Prime Minister James Marape announced that the Cabinet is poised to decide this week regarding an assistance package for businesses impacted by the riots that occurred on 10 January of this year. PM Marape provided this update in a statement last night in response to inquiries raised by Member for Moresby North-East John Kaupa during yesterday’s parliamentary session. He revealed that a paper requesting government assistance is currently under deliberation by the National Executive Council (NEC), with approval anticipated during today’s session. While the specifics of the proposed assistance package were not disclosed, PM Marape acknowledged reports indicating a total loss of K480 million due to the unrest. He expressed regret to the affected business community for the resulting loss of employment and economic disruption during a recent Back-to-Business breakfast. The statement further gives PM Marape’s assurance to affected businesses of a comprehensive plan being prepared. It will be presented to Cabinet for consideration. Despite time constraints leading to the postponement of discussions during a recent Cabinet meeting, the prime minister confirmed that the matter will be addressed in detail on today. But in Parliament on Tuesday, the Prime Minister did disclose that administrative investigations into the Black Wednesday riots are completed. The report is slated for presentation to Cabinet during the upcoming session. In response to concerns about the police operation during the January 10th riots, PM Marape said the Government has initiated a Commission of Inquiry, to be headed by a sitting judge. This inquiry aims to comprehensively examine the events surrounding the riots, complementing ongoing investigations conducted by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary's Criminal Investigation Division into the underlying causes of the unrest. In a recent media conference last week, the Police Commissioner David Manning revealed that fifty individuals in the police office are facing disciplinary charges, with the president of the Police Association facing both disciplinary and criminal charges. PM Marape emphasized the government's commitment to addressing the aftermath of the riots with seriousness and thoroughness. "We are not taking this lightly," he affirmed, underscoring the importance of accountability and resolution in the face of recent challenges. The forthcoming assistance package and investigative measures reflect the government's dedication to supporting affected businesses and fostering stability in the community following the January riots.

Three clans from Sumkar district Local Level Government (LLG) in Madang province recently signed a conservation deed (CD) to protect 8490 hectares of land, consisting of 3468 hectares of marines and 5020 hectare of terrestrial. By signing the conservation deed, the landowners from Dabor village ward three of Sumgilbar local level government, agreed to place restrictions on the use of their land to preserve its environmental and ecological value for future generations. The signing coincided with the launching of the community based Natural Resources Management Plan (CbNRM). Three clans under The Kimadi Community Empowerment Association (KCEA) compromising of developed a management Plan using 12-step CbNRM Plan tool with continuous consultation from 2020 to 2024 with assistance from the United States Agency for international Development’s Lukautim Graun Program. Both events focus on achieving community’s vision to conserve and sustainably utilize natural resources to meet daily needs, protecting the culture and traditional needs and help develop and organize the community to improve livelihood for the benefit of future generations. The Management plan is part of a Conservation Deed agreement between the clan and is to be renewed every five years. The Management plan highlights and prioritizes conservative targets and current threats, land zoning, resource allocation, community environmental rules and penalties, resource management approaches and actions, conservation monitoring programs and proposed funding programs. Chairman of Kamadi Community empowerment Association, Justine Tapping thanked the Nature Conservancy and USAID LGP for the continued support in bringing the signing and launching of the management plan to fruition. TNC Country Manager Ruth Konia expressed gratitude to the USAID PNG LGP for its continuous support towards TNC and hoping for more CD signing for Madang to come and to the TNC’s commitment willingness to review the deed after 5 years. Also acknowledging the hardship needed at first but through good community cooperation, ownership, and partnership anything is possible. Due to other pressing commitment that withdrew the presence of UASID PNG LGP, Chief of Party, Tom Pringel. He stated, “We are proud to be part of the achievement and celebrate a milestone achievement with the Kamadi Community who have taken the initiative to protect their land.” The attendees who witnessed the occasion includes DT Global (USAID PNG LGP) Director for Finance Prabesh Aryal and Madang field officers, Country Director for TNC including her team officers, from Madang Governor’s office and Madang Provincial Government departments sector heads.

Excitement and significant changes in parliament today was not lost to the public as a new Opposition Leader took his chair, and the prime minister was put on the spot about employment, and job creation statistics by a former senior government colleague, and his government’s response to the Black Wednesday events. The prime minister was also asked, by Member for Moresby North-East John Kaupa, among other questions, as to the government’s support, if any, to assist businesses, which were looted and burnt down, to be built. In his response, the prime minister failed to address this query, focusing more on the investigation into the Black Wednesday (January 10th) or Ugly Wednesday as he described it, particularly to call out the police from not taking the law unto their hands, and stopping duty, which encouraged opportunists to loot and destroy businesses. Parliament began with an official announcement on the floor by acting Speaker Koni Iguan of Kandrian Glouster MP Joseph Lelang resigning as the Leader of Opposition, to sit as a backbencher in the Opposition ranks, ending with the announcement of a Notice of motion for a No Confidence vote against the incumbent Prime Minister James Marape. Tomorrow, Wednesday's parliament session resumes at 10am but will have many revelations to do with questions asked today in the Questions-Without-Notice period. Some of these will include responses to do with project fees in tertiary schools, to project contracts within the Connect PNG scheme. Immediately after parliament concluded, a 23 Team Opposition met to officially announce their alternative nominee – East Sepik Governor Allan Bird - for the upcoming Vote of No Confidence against Prime Minister Marape in a week’s time. Meanwhile, police will continue their security measures.

East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, now in the Opposition, took Prime Minister James Marape to task over the concerning employment issue and job creation plans and statistics in Papua New Guinea. The outspoken Governor Bird, now in the arsenal for the Opposition, posed a series of pertinent questions on this agenda during the questions without notice session. Bird addressed Marape directly, expressing his frustration over the lack of response to previous inquiries on the topic. Bird demanded pointedly to Marape to clarify the current unemployment rate, the number of existing jobs, and the government's track record in job creation, reminding the prime minister of Pangu’s commitment to create a million jobs nationwide by 2027. Bird further pressed Marape for details on job growth across different sectors and regions of the country. He emphasized the critical importance of transparency and accountability in addressing Papua New Guinea's employment crisis. Bird's relentless pursuit of answers, despite several interruptions, resonated with Opposition members and concerned citizens alike, who are committed to holding the Government accountable for its promises underlined the significance of the employment issue for Papua New Guineans. In response, Prime Minister Marape acknowledged the severity of the employment crisis and highlighted some government strategies to address it, but promised a detailed statement in Parliament within the next three days. Some government initiatives, Marape highlighted, include the second chance education programs; and agricultural support for commodity crops as key components of the administration's approach. Marape, however, agreed there are challenges of meeting the ambitious goal of creating one million jobs by 2027, particularly in light of the high number of school dropouts entering the workforce. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to address the systemic issues contributing to unemployment. PM Marape also pointed out that his government is seeking to empower a rise in employment that is not an 8 to 5 paid desk job. Despite the Prime Minister's attempts at reassurances, Bird remained skeptical, pressing for concrete action and tangible results.

In a significant move to bolster the skills of workers engaged in the Pacific Australia Labor Mobility (PALM) scheme, the Australian Government has announced a substantial investment in fully subsidized microcredential courses offered by the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC). The Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) is a center for training excellence, delivering Australian standard qualifications across ten countries in the Pacific and Timor-Leste. These microcredential courses, tailored to meet the specific needs of PALM scheme workers, aim to enhance their employability and career visions. The initiative, hailed as the largest skills investment in the Pacific and Timor-Leste by the Australian Government, underscores a commitment to empowering workers through accessible and industry-endorsed training. According to Executive Director of APTC, Nicki Baird, , the microcredential program represents a significant step towards developing a skilled and adaptable workforce. Baird emphasized the relevance of the training in providing Pacific and Timor-Leste talent with the necessary skills and knowledge for success within the PALM scheme. Cara Philp, Learning and Knowledge Manager of the Pacific Labor Facility (PLF), highlighted the importance of additional training opportunities for PALM workers, citing the role of such initiatives in addressing skill gaps and facilitating successful reintegration upon returning to their home countries. The APTC microcredential courses cover a diverse range of topics essential for the modern workforce, including employability skills, workplace leadership, digital literacy, precision farming, environmental sustainability, and safety fundamentals. Participants can access these courses easily through online modules, allowing for flexible learning that accommodates their work schedules. Employers involved in the PALM scheme are encouraged to promote these opportunities among their workers, facilitating access to training aligned with industry standards and tailored to enhance workplace productivity. Upon successful completion of a microcredential course, participants are awarded a digital badge, providing tangible recognition of their newly acquired skills. APTC programs focus on meeting current and future career opportunities, contributing to sustainable economic development and building a skilled workforce across the region.

The East New Britain Provincial Administration (ENBPA) has been encouraged to promote counselling as a profession following a 10 days Basic Counselling Training facilitated by the PNG Counsellors Association (PNGCA), held in Kokopo recently. The main Facilitator, Onie Teio said that the PNGCA was formally established in 2016 with the intention of making counseling a profession, further mentioning that they are currently working towards getting recognized by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST). “Counsellors can deal with trauma and family and sexual violence victims. We provide Community Based Training which is short term, as well as National Certified training, and the more advanced Diploma and Degree courses in Counselling, which are TAFE Queensland curriculum, but have been contextualized to PNG,” she said. Mr. Christian Mangvue from the Catholic Church when responding on behalf of the 21 participants, who were mainly public servants from the Community Development Division, Education, and Health sectors and Non-Government Organizations (NGO), urged the ENBPA to take up the call through a policy. “May I suggest to the relevant Division of Community Development and the ENB Provincial Administration to come up with a policy paper, that will enable the setup of a Counsellors Association in ENB,” he said. He further urged his fellow participants to emulate the life of Jesus Christ who is a model of a great counsellor. ENB Deputy Provincial Administrator for Socio Economic Services (SES) Peter Peniat said that in the past, they look for people with church background, when recruiting counsellors. “I thank the PNGCA for making East New Britain a pilot province and I believe that this workshop has equipped participants to better serve people who need counselling services,” he said. He also encouraged the PNGCA to progress training for the participants in the province to the next level. When acknowledging the facilitators from the PNGCA and the Canada Fund for financing this training program, Acting Provincial Advisor for the Community Development Division, Peter Tutuai assured that the provincial administration will do its part to ensure counselling becomes a profession. “Thank you PNGCA and Canada Fund for this training, as it is timely, given the issues we are currently experiencing in the province,” he said. Tutuai also commended the participants for their time and commitment towards this training.

The backlog of cases within the court system in the country is an on-going issue, and Parliament will again highlight this in the February session, as Parliament is set to resume at 2pm today. In a statement, Prime Minister James Marape indicates further restructuring of the court system, will allow for the National and Supreme Court to expedite the clearance of the backlog of cases. He said the restructure will include a Constitutional Amendment to make this possible. The amendment aims to introduce an Appeals Court between the National Court and the Supreme Court. "This will allow for the establishment of an Appeals Court between the National Court and the Supreme Court and will allow for the clearance of a backlog of court cases.” Last year, the Justice Minister and Attorney-General Pila Niningi made it known countrywide of the efforts his ministry, with major government backing, was boosting the effectiveness and high quality of the Court system by recruiting a huge number of judges and magistrates. Emphasizing on the government backing, Prime Minister Marape explained that the government has previously passed legislation enabling the recruitment of up to 200 judges, a move that complements this effort. “This is something we have been working on together with the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice.” “The Constitutional Amendment is now going before Parliament and this will be a major restructure for a country with a growing population and economy,” the Prime Minister said. Pm Marape’s statement has further highlighted plans for another Constitutional Amendment – this time to declare Papua New Guinea as a Christian country; as well as the introduction of legislation to increase the retirement age of Constitutional Office Holders to 75, among other initiatives.

Over 30 matters are on the list of parliament deliberations, set to be addressed this February session of Parliament. Among the key items highlighted by Prime Minister Marape is the Constitutional Amendment on Court Restructure. Prime Minister James Marape announced this substantial agenda of Government Business, amid widespread discussion on the potential no-confidence vote against his leadership. With parliament set to resume later today, the prime minister assured the public that “we will not be running away from our duties, despite all this talk of a no-confidence vote.” "We have a lot of Government Business to attend to for the good of the country." In a statement, Mr Marape A: “These legislative efforts underscore the Government’s commitment to addressing critical issues facing the nation, bolstering its legal infrastructure, and shaping the country's future direction in alignment with its cultural and societal values.”

In anticipation of the first Parliament sitting of 2024 and the looming Vote of No Confidence (VONC), the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the Papua New Guinea Defense Force have announced measures in the Nation’s capital to ensure safety and order during the political proceedings. This is according to the Acting NCD/ Central Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police Peter Guinness. "On Monday morning, I spoke to our members, both Police and the PNG Defense Force, regarding the upcoming Vote of No Confidence.” "We have prepared an operation order to control the events surrounding the possible VONC." The operation, which involves both the police and the PNG Defense Force, aims to establish roadblocks at various locations leading to Parliament House and secure the inner perimeter of Parliament, the National Court House, and Sir John Guise drive. ACP Guinness emphasized the need for a peaceful and problem-free VONC, especially after recent incidents in the city. "With the events of January 10th and the looting of Brian Bell on February 1st, we aim to control traffic and movement within the city to prevent any further disturbances," ACP Guiness stated. ACP Guinness urged the public to remain calm and refrain from involvement in the political matters at hand. "This VONC concerns only the politicians, and it will be held within the Parliament House. We do not want any conflict or disturbances from the public," he emphasized. Acknowledging the start of the school year, ACP Guinness urged parents to focus on sending their children to school rather than getting involved in political activities. As part of the security measures, the PNG Defense Force has been called out until the end of the month, with members designated as Special Constables, granting them the authority to assist the police in maintaining order. "We want to create a secure environment for the VONC to proceed smoothly, without any fear of threats," ACP Guinness reassured the public. Strict measures will be in place around Parliament, with only authorized personnel allowed on the premises. Supporters of politicians or MPs are warned against causing disturbances, as they will be physically removed by security forces. The public is advised to stay updated through online platforms or radio broadcasts, as access to the inner premises of Parliament will be restricted. Again, ACP Guinness reaffirmed the security forces' commitment to ensuring a peaceful and problem-free VONC, urging the public to cooperate and maintain calm during this critical period in the country's political landscape.

Bank Of South Pacific (BSP) Financial Group Limited once again continues its support to Port Moresby City Markets, presenting K10, 000 according to their commitment since 2021, promoting economic growth through supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) business growth to change lives for the better. POM City Markets is a resource hub that provides free business, finance, marketing, and public relation advice from professional Consultants. Among corporate supporters, BSP is one of the committed establishments. During the Presentation of the cheque, BSP’s Retail Branch Network National Sales Manager Samuel Mulina was pleased to address the support from BSP and be actively present in the monthly POM City Markets by offering BSP’s Banking Services to help SME’s grow their business. “Our BSP NCD Branch officers will be present to assist customers with account queries on BSP’s Products and services as well as provide financial advice to individuals and SME’s.” “We encourage small businesses to visit our booth to open business Accounts and register for our Digital Banking Services including our Merchant services offering including EFTPoS and Agent Banking Services.” “Not only do we boost the economy by supporting such SME’s but also pave a digital innovation opportunity and business growth.” said Mulina. “One of our obligations as the leading financial institution is to provide financial literacy trainings in our chosen markets and the SME segments is no exception.” SME’s are essential to economic growth and BSP believes that inclusion can unlock considerable economic potential of small businesses and benefit the people by integrating access to banking services throughout BSP’s support for such SME’s.

West New Britain’s Provincial Education Board remains uncertain over the issue of certain schools closing in the province during Terms 3 & 4 of 2023 without proper reports from the schools’ Board of Management or Board of Governors. A couple of these schools included Kaliai High School and Gloucester Secondary School that had closed for reasons unknown whereas other schools in the province closed due to law & order issues. WNB Provincial Education Board stated that teachers have been appointed to the school, have filled in their resumption of duty forms, and will be paid according to the position they occupy as supplied to the Teaching Services Commission. The WNB Provincial Education Board is sending an urgent request to these schools to table a report explaining the reasons as to the school’s closure to the education office in Kimbe. The education office stated that they will not allow teachers to get paid while not teaching in closed schools. Prior to this a community leader, Mr. John Rave in Kove-Kaliai LLG, had sent a request to appropriate authorities including parents of students who attended Kaliai High School and Gloucester Secondary School to congregate and determine a way to reopen these two schools. Meanwhile schools receiving GTFS have been instructed by the WNB Provincial Education Board to not collect school and project fees. Any Head Teachers or Principals charging additional fees will be put off payroll.

Prime Minister James Marape has applauded the decision of the Opposition Leader and Member for Kandrian-Gloucester District Joseph Lelang to step down from his position as Opposition Leader. The resignation, announced earlier today, comes amidst a notable shift in the political landscape. Prime Minister Marape commended Mr. Lelang for his decision, stating that the leader is a man of virtue in the face of recent political movements where other non-credible leaders do not give respect to the Office of the Leader of Opposition. “Honorable Lelang has exhibited commendable integrity by resigning as Opposition Leader,” stated Prime Minister Marape. “This move will pave the way for the new entrants to rightfully occupy positions within the Opposition, as well as those in Opposition who are crafty for power at the back, to come to the front bench of Opposition so the country can see their faces and know your alternate policies.” "Their efforts to continually undermine the position of the Opposition Leader were obviously seen over the last 18 months and are deemed disrespectful.” Prime Minister Marape added that, “The resignation of Mr. Lelang as Opposition Leader underscores the consequences of undermining peers of equal standing.” “The sudden resignations of ministers and government MPs, accompanied by various allegations, reflect a misguided pursuit of power, neglecting the respect and protocol due to the leadership of the Opposition.” “There is a need for all members of the Opposition to align under coherent leadership to effectively challenge and contribute to the national discourse.” The political climate in Papua New Guinea has been turbulent in recent months, marked by a series of resignations and realignments within both government and opposition ranks. The departure of Mr. Lelang from his role as Opposition Leader signifies a significant development in this ongoing saga. While the reasons behind Mr. Lelang's resignation were not explicitly stated, his decision to step down opens the door for new leadership within the opposition, potentially reshaping the dynamics of Papua New Guinea's political landscape. Prime Minister Marape's praise for Mr. Lelang's integrity amidst these political shifts highlights the importance of ethical leadership in the country's governance. As Papua New Guinea navigates these challenging times, the need for stable and principled leadership remains paramount. The resignation of Mr. Lelang and the subsequent remarks by Prime Minister Marape serve as a reminder of the complexities inherent in Papua New Guinea's political arena and the importance of upholding democratic principles in times of uncertainty.