Forty (40) male students from Iarowari Secondary School in Central Province are in police custody following the death of 17-year-old William Garo, a grade nine student, in an incident allegedly linked to cult practices. According to acting Superintendent Joseph Salle, the Provincial police commander for Central, the students detained include 25 grade nine and 15 grade 11 students, who allegedly believed that ritual chest pounding could transfer power from senior to junior students. "The deceased was allegedly part of a cult group and died because of the heavy blows received on his chest," said PPC Salle, noting that further police investigation is underway. The incident reportedly occurred in the school’s male dormitory on Thursday, 07th November, around 7 p.m., when Garo was pretending to be sick. Fellow students informed the school administration, and Garo was rushed to Port Moresby General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead Mr Salle said the relatives were informed of his death and the relatives notified of his death, brought his body to the school and urged other students to assist the police with the investigation. Salle commended Garo’s family for showing "maturity and leadership" during this tragic incident, adding that those responsible will face "formal arrest and charges." PPC Salle said the police would do mass arrest and appropriate criminal charges would be laid against them accordingly. The student who died was believed to be from the Gabagaba village, Rigo District in the Central province. He assured the relatives of the deceased that those students who were responsible for the death of the student would formally be arrested and charged accordingly.

The Governor-General, Sir Bob Dadae, will join NCD Governor Powes Parkop tomorrow, Sunday November 10th, to lead the Active City Redvember Walk, launching the “United to End Violence Against Women” campaign in Papua New Guinea. Coinciding with the NCD Women’s Expo and Summit, which was held from 10am to 4pm today, Saturday November 9th at the Sir John Guise Stadium, which runs through November 13, the walk brings together the community to promote safety for women and girls. Announcing his involvement, Sir Bob Dadae urged all citizens to participate. “This is a campaign we all should be involved in at all levels, and I call on all citizens to join.” Considering recent tragic events, including Jessica Yori's killing, Governor Parkop has also called for widespread support, saying it’s essential to make Port Moresby safer for everyone. Governor Parkop, who has led this campaign for the past five years as chair of the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, welcomed the Governor-General’s involvement as a strong step toward achieving this critical goal. Members of the Diplomatic Corps, UN officials, government departments, churches, NGOs, and local communities will participate in the walk, which begins at 6 a.m. from Sir John Guise Stadium, following a route through Wardstrip Road, Kennedy Road, Goodwit Street, Independence Drive, and back. The Redvember Walk, part of the 20 Days of Activism to prevent violence against women, is an annual event led by Governor Parkop and backed by the United Nations, Puma Energy, Eliseo, and other supporters. The walk will start at 6am until 8am, from Sir John Guise Stadium to Parliament Haus and back again.

In preparation for the upcoming 2025 National Budget, leaders within the Marape-led coalition government are setting security and law enforcement as top priorities. Discussions, led by Prime Minister James Marape and Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, highlighted the need for a robust Law and Justice sector, especially in policing. Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey revealed that the budget would be themed “Secure PNG 2025,” emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing national security issues. Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili provided a comprehensive overview of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC)’s current state, stressing that urgent attention is needed to resolve major gaps. “We have a huge shortfall in police manpower,” Tsiamalili noted. He explained that PNG currently has only 6,227 officers out of 13,415 possible positions. This equates to a ratio of one officer for every 1,600 people, compared to the global standard of one officer for every 450 individuals. Tsiamalili’s presentation underscored additional challenges, including lack of housing, funding shortages, and deficiencies in training. Provincial leaders and governors also voiced concerns about increasing lawlessness across their regions. Rising crime rates, coupled with challenges such as transnational and cyber threats, have intensified calls for a well-supported, effective police force. Aiming to counter these risks, the government is now looking into expanding community policing efforts and investing in technology, including ICT and artificial intelligence, to improve overall crime management capabilities. To address manpower shortages in the immediate term, the police department is accelerating the training of new recruits at Bomana Police College (BTC). Minister Tsiamalili confirmed that 300 new officers have already been inducted, with plans to add 500 more by 2025. Additionally, under the PNG-Australia Bilateral Security Agreement, Australia has pledged to help boost PNG’s police numbers to 1,000, with initial assistance focused on enhancing police infrastructure in regions like Mt. Hagen, Port Moresby, and Kokopo. As Cabinet deliberations continue, PNG’s leaders aim to make law enforcement a central element of the 2025 budget, focusing on better resourcing for police and strengthened law and order across the country.

The Miss Bird of Paradise (MBoP) Committee has announced the 10 finalists for its 2024 pageant, spotlighting young women leaders dedicated to social impact across Papua New Guinea. Each finalist, chosen from a competitive pool of applicants, represents a diverse set of backgrounds and skills, including fields such as law, science, political science, and construction management. This year’s finalists include: - May Torowi Hasola (21), a law student from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. - Joyce Jerry (25) from East New Britain, a coordinator at IBS University. - Caitlen Latumahina (23) from Milne Bay and Manus, a final-year student at Divine Word University. - Shonaye Leslie (24) from Gulf and AROB, a medical scientist at Port Moresby General Hospital. - Natalie Mwayawa (24) from Central and Milne Bay, an executive officer at the Institute of Banking and Business Management. - Yasmine Tabogani (25) from East Sepik, Milne Bay, and Manus, a graduate trainee at PNG DataCo. - Jan-Khyara Sitapai (23) from Manus, working in communications at St Barbara- Simberi Gold Company. - Nevielly Kavop (22) from East New Britain, AROB, and West New Britain, a recent UPNG graduate. - Michaelyne Marum (22) from East New Britain, a business graduate working for Air Niugini. - Getta Kambar (24) from Simbu, Eastern Highlands, and Gulf, a construction management graduate. The pageant will be held on December 3, 2024, aligned with the International Day of Disabilities. In a social media post, the MBoP states they are focused on advocacy, and promotes the educational rights of children with disabilities, striving to make PNG more inclusive and accessible. The committee thanked all applicants and encouraged those not selected to reapply next year.

Utmei Secondary School will receive major upgrades in 2025 following commitments by East New Britain Governor Michael Marum and Gazelle MP, and Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Jelta Wong. These include fixing the school's water supply, providing a school truck and building a new classroom to cater for increasing enrolment. They made their announcements at the school's 21st graduation ceremony on Thursday, November 7th, which saw 106 Grade 12s graduating. At the graduation, school principal Bernard Manau revealed serious concerns the school was going through this year, including the water issues, electricity and aging infrastructures, which has hindered students' learning as well as the general upkeep of the school. However, he was relieved and acknowledged the support from the local MP, Wong and Governor Marum towards the school. Governor Marum said his office has allocated K250, 000 for restoring the school's water supply. “The contractor is awaiting final payments and once that is done, they can continue the work. The water supply should be ready by next year,” Governor Marum said. He also committed a school truck in 2025 to assist the students and staff as well as for their general administrative operations. “All these will follow due processes and once cleared, you can have a new school truck by next year." The Governor also announced with the provincial government funded Tertiary School Fee assistance program, students who wish to further their studies, can apply for assistance through his office, when congratulating the Grade 12's and wishing them well in the future. Minister Wong committed his district office to fund and build a 4-in-1 classroom in 2025, stating that this will address the high number of students coming in every year, as well as support the 1-6-6 school structure. The Minister further announced he will give six laptops for the top performing students in the three mainstreams of studies at the school.

Prime Minister James Marape has congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his recent election victory as the 47th President of the United States. In his message, Prime Minister Marape also thanked outgoing President Joe Biden for his service and acknowledged Vice President Kamala Harris for her strong efforts in the election. “On behalf of the Government and people of Papua New Guinea, I extend heartfelt congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his election as President," said Prime Minister Marape. "We look forward to reinforcing the longstanding partnership between our nations, grounded in shared values and mutual respect.” In his statement, Prime Minister Marape also expressed his appreciation for President Biden’s leadership over the years, especially in his efforts to strengthen U.S.-Papua New Guinea ties. “We thank President Biden for his commitment to fostering cooperation between the United States and Papua New Guinea, which has bolstered our progress in healthcare, security, and sustainable development,” said Prime Minister Marape. The Prime Minister also took a moment to recognize Vice President Kamala Harris’s historic role and strong presence during the election. “Vice President Harris’s determination and strong leadership posed a commendable challenge in the election." "Her efforts not only underscored the significance of democracy but also continued to inspire women, youth, and leaders around the world, including in Papua New Guinea." “Her historic position and commitment to key issues in the Pacific, such as climate resilience and women’s empowerment, have left a lasting legacy of strength and progress.” Prime Minister Marape also highlighted the accomplishments achieved under President Biden’s administration, mentioning that the Defense Cooperation Agreement signed in May 2023 was an important milestone. He noted that the agreement helped strengthen the partnership between the two countries and supported shared goals for peace and security in the region. “As we move into this new chapter, Papua New Guinea is committed to strengthening its relationship with the United States to pursue our shared goals of peace, prosperity, and sustainable growth within the Pacific region and beyond,” Prime Minister Marape concluded.

East New Britain’s Provincial Administrator, Mr. Levi Mano, has urged parents to actively guide their children amid rising crime rates across the province. Speaking also as the head of the Provincial Law and Order Committee, Mano said that law enforcement alone cannot address these issues without community support. He called on parents, especially mothers and fathers, to instil respect, values, and discipline in their children from a young age. According to Mano, community leadership begins within the family, with parents setting standards of respect for life and property. He warned that society today lacks the communal respect once seen, a shift he believes contributes to growing lawlessness. "This is no longer the community we grew up in where people had respect for another life and other people's property.” “As the Chairman of the Provincial Law and Order Committee, my only request is for the community to rise up.” “We need leadership at the community to stand together and curb lawlessness in the communities – and this starts at the family homes, with the mother and father," he said. This community-based approach, he stated, is essential for creating a respectful, safe environment in East New Britain and curbing lawlessness at its roots. Mano also noted that, while the police are constitutionally responsible for law and order, the provincial government continues to assist them by providing fuel, vehicles, and other resources to strengthen their operations. Meantime, Mr. Mano iterated that though the law-and-order sector has its responsible State agencies like the Police Department, the provincial government is supporting in whatever way it can and where it's allowed to by law to assist in curbing crimes. "We, the Provincial Government and it's administration are assisting the police to do their work, with fuel, rations, cars and allowances.” “By constitution, the police department is responsible for law and order, but this doesn't mean that the police department is the sole responsible stakeholder in curbing law and order issues," he said.

Prime Minister James Marape urged the people of Hela Province to embrace peace and cooperation to foster development, when he officially opened the new Hela Unity Market in Tari. The Prime Minister, who is also Hela MP, said unity is important for sustainable progress, referencing the positive changes achieved in Hela over the past two years during a period of reduced conflict. “Put an end to fighting and live more positive lives to sustain yourselves,” he said, adding, “I am happy that the last two years there has been no fighting, which has resulted in more development taking place here.” The K10 million Hela Unity Market serves as both an economic and symbolic hub for the community, providing local farmers a modern platform to sell fresh produce, meals, and crafts. Built to replace the previous deteriorating market, this facility also represents Prime Minister Marape’s commitment to continued development in the region. At the inauguration, he assured the crowd that the government would continue to support the people of Hela. "Your government will continue to do good things for you if you maintain peace in the community.” The new marketplace exemplifies how peace and unity can directly contribute to economic progress in Tari and Hela Province.

Following today's epic 42-20 victory against the Cook Islands, Prime Minister James Marape is convinced PNG has a much greater shot at maintaining a competitive PNG side in NRL. In a congratulatory statement, Prime Minister Marape praised the PNG Kumuls for their remarkable win over the Cook Islands in the Pacific Championships rugby league match held at Santos National Football Stadium. Emphasizing the national pride inspired by the team’s success, Marape said, “Our Kumuls have once again made the nation proud with their exceptional performance." "Their dedication and teamwork are exemplary, and I am confident they will continue to excel in the upcoming promotion-relegation match." "The entire country stands behind them," a proud Marape said. The Kumuls' victory, led by captain Lachlan Lam, has set the stage for a critical promotion-relegation match against New Zealand next Sunday at CommBank Stadium in Sydney. A win in that fixture would secure the team a position in next year’s Pacific Championships Cup division, a step that aligns with PNG’s ambition to participate regularly at the highest levels of international rugby league. Lam was instrumental in the match, not only leading his team but also contributing a try, three try assists, and a commendable 117 running metres. Fullback Nene Macdonald further boosted the team's performance, crossing the try line twice and covering significant ground. These efforts demonstrated the Kumuls' skill, unity, and readiness for greater challenges on the international stage. Marape also highlighted rugby league’s unifying impact in Papua New Guinea, likening it to South Africa’s rugby union renaissance under Nelson Mandela. “This victory is a significant milestone in the lead-up to Papua New Guinea’s inclusion in the National Rugby League (NRL) in 2028." Noting the government’s commitment to the initiative, he pointed to the recent in-principle agreement with the Australian Rugby League Commission, supported by a 10-year funding plan aimed at enhancing PNG’s presence in international rugby and promoting socio-economic development. “As we look forward to joining the NRL in 2028, today’s victory is a testament to our potential and the bright future of rugby league in Papua New Guinea." "Let us continue to support our Kumuls as they pave the way for greater achievements on the international stage." The Kumuls’ success has inspired a sense of national pride and anticipation as Papua New Guinea moves closer to realizing its goal of NRL inclusion and strengthened international presence in rugby league. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister however did not say anything in his statement regarding yet another loss by the national women's rugby team, PNG Orchids, to the New Zealand Ferns this afternoon. The PNG Orchids put up a good fight on home soil but remained scoreless to the Kiwi Ferns this afternoon in the third week of the Pacific Championships. Orchids Coach, Tahnee Norries says she's still proud of the girl's performance, as they put up a good defence unlike their previous match loss to the Australian Jilaroos. Meantime, Kiwi's utility and debutant, Brooke Talaina, left the field just after 11 minutes due to a tackle incident with PNG hooker, Therese Aiton, who is now on report.

PNG Kumuls led 16-14 against the Cook Islands Aitu at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby at half-time. In an intense start to the Pacific Championships clash, the PNG Kumuls edged ahead of the Cook Islands with a score of 16-14 by halftime. The game kicked off with Papua New Guinea asserting dominance as Elijah Roltinga broke through the defense in the fifth minute, securing their first try. However, the Cook Islands responded swiftly, leveling the score with Davvy Moale’s eighth minute try, and Steven Marsters' accurate conversion pushed them ahead. The Kumuls found themselves in a tough spot as Sylvester Namo received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle around the 27-minute mark, giving the Cook Islands an opportunity to extend their lead. They seized the chance, as Marsters not only converted but also scored another try, putting the Cook Islands up 14-4. Yet the Kumuls showed resilience, regaining momentum with tries from Nene Macdonald and Lachlan Lam just before halftime, bringing the score to 16-14. As both teams head into the second half, the match remains closely contested, with the Kumuls demonstrating grit and tactical precision to maintain their slight lead.

Incoming NCD/Central Police Commander Chief Superintendent Benjamin Turi has called on senior officers to return to fundamental policing duties to improve public trust and security. Addressing station commanders and section leaders, Turi emphasized the need for officers to adhere to duty statements and maintain ethical standards. Turi highlighted that many officers had left the force or faced dismissal due to poor support and lapses in conduct. “Police officers must understand their duty statements and work ethically." Turi stated, acknowledging that previous ethical compromises had contributed to ongoing law and order issues in the city. He urged his team to put differences aside. 'With me in the office, police officers who are supposed to work must be working.” Turi also recognized outgoing NCD/Central Commander Assistant Commissioner Peter Guinness, thanking him for his efforts in restoring order, particularly after the January 10 incident, which had drawn criticism toward the police force. Turi stressed the need to rebuild trust from both the public and business community, committing to lead a refreshed command focused on consistent policing and community service. With Turi’s fresh approach, NCD and Central police aim to foster peace and safety by getting “back to basics” and working in unity. He expects to meet with all the station commanders and section leaders on Monday, November 4th, to get them aligned on delivering on policing focus goals and strategies tasked by the Police Commissioner for the NCD/Central Divisional Command.

Tonga triumphed yesterday, Saturday, October 2nd, over the New Zealand Kiwis in a nail-biting Pacific Championships clash. In a thrilling showdown at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium, Tonga XIII edged past the New Zealand Kiwis with a 25-24 victory in Week 3 of the Pacific Championships. Both teams showcased impressive skill, with each side scoring four tries, keeping fans on the edge of their seats throughout the intense match. Tonga XIII's Sione Katoa opened the scoring in the second minute, followed by tries from Addin Fonua-Blake, Siliva Havili, and Soni Luke, demonstrating Tonga's early momentum. New Zealand responded with tries from Isaiah Papali’i, Keano Kini, Phoenix Crossland, and Joseph Tapine, leveling the game at critical moments. Despite New Zealand's perfect conversion rate, thanks to Jamayne Isaako’s accuracy, Tonga managed to gain a slight edge with a field goal from Isaiya Katoa in the 75th minute, which ultimately clinched the win. Tonga’s victory marks an impressive achievement as they head to the Cup Final, bringing significant pride to their team and fans. Both sides displayed impressive teamwork, resilience, and determination, setting the stage for a riveting conclusion to the Pacific Championships.