SP PNG Hunters' star Joshua Lau has taken a break from his 2024 mid-season schedule to visit his home province of Enga, where he donated almost K100, 000 worth of aid the victims of the recent Mulitaka landslide. Lau, who is in his second season with the Hunters after rising from the Lae Snax Tigers franchise, emphasized the importance of being present with his community during their time of need. During his visit, Lau, supported by the Lae Biscuit Company and local leader and relative Betani Keo, contributed significantly to the relief efforts. The donation included K15, 000 in cash, 1, 000 cartons of Cabin Biscuits, and 500 cartons of Pawa Energy drinks, totaling nearly K70, 000. Additionally, Keo contributed 15 cartons of Coke. Lau expressed his gratitude to the Chow family and Mr. Keo for their unwavering support. He highlighted the importance of local involvement in the recovery process, stressing that while external aid is crucial, the comfort and support from fellow community members are indispensable for long-term recovery. In a heartfelt message to his community, Lau acknowledged the profound impact of the landslide and emphasized the importance of unity and self-help in moving forward. "As a local, I believe that moving forward means we must help ourselves." He also thanked the Mapai Company for their continuous support in transporting relief supplies to the affected areas. Lau's visit and contributions have been a significant morale boost for the Mulitaka community, demonstrating his commitment to giving back to his roots. "Such natural disasters are unforeseen, but they remind us of the need to be united in both good and bad times," Lau said, reinforcing his message of solidarity and resilience. Lau later returned to the Hunters' camp to resume training with his team for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Sixty-six (66) students from the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT) in the city of Lae were recently engaged in a rigorous five-day boot camp training at the Papua New Guinea Defence Force's (PNGDF) Joint Forces Academy (JFA) at Igam Barracks. The comprehensive program encompasses leadership and character development lessons, team-building activities, problem-solving tasks, and physical training. This initiative, spearheaded by the PNGUoT's Student Support and Facilities Center in collaboration with the PNGDF's JFA, aims to cultivate discipline among participants. Capt. Moses Afuti, Acting Senior Instructor at the Officer Cadet Training Wing, underscores discipline as a learned skill acquired through individual development phases. He advocates for the integration of similar training modules into tertiary education across the country to nurture discipline among future leaders. In response, Dr. Garry Sali, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of PNGUoT, highlights the university's commitment to producing world-class technocrats. He emphasizes how this boot camp aligns with the institution's vision by instilling discipline in its students. The five-day training initiative ended on Friday 7th June with a symbolic morning walk from PNGDF Igam Barracks to the university campus.

Ramu NiCo Mine in Madang has once again provided medical supplies to the Ileg Health Center, which services over 20, 000 residents in the Astrolabe Bay Local Level Government (LLG) of the Raicoast district. The mining company's Community Affairs department delivered the second quarter supply of medical drugs on Monday, as part of Ramu NiCo's annual commitment to support health centers located near its operations. Gabriel Puap, the nursing officer and midwife at Ileg Health Center, received the supplies and expressed gratitude to Ramu NiCo for their consistent assistance, noting that the medical supplies would benefit the broader community, including local schools. "Ileg Health Center serves a population of 20, 326 – I thank Ramu NiCo for consistently rescuing us with these medical supplies”. He highlighted the geographical and developmental challenges faced by the health center and emphasized the importance of timely medical support from Ramu NiCo. David Kurame, Ramu NiCo's Community and Government Liaisons Officer stated that the company has an annual budget allocated for providing medical supplies to Ileg, Usino, Ganglau, and Enekwai health centers on a quarterly basis. Additionally, Puap, who also works as a midwife, extended his thanks on behalf of the mothers in the area, acknowledging the timely and adequate medical supplies that help care for mothers and babies before and after birth.

The National Government, in collaboration with Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK), has initiated comprehensive measures to support the coconut industry through structured Price Support and Freight Subsidy policies. KIK, under the leadership of Managing Director Alan Aku, has been instrumental in implementing these policies. Aku emphasized the organization's commitment to supporting white copra producers by providing essential resources such as dryer sets and processing start-up kits. This initiative ensures high-quality processed products reach markets efficiently, bolstering the economic prospects of coconut growers. KIK's efforts extend to establishing and enhancing downstream processing facilities, particularly benefiting SMEs and MSMEs in coconut-growing regions. The support encompasses new machinery, upgrades to existing equipment, extension of factory spaces, and covering freight costs for processing facilities. This has resulted in the establishment of eight medium VCO processing facilities and 53 small processing facilities since 2023, significantly contributing to the production of high-value coconut products like virgin coconut oil, body care items, and coconut shell charcoal. Aku also highlighted KIK's focus on environmental sustainability, addressing issues like smoke pollution by promoting white copra production and integrating sustainable farming practices through the Coconut Based Farming Systems approach. This method ensures the efficient use of land by combining coconut cultivation with other crops or livestock, considering factors like soil erosion and nutrient management. The collaborative efforts with international partners for research and capacity building further reinforce KIK's commitment to enhancing the coconut industry while minimizing environmental impact.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea has presented a speedboat to the Lutheran community in Manus Province. This gift, promised 14 years ago, includes an outboard motor and dinghy worth K35,700. Reverend Hans Giegere and John Yawing, Chairman of the July 12th Committee, handed over the boat to Pastor Otto Zidam and other church leaders at Nyada on the West Coast of Manus. The boat, initially promised in 2010, was delayed due to other commitments but was finally delivered this year. It will assist the Manus congregation in pastoral duties and evangelism, especially as members live in island communities. The boat can also be used for church gatherings and programs. A committee has been set up to manage its operation with strict guidelines. Women’s Ministry Coordinator, Nancy Zing, thanked contributors to the July 12th offering for making this possible. She highlighted the boat's importance in providing reliable transport for church activities.

The Headmaster of Good Shepherd Primary School in Madang Province confirmed that the building housing the Junior and Senior Science Laboratories for the school was destroyed by fire on the morning of Friday 17th May. Mr. Ben Tamilong stated that the cause of the fire remains unknown. The incident has been reported to the relevant authorities, including the Police Criminal Investigation Division (CDI) at the Provincial Police Command (PPC). A team from the CID visited the site last Friday and will continue their investigations. The building included both the Junior and Senior Science Laboratories, serving students in grades 9 and 10, and grades 11 and 12, respectively. The fire has impacted 800 students who used these facilities but despite this setback, Tamilong assured that classes will continue as scheduled and learning will not be disrupted. The destroyed building, constructed between 1994 and 1995, contained laboratory equipment, textbooks, old exam papers, and other materials, with an estimated value close to one million Kina. Tamilong mentioned that approximately one million Kina would be needed to rebuild and restock both laboratories. Good Shepherd Lutheran Secondary School, a level four school located a 15-minute drive from Madang town along the north coast road, receives operational funds from the education department. The school will now seek additional support and assistance from stakeholders to construct a new building and replace the lost materials.

The recent flooding in the Bulolo District of the Morobe province has caused significant disruptions, flooding parts of Bulolo town and surrounding roads, and impacting local residents and communities. Over the weekend, the Bulolo District Development Authority (DDA) organized relief supplies to aid the affected areas in an effort to restore livelihoods. Bulolo MP, Sam Basil Jr., expressed concern over the situation. “It is unfortunate what has transpired and the aftermath it has had on our communities. The relief supplies will be distributed accordingly to our affected communities, coordinated by the DDA.” While the Provincial Disaster Office has yet to address the issue, the DDA is working to manage the situation. Basil urged the Provincial Disaster Office to take appropriate action promptly and also emphasized the ongoing need for the restoration of the Wau-Bulolo Highway, citing slow progress despite repeated calls to the Department of Works. Basil highlighted that natural disasters like flooding will persist, but the DDA plans to learn from this experience and collaborate with stakeholders to improve disaster response and preparedness. The DDA's immediate response included assistance to flood victims at Pine Top, where 23 houses were swept away by the flood at 2am on Friday. Families left with nothing, have been provided with tarpaulins and food items since Saturday, with ongoing support planned throughout the week until they are resettled. District Administrator, Mr. Joe Paru supervised the distribution of food supplies, which were transported in two trucks and two cars to aid victims currently housed at St. Peters Primary School in Bulolo. Paru noted that the DDA responded within eight hours, providing immediate relief while waiting for further assistance from the Provincial Government and the Disaster Office. He also commended local families for their initial support, offering aid in cash and kind. Meanwhile, one of the victims, Gloria Manjiban Taio, shared her experience, stating that her family had no time to salvage belongings as the flood struck at 2am, forcing them to evacuate immediately. Mr. Basil reiterated the DDA's commitment to managing the relief efforts and ensuring proper coordination of resources to support the affected communities. He continues to call for prompt action from the Provincial Disaster Office to address the ongoing crisis.

Bulolo District Hospital, a level four healthcare facility, is grappling with a severe shortage of medical personnel, hindering its ability to serve the urban population of 9, 000 and patients from the Menyama and Wau-Waria Districts of Morobe province. Despite having essential medical equipment, including a standard laboratory, an X-ray machine, and an ultrasound machine since 2019, the lack of qualified doctors and technicians has left these facilities largely underutilized. Currently staffed by only 18 health workers, the hospital falls short of the 25 personnel, including at least one doctor, required to meet the healthcare needs of the region effectively. This staffing deficiency is exacerbated by the infrequency of rural doctor visits, with only one visit recorded this year and none in the previous year. Dr. Kipas Binga, CEO of the Morobe Provincial Health Authority, emphasized the urgent need to make Bulolo District Hospital fully operational to support patients from neighbouring districts. Additionally, two health clinics, each costing nearly K10 million and funded by Defat, remain underutilized due to a lack of midwives necessary for childbirth services. In response to these challenges, local MP Sam Basil Jnr has provided a mobile clinic vehicle to the hospital. Inspired by his personal experience with his mother’s successful battle against cervical cancer, this mobile clinic aims to enhance cancer screening and detection efforts. Efforts to improve healthcare services in the region remain ongoing, but addressing the staffing crisis is essential for the hospital to operate at full capacity and serve the community adequately.

The Wau Waria District Development Authority is shaking up the approach to youth programs. Rather than the usual focus on group activities like sports, they're taking a new path. Local MP, Marsh Narewec stated their plan is to target individual youths, aiming to give them hope and job opportunities. Their goals are clear: they want to change mindsets and behaviours and give young people the skills they need for work. With youth unemployment a big problem, even the Prime Minister is paying attention. Narewec added they've found over 18,000 unemployed youths in the district, and they're aiming to help 10% of them, around 1,800 young people. Their approach includes training to change how young people think, with partners like ELCPNG and The Voice Inc. They're also offering paths like technical college and apprenticeships for skill-building and jobs. The initiative has serious funding too, with K1.5 million from various sources, including the MP's funds and education allocations. Part of this money goes to scholarships and other youth programs, showing they're serious about support. Narewec announced these plans during an orientation week at the Mapex training institute, where 131 young people from the district will get sponsored training.

Madang police have confirmed a tragic incident in Bogia District, Papua New Guinea, where five individuals, including a woman whose head was severed, lost their lives. Additionally, four people sustained injuries, and twenty houses were set ablaze. According to Acting Superintendent Robert Baim, Provincial Police Commander, the violence ensued when six armed men intercepted a passing motor canoe along the Ramu River. Believing the passengers were carrying vanilla and cocoa money, the armed group capsized the vessel, plunging all occupants into the water. Despite realizing their mistake, the armed men retreated to Korkam boat stop, leading to a confrontation with the passengers. What started as a disagreement over the capsized boat quickly escalated into a violent clash involving youths from neigh boring villages. In a disturbing turn, residents of Dakit and Guaia villages became targets of the violence, with even mothers and infants falling victim to the brutality. Tragically, a village court magistrate from Guaia was shot dead, and his body was disposed of in the river. Retaliation swiftly followed, with villagers from Guaia launching a counterattack on Kumnung village, resulting in widespread destruction. Law enforcement authorities from Madang Headquarters moved quickly to contain the unrest, apprehending, and detaining six suspects from the initial altercation. Community cooperation played a crucial role in this effort. Efforts to restore peace are underway, with both sides engaging in dialogue and expressing willingness to surrender suspects and lay down arms. Despite the challenges, signs of progress are emerging, bolstered by ongoing police patrols and a collective desire for reconciliation. Superintendent Baim expressed gratitude to the Minister for Energy and Member of Parliament for Bogia, Robert Naguri, and the District Development Authority (DDA) for their swift response, which facilitated police intervention. He emphasized the importance of collaboration among Madang's leaders to effectively serve the community and ensure the people receive the assistance they need.

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