The appointment of Mrs. Diana Guria as the Director of the Business Advisory and Capacity Building Division of the Small and Medium Enterprises Corporation (SMEC) is the first time a woman has become a Director in the history of the Corporation since its establishment in 1990. The SMEC congratulated and welcomed her in a humble but significant contract signing ceremony yesterday. Mrs. Guria brings a wealth of experience in financial inclusion and business advisory and capacity building, with over 30 years in the banking sector and a master's in International Business and Entrepreneurship from the Curtin University in Australia. She will head the Corporation’s Business Advisory and Capacity Building Division, which is responsible for the administration, coordination, management, and facilitation of entrepreneurship training programs including specialized business skills development training. Key programs under her division include the flagship Internal Labour Organization’s accredited Start and Improve Your Business Program and the Know About Business Program. Priority amongst her deliverables this year is the implementation of the Nationwide Training of Entrepreneurs Rollout Program 2022-2026 where the Corporation is training 200 entrepreneurs in each of the 6, 112 wards annually. Meanwhile Managing Director Mr. Petrus Ralda, speaking during the welcome and contract signing ceremony, said Mrs. Guria’s appointment was a display of the Corporation’s giving equal opportunity to women to have key senior management positions in the public sector. He added that this appointment was in line with the Marape-Rosso Government’s Policy on Gender Equality Social Inclusion in the workspace. Mrs. Guria acknowledged the Managing Director and stated that she looked forward to serving the Corporation in her capacity as the Director for Business Advisory and Capacity Building.

The city of Lae with its history of crime reports, surprisingly celebrated independence without any major incidents. The Independence weekend in Lae City was celebrated peacefully by the public, with the city hosting several events all thanks to the Morobe Provincial Government Independence Committee’s financial support to the Council Wards for the preparation for independence celebrations. The city’s Acting Metropolitan Superintendent, James Luang extended his warmest gratitude to the Council Ward’s Community events coordinators. “These fine community officers were incredible, planning fun and exciting activities and cultural songs and dances for the ward, my thanks to you all.” The Morobe Provincial Administration also imposed Liquor Ban from 6:00pm on Wednesday 13th to 17th September to control the inappropriate behaviors from intoxication. “The liquor Banned really gave us the Upper hand to maintain control, there were lesser intoxicated group and individuals,” said Luang. Meanwhile, adding to the peaceful celebrations, the police also carried out special operations in and around the province during the long independence weekend. Police units were committed to maintaining security and peace during the celebrations. Even though celebrations did not generally encounter any major incidents, police did report a vehicle collision along the Nadzab highway and was promptly responded to by police.

Joel Rimbu has been declared the newly elected Students Representative Council (SRC) President for 2024 at the Waigani main campus, University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) on Wednesday. Alongside the declaration of president, official announcement and signing also took place for the male and female vice presidents, Mr. Pinias Kally and Ms. Ni Yumei Paul. In a short remark made by the incoming President, he stated that he is grateful for everyone who have supported him during the time of election and now looking forward to working with students as a leader to serve their needs. The declaration was officiated by Returning Officer Desmond Timiyaso, and witnessed by the Registrar Mr. Kakap, staffs and the student body. According to Mr. Timiyaso, six candidates contested for the SRC President seat with Mr. Rimbu coming out on top with a total of 1, 454 votes succeeding Mr. Wilson Kayawi Talibe in the elimination count. Ms. Paul came out with a total of 1, 483 votes closing on top of her female rivalry Ms. Michelle Panie whilst Mr. Kally was declared unopposed. Mr. Timiyaso thanked the student body for their participation despite the arising issues encountered during the election period. “There is a 14 day period after this declaration given for anyone who has grievances for their matter to be taken to court and to contest any matters and concerns that you feel is right”.

The spirit of the Goroka Show is flying high with the successful celebration of the 48th independence weekend hosted at the spectacular Goroka Show Ground. Due to Covid-19 a Mini show was held but after almost 2-years of silence, the 3-days festival was packed with locals and tourists from inside and outside the province. The show was full of more fans than expected and still were entertained through the days. The show involved games, activities, and a variety over 150 cultural dances and songs from Eastern Highlands Province (EHP). The Goroka Show Security worked with over 200 Police officers during the 3-days celebration, conducting team foot patrols, vehicle patrols and entrance checkpoints to free fans from any illegal item such as drug, alcohol and weapons. According to Goroka Show events coordinator Mr. David Lelemitoe, “This is the only show in EHP that attracts fans outside the province.” The initial two days of the Pikinini festival and the Independence Day was packed, with children and adults, who enjoyed the show so much, people kept turning up till the final day on Sunday. “The 3-days were very exciting until 1-2pm on 17th Sunday but unfortunately the show was forced to stop selling tickets due to forced entry.” “With most suspects appearing to be from outside the province and as far as Enga.” According to event organizers, security and police were very tight and kept inappropriate situations in check. Mr. Lelemitoe added his concern on the public awareness to avoid drinking and coming to the show and to have respect for yourself and your fellow brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers during independence. “The show was backed by our business sponsors mainly and we seek the support of the Eastern Highlands province MPs to express their financial support as it your show, so we can raise the standard of the Goroka Show.”

The Pacific International Hospital (PIH) is hosting its annual global walkathon for awareness to end gynecological cancers on Sunday, 24th of September, 2023. The Walk will start at 7am that will see participants walk from the PIH Medical Centre Waigani to 5mile and back to PIH MC at Waigani to finish. Gynecological cancers affect women below the belt and they include Uterine (Endometrial), Cervical, Ovarian, Vaginal and Vulvar. Over a thousand women are diagnosed every year and about 600 of these women die from cervical cancer in Papua New Guinea. According to the PIH team, the Globe-Athon is an annual event held globally to raise awareness about below-the-belt cancers. It focuses on the prevention and early detection of all Gynecological Cancers. This global walkathon is expected to see 80 countries around the world taking a firm stand against Gynecological Cancers. Over the past years the turn out of the Walkathon Participants have been growing with a thousand in 2016 with a great increase over the years that showed more families, communities, business houses and schools walk to end Women’s Cancer. In 2022 the turn-out was massive as it numbered close to 5,000 participants and this year it is expected to increase to make the event another success. The Initiative is sponsored by the Motor-Vehicles Insurance Limited, National Teachers Insurance Limited, Liberty Assurance Company, Fullerton Health, ANZ Bank, Kina Bank, RH Trading and Nestle. Meanwhile the PIH team extends this invitation to the General public to come join and support the walk. Participants are instructed to show up and sign up as registration is not required. “All participants must wear appropriate walking shoes.” “We encourage you to join the walk, show solidarity and build awareness towards the fight against Women’s cancer.”

With the recent reputation of violence and destruction in Enga Province, the 48th independence was the first time in a long time to be celebrated with joy and peace in Enga province. So many devastating crimes were all put aside during this special occasion, with people showing respect and love for each other and the country. On 16th September morning a memorable march to Ipatas Centre was led by MP Sir Peter Ipatas and Don Polye, coordinated with the Provincial Police Force (PPF) and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) marching with the full support of the general public of Enga. Ipatas Centre hosted the country’s Flag raising, National Anthem and the National Pledge. The ceremony was continued at the Aipus Oval with activities and live bands to allow happiness and harmony to emerge from the people. The Independence Day took place at the Aipus Oval. The celebration was attended by the Governor for Enga Province Honorable Sir Peter Ipatas, Minister for Higher Education Honorable Don Polye and Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Superintendent Sir George Kakas and the general public in Enga province. Sir Ipatas stated his heart felt concern to the people of his province to leave the past and look to the hope of at least a better future for themselves and their neighbors. Whilst in the celebration a group of Police officers were caught drinking and driving a police vehicle. The suspect fled through the road block and was later caught with contraband alcohol. PPC Kakas furiously said, “These officers will be dealt with and charged for their actions, discipline must be practiced first before it is inherited by the company kept.” PPC Mr. Kakas added he was satisfied with the quiet and respectful public celebration outcome in the province. Provincial police were very attentive to their duties in securing road checkpoints, foot patrols and vehicle patrols during the independence festivities.

Regular power supply will be restored to the Namatanai Town and surrounding villages in New Ireland Province, now that work has begun on a new biomass power plant at Mageh Plantation, which is situated just outside of Namatanai Town. The groundbreaking ceremony for this biomass power plant was done by the Agriculture Minister Aiye Tambua and witnessed by the Namatanai Namatanai MP and Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation Walter Schnaubelt. MP Schnaubelt, speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, said that electricity is an essential need for the people. “Namatanai town has been missing out on regular power supply for nearly 30 years and leaders before me have turned a blind eye on this very essential service for our people. As long as I’m your leader, I will make it my business to have sufficient power supply for the town and surrounding villages at an affordable rate through the biomass power plant.” Schnaubelt also revealed that a hectare of land at the Mageh Plantation will be dedicated to solar power generation. “Solar power will generate roughly about one megawatt power; biomass will give nearly 750-kilowatt power and that will be gradually increased to one megawatt power. The boost for power to two megawatt is important so that we can bring in industrialization and commercialization in Namatanai town.” He added that after the biomass power plant is commissioned, the second and third phase of the rural electrification phase will commence. “The priority right now is to give the businesses in Namatanai town enough power to continue serving the public at large.” Schnaubelt concluded that if they sustain businesses and go into rural electrification for nearby villages, there will more economic growth and development in the rural areas.

St. Joseph’s International school along with primary and secondary schools in the Rigo and Hiri-West Districts have all undergone an eight weeks Get-into-Rugby training program that had them learning basic Rugby union Skills and core values of the game. The Get-into-Rugby Program is run by the PNG Rugby Football Union and sponsored by the Niu Pawa Energies. PNG Rugby Football Union CEO Sailosi Druma stated that the GIR program is used to target areas where they do not play rugby to grow the sport. The five values of rugby, passion, respect, discipline, solidarity, and perseverance go hand in hand with rugby skills. "We not only want to grow the game, but we also want to introduce these values so that the kids always have that when they grow up whether they stay in the game or find another sport at least they learn some values about life when they grow up." Although somewhat successful, Druma also indicated that like other programs, it does come with its own challenges. He stated that some of the challenges faced by the schools that are in the program in the rural areas are the issues with teachers committing time to help the students and the trainers having a hard time organizing the kids. "We provide the kit and the training but it’s up to the school to through their teachers and also some of our volunteers that visit the schools have a hard time organizing the kids for the GIR class." Druma said that it was more difficult for teachers in the rural areas to help the students as they are often short staffed compared to a school in the city like St. Joseph's International where there are teachers that volunteer their time after school to stay back and assist the kids in the program. Funding for the GIR Program is covered by a 20,000-pound grant given by the World Rugby Organization to the PNGRFU which covers Development programs and other unions in the provinces also. This grant, Druma mentioned was what they use to fund development programs like the SCRUM and GIR Programs in the country. "This grant is not much compared to the cost that we face to deliver this program in the country, but we try to utilize it the best we can." Druma stated that through his experience he has noticed that the kids really love to challenge each other at the end of the eight weeks of the skills that they’ve learnt at the festivals that all the schools in a particular district come together to play and enjoy themselves. "At the festivals we can see the different skills of rugby and also play each other through the values of rugby. "For us we’ve seen a big change in how they conduct themselves especially when they play and enjoy themselves and build friendships with friends from other schools." Meanwhile 12 schools in the Morobe province under the SCRUM program have also used the GIR concept as a part of their eight weeks training and are gearing up for their festivals.

Little Sybil Aila, is a 6-year-old girl from a mixed parentage of Milne Bay and Central Province with a congenital heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. Tetralogy of Fallot happens during pregnancy when a baby’s heart does not develop correctly, and this affects normal blood flow through the heart. It consists of four defects in the heart and its blood vessels and is fixed through corrective heart surgery. She was diagnosed in 2019 when she was 2 years old after the general family doctor identified a few issues that were not right and referred the family to the PMGH Children’s specialist where they ran a few more tests and discovered that then 2-year-old Sybil had a heart condition. Sybil lost her Mum last Year to Breast Cancer, and its now just her father Julius Aila and two elder siblings, Mazeppa, 11 and Ty’Aila, 9. According to her father, little Sybil loves make up, dancing, listening to music, singing, and playing. Father, Julius also shared a little about his experience of when he was informed of his daughter’s condition. “I had just come back from a work trip.” “My late missus and their mom had been to see the doctor that day so she told me about it when they picked me up at the airport.” “I was in shock. I was sad and fearful of my daughter’s condition.” After this discovery, the family was put on the waiting list for the Operation Open Heart Team that comes through to PNG. Unfortunately, we lack the equipment for the open-heart operation in PNG despite us having talented doctors. “She is a strong little girl, so we put faith in the doctors here and when they said that we’d wait for the open-heart specialists, we had faith that they’d come in and help her.” Young Sybil was next in the long waiting list for surgery in 2019 when the covid-19 pandemic struck, and the borders were closed which made it difficult for the OOH Doctors to fly into the country and perform the operation. With her condition, once she goes into 3-4hr operation, she needs to be observed for another 7-10 days and the OOH surgeons are only here for less than that which is why it is not possible to have the operation here in the country. “That was four years ago, now with her condition, we want to do everything in our power to get her across because if we can’t do the operation here, we need to do it overseas.” “We have faith in God that he will make this possible. Faith has brought us this far.” Sybil is currently in the hospital undergoing tests for her medical clearance to leave the country for her operation overseas and so far, the tests are showing good signs for her. A few other children also with similar cases underwent operations in India and the Philippines so the Family is working towards getting her to one of these countries for her corrective heart operation. Sybil’s Father, Julius, shared that he is deeply grateful to his family, friends and employers for the support that they have shown him and to those with generous hearts that have already donated and wished God’s many blessings upon them. “We’re very thankful and blessed for the generous contributions and donations that have already come through, it was very touching that people reached out to help and I want to say thank you to them.” “Sybil is fighting very hard and with their donations it will help to move her overseas for her operations. Thank You Very Much.” Meanwhile her family is doing a K100 mumu pack fundraising this Saturday on 23rd September 2023 to help raise funds towards her operation. To place an order, you can contact Sybil’s dad -Julius on 7734 0514 or her uncle -Jonathan on 7214 4622. For any donations you can donate via the GoFundMe account-Sybil’s Heart Fundraiser https://gofund.me/94c04b4e that her family has set up or to Julius Aila- 31921017 (Kina Bank).

Iarowari Agro-Technical School will be receiving funding soon to develop the school's infrastructure. This was the pledge made by the Prime Minister James Marape at the school, where he was the special guest during the school's Grade 10 & Q's Graduation Ceremony in Sogeri, Central Province. This support Marape said, was he and his government's commitment to education and technical skills developments. The Prime Minister announced support of K2.5 for the school to upgrade and develop its facilities. "Iarowari Agro-Technical Secondary School has undoubtedly become a pioneer in realising the Marape-Rosso Government's 'Leave No Child Behind' vision by equipping students in Grades 10 and Grade 12 across the nation with technical and life skills." Prime Minister Marape commended the school board of management and the dedicated teaching staff of Iarowari Agro-Technical Secondary School for their forward-thinking approach in embracing the challenge of becoming an Agro-Technical School, where students are equipped with valuable life skills in agriculture. Marape said it was significant for him to attend such a graduation like the one at Iarowari Agro-Technical School, as the school was providing a unique education for students in both life skills and modern educational knowledge. "Iarowari Agro-Technical Secondary School has excelled in the implementation of a major National Government policy aimed at imparting practical life skills and agricultural knowledge to students, thereby aligning with government policy." He said the school was playing a critical role in advancing Technical & Vocational Education & Training (TVET)-based education, that focuses on preparing future generations lifelong skills, including agriculture and land-based livelihoods. Established in 1961 as a Junior High School, Iarowari Agro-Technical Secondary School has evolved into a secondary school with a focus on technical, vocational, and life skills since 2022.

The National Capital District Rugby Union Association is hosting the first Tag Rugby Program on the 23rd of September 2023 which will be held at the Murray Barracks Oval from 7:45am – 8:30am. Age categories are 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-16 years of age. Participant Fees are K2 and required to come with a Parent or Guardian. Caretaker President Cybele Wari stated that NCDRU first introduced Tag Rugby to their community in 2018 when the association identified a huge development gap in PNG’s player pathways and facilitating this junior program was to fill this gap. “We were the first Provincial Union to facilitate a junior tag rugby program at the local competition level and outside of the PNGRU School rugby and GIR programs.” “It was a very successful program, with close to a hundred participants and their parents attending for seven consecutive weekends.” “A good number of parents and children were asking us to run full-on contact matches for them after the program ended.” Tag Rugby, unlike rugby Union or League also known as flag rugby, is a non-contact team game in which each player wears a belt or shorts that have two Velcro patches attached. The Velcro patches are removed to count as a tackle and players are not allowed to kick the ball during tag rugby. Wari stated that as an Association it was their duty to be proactive in the development agenda of the code and to create platforms for our people both young and old to enter the game, and then ascend in the game if they aspired to. She shared that statistically, by the time a New Zealand player makes it to the All-Blacks team, that player will have had a minimum of 200-300 matches under their belt. For the Fijians, it’s approximately 100 games per player, and increasing, because of their junior program which is growing by the day. “In the case of PNG, most of our players have not even played half of those numbers.” “This is because many join the sport when they are already adults, and thus there is a huge disparity in the game experience and knowledge compared to the leading countries.” Meanwhile Wari strongly believes that junior rugby is critical to the development agenda for PNG and is what motivates NCDRU to heavily invest in this demographic. “If this is what begins their journey to excellence in the sport, then we have done a good thing for both the individual and the code.” “Aside from this, the NCDRU has always promoted inclusive rugby, it is important to us that our children are given the opportunity to have their time on the field to learn rugby skills, make new friends, and have lots of fun.”

Students at The University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE) in East New Britain (ENB) have taken issues into their own hands and seek the attention of their Minister responsible for an undisclosed agenda. The situation escalated on Monday 18th at 11pm on the UNRE campus. A meeting was conducted Tuesday morning to bring together the UNRE student representative and the necessary official bodies to listen and discuss the appropriate steps of minimizing unlawful behavior. The students were joined by the Governor for ENB Honorable Michael Marum, PPC Mr. Janarius Vosivai Provincial Administrator, and Head Officials of UNRE Vice Chancellor Professor Aisak Pue and others. UNRE Students are keeping their agenda from their respective school officials and the government officials. According to PPC Vosivai the students have prepared a Petition, demanding the attention of the Minister for Higher Education Honorable Don Polye to present their petition. “The petition will remain with the students until it is served, however this procedure must be conducted by its policies appropriately to avoid complications for students to complete the year properly.” PPC Vosivai further added, “An investigation will be carried out later this week to identify suspects responsible for the damage of school properties and true agenda behind these actions.” “This does not justify your actions.”