Following the recent clash between villages on the Island of Kiriwina, police in Milne Bay are now looking to establish the cause of death of what police believe to be 17 reported deaths from information on the Island. Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Peter Barkie has stated that he now has men on the ground looking into the report of the deaths and to maintain a police presence to discourage further fighting on the island. “We could not get men onto the island due to logistical issues because to get to Kiriwina, you need to go by boat. We only have dinghies here at the Alotau station so we had to requisition a boat from PNG Ports, but by that time it was already late so we went this morning,” said the superintendent. At the moment, the Losiua Station is quiet as relatives of the deceased combatants are in mourning over the loss of their loved ones. “The people have stopped fighting to mourn their dead, however my men will be maintaining their presence on the island to ensure that no violence ensues as there is still tension between both parties,” PPC Barkie said.  

Missingi High School in the ward 15 area of Arabacca Local Level Government of Middle Ramu district in Madang Province, were privileged to receive a new sawmill donated by former parliamentarian and businessman, Alois Kingsley. Missingi High School is one of few high schools located in the Arabacca LLG and it is a newly established high school, thus lacks proper facilities that will cater for the hundred plus students all across the Arabacca LLG. Mr. Kingsley when presenting the new saw mill urged the people of Missingi to take ownership of the school as it is an important asset for their children's future. "It is your responsibility to take ownership of the Missingi high school as I have did when buying this new saw mill. I want you locals to assist in small ways like cutting grass and give trees to the school so they can build new classrooms, "he said. Mr. Kingsley after having said that promised that he will build two new classrooms for the school before the year ends . "We must be independent and not to look at the government most of the times, thus let's build this school so that the government and other funder organisations can help when they see that we are taking ownership of our own services," He said. Meanwhile, Head Master of the high school Mr. Justin Wuru in his remarks, commended Mr Kingsley for donating the new saw mill to the school as the they will now be able to build new permanent classrooms and teachers houses. "There are only few people who would give such a donation and I couldn't ask for more from you" Mr. Wuru said. Furthermore, Mr. Wuru shared the same sentiment that it is not his own responsibility to look after everything  as it is also the responsibility of the parents, locals and everyone to help build this school to what they want it to be.

School principals and headmasters in Madang Province have raised their concerns to the provincial examination coordinator, Alphonse Igag last Friday after the conclusion of grade 10's examination on the lack of funding for the marking of grade 8's and 10's examination paper and grade 9 and 11 selection. According to the provincial examination coordinator, Alphonse Igag, he said that the general concerns raised was that they may not be able to complete this two process. Mr Igag stressed that the advice they have been getting from the provincial administration is not helping at this time. " We are calling on the provincial administration and responsible authorities to step in and address this issue thus we do not want our students to be held back in their education," Igag said. Igag revealed that the situation is not new to Madang as his school has been going out on its own in previous years to assist other schools in the province. "For some years now my school ( Tusbab Secondary school) was able to assist in this sort of activities with funding to help out however, this year we are not able to fund this activities due to limitation of funds," he said. Meanwhile Education Minister, Jimmy Uguro whilst responding to the matter revealed that the provincial government is responsible as this funding are budgeted under the provincial education sectors in all provinces. " "Such are administrative issues and it must be managed by the provinces," Uguro said. Minister Uguro reiterated that Education Department is responsible for examination papers preparations and distributions to the provinces, thus calls on respective authorities to assist the schools respectively. Furthermore, several attempts were made to get the response from the Madang Provincial Administration were unsuccessful.

The National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu, has spoken out on the alleged killing of a 10 year old boy since the start of the eviction on the 12th of this month. Ikumu has mentioned that the recent videos showcasing people mourning over the boy on social media cannot be verified or confirmed, as so far, no one has made an official complaint to the police regarding the particulars of the death. Superintendent Ikumu said that since the beginning of the eviction process there was resistance from the settlers, with an altercation on the first day, leaving one officer injured in the process but no report was made about the boy. “We have not received any report of a 10 year old boy being shot by my men, but if there has been, I am calling on the family of the boy to come forward and place an official complaint so we can work on identifying the person’s responsible and hold them accountable,” Ikumu said. He is now urging the families of the boy to come forward and report the case, as many times cases like this go unattended and when reported, it’s too late to attend to due to lack of evidence. “My men are fully aware of the situation and they are only there to carry out the mandate given by the court order,” he said. The Met. Supt. stated that even though the has been no violence, there is still a sense of hostility lingering in the air as the eviction continues, but right now the main focus of the NCD Police is to enforce the order that was granted by the Court.

A non government  organization  here in Lae is calling on business houses, government departments and kindhearted individuals to support its rehabilitation programme. Banis Discharged Rehabilitation Services (BDRS), a Non Government Organisation helps prisoners who are released from Buimo Correctional Service to become useful assets in their communities. The organisation help shape former inmates mentally and connect them to become useful in their respective communities. Founder and director Maison Mai said they have operated for six years now but have helped less than 200 discharged prisoners due to lack of support. He said with necessary support, they can register discharge prisoners, teach them on mindset changing and help them with capital start ups to go run their interested activities in their own communities. Maison said the programme is also part of crime prevention where they try to minimise them to recommit a crime. He said they try to ensure the discharged prisoners go out and become useful assets in their respective communities. Mai who was also a former inmate, said with the support from the partners, BDRS has successfully backed discharged prisoners with needed support to go do positive activities in their respective communities. Currently Panamex Pacific Ltd, Lae City Authority, Catholic Church and others are very supportive to the organisation. One of the discharged prisoners who went through BDRS is Gedion Luio, a 27 years old now running his own taxi business and finance company here in Lae. So far, BDRS has served 165 prisoners being discharged from Buimo Correctional Service. Out of the total, only four prisoners have been successful and doing well in their communities. But the organisation now is running down on necessary resources to keep its mission going. With huge challenges now on lack of finance and resources, the organisation is putting an open call to kindhearted individuals, business houses and government departments to intervene with necessary support in any form which will help in one way or the other to cut down law and order issues.

Morobe Governor Luther Wenge has announced a plan to build a new University in Morobe Province. He has announced plans to build the University at Wawin outside 40 Mile where the National Department of Livestock Farm is situated. He made this announcement last Friday during Wawin National School of Excellence 21st grade 12 graduation. Wenge said he as the provincial minister for education and governor he will ensure this plan becomes a reality. He said the plan to build a University is to cater the growing number of students expected to pass out from Wawin National School of Excellence and Secondary schools in Morobe. Wenge said the plan will be tabled at Tutumang Haus for discussions and recommendations to be made for the Department of Higher Education, Science, Research and Technology and its ministry for National Executive Council's (NEC) approval. He stated that since National High Schools have shifted to National School of Excellence under the 1 - 6 - 6 education structure system, there is a need to build universities to cater growing number of students expected to pass out from both Secondary and National School of Excellence. He stated that advance in technology is also one that requires highly skilled people to do complex jobs at the local level. He has announced that the university will cater trade courses which goes in line with his plans to produce technocrats in the province.

Settlement houses under water due to flood Madang town faced a heavy rainfall on Monday night which continued till Tuesday morning leaving ward seven and eight areas along the Wagol river to be under water. The most affected affected areas were the Wagol settlements and Bilia Maus rot. As for the settlers with high stilts houses were fortunate enough to bypass the flood however for those who have low post houses have lost most of their belongings and some displaced. The flood prevented most of the children from going to school and those employed to go to work on time. Some of the families who have lost their houses from the recent earthquake and are still rebuilding their homes said it was a double blow to them Esther Baira from Wagol settlement said that her house was collapsed due to the recent earthquake and most of them have not recovered yet when the flood occurred. "My house was collapsed due to the recent earthquake as I was still rebuilding my house when the river flooded and most of my utensils and my families belongings have been washed away by the flood," Naira said. Meanwhile at Bilia Maus Rot the traffic was halted for more than an hour by high waters that spilled over onto the road. Another settlement that is understood to also be badly affected by the Wagol river flood is Gov stoa.

Community leaders in Wain Erap Local Level Government area in Nawaeb District, Morobe are concerned on the rising trade and consumption of marijuana in the area. Ward six Councilors Mandina Bum said most of the dealers and consumers were school leavers. Ward nine councilor Mathias Gotong also shared similar concerns and said councilors needed police, Local Level Government councils president and District to work together in addressing the issues. Already Erap has four murder cases reported to have occurred under the influence of marujuana. Two youths have been convicted and are at Buimo Prison Centre. Morobe Provincial Police Commander Jacob Singura confirmed the reports and said police have limited manpower and needed every individuals, government and other partners to address this.

The Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) class streamlined in the National School of Excellence throughout the country is part of the education restructure system. This was a statement from the Department of Higher Education, Science, Research and Technology's first secretary Mr. Andrew Angorobe. He said under the 1-6-6 education restructure system, the department has initiated and introduced this streamed class to prepare students at the earliest stage to study foundation year courses while they are studying at the National School of Excellence. Angorobe said National High Schools have also been changed to National School of Excellence throughout the country under the education reform system. As part of the education reform, the system allows National School of Excellence throughout the country to select grade 11s who have top Grade Point Averages (GPAs) to study at the University's foundation year courses in grade 12. Under the education restructure system, the aim of the plan is to produce intellectuals at the earliest stage. Angorobe said the under the plan, students are taught on managing time, studies and personal activities. He said students face extreme pressures and develop the tradition of administering studies and personal lives. He stated that University first year courses have been developed and offered to STEM students at the National School of Excellence. Wawin National School of Excellence is one of the National School of Excellence in the country to have STEM students. The Department of Higher Education, Science, Research and Technology will be arranging travels and accommodation for the first STEM students throughout the country to attend combine graduation in Port Moresby after the grade 12 National examinations.

Wawin National School of Excellence  in Morobe Province graduated 152 grade 12 students last Friday. Out of the 152 students, 18 of the students were from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) class. This was school's 21st grade 12 graduation staged inside the school campus. School principal Mr. Pal Pu described the graduation event as special compared with other graduation events as for this year, the school graduated pioneer STEM students. He said despite lots of challenges encountered over the academic year, the school with its stance on faith and religious activities has made it possible to overcome situations and eventually to stage graduation ceremony. The pioneer STEM class in Wawin National School of Excellence is part of a plan introduced by the Department of Higher Education, Science, Research and Technology to equip students in National School of Excellence throughout the country with foundation year studies so that they continue on with bachelor courses in national universities when they are selected for further studies. The programme was initiated to align with 1-6-6 education structure system to produce intellectuals at the earliest stage.

The Peace Restoration Committee that was set up in the Southern Highlands Province after election violence disrupted the livelihood of communities and displaced families, today organized an appeal in Mendi for assistance in the restoring the town to what it was prior to the elections. Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector Daniel Yangen advised that the “Wheel Barrow Push,” was organized by the whole compound communities who fell victim to election violence, are appealing to the public for any form of assistance with police providing security for the people. “What they have done is, informed the people of Mendi Town and the rest of SHP to come together and assist with relief funds for the victims. At the same time organize a forum for the people in the presence of the Vice Minister of State Owned Enterprises and Mendi-Munihu Open Member, Rapael Tonpi was present to hear the people,” PPC Yangen stated. He added that unfortunately they could not continue their program due to bad weather, with the Vice minister not having the chance to address his people. Yangen went on to state that representatives from the public sector in SHP, such as the Hospital, Banks, the utilities such as PNG Power and himself all urged the people to refrain from violence and to stand firm to bring Mendi back to peace and normalcy. The PPC is now urging the people to surrender their firearms, stating that this is the first move towards peace.

The Police Commissioner’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Steven Francis in his speech to the NCD Police Command this week at the Boroko Police station outlined that the handover of the 8 vehicles to the Metropolitan Superintendent was part of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary’s Corporate plan, moving forward into the future to provide better and efficient policing for the country. Mr. Francis stated that the corporate plan is about public safety and law and order with the second motion focused on the Detection, Investigation and Prosecution, adding that both come hand in hand with the first pillar. “When the Commissioner appointed me, what he instructed me to do was a complete restructure, starting from my office down and that’s where of course the slogan comes Stretim Hap Rot Blong RPNGC Pastem,” he said. He added that they can talk about their first and second goals but if they cannot settle themselves in house in terms of accountability, governance and leadership, then cannot go and fight crime on the streets. “Everything is in the corporate plan, it is just how we are prioritizing it and how we will drive it forward,” he stated. Mr. Francis mentioned that one of the RPNGC’s biggest need is an increase of police strength emphasizing that it is the top priority they need to address. With it comes the increase of housing for the officers and also the need for more police stations. Those are the big ticket items. The welfare of the policemen and women are important, such as housing and now, Bomana Police College is under construction to cater for 300-500 personnel for police intake, those are part of the things that we are now working towards,” he stated.