The Bakovi Kabu Development Association held a meeting yesterday to discuss their education awareness program that will eventuate in the Talasia district of West New Britain province. The awareness program is set to begin next week Monday and continue for a week and will be targeting the youths and children that have not secured a space in the universities and colleges. Vice President of the Association Mr. Michael Reu Junior, confirmed that two teams have been allocated five wards each to visit and talk to the young people. “This association is a mixed group and it is comprised of students, youths and working class of the Bakovi tribe in West New Britain,” said the president. Mr. Reu stated, their main focus is to encourage and give hope to the children that were not able to further their studies because of the education system that did not allow them. “We would like to motivate the youths and children that there are other options or institutions like FODE, ITI, Mapex and UPNG Open college that they can go through and achieve their dreams”. “There is a list of names we have collected and we're going to send their documents next week to institutions that they would want to study or upgrade their marks”. Meanwhile, part of the awareness will cover law and order topics, which they see is a need as well in the communities of the Talasia District. “We did not receive support from the provincial government or any organization, the association has been doing five major fundraisings and with capital we have, we are hoping and looking forward to successfully roll out this project”.

Tokarara Nest United is one of the 48 teams taking part in the 2022 Governor’s cup that that is currently going on at the Ipi Park, Port Moresby. In a tough match with the Pom Mengies, both teams went away on Wednesday with the same score line of four points all in Pool C. Assistant Coach Francis Asi said, a lot of top teams are taking part in this tournament which is going to be a hard battle for them. The team is looking forward for more matches in their round robin pool and determined for place in the top eight. “We as a team have short term goals and long term goals we already set and working towards them. Our short goal is make sure we amongst the eight teams that will make the top eight and our long term goal is to win the premiership”. He further urged players to focus and play hard in order to earn a good ending results at the end of the competition. “We had a good team last year which we went as far as to the knock out matches but unlucky to make into the finals and for this year we looking forward to making it to the grand final.” Mr. Asi added they are using rugby league as way of bringing young talents of Tokarara, Waigani, Hohola and June Valley together and build them in sports. “We seeing development of rugby league as a tool to change youth mindsets and keep them way from social issues in the communities”.

The Nation’s Capital reports no accidents, deaths or other major incidents over the Christmas period. NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Silva Sika has highlighted that the city has been peaceful during the first phase of this festive season with no major incidents being reported. “With the ongoing police road blocks and night patrols, there has been no reports of accidents nor deaths compared to previous years,” said the NCD Metro. According to Met Supt Sika, police commanders at respective suburbs within the city are working tirelessly to ensure the general public observe the festive season with respect and consideration for others as well. From observation reports while patrolling the city, Met Supt Sika stated that many festive celebrations took place in churches and at respective residence. Mr Sika said he noticed significant number of people celebrating Christmas with alcohol, but it was within their respective homes with no reports of public nuisance and beer related incidents within the city. In the meantime, police will continue with their festive operations into New Year and road blocks with vehicle checkups will still continue until new year night. “We are hoping that it will remain peaceful like this until the festive season is over and I am appealing to drivers and motorist to be mindful about alcohol consumption because the police will not hesitate to arrest anyone when they are caught in act”, said Mr Sika, NCD Met Supt. With few more days left before the new year Met Supt is appealing to the residents of the nation’s capital to behave, refrain from any unlawful acts and celebrate safe.

Police in Lae removed cartoons of beers from a Chinese shop when caught trading during Liquor ban period. Members of Sector Response Unit (SRU) removed all hard stuff and brewery products from Namobada Trading at Snackbar beside Muse Club who was reportedly selling liquor yesterday. A source from the police said the cartoons of beer were removed and brought up to exhibition room and locked. Acting Provincial Administrator Max Bruten has written to the provincial liquor licensing officer, directing the issuance of liquor ban notice. All liquor outlets were ordered to close from 19th December, 2022, and reopen on the 01st of February, 2023. Exception were given to hotels and motels who will serve within their premises, but that does not include nightclubs. Despite the Liquor ban notice, there were some shops, bars and vendors operating away from authorities. Police got tip off on the trades and are working on dealing with the culprits who have defied orders issued by the provincial government.

The Evangelical Lutheran of Papua New Guinea is sending a deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family of late Mrs. Irmgard Horndasch. Late Irmgard was former missionary from Germany in 1957, who was engaged with ELCPNG and served in Katec District in Morobe. She passed away on the 22nd of December peacefully at her home in Neuendettelsau, a small town in Germany. Head Bishop Reverend Jack Urame on behalf of the governing council, administration and the church, sent condolences to late Irmgard's family who are in mourning. She was instrumental in establishing the Women Training Centre know as Wokmeri Treining School, first established in Satelberg in Finschhafen. Today ELCPNG has three Wokmeri Treining Schools (WTS) in operation. Satelberg, Stang at Kaipit in Markham and Baitabag in Madang. Her name is synonymous with the work of the ELC-PNG, which she shaped for many years. May God comfort and strengthen her husband and family in this time of grief and pain.

Police patrols in remote parts of Morobe continued this week with zero incidents recorded. Acting Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector John Daviaga said all highways have been cleared from any illegal activities. "The highway patrol unit 05 is making constant patrols with the support of other units ensuring no holdups are set to obstruct unnecessary traffic ques at this busy period." Daviaga added that police are also checking vehicles to ensure no dangerous weapons or drugs are transported along the highway. "So far so good with the reports of road checks as public can access the main highways freely." Daviaga is taking his hats off to officers and respective station commanders who are very hard working and cooperative in ensuring this Christmas period is observed trouble free. He further appealed to communities and the community leaders to cooperate with police to observe the New year in the same safe and enjoyable manner.

Festive celebrations within New Ireland Province have been generally peaceful and quiet since the festive pre-operations began and is running smoothly. That's according to New Ireland Provincial Police Commander Felix Nebanat. "Police operations throughout the province is progressing accordingly as outgoing police officers from the six major stations, are ensuring communities and villages celebrate this festive season peacefully." PPC Nebanat further added that this despite the ratio of police officers to citizens within a particular LLG being unbalanced. “There is a total of 80 police officers to a population of 300,000 people in the province. The ratio of a single police officer is 2000 to 3000 citizens. This is unbalanced and this problem is faced by other provinces as well”. He further said the operations were supported by the New Ireland Provincial Government in terms of police allowances and transport to carry out their duties. A dinghy was also donated to the Taskul Police Station on New Hanover Island for police to patrol and monitor movements between the islands. Thus far, there were no major incidents reported to have occurred over the Christmas weekend, only a 15 seater PMV bus that went off road due to a punctured tyre, however there were no casualties or reported deaths. "There is a dispute on Djaul Island just outside Kavieng which police will be looking into today." Meanwhile, PPC Nebanat wants to warn the people of New Ireland Province against the use of firecrackers. “We are restricting the use of firecrackers after hours as this causes disturbances to the general public." "Police will be on lookout for people who are consuming illegal alcohol also, whoever found consuming illegal alcohol will be dealt with accordingly”. He further highlighted that New Ireland Police will incorporate the restoration justice system into rural communities beginning next year to involve the participation of community leaders to assist police reduce illegal and criminal activities in the rural areas. Nebanat has further commended New Ireland citizens for observing this festive season with good behavior and he hopes they maintain the good spirit until they progress into the New Year, 2023. 

A clash this early morning in Malagunan 1 village in Rabaul, East New Britain Province has left one man dead. East New Britain Acting Provincial Police Commander Senior Inspector Gabriel Bandi, confirmed the death and stated that situation is still tense in Malagunan1 village. Snr Inspector Bandi mentioned that CID officers from Rabaul are currently in the village conducting investigations into the cause of the clash early this morning and possible suspects will be apprehended and arrests will be made as soon as all necessary information in relation to the killing is revealed. ACP Bandi also stated that there was a report on a kidnapping case and an arm robbery at Vunapope Doctors Residence but all reports are still sketchy at the moment, however after CID investigations are done than full reports will be made known. In the meantime, Kokopo, Kerevat and Pomio has being really quiet over the Christmas weekend, with no major incidents being reported. Senior Inspector Bandi said despite all this major incidents over the Christmas weekend he is hoping that come New Year all will be peaceful with no major incidents. "Overall, celebrations in the province over the Christmas weekend was peaceful with families having celebrations at home and at their respective churches." "For now we are currently waiting for a briefing from the CID Unit in Rabaul in regards to the reports about the incidents that have transpired over the Christmas weekend in order for us to carry out our duties accordingly in preparations for the New Year," said Snr Inspector Bandi. Snr Inspector Bandi wants to remind everyone in Rabaul and East New Britain that safety is of utmost concern and that everyone must celebrate with care and he wants to also remind everyone that Police will still be carrying out their festive operations until New Year.

Locals from Gabensis village in Huon Gulf District, Morobe Province were praised for their assistance in apprehending suspects and handing them over to police. Acting Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector John Daviaga commended locals from Gabensis village, after they apprehended two suspects alleged to have being involved in a break and enter and arson case on Friday night. A local Trade store Owner, Mr Albert Salko who was the victim laid complaints to police that two youths in their early 20s had set fire under his kitchen and then went into his house and attempted to unlock his cooking gas cylinder when some members of his family caught them. Mr Sallko stated that the youths initial plan must have being to break and enter, steal, burn down his kitchen and escape while everyone in the village were attending church service. However this did not work out for the two suspects when some of his family members returned home from church early and signaled other villagers who acted swiftly and apprehended the two youths before they could escape. ACP John Daviaga thanked the locals for their efforts in apprehending these suspects and said these two suspects are now in police custody.

While many people are celebrating Christmas, the medical staff at the Kokoda Memorial Hospital in the Oro province are hard at work trying to deal with the influx of patients during this festive period. According to a senior medical staff Mrs. Alice Eroro, the hospital is seeing an influx of patients with injuries and the matter has been made worse with the shortage of medical drugs. “We have a patient admitted with fractured bones along with cases of drunkards injured because of fighting on the streets,” she said. Apart from the injuries, Mrs. Eroro said the hospital reported one death. It was a woman who was brought to the hospital after she collapsed. She also said that another matter is that the hospital’s ambulance is at the workshop at the moment, meaning that it will be difficult for them to attend to cases. This has also put further stress on the hospital staff. In terms of medical drug supplies, she said the issue is with the delay of medical supplies from the Lae medical center and as a result of this, the hospital is experiencing drug shortage. Mrs. Eroro also confirmed that there is an outbreak of Diarrhea in the community and they are finding it difficult treating patients because of the shortage of intravenous fluids and others drugs at the hospital. However, something good did happen at the Kokoda Memorial Hospital this festive period. Two babies were delivered, one on Friday at around nine o’clock in the morning and the other one in the early hours of this morning. Both babies weight 3 kilograms and are both well and with their mothers.

Police patrols in the remote areas of Morobe Province commenced last week as lead up to Christmas and New Year operations. Police from respective district are running their patrols whilst the Rural Patrol Unit (RPU) Command is supporting by being on standby for calls and running operations along the Highlands highway. Acting Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector John Daviaga, also said a unit has been deployed to Bulolo to boost manpower in the area and another unit was assigned to patrol the Highlands highway. Daviaga said there have been no major incidents reported in the province so far, since the rural patrols started. He stated that unlike the previous Christmas, this lead up Christmas operations reported zero fights in the communities and zero road accidents along the main highways. He also thanked community leaders for initiating sports and church activities and engaging youths in these activities, which has kept them out of trouble this festive period. He is also urging the public to continue to work together with his officers, so to ensure a safe Christmas and New Year.

The Kwikila Health Center in the Central Province, saw their first baby delivered during the start of the festive period. The 3kg baby was born around 11 o’clock in the morning by Sister in Charge, Anna Atop. Sister Anna confirmed that there were no other mothers at the labor ward at the time although staff have been advised to be prepared and on alert. “The Health Center has a special rooster for the festive season and staff are expected to work as schedule”. Apart from their first birth, Sister Anna mentioned that more than 5 separate accidents have been reported to the health center and all cases are currently admitted at the health center. “So far, staff have been kept busy attending to emergency cases. We also have two ambulances on standby to do referral runs to Port Moresby General Hospital.” Sister Anna revealed that the Health Center has not received any funding from the Provincial Government for the festive period. They have had to operate from their own budget at the Health Center. “Because of the lack of funding, we are running low on medical supplies. We have had to advise patients and their guardians to buy their own fuel for the ambulances if they need to use them.” The Sister in Charge stated that with the heavy rainfall currently been experienced in the area, they will be expecting more patients at the Health Center