. “Sir Rabbie was an inspirational leader with strong Christian and Melanesian cultural influence that dictated his work and life of service to our country." "He is a wonderful example where we all can learn from in all facets of life and character; so that we too can contribute to our country the way Sir Rabbie and his generation of Papua New Guineans have done.” Before he ended his speech, Prime Minister James Marape acknowledged the kind gesture and willingness of Sir Rabbie’s clan and family, and the people of Raluana, Kokopo and East New Britain for allowing Sir Rabbie to be buried on Independence Hill. “It is of paramount significance to the people of this country that you have allowed your son, your father, your brother, your uncle, and your big chief to be rested with a couple of former Prime Ministers under the shadows of Independence Hill.” Marape said it is a fitting gesture to be accorded to a national icon who helped build this great country. May his resting place serve as an important reminder to us and those who will come after us that this country was built on the shoulders of great men like Sir Rabbie Namaliu. “It is with great sadness that I must say once again that Papua New Guinea has lost another great leader." "He will be greatly missed by his family, the people of Raluana, Kokopo, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea, the Pangu Pati family and all those who knew and worked with him throughout his living years.”

Female Cocoa Farmer Janet of Usino in Madang Province was proud of her thriving cocoa block, as it made her independent and self-reliant until the dreaded Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB) disease, arrived on her doorsteps. But hope has been renewed for Janet and she intends to rehabilitate her old cocoa trees, now that the World Vision has intervened through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program Funded - Climate Smart & Inclusive Cocoa in Usino, Madang Province. The project aims to share new skills on climate-smart and inclusive cocoa farming, apart from the savings component of the project for empowered, resilient, and transformed livelihoods and is timely as climate change continues to have a massive impact on all traditional ways of farming – in this case, the cash crop farming of cocoa. "As a woman and a mother who is part of this project, I have about 500 cocoa trees for my children and before the CPB, my children would harvest, sell and earn their own money.” “Now we’re all down, our houses are empty and for my family, we only depend of my husband’s fortnight pay to support us financially and we have to wait 2 weeks for that.” Janet said project staff and farmers are currently working on her daughter's cocoa block and would eventually move to her block. She further stated she was advised to clear her block and plant vegetables under overgrown cocoa trees to prepare for pruning to be done with a chainsaw. "Cocoa trees in my block are overgrown, my children and I have started cleaning our cocoa block as they (the project team) have advised but due to the current wet season, we have stopped and will re-start when the season changes." The Project Logistics Officer confirmed that 8 chainsaws have been purchased to ease the burden with using handheld axes and bush knives to prune cocoa trees. The farming equipment has empowered the local farmers and will allow them to pick themselves up with where they left off last year. The USINO CACAO project is heading towards its third year of implementation and will support Janet and 2000 other farmers like her.

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force has developed a gender-based violence prevention & response framework, in addition to their own action plans to implement gender perspectives in their operations. This is the PNGDF’s first-ever Gender Focal Point training from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Office of Women, Peace & Security (WPS) to improve gender equity and equality within the defence force and this student cohort comprised of 17 males and 13 females. The training was tailored to PNGDF’s organization and its military operations with a focus on reducing gender-based violence after the PNGDF Gender Committee requested specialized training assistance. In his opening remarks, Chief of Training Colonel Dickers Esso said we need to trust the women in our forces to help instill trust in the populations we work with in our deployments and engagements. “We are here to complement each other… take these lessons outside of these gates and into your lives.” The 3-day course comprised of thirty PNGDF and Department of Defence students representing diverse career fields such as the Gender Committee; Military Police; Engineering; Chaplains, and Medical/Health Services, where the students learned new tools and processes to improve gender equity and equality within their own defence force. The increase in natural disasters and the need for effective defence and security responses prompted the inclusion of lessons on how to improve the PNGDF operations in responding to natural disasters by considering the gender considerations of the entire populations. This means planning for the unique security needs of women, men, boys and girls affected by crisis. The Australia Defence Force also played an important role with Lieutenant Colonel Brendan Creer serving as an instructor and facilitator. He observed that the delivery of this Gender Focal Point course further builds on the ongoing work being undertaken by the Australian Defence Force and other like-minded partners such as the United States Military and New Zealand Defence Force. At the conclusion of this course, the 30 students graduated as Gender Focal Points, with certificates presented by the Deputy Chief of Defence.

Police in Morobe province have withdrawn three of its officers who have been serving logging companies for some years. Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Superintendent Jacob Singura exercised orders issued by Police Commissioner David Manning to withdraw officers serving logging camps throughout the country to withdraw officers serving in logging camps in the area. He stated that the three officers have been serving logging camps under previous PPCs in different logging camps. "Under commissioner's advice, I have instructed the officers to leave the logging camps immediately." "I have issued a memo advising these officers to return to their normal duties." "These officers have been on dual employment payrolls and were only serving logging camps for more than two years," said the PPC. Singura could not confirm whether the logging companies the police officers were engaged under are legal and operating under PNG forestry laws. This is because there are some logging companies that the National Court has ordered them to stop operating in June 2021.

The Babuaf Landowner Association delivered streetlights to various communities for use during the Easter period. The LOA, which represents the Babuaf tribe one of three SML10 landowner groups for the Wafi-Golpu Project, had used funding grants provided by the Morobe Provincial Government and Mineral Resources Authority to provide this service to their communities. Babauf LOA President, Jack Raban, said they used the funds to secure and construct 12 streetlights to the value of K15,000 and delivered them to churches along the Watut River, including Mafanazo, Uruf, Wampan, Morom, Tsilitsili, Bencheng, Malarina, and Wawas villages. The association also dropped off three streetlights at Kapunung for the school and teacher house, and one at Gabmazung Mission Station at Gabsongkeg. “We thank our long-time key partner, WGJV for supplying us fuel to use to transport the lights to the various locations,” Mr Raban said. “Thank you too to our Governor Luther Wenge for supporting the association. Many of our people have fellowship in the evenings and these lights will help them immensely in their church activities. Also for the school teachers to use, and other activities can also be held under the lights.” Gaentsangg Muku of Tsilitsili, Yaling Ephraim of Mafanazo, and Kikising Yagiding of Malarina villages all thanked the Babuaf LOA for the lights. “We thank the landowner association for this initiative which will help our people a great deal,” Mr Muku said.

"News of Newcrest’s sellout to Newmont, though not surprising to the New Ireland Provincial Government, was still deemed somewhat distasteful." These were the sentiments of the Deputy Governor and Chairman responsible for mining matters, Mr Semmie Missen. “The business deal only satisfies the shareholders big-time but does nothing to settle the outstanding project commitments of the State to the people of New Ireland under the Revised Lihir MOA 2007 carried over from the original MOA signed in 1995.” He said it also does nothing to resolve the longstanding legacy concerns of the landowner entity, LMALA relating to the stop payment of the administration funding and the Integrated Benefits Package undertakings. “After 27 years of the Lihir gold project, Newcrest has done very little to honour the Lihir Agreement.” He continued on to say as the government, they have openly expressed their concerns with Newcrest and the State and will not bend, as today’s estimate of cost for all the outstanding project commitments stands at about K1.2 billion. “Before Newmont even think of coming to the table, they better be told of their obligations and social responsibilities to the people because these will be on top priority for discussion.” The three New Ireland parties to the Lihir Memorandum of Understanding, which include the Nimamar Council, LMALA and the New Ireland Government will convene for a joint meeting in Kavieng for discussions on these matters.

Three individuals have been arrested in Port Moresby for using fake documents while going through the recent police recruitment process. The complainant, Assistant Commissioner of Police Human Resources Samson Siguyaru, alleged that the three were part of the other shortlisted candidates who were being screened at the Rita Flynn Courts for the Cadet and Regular Police training. The joint recruitment team that included the Head Hunters, the PNG Civil & Identify Registry and the Measurement Services Division of the Education Departments, as well as Police, were all on hand to check through and authenticate the required documents. The suspects were amongst more than 3,900 shortlisted applicants for NCD, Central and Gulf who were asked to provide the required documents at the Rita Flynn Courts Indoor Complex on April 5th . Four of the applicants allegedly produced fake grade 12 certificates and were detained by the screening team at the screening venue and handed over to detectives from the NCD Criminal Investigation Division who arrested them and took them to the Boroko Police Station for questioning. Another four were also arrested and taken to the police station for suspected false documentation but one escaped. Four were eventually cleared at the station whilst the woman and the two men were formally arrested and charged. According to CID officers, the three were arrested and charged with one count each for Forgery under Section 462 and Uttering under Section 463 of the Criminal Code Act and were detained at the Boroko Police Station cell. The three suspects, who all hail from the Highlands Region, were later granted bail by the Police.

Primary schools in Lae city, Morobe province require suitable teachers to occupy teaching positions to better deliver the curriculum to the students. Morobe Teaching Commission Advisor Mufuanu Zurete said that the primary schools have elevated from level seven to level eight, thus the schools need teachers at that level to occupy the positions. "With the increase in population in the city, we have schools shifting up to the highest level in primary," he said. He said most of the primary school teachers are at level five and six, few head teachers are at level seven. "We now greatly need teachers who can occupy level eight schools as most of the schools in the city had their status changed," Mufuanu said. Mufuanu is urging teachers to utilize the inspection process in the area to permanently fill in the positions. He said being a teacher moving from one stage to another always has privileges and benefits.  

The Port Moresby Racquets Club (POMRC) is currently carrying out its Skel Rice sponsored Squash Camp in Port Moresby. POMRC Squash Director Ms. Merlyn Alarcos said this camp is into its third day and is being carried out this week, to coincide with the school holidays here in the National Capital District. “This camp is for children who are members here at the club and who already know how to play Squash and also for any other children who may be interested in taking up sport. “The camps will run from 10am to 2pm each day this week and we currently have a total of 35 kids that are taking part in fun activities as well as hand-ball techniques.” “The kids that know how to play are running through a more intense training. This is being done in the lead up to a couple of international competitions for this year.” The POMRC also have an international visiting coach, who was brought in by the KPHL and he has been running through trainings with many of the kids who have represented the country in the code of Squash. The Squash Camp is an annual event for the POMRC and will conclude this Friday (14042023).

Air Niugini is the only organization in the country offering Dangerous Goods (DG) training to external clients. And for the first time, the training was conducted using the Competency-based Training and Assessments (CBTA) methods, as is the requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organization and International Air Transport Association. Sixteen participants from Puma Energy, Exxon Mobil, DHL, Pentagon Freight Services, Hi-Lift and OK Tedi Mining Ltd were the first batch to use CBTA procedures, which is a new, mandated method of conducting and assessing DG training by ICAO and IATA. Air Niugini’s Non-Technical Training Instructor, Martin Tugano said since the training was conducted using CBTA method, the participants will receive certificates with IATA co-branding. “Receiving IATA co-branding certificate means that the training is internationally recognised and adds more value to their current skills and performance at work.” Mr. Tugano said transporting dangerous goods by air is more restricted due to its change in pressure, temperature and vibration during transport and therefore, personnel shipping dangerous goods by air must know the international and national government regulations for safe transport. “Training is key in transporting dangerous goods. When shippers competently perform the functions of packing, marking, labelling, documenting, identifying and classifying DG, makes air transport safer.” The next CBTA training scheduled for 10th to 14th April involving participants from Hevi-lift Aviation, Porgera Joint Venture, Manolos Aviation and ExxonMobil.