The Lae City Authority (LCA) has started conducting random checks on Liquor outlets, gaming and entertainment centres, night clubs and food bars in order to see if they are complying with health and safety regulations. These random checks are a done in a partnership between LCA, department of labour, ICCC, IRC, police, IPA and immigration. The random checks commenced last night saw the joint task force were able to shut down several gaming and Liquor outlets. The initiative was recommended by Member for Lae MP and Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso to ensure all businesses comply with laws while operating in the industrial city. So far, several gaming centres and Liquor outlets have been closed down because they have failed to comply with laws. The Liquor outlets and food bars that have failed to comply with health and safety measures over the years, have been ordered to shut down. The operation will continue this week with officials tasked with various duties to question the illegal business activities here in Lae.

An unfortunate incident that occurred a fortnight ago has seen two lives lost, as a woman who was 7 months into her pregnancy, lost her life and that of her child after falling off a moving vehicle. Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Peter Barkie advised that this sad event occurred in the Mapamoiwa Village on Ferguson Island in the Milne Bay Province. “There were 25 people that loaded a tractor over the weekend and unfortunately the vehicle got into an accident after falling off a bridge resulting in the pregnant woman’s death,” PPC Barkie said. The rest were at the clinic on the island while those with major injuries were taken to the Hospital in Alotau to be treated.    

The attempts made by police in Madang to apprehend the members of the notorious Hetwara Gang have been futile due to the tough terrain of the Nankina Valley, says Madang Provincial Police Commander. Superintendent Rubiang Mazuc has stated that police personnel have yet to get to the location of the gangs last whereabouts due to the rugged environment. “The only way to get through to that location is via air, so we are still waiting on the Raicoast MP,” the PPC said. He added that during the National General Elections, they were able to maintain a presence within the area with help from the NATEL forces but after that they have yet to return to address the reports of violence. They are now waiting for the Member for Raicoast to assist them but so far, they have not yet received any assistance. Madang Provincial Police Commander says he is yet to receive any reports from the sources inside the Nankina Valley due to network issues within the Valley. PPC Mazuc said they only go to areas where they can access proper reception to make calls and advise the police. “Due to the networki issue in the area, our informants only come to us when they are at any location to take our calls,” the PPC said. He added that he has not received any reports of any deaths or casualties from the area. He also stated that their informants also put themselves at risk when they try to report back as they also exposing themselves to the gang.

An official swearing in ceremony was made this week to welcome the new Madang Governor, Ramsey Pariwa, into the Madang Provincial House of Assembly. In presence of the ceremony, included Member for Madang district, Bryan Kramer as well as Raicoast MP, Kessy Sawang and nineteen Presidents of the LLGs of Madang Province. The program began with a welcoming ceremony at the Madang airport of the six MPs and Governor Ramsey Pariwa followed by the main event. In light of this event, Governor Pariwa in his Maiden speech to the people of Madang, announced that this week marks a new beginning for Madang. He stressed that he has a big responsibility ahead of him as the Governor to change and see basic services. “The Provincial Administration has failed the people in terms of service delivery for past five years thus, the administration needs to be looked into thoroughly." He also said, the six MPs of Madang including himself must unite and work together for the development of the Province, saying, “This is the new Madang”. Furthermore, despite the different political parties they're in, Pariwa said, they have to work together to bring the province back to once known as Beautiful Madang and have also urged the people of Madang to work with their respective leaders as they can make a difference in the society by working together. In addition to this, the second part of the program will commence tomorrow with a special dedication and ecumenical service for the six members and the Governor at the Madang Memorial Lutheran church with the general public all welcomed to attend. Pariwa, is now preparing to sit with the six MPs in the coming days to implement the five years development plan for Madang and its people. Meanwhile, the local leaders from Ambenob LLG, are calling upon the newly and re-elected members of the six districts of Madang and the Governor to collaborate to make Madang a better province by 2027.

Rumors of 177 prisoners breaking out from the Bomana Correctional Centre here in the nation’s capital have been debunked by the Correctional Institute Services Commissioner, Mr. Steven Pokanis. Mr. Pokanis advised that he had been made aware of the reports in the early hours of this morning. “I am aware of the reports of the breakout. I was informed early hours of this morning and fortunately all those reports are not true,” the commissioner said. He also stated that this seems to be a ploy by someone to instill fear to the masses here in the capital and assured that to his knowledge, there has been no jail breakout. “I can tell you now that right now all is good and there is no breakout and all is good,” Mr. Pokanis advised.

With the continuous violence, conflicts and terror inflicted by the 'Nankina Het Wara Gang' has left thousands to be displaced seeking refuge in the mountains of Nayudo LLG and Nahu Rawa LLG, Rai Coast District of Madang province. Newly-elected female member for Rai Coast District, Kessy Sawang was in grief and anger upon hearing a recent reports of attacks by the 'Het Wara' gang in Nankina area Sawang condemns the actions inflicted by this 'Het Wara' gang saying were 'acts evil' and will all be held accountable for what they have done. “This terror and violence has been an ongoing issue for over ten years now and has caused displacement of some twenty thousands plus people to seek refuge, inflicting violence upon women and children and disrupting basic services such as health and education in the district.” Sawang adds that, this was an ongoing issue in the district however, so far minimal actions were taken to address this issues by previous leaders. She further stated that she will do her best to address the issues faced in her long term and short term development plan for Rai Coast District. “In the coming weeks, this issue will be raised on the floor of parliament and what the government has done so far for Rai Coast District as it contributes much to the national economy, with Ramu Nickle, Basamuk Mine and Ramu Agri Industries.”  

An official induction ceremony was hosted on Tuesday this week, that welcomed the newly appointed governing council members for the Madang Teachers College. With the new governing council members, and their newly appointed governing council chairman, Joe Agavi, he has revealed that, he will continue to enforce the policies of the previous board and provide infrastructure development of Madang teachers college. “The new school board will perform its utmost best to also improve the run down facilities and continue to address issues to allow students to access basic necessities that will enable them to concentrate on their studies.” Agavi stressed that zero tolerance of alcohol in the campus is one of the policy's that will continue to be implemented and moreover, look into upgrading of run down facilities such as, student dormitories, stuff offices, and building sporting facilities on the campus. He reiterated that, the foundation of better tomorrow starts here with the students who will be the primary school teachers of the future generations.

Madang Provincial Health Authority (MPHA) partners with NGO's to continue advocating vaccination and awareness to minimize the spread of Covid-19 throughout Madang Province. A two weeks workshop was carried out in Madang lodge with the theme, 'Risk Communication and Community Engagement' under the initiative of the Madang Provincial Health Authority, UNICEF, F.H.I-360 and Save the Children collaborating to assist health workers in the rural clinics to carry out awareness on Covid-19. More than fifty plus community health workers throughout Madang Province took part in the training to enable them to advocate on the 'new normal' or 'niupla pasin' in place and also boost vaccination rate in their communities. According to Assistant Director for Public Health and Policy Program for Madang Provincial Health Authority, Paul Mabong says, this workshop is purposely to train community health workers to carry out covid-19 awareness and be advocates in their communities. “The percentage rate of vaccination in the province is very low, as more people are hesitant to get vaccinated and the threats made against health workers has caused this issue.” He stressed that, most health workers are facing the same issue of threats as social media posts continues to instigate more conspiracy theories against covid-19 vaccination. Mabong says, there were several trainings being hosted prior to this training with the aim to break barriers against vaccination in communities of Madang province.

Residents of Erima will now have to bear the power of the blazing sun and look elsewhere to punt after the Pacific Racing Betting shop located in the Erimart Shopping Complex, in Port Moresby went up in flames yesterday. According to eyewitness and staff accounts, the fire happened to be the result of the back-up Genset that was used to provide power, catching fire. Staff members and punters alike, gathered in front of the punting shop awestruck by the incident. The St. Johns Ambulance along with a fire engine from the PNG Fire Service were present to lend assistance to the staff and also the punters that escaped the fire and put out the fire before it spread to the rest of the complex. 10 casualties were treated for their injuries, including a male who sustained major lacerations to his face and arms as part of a successful attempt to break the glass on the building to escape. At the moment there has been no major casualties and according to the management of the punting shop, all staff were asked to return to the safety of their homes until the issue is sorted out.

More than 3, 000 people have fled for their safeties while properties worth hundreds of thousands have been burnt down to ashes at Back Road in Lae, Morobe Province. This follows a fight among settlers from Morobe and Sepiks. The fight steamed up after the declaration of Nawaeb open seat during the National General Election. This will be the fourth week of the ethnic clash to go on in the area. Deaths and serious injuries were sustained during the fight. However police are yet to confirm the number of deaths from both warring groups. Road access from Malahang way to Back Road has been closed as the fight continues. Working class people and students have been badly affected by the fight. Workers and students have been missing on work and classes when the clash went out of hand. Majority members of communities escaped for their lives leaving their vicinities as both warring parties have been using guns to attack each other. Some business houses like Majestic Sea Food, International Food Cooperation (IFC) and Malahang Industrial Centre have paused on their operations the clash continues. Bumayong Secondary School has suspended classes for indefinite period for the safety of teachers, ancillary staff and the students. Other primary and Early Childhood Schools operating along the fighting zone have closed down since when the clash bursted out. Police have been trying their best to maintain the situation to normalcy however they were outnumbered as the fight went out of hand and now taking up almost a month now. As of Monday, PNG Defence Force Engineering Battalion from Igam Barracks intervened to help police patrol the area. Morobe Governor Hon. Luther Wenge is aware of the issue and have tasked a committee to work with the fighting groups to negotiate how best the parties can conclude the fight.

A suspect who was a person of interest to police in Alotau for a while has finally been apprehended at the Makamaka LLG in Milne Bay Province while in possession of a military issued AR-15 rifle. The suspect, for a long time, according to the Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Peter Barkie, has been associated with the notorious criminal Tommy Baker and his gang. Supt. Barkie had advised that the suspect has been connected to other offences, but at this time could not divulge any information on the arrest as yet, pending a full brief from the Officer in charge. Barkie said that the suspect has been very elusive, evading arrest and added that they needed solid evidence to arrest him and keep him in police custody. The suspect is currently being detained at Alotau. Pic courtesy: Supt: Peter Barkie

As soon as the welcoming ceremony of the newly appointed Internal Security Minister, Mr. Peter Tsiamalili Jnr had come to a close, he did not waste time to address the public to inform the nation of his first steps as Minister. Speaking of the Code of ethics of the police he said that there may be challenges within the workforce that has allowed many of the police personnel to drop their guard. “I have already made it clear that he [Police commissioner Manning] sets the bench mark. I will have expectations that we need to then go back to having simple things done right,” the minister said. He added that it is those at the top level setting the standard for all those that follow in the police force. “I must reflect my workforce, if I am not chewing, if I am not smoking on duty, I don’t expect a junior officer at the district level to do the same thing so everything rises and falls on us,” Tsiamalili said. He added that he has an expectation to the Commissioner stating that the way he dresses the way he conducts himself, sets the benchmark for all those to follow. He further elaborated that no officer should work beneath that expectation. The minister encouraged the team to take that responsibility in their mindset and attitude towards their work. But when they provide that expectation to their team, as an organization they will make sure that they are looking after them well. He also flipped the coin to see things from the eyes of the officers themselves. “Maybe some service to where they are residing may not be to that standard where they get excited to come to work. So these are some things that we need to holistically look at too,” the minister said.