Top Public Servant and Ambassador Gabriel Dusava turned 70 years old recently and his family threw him a surprise birthday party in Port Moresby. Amongst the estimated 300 invited guests that turned up to celebrate his 70 years of life was Governor of New Ireland Province, Sir Julius Chan. Sir J had only praise for Ambassador Dusava, calling him a man of principle, which earned him the trust of five different Prime Ministers whom he served including the late Sir Michael Somare, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Paias Wingti, Peter O’Neill and Sir J himself. Ambassador Dusava since then has become a close friend and confidante of Sir J. Recalling his career, Ambassador Dusava recalls and has been put on record, stating his most challenging time was at the height of the Sandline Crises, when Sir J was the Prime Minister. Over the years, Sir J and Ambassador Dusava have shared a close working relationship and in February 2019 he was invited by Sir J to speak during a Public service seminar in Kavieng. In his address, Ambassador Dusava told the public servants to really assess their worth, whether they are actually performing to their fortnight’s pay or to the expectation of the job. He said back during their time it took them up to five years to get a promotion. “And after that there was no looking back because the foundation was already there. Do not ask for your promotions first when you are not even due for it, build your experience make sure the bosses recognize you. I served five Prime Ministers they found it very difficult to remove me as Foreign Affairs secretary because I did nothing wrong.” Mr. Gabriel Dusava has served as the Former Foreign Affairs Secretary and Ambassador to Brussels and Japan.

Members of the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) recognize that Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Sorcery Accusation Relation Violence (SARV) continue to be their top priority for action. This was made known by the Chairman of the Committee and National Capital District (NCD) Governor, Powes Parkop when the Committee met recently to discuss the range of issues facing the women and girls of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and decide on their priorities over the coming months. The Chairman said the members have been given a critical mandate to use their oversight powers to hold government agencies at all levels accountable for what they are doing and not doing, to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. “I want us to use our Committee’s powers proactively to focus on the issue most important to our women and girls. We need to stop just talking about what needs to be done and ensure our oversight, forces officials to more effectively use Government resources to bring real improvement to our people across the country.” The Committee has the mandate to review any and all laws, policies, programmes and other issues related to ensuring that women and girls can live safe, healthy and prosperous lives. “It is very clear that there are many issues facing the women and girls of PNG but it is still very clear that ensuring their basic safety in their home and communities is absolutely essential. I want to continue to use our powers to make sure that every agency responsible for helping survivors does their jobs properly.” Six of seven committee members came together at the National Parliament House for a briefing provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The briefing covered a wide range of GEWE issues, including the gaps in existing institutional structures, laws and policy frameworks guiding GEWE efforts, challenges with women’s leadership, priorities in relation to promoting women’s economic empowerment, the importance of ensuring women’s access to health and education services, and the ongoing challenges with properly addressing GBV and SARV. The Committee adjourned with a commitment to return for a more detailed discussions on the core issues they want to address. They have tentatively agreed to dedicate their first public hearings to reviewing progress by government to address GBV and SARV, with hearings likely to be held sometime in May 2023.  

A three day Climate Finance Capacity Building training was carried recently in Port Moresby with 22 officers from key government agencies awarded certificates of recognition for active participation after successfully completing the training. The Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) General Manager, Debra Sungi, in her opening remarks during the climate finance training, said this is always a priority for the government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and thanked the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) for supporting this training. “CCDA has been at the forefront of negotiating for easy access to international climate funds available to developing countries like PNG. We’ve tried to build capacity within the organization and with key sector agencies to ensure agencies have the capacity to reach out and ensure that we have the funding support needed for climate action in PNG.” Officers from agencies such as the CCDA, National Energy Authority (NEA), Treasury, Department of Finance and the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM) participated in the three-day training program. This training has broadened their understanding of the types of climate funding sources and how to access them. The training was delivered by GGGI in partnership with CCDA through the funding support from DFAT.

The owners of nine campsites in the Southern Region of the Kokoda Track between the Central and Oro provinces, received donated supplies of equipment just recently to enhance tourism growth along the track and improve livelihoods for communities and households in the region. The donations included a range of water security materials, pipes, tap fittings and solar lighting packages that will enable the campsites and guesthouses to improve lighting and access to water, and raise their accommodation standards to meet trekker and tourist expectations along the Track. These donations are part of the joint efforts of the PNG-Australia Partnership to support a range of training to improve compliance with the Tourism Promotion Authority’s accommodation accreditation standards and promote greater income generation through better business management, service quality and amenities. The donations were handed over by the National Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop, who was accompanied by the and Central Province Deputy Governor Willie Vave, as well as the Acting CEO of Kokoda Track Authority Julius Wargirai, Acting CEO of Kokoda Track Authority (KTA), Acting Director of the National Museum and Art Gallery and representatives from the Australian High Commission and the Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) at Owers Corner in Sogeri. These small yet critical individual businesses play an important role in supporting tourism growth on the Kokoda Track and providing a gateway for international and domestic visitors to explore the depth and diversity of tourism in PNG that benefits and builds tourism revenue in Central Province and the National Capital District (NCD).  

The illegal market leading into the Kennedy Estate in the National Capital District, an area that has seen an increase in reported crimes, was removed by a combined team from the NCDD Reservist Unit and the NCD Command recently. This is part of the clean-up campaign been enforced and carried out by the National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Silva Sika and his men with the goal to make NCD a clean and crime-free city. Met Supt Sika reported that the clean-up campaign has seen many physical changes throughout the city. “Police will continue to remove illegal markets around the city because they are not only an eye sore but avenues for illegal activities, such as the sale and consumption of home brew, illicit drugs and petty crimes.” Met Supt Sika also called on the public to respect the police officers by doing their business of selling their products only at designated market locations in the city. “While I acknowledged that people are struggling to make ends meet in the city, the onus is on them to do their business in the right place at the right time.”

The Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture recalled the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Tourism Industry worldwide and especially in the domestic market and has urged a shift in focus towards the domestic tourism market. Minister Henry Isi Leonard made this remark when launching the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority’s four year corporate plan 2023-2026 recently at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby. He declared that this newly developed corporate plan will be able to assist and guide the organization in developing this overlooked area of destination marketing. “The country’s tourism industry is a thriving sector that has so much potential and is integral to PNG’s development agenda.” “Being the statutory body established by the Government to manage and promote the country’s tourism interest to the world, PNG TPA needs a clear directive to achieving its mandated tasks; and this policy document has been produced to direct its mission and purpose to achieving just that.” Minister Leonard revealed that the previous Corporate Strategy expired in 2014, meaning the agency had been operating over the last eight years without one in place. “The re-emergence of a new Corporate Strategy demonstrates a renewed and stronger commitment by PNG TPA to make a positive difference in growing the tourism sector” He continued that the PNGTPA Corporate Plan 2023-2026 sets a clear vision for the agency and articulates well what PNGTPA will do in the next four years, consistent with the Tourism Promotion Authority Act and the Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022-2026. The new PNG TPA Corporate Plan has seven strategic priorities, including; Expanding Global, Regional and Domestic Reach Accelerating Tourism Investment through SMART Policies and Plans; Raising the Levels of Tourism Service Education and Management; Maximizing Value from Tourism Research and Monitoring; Strengthening Tourism Product Development for Sustainable Tourism; Maintaining Excellence in Corporate Governance and Performance; and Providing Effective Services through Human Resource, ICT and Financial Management.

After noticing the massive increase in trade between Korea and PNG, Prime Minister James Marape says there is even more room for growth. He made this statement after a Korean high-level delegation team led by Park Byeong-seug, who presented the Korean President H.E. Yoon Suk Yeol, revealed that Trade volumes between Republic of Korea and Papua New Guinea increased by 240 percent between 2021 and 2022, which is worth a massive K6.33 billion. The Korean Delegation Team met with the PNG PM at the Sir Manasupe Haus in Port Moresby yesterday (21/03/23). Prime Minister James Marape says the country has energy sources and raw materials. “My Government is pushing for downstream processing and we invite companies in relevant industries in your country to come into our Special Economic Zones (SEZs).” “Our GDP (gross domestic product) is well-placed to expand rapidly in the next 10 to 15 years, based on the resources we have, so we are inviting companies from friends of PNG – including Korea – to come and do business here.” PM Marape also said there were several outstanding bilateral issues between Korea and PNG over many years which needed to be resolved. PMJM during yesterday's meet with the Korean delegation, has been invited by the Korean President to attend the first Korea-Pacific Islands Summit in Seoul in May 2023, to discuss issues of climate change as well as furthering bilateral relations.

Acts of violence perpetrated against women and girls in the upper Highlands Region is getting out of hand and the respective mandated leaders need to physically intervene and make amends with their own people, to put an end to this. These are the words of appeal from the Director of the Highlands Human Rights Defender Group Mary Kini, in light of the recent acts of violence against women and girls that have been headlining the news lately. “We need the mandated leaders to come down to the grassroots level and talk to their own people.” She said such a dialogue is important to identify the root cause of what instigates these cruel acts of violence that are perpetrated against mainly females in a community. “If we can identify the root cause, then all concerned parties can then start to work together to come up with solutions to address GBV (Gender Based Violence) and SARV (Sorcery Accusation Related Violence) in the communities in hotspot areas.” Kini said there is just so much violence and as citizens, it is the responsibility for everyone to work together and with our leaders, to address this issue. Mary said the Highlands Human Rights Defenders, as an advocacy group are often front liners in addressing GBV and SARV related violence in the community, often, putting their own lives and safety on the line. “We cannot address this issue alone, we need cooperation and a more coordinated effort from all other concerned government and non-government organizations in addressing GBV and SARV in the communities and the country.” Despite there been a lack of cooperation and coordination between relevant bodies, the HRD Group has a very effective network and continues to carry out effective work in the Highlands Region. “We usually receive funding for our work from OXFAM and very recently from the National Government.” Kini said that the work they do is very risky and appealed to the relevant government bodies to work together, to ensure they can be able to continue to carry out their work with adequate resources that is reinforced with assistance from the relevant government agencies.

Theresa Kila Pat is proud that her passion for sewing has not only become a small business for her family, but that she can also teach other women in her community how to earn money as seamstresses. “Sewing was something I learned in my home economics class in high school many years ago, and because of my passion for sewing, I easily learned the skills from my mother as well and since then, sewing has been my hobby for the past 33 years,” the mother of four said. Through the PNG–Australia Partnership, Theresa was amongst 23 participants, including Kokoda Village Health Volunteers (VHVs), who undertook the Seif Meri Mun (SMM) training conducted by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Kokoda. The SMM project provided women and girls living in the Kokoda Track region with a way to better manage menstruation with dignity and ensure women’s participation in education, training, and employment opportunities by supplying free reusable sanitary pads to women in remote communities. Through the Kokoda Initiative’s livelihood program, Australia supports women and vulnerable groups with improved access to income generation activities and inclusive services. The Seif Meri Mun project facilitated training that taught local women sewing skills and provided further opportunities for income generation. Theresa subsequently helped to train 16 women as seamstresses. The women produced over 700 sanitary hygiene kits for women and girls in the Kokoda Track region. Since the engagement with the SMM program, Theresa has expanded her business by purchasing four new sewing machines. “Being engaged as the project supervisor to lead on this SMM project urged me to go beyond my limit,” she said. “I worked hard and now own six sewing machines, which I use to sew for my business and teach other women in my community.” In addition to her tailoring business, Theresa runs weekly sewing sessions at home with women from her community, where she teaches them how to sew simple household products. “Not only do I train other women, but I teach my children as well, and I tell them sewing is a life skill.” “From watching me teach other women to sew, my 22-year-old son David can now sew pillowcases, face masks, curtains and even helped sew sanitary hygiene kits. Seeing my son learn this skill makes me a proud mother and trainer.” Theresa sews meri blouses, skirts, pillowcases, tablecloths, curtains, face masks and sanitary hygiene kits for schoolgirls and women. “I aim to partner with our community schools in Oro and sew uniforms and supply SMM kits to girls in Oro Province schools,” said Theresa.

St George Illawarra have recorded their first win to start the year, overcoming an early deficit to beat the Titans 32-18 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah. Dragons halfback Ben Hunt and fullback Tyrell Sloan were among the stars in their first showing of the season with the side clearly putting their Charity Shield performance behind them and enjoying the benefit of an additional week off. The Titans shot out of the blocks with tries to Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Sam Verrills setting up a 12-2 lead but their advantage was evaporated by half-time with the Dragons running in three tries in eight minutes before the break. Dragons recruit Jacob Liddle finished off a Sloan break up the middle in the 31st minute before Hunt weaved his way to the line via a Zac Lomax offload shortly after. St George Illawarra hit the lead when Mikaele Ravalawa crossed eight seconds before half-time as poor discipline started to prove costly for the visitors. It continued after the break with Tanah Boyd unable to find touch from a penalty which enabled Hunt to send Sloan over from close range in the following set. More ill-discipline allowed Lomax to take a second penalty goal of the game as the Titans' kicking game into the breeze was questionable. Justin Holbrook opted for Jayden Campbell's injection into the game with 15 minutes to go but it meant little when Blake Lawrie crossed moments later to set up a dominant lead. A try to Tino Fa'asuamaleaui with 10 minutes left flattered the scoreboard as the Dragons notched up a comfortable win.

Women from the proposed Wafi Golpu Mining in affected areas in the Morobe province observed International Women’s Day yesterday at City Link Hotel in Lae city. The women from the proposed Mining area down to the pipeline and tailing disposal areas were on their way to attend a business conference the next day when they were led to observe the day. Yaitung Jonath representing women from Salamaua Local Level Government (LLG) area in Huon Gulf District said such an occasion allows women to take get- togethers to table challenges and issues they face and find the best ways forward. She suggests business houses through social networking, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and Government to create more avenues where women can take on as avenues to table their challenges. Secretary for Wagang Outfall Landowners Association Lisa Kauc shared similar sentiments and said most times women were overlooked and restrained from doing male-performed tasks. She said the occasion observed worldwide is commended, but the stakeholders at the local level have to make it more convenient for women to use as avenues to address issues. More than 20 women attended the event which was hosted by Wafi Golpu Mining Ltd. Daily challenges and issues faced by women were presented by the company's social affairs department. Presentations were done on actual situations faced by women in our society that hinders development.

Alarming  reports of fights resulting in deaths in Morobe Province is a major concern for the wider community and stakeholders and is a wake up call for authorities to intervene and look into possible ways to address. Fighting and deaths have been reported since 2022 after the National General Election and is reportedly ongoing and is rising in different electorates. Police alone cannot address these issues. They need support from communities, the local leaders and the government to step in and address. Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Jacob Singura said police cannot be everywhere to attend to such cases. He said the eye and mouthpiece of the police are local leaders at community level and members of communities must respect and cooperate with them to address matters. Singura said what is happening is a reflection that there was no respect for each other at the community level, resulting in simple issues getting complicated. He is urging communities to maintain church programmes by engaging youths in the key roles to occupy them so that they can have positive mindsets to make good decisions in communities. Singura said church activities would only be the way to transform communities.