Air Niugini’s Boeing 767 flight PX 003, traveling from Port Moresby to Brisbane, Australia on Wednesday 9, 2025 had to return to Port Moresby after a crack occurred in the pilots’ windshield. The National Airline stated that the windshield crack appeared, approximately 40 minutes into the flight, and Captain Lawrence Koyama and First Officer Toea Hehuni made the decision to return to base. Air Niugini said that the aircraft landed safely, passengers disembarked and were later re-boarded onto another aircraft, which departed at 11:05am for Brisbane. “Air Niugini’s engineers have replaced the cracked windshield, and the aircraft is back in service. We commend Captain Koyama and First Officer Hehuni, as well as Purser Jenny Banasi and the entire operating crew of PX003, for their level headedness and professionalism under challenging circumstances. Their actions exemplify the commitment and excellence we pride ourselves on at Air Niugini. We also extend our gratitude to our valued customers for their understanding and cooperation,” Air Niugini stated. Air Niugini added that safety remains the top priority across their entire operations.

The National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) is proud to announce the release of two Request for Proposal (RFP) documents through its website to be followed later in the newspapers and social media as part of its contribution to Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations in 2025. NICTA Chief Executive Officer Kila Gulo-Vui, said NICTA is inviting qualified and experienced firms to submit proposals for the following two projects: (1) Documentary Film Production Services; and (2) Book Writing, Editing & Publishing Services. Mr. Gulo-Vui said NICTA welcomes submissions from both local and international firms, including those with experience in Pacific or culturally significant projects. “These legacy projects aim to preserve and showcase the rich history of telecommunications in Papua New Guinea, from the colonial era to the present day.” “Both initiatives will be based on the seminal works of the late James Sinclair - Uniting a Nation: The Postal and Telecommunication Services of Papua New Guinea (1984), and PTC: Uniting a Nation Through the 1980s (1993).” “The documentary film will aspire to transform Sinclair’s written accounts into a high-quality cinematic experience that meets broadcast, streaming, and theatrical standards, while the book project will update and re-edit editions of the two publications - to be made available in both print and digital formats.” He added that together, these works will serve as educational and archival resources for current and future generations. “These projects are not just about history, but they will help us understand national identity, progress, and national pride.” “They will educate, inspire, and connect generations of Papua New Guineans to the incredible journey of our ICT sector.” The deadline for submission of proposals for both RFPs is Friday, 25 April 2025. Detailed RFP documents can be downloaded from NICTA’s website: • Book Publishing Services: https://www.nicta.gov.pg/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RFP-Book-Writing-Editing-Publishing-Services-060425.pdf • Film Production Services: https://www.nicta.gov.pg/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RFP-Documentary-Film-Production-Services-060425.pdf Submissions should be sent via email bookRFP@nicta.gov.pg (for the book RFP) and filmRFP@nicta.gov.pg (for the film RFP) or hand-delivered and placed in the Tender Box at Punaha ICT Haus, Hohola, NCD, PNG.

Over 2,000 students attending Markham Primary School in Morobe Province now have improved access to digital learning resources thanks to BSP Financial Group. Established in 1976, Markham Road Primary School is one of Lae City’s oldest and most populated schools, serving students from surrounding communities including Salamanda, Bugandi, Eriku, Kamkumung, Nawae and as far as Nadzab and Gabensis. The school has long struggled with outdated learning materials and limited resources. Through its 2024 community project, BSP continues to champion education through technology. Lae Commercial Centre stepped in to support the school with an e-library setup, providing students and the school’s 59 teaching staff with access to current educational content and digital tools to foster interactive and modern learning. BSP’s Lae Commercial Centre Branch Manager Mr Livikonimo Koki said education is one of the most powerful tools for nation-building. “By investing in this e-Library, BSP is equipping students with access to the digital world and preparing them for the future,” Mr. Koki said. Meanwhile, the Markham Road Primary School Head Teacher Mr William Kennedy said this e-Library is more than just a project, it is an opportunity for their students to explore, learn and grow in ways they couldn’t offer before. “We are grateful to BSP for responding to our long-standing need.” “The initiative aligns with BSP’s Digital Inclusiveness theme and reflects its long-term commitment to strengthening communities through practical and sustainable solutions that promote education and growth.” BSP further acknowledged the partnership and support from the school and administration and look forward to seeing the positive impact of the e-Library on the student learning outcomes.

Gone but not forgotten in the hearts of many Papua New Guineans. Today April 9, 2025, the Founding Father of Papua New Guinea late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare would be turning 89 years old. Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare peacefully passed away on February 26, 2021, at the age of 84. He passed away two months before his birthday. As our country looks forward to celebrating 50 years of nationhood, Papua New Guineans today still remember his great leadership and wisdom in running our country. Sir Michael led Papua New Guinea to Independence on September 16, 1975, serving as the country’s first and longest Prime Minister. During his Anniversary this year in February 2025 his son Arthur Somare said his father has surprised him on many occasions. Mr. Somare said that he can only imagine how difficult the path to Independence was to have so many thousands of different people over a thousand tribes, over a thousand different languages and dialects and to unit those people together would have been a big challenge for Papua New Guinea. “For a few brave men who looked down at the issues of prejudice and colonialism, who stared into the future, which was unknown on what PNG would be like 50 years on. Will we remain as one people still, will we have fortitude to walk together, to stare down development and 50 years on, those questions still ponder our leaders of today. Sir Michael Somare’s greatest achievement together with his cohort is not the development today but the unification of one country, under one banner as one people to wrestle and take on the challenge of being a free and independent nation. The desire that they have a sovereign nation, the desire that we have a constitutional democracy to have strong laws that our leaders today and our bureaucracy need to continue to uphold in leadership in all segments of life. “Not only in politics, not only in bureaucracy but in churches, in societies, in communities, and in villages,” Mr. Somare said. Today let us remember our Founding father and hope that his wisdom and knowledge will remain in our hearts and mind.

Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas and the Governor for Simbu Province, Noah Kool have joined the Opposition team on Tuesday 8th April. Leader of the Opposition Douglas Tomuriesa welcomed the Alternative Prime Minister nominee, Governor Sir Ipatas, and Governor Kool, commending their decision to join the Opposition.  This now brings their numbers of members in the Opposition up to 19. “We understand making a big decision to leave the perks and privileges of government can be hard for some of our colleagues, but making a decision to change the course of this country shouldn’t be difficult. “At the end of the day, standing for what’s right is harder than standing for what’s convenient. The Opposition is not a death sentence, we are still working, we still discuss national issues, we still provide our districts and provinces, and we agree and disagree with each other. “We have respect for each other and have a collective concern to save this country from this mess that started 6 years ago,” Mr. Tomuriesa said. He added, “Sir Peter Ipatas is a highly experienced politician. He’s one of the longest serving leaders in Parliament and has always contributed to the formations and lifespans of successive governments. “His official inclusion to the Opposition is a tell-tale sign that our senior leaders can recognize all is not right in our country. “Contrary to reports, the Opposition is united and firm as a team. We are not ‘camping’ as confirmed by Sir Peter but meeting regularly in the coming days to discuss strategy and solidify our resolve ahead of Tuesday. “We welcome any MP to join the Opposition or commit their vote for change next Tuesday.”

The Pacific Island Investment Forum (PIIF) is currently underway in Suva, Fiji where the management team of Nasfund is attending. The 2025 PIIF Annual CEOs Forum is proudly hosted by the Fiji National Provident Fund at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort from April 7–10. In true Fijian tradition, Nasfund Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Pacific Island Investment Forum (PIIF) Chairman, Rajeev Sharma, received a warm 'kava' welcome at the opening of the PIIF Annual CEOs Forum in Suva, Fiji. During his remarks, CEO Sharma emphasized the power of collaboration among Pacific superannuation funds. “One of the key challenges we face across the Pacific is identifying the right investment opportunities. Often, our fund sizes are small, and suitable investments within our own countries are limited. That’s why this forum exists—to work together and explore quality investments collectively,” Mr. Sharma said. Nasfund’s Marketing Lead and Chairwoman of the Women in Super Network, Melisha Sindiwan, shared key updates at the PIIF Annual CEOs Forum in Fiji. Representing the women from 12 Pacific-based member funds, Ms. Sindiwan highlighted 3 key actions agreed to by PIIF members: Collect gender-based data and include it in reports from 2024 onwards. Support informal workers by sharing data and success stories. Run financial literacy programs to better serve all members. Ms. Sindiwan also presented the 2025 Women in Super survey results with 100% of the 12 listed funds reporting the collection and access to sex-disaggregated data, 83% engage with informal economy through voluntary contributions and 58% of the funds have a financial/retirement literacy program that meets its member needs.

Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, officially discharged the Papua New Guinea (PNG) team to the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan which will be held from April 13 to October 13, 2025. The Commissioner General of Section PNG, Ambassador Gabriel Dusava and his core team will depart in the coming weeks. Officers from key agencies such as the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) and the Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) will also join them. “These teams will work tirelessly and with desperate hopes to ensure PNG’s successful participation throughout the six-month duration of the Expo. The Expo Team in Osaka will operate under clear policy goals and objectives set out by respective government agencies and stakeholders. Their work will focus on ensuring PNG’s maximum visibility and impact on a global scale,” said Minister Maru. Minister Maru said for the past eight months, the Expo Secretariat has done everything possible to prepare the country for this participation. “The next phase is now in the hands of our key stakeholders—the private sector, Government Departments, and provincial administrations—who must continue to prepare themselves and work closely with the Section PNG Desk Officer at the National Trade Office to facilitate their involvement in Expo-related conferences and business events,” he said. Minister Maru announced that three provinces- Central Province, Western Highlands Province and East New Britain Province will participate, both at the Osaka Expo and at the PNG-Japan Trade and Investment Conference that will be held in Tokyo in July. “Additionally, I am actively pursuing to secure funds from State-Owned Entities (SOEs) such as the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) and others to subsidize K15 million to Air Niugini to recommence the direct flight between Port Moresby and Narita during this Expo year to ease the movement of our SOEs, companies, businesses, SMEs and people to attend and participate in the Expo and also at the Commercial Facility and the PNG-Japan Trade and Investment Conference in Tokyo,” said the minister. Maru wants to see PNG tuna and coffee and other products establish coordinating centers or business importers and make them become PNG products distribution centers throughout Japan. "By the same token, I am speaking to the Department of Civil Aviation and Transport and NFA to transform the old terminal at Nadzab to become a major storage for fish to be exported to the Sashimi market of Japan via Lae-Port Moresby-Narita. PNG’s presence at this Expo is not just about participation; it is about making our mark on the global stage and to market our country as an attractive tourism and investment destination, and pronounce the endless opportunities in business, pleasure and human engagement and collaboration for research, studies and other aspects,” said Minister Maru. Minister Maru will be travelling to Japan before the end of this month to hold bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart Minister. “We want to propose to Japan that we want to anchor our trade and investment relationship through an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between PNG and Japan formulated along the lines of the European Union (EU)-PNG EPA." This is critical to secure PNG's future market in Japan for marine and fisheries resources, PNG coffee and other products including LNG. "I will also call on the private sector during my visit to secure local sponsorship for our Commercial Facility and the venue for our PNG-Japan Trade and Investment Conference in Tokyo, which will be officially opened by the Prime Minister in July during his official visit for the PNG National Day. We are going all out to reaffirm our long and enduring relationship with Japan and to further straighten and deepen it on the back of trade and investment apart from the diplomatic relationship that we have been enjoying for the last 50 years,” added Minister Maru.

Petroleum Minister, Jimmy Maladina has invited China State Construction Engineering Corporation to look at the petroleum industry as a choice of investment, assuring them that Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a lot of potential. The minister extended the invitation to Mr. Wen Bing, the President of Chinese construction giant, the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (China State Construction), and his delegation when welcoming the executives to the Department of Petroleum (National Petroleum Authority) Headquarters in Port Moresby on Monday, March 31, 2025. “As for the petroleum industry in Papua New Guinea, which is oil and gas mainly, Papua New Guinea has a lot of potential. And as China State Construction is the biggest construction company in China and also around the world, we want to invite you to also look at our petroleum industry in assisting us in the contract or civil works, petroleum engineering work,” Minister Maladina said. Present also to meet Mr. Bing and his delegation were the Vice Minister for Petroleum Alexander Orme, the Secretary for the Department of Petroleum, Mr. David Manau and Deputy Secretary, Mr. George Imanaui. Mr. Manau also said that there was a lot of potential in petroleum exploration activities in Papua New Guinea when providing details of current and upcoming projects in PNG in the petroleum sector. Mr. Bing thanked Minister Maladina and his delegation for the meeting and extended their appreciation to Prime Minister James Marape as well. China State Construction was founded in 1982 and is now worth over US12 billion dollars and a global investment and construction group featuring professional development and market-oriented operations. China State Construction carries out business management through its public company - China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd and has eight listed companies and more than 100 subsidiaries. China State Construction's market competitiveness and brand influence have continued to improve, and its leading position in the industry has been further consolidated. China State Construction has been doing business in more than 100 countries and regions around the world, covering investment and development (real estate, construction financing and operation), construction engineering (housing and infrastructure) as well as survey and design and new business (green construction, energy conservation and e-commerce).

Children receiving care at the Port Moresby General Hospital’s (POMGEN) Children’s Emergency Department will now benefit from improved facilities, thanks to a generous donation by BSP Financial Group on Friday, 4th April 2025. Demonstrating its continued commitment to the health and wellbeing of Papua New Guineans, BSP’s People & Culture Team provided essential equipment and furnishings to support the ward’s operations and improve patient care. Items donated include air conditioning units, a staff sofa set, refrigerator, microwave, 50 armrest chairs, rods and curtains for the observation ward, and other vital appliances. BSP Group stated that these contributions address long-standing needs identified by hospital staff and are expected to deliver lasting improvements for both patients and healthcare professionals. “The Children’s Emergency Department at POMGEN plays a critical role in paediatric healthcare, treating over 100,000 critically ill and injured children annually. With referrals coming from across the country—including remote and rural areas—the department faces immense pressure due to aging infrastructure and limited resources. In addition to the equipment donation, the BSP team visited children in the Emergency and Cancer Wards, distributing nearly 100 ‘Care Packs’ containing plush blankets, toys, towels, and other comfort items,” BSP Group said. Kila Nouairi, BSP’s Head of Employee Relations and Project Coordinator said they wanted to make a meaningful contribution that would support children’s recovery. “Every child deserves the best possible care, and hospital staff deserve a comfortable, functional workspace. It is our hope that this small gesture brings added comfort to everyone’s stay at the hospital,” Nouairi said. Port Moresby General Hospital’s Director of Medical Services, Dr. Kone Sobi, expressed his appreciation and said these donations come at a crucial time. “Our facilities are aging, and the support provided by BSP—both in equipment and the time spent with patients—means a great deal to our staff and young patients. We are truly grateful to the BSP People & Culture Team for their compassion and support,” Dr. Sobi said. “This donation is expected to positively impact over 100,000 children annually and ease the workload of doctors and nurses who work tirelessly under demanding conditions. The initiative aligns with BSP’s community investment focus on healthcare (Medical Equipment), reinforcing the bank’s role in addressing urgent community needs At BSP, we believe our responsibility goes beyond banking. We are committed to supporting initiatives that create meaningful change, especially for the most vulnerable. Through this project, we hope to contribute to a safer, healthier environment for Papua New Guinea’s future generation,” BSP Group stated.

The Speaker of National Parliament Job Pomat has adjourned Parliament to 10am Tuesday, 15th April 2025. The Speaker reconvened Parliament today after the Supreme Court decision ruled that the decision by the Private Business Committee to reject the 27th of November 2024 motion of No Confidence in the Prime Minister on the Notice paper was unconstitutional and in breach of Section 111 of the Constitution. Before presenting the decision by the Supreme court and adjourning Parliament Mr. Pomat made an announcement in Parliament that lawyers or anyone should not go to the media to tell Parliament how it should conduct its business. He said after going to the media to air their thoughts, they even showed up in Parliament to serve the Parliament Clerk and Speaker to tell them how to conduct their business following the court order and asked them to resign. “This is not right as Parliament has its process and procedures and its standing orders on how it conducts its business," Mr. Pomat said. He added that there are 3 arms of government, and these 3 arms of government have their functions. “The first arm is Parliament, and its job and function is to create and change laws and others. The second arm is the National Executive Council (NEC) where the Prime Minister leads to implement these laws and the third arm is the Judicial where the Chief Justice leads,” he said. He said Parliament was recalled today by the Supreme Court to debate on a Notice of Motion of No Confidence against the Prime Minister and Member for Tari James Marape. “The Notice was moved by Sir Puka Temu nominating the Member for Enga Provincial Sir Peter Ipatas as the alternate Prime Minister. The decision of the Supreme Court was made on 31st of March 2025. The Supreme Court ordered the Speaker to recall Parliament to facilitate and debate the Motion of No Confidence 27th November 2024. The Supreme Court also ordered that the Private Business Committee should deliver the Motion of No Confidence to the Clerk of the Parliament to list on the notice paper. The Chair in compliance with the court orders on the 2nd of April 2025 fixing 10am today as the time to recall Parliament. The Chair as the Chairman of the Private Business Committee delivered the motion of no confidence of 27th November 2024 to the clerk to place it on the notice paper. The Motion of No Confidence is now on the Parliament Notice Paper on 8th April 2025. To facilitate debate and comply with section 145 sub-section 1 paragraph (b) of the constitution the notice of No confidence motion of 27th November 2024 will be on the notice paper for 7 days before it is called on for debate,” Mr. Pomat said. He added that this means that on 15th April 2025 at 10am the motion of No Confidence will be called on for debate.

BSP customers will soon enjoy faster, more seamless transactions when making payments on EFTPOS terminals, thanks to a new partnership with VeriFone, a global leader in payment technology solutions. A contract signing in Port Moresby marked the beginning of this collaboration, which will introduce a new Field Service Management System and enhanced in-country support for BSP by VeriFone. BSP Financial Group CEO Mark Robinson emphasized that this partnership reflects BSP’s commitment to innovation and stronger connections with the communities it serves. “The integration of VeriFone’s advanced V660P+ EFTPOS terminals will enhance efficiency, reliability, and the overall service experience for our merchants and customers across the region,” Mr. Robinson said. The VeriFone V660P+ terminals introduce cutting-edge features designed to enhance payment experiences for BSP merchants and customers: Android 13 Operating System – Ensures heightened performance and security, Advanced QR Code Scanning – Enables fast and reliable transactions, Expanded Memory Capacity – Future-proofs devices for additional applications, High-Capacity 6600mAh Battery – Supports up to 420 transactions on a single charge, and eSIM Support – Simplifies device management and reduces operational costs. President of Asia Pacific Verifone - Paris Tsounias expressed his gratitude to BSP for their unwavering support and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership. "Today marks a significant milestone as we come together to formalize our commitment to a shared vision. This partnership will span across the seven Pacific countries where we will jointly deploy our latest generation Android solutions and a best-in-class end-to-end managed service, developed in collaboration with BSP,” he said. Deployment of the new EFTPOS terminals will begin in Port Moresby, with pilot testing ensuring system optimization before a full-scale nationwide rollout. With over 10,000 EFTPOS terminals already in use, this upgrade is expected to deliver a significant positive impact on local businesses and communities. Beyond Papua New Guinea, BSP and VeriFone plan to extend this initiative to Tonga and other Pacific markets, reinforcing BSP’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge financial solutions across the region. To celebrate the contract signing, BSP Group CEO Mark Robinson also announced a waiver fee on all EFTPoS transactions below K20.00. “Later this month we will begin waiving the Merchant acquiring fee on all transactions less than K20. We hope that would be very helpful for our customers in making transactions under than K20 right across PNG,” Mr. Robinson concluded.

ACT NOW! is urging the Ombudsman Commission to act decisively as the 31st of March deadline passes for Districts to submit their Service and Infrastructure Improvement Program acquittals. The community advocacy group says the Ombudsman Commission should immediately publish a list of Districts that have failed to comply with the deadline and to take action under the Leadership Code against those leaders who have defaulted. ACT NOW! is warning that continued inaction will erode public trust and enable the misuse of billions of Kina in public funds. ACT NOW! recently published an analysis on District transparency and accountability that has revealed alarming gaps in basic governance. "As of July 2024, just 24 out of 96 Districts had lodged their financial acquittals for 2022 or 2023 and none of those acquittals are publicly available. Of the 24 Districts that had lodged acquittals, 7 are from the Highlands region, 6 from Momase, 6 from Southern and 5 from the Islands region. The missing acquittals are just part of a deeper governance crisis at the district level," ACT NOW stated. ACT NOW’s analysis has exposed systematic issues including: Only 21 out of 93 Districts have announced a 2022–2027 development plan (and just 7 plans are publicly available). Only 2 District Development Authorities have a publicly available email address and only 4 have a public phone number. "Meanwhile, the Auditor General has revealed his office has been unable to audit any of the 439 institutions nationwide that receive service improvement program grants due to a lack of funding," ACT NOW said. Accountability must start now. ACT NOW! says the Ombudsman Commission must: Name and shame: Publish a list of all Districts that have failed to meet the acquittal deadline. Take enforcement action: Investigate and prosecute non-compliant leaders under the Leadership Code. Demand compliance: Require that all Districts publish a five-year development plan and budget before June 30th and allocate funds to the Auditor General's office to complete outstanding audits for 2023 and 2024. ACT NOW! Information Coordinator Cathy Tukne said transparency and accountability should be non-negotiable when managing billions of Kina in public funds. "District leaders owe it to the people of Papua New Guinea to demonstrate honesty and responsibility. "The time for excuses has passed and the Ombudsman Commission must take bold steps to enforce accountability, restore public trust, and pave the way for effective governance," she said. ACT NOW stated that members of the public can find out more about the performance of their local District Development Authority on the DDA Watch website - www.ddawatch.org DDA Watch is an independent, politically neutral platform developed by ACT NOW! to improve transparency and accountability. The website provides the public with access to vital governance documents for each DDA, rankings, and an interactive platform to engage in social accountability.