Season proper for the Port Moresby Australian Football League (AFL) competition will kick off this Saturday 24th July, but it will not have all the teams participating. President of the Port Moresby AFL Association, Mr. Douglas Lai, confirmed that two teams will not be playing this weekend. The teams are, the North Waigani Tigers and the Gerehu Magpies. This is because they are yet to confirm the number of players in their teams respectively, before confirming their participation in the 2021 season competition. A schedule for this weekend’s games has been put together and all the matches will take place at the Colts Oval. A fully completed schedule for the season will be put out next week following this weekend’s games. Meanwhile, the Port Moresby AFL Women’s competition is expected to start in a couple of weeks after the start of the men’s competition. “A complete schedule for the women’s competition will be confirmed this week and hopefully the competition will start after two weeks,” said President Douglas Lai. The president also confirmed that only four teams will be participating in this year’s women’s competition.

Two teams from the Central Province have been given the opportunity to participate in the Port Moresby Australian Football League (AFL) competition to get the feel of the competition and show that they have what it takes to have a spot in the city competition. According to the AFL PNG Senior Football Operations Manager Mr. Rex Leka, one team is from Hula village and the other from Keapara village. They will be given that opportunity when the pre-season matches kick off on Saturday 17th July at the Colts Oval in Port Moresby. “We sent out an invitation to the two teams after they showed us their interest in playing in the city competition,” he said. Initially, the two villages played host to friendly matches last year and this year. These matches were part of the initiative by AFL PNG to promote the sport to youths in Central province, which got the interest of the two villages to put a team in the Port Moresby competition. The two teams will only have the chance to play in the pre-season as the proper-season schedules have not been finalized yet. Meanwhile, about four regular clubs in the city competition have already been confirmed to participate in the 2021 season while the other four clubs have not yet confirmed. The four that have confirmed are the Lamana Dockers, West Eagles, Kobonis and Gereka Bombers. The ones yet to do so are Bomana Cats, Gerehu Magpies, Tigers and Gordons Kokofas.

The Pasca Gas project is a step closer to its actual commencement in a few years’ time after the government and developer, Twinza Oil (PNG) Limited, came to terms in an agreement on the benefits packages for country and the developer. Petroleum Minister, Kerenga Kua, announced this afternoon that the state through the State Negotiation Team (SNT) secured a 55% total benefits package in the proposed Pasca Gas Project in the Gulf province following a successful final meeting last week between the SNT and Twinza Oil. Twinza Oil will have a 45% package in this project. The minister, while outlining the outcome of the meeting and benefits to come from the deal struck between the two parties, explained that the 55% is based on an oil price of 50 dollars a barrel; however, this could change for the better depending on the oil price. “The good news is oil price has gone up seventy- six dollars per barrel, so that’s bonus for us. If it stays there long enough it can take our total benefits package well above fifty- five, because there is room for increment depending on high oil price and its sustainability over time,” said the minister. The breakup of that 55% total benefits package will see 2% royalty to go to the Gulf provincial government. Minister Kua explained that since the project will be on the sea some 95kilometers offshore south of the province, no landowner will benefit but this does not mean that the people will not. The 2% royalty will be used by the Gulf provincial government to look after the needs of the people. Kua said what is important to note here is that it will be a 2% royalty of gross production and not of net deduction, meaning that it will be without deduction and the whole amount from that 2% will be received in full. This was insisted in the meetings between the parties because of past experiences where landowners do not get much from royalties because of net deductions. The minister said the state has done something quite new as well in the agreement, which was to secure 5% production levy. He explained that the Oil and Gas Act has no provision for entitlements for a production levy. This is something new that has been created out of the Pasca Gas project that will be beneficial for the country moving forward. “So that’s a big plus, early revenue. This one we’ve had to give away dividend withholding tax to secure this one because if we chase the dividend withholding tax, we will have to wait until the following financial year and that denies us money in real time when we need it.” Also, from the 55% benefits package, 2% development levy will go to the provincial government, 15% additional profit tax, 5% for Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) and then 30% for the normal corporate tax. The deal for the Pasca Gas project was hailed as a big achievement for Papua New Guinea (PNG) because despite its life span of just 12 years, the benefits will be great given that the benefits packaged secured is higher than that of the other gas projects, like the PNG LNG project. Twinza Oil Country Executive Director, Mr. Erick Kowa, said the deal now completes the negotiations with PNG to pave way for the execution and signing of the Pasca Gas project agreement, which is expected to take place on the 29th of this month. After the actual agreement signing, Twinza Oil will go to work on the project construction phase. The first production is expected to take place in 2024. Picture: Minister Kua addressing the press conference on the agreement reached between Twinza and the state at the Manasupe House, Port Moresby.

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) Commander, Major General Gilbert Toropo, on Friday signed the all-important Gateway Accord, wrapping up a very successful 2021 Commander of Defence Force (CDF) Retreat in Port Moresby.    The signing saw the PNGDF Senior Leadership Team (SLT) declare their commitment to continue to actively execute Defence reform through effective, transparent, and courageous leadership. Commander Toropo explained that the two and a half days Retreat was to charter a way forward for the PNGDF through the restructure, plus good leadership, and guidance from leaders in the force. “In any organization, without planning and direction, the organization will be distorted. So, what our Senior Leadership Team has done in two and a half days, is to charter a way forward for the PNG Defence Force so that every sub- branch within the Defence Force know exactly what each other is doing so that we can do our business as usual.” [caption id="attachment_11723" align="aligncenter" width="998"] CDF and his SLT reading the oath before the signing of the Gateway Accord[/caption] The SLT has affirmed that they will set the pace for the delivery of the agreed Commander’s priorities, for modernization and professionalization of the PNGDF in 2022, and beyond in the focused delivery of the Force 2030 Vision. During the Retreat, the team was also updated on the progress of the Defence Assessment and White Paper and reviewed the Three-Year Plan and then had a very informative and useful update and discussion on Force 2030 and how they are going to look to create a future Force – Defence 50. Commander Toropo also challenged his SLT to define what it takes to be a senior leader and translate it into tangible actions as senior leaders of the defence organization. “The onus is on every member of the SLT to set the tone, behaviour and character of the defence organisation,” he said. “My challenge to you all now is to live the foundations of the Kumul Leadership Framework – Lead Self, ensure that all those who you impact and effect in the course of your work, deliver on the ideas and intents you have articulated to me.” The 2021 Commander of Defence Force Retreat, which took place at the Gateway Hotel, started on Wednesday 7th July, and ended on Friday 9th July .

The newly establish subsidiary company of Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited, Kumul Minerals Ok Tedi Limited (KMOTL), will now be holding the state's share in Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) after the Governor General approved the share to be transferred. Chairman of KMOTL, Mr. Bonny Ninai, said Papua New Guinea holds 67% of shares in OTML and the signing of the transfer documents at Government House, is a result of the government’s broader restructure of the state’s mining and resource holdings that requires all mining assets to be held under KCHL. “As a result of this transfer, Kumul Minerals Ok Tedi Limited will now be the shareholder on record of the sixty- seven percent shares in OTML and dividends for these shares will be paid to KMOLT.” The dividends, however, will still be distribute by KMOLT in accordance with the National Government’s dividend policy which requires 50% of the dividends to be paid to the National Government to support the national budget. Kumul Mineral will only retain 33% for its operations and re-investments whilst the balance will be paid to the sovereign wealth fund and used for community support. He said the Board of Kumul Minerals is grateful to the National Government and Prime Minister James Marape, who is also the Trustee Shareholder, for ensuring that this transfer eventually takes place. “Today is a momentous day for Kumul Minerals as it now holds shares in an operating and successful mining company, which is nationally owned.”

The signing of a supplemental agreement today at the Government House in Port Moresby for the Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment program, will see an additional K34million added to the original contract for the repair, rehabilitation, upgrade, and maintenance of the Highlands highway. According to the Department of Works Secretary, Mr. David Wereh, the funding will be for a specific purpose on the road works taking place. “What you witnessed today was a scope increase for some maintenance and emergency works on the first section from Nadzab junction in Lae all the way to Henganofi in Eastern Highlands under the MCC (Metallurgical Corporation of China) contract for thirty-four million Kina on top of the original contract. So, we came to sign the supplementary agreement as cleared by the cabinet and the state solicitor,” he said. “The new contract amount is around two hundred and sixty-four million Kina now with the addition of the thirty-four million Kina variant.” The secretary also said the road works is in progress from Morobe province to the Eastern Highlands province. “It’s a four-year long-term program-based contract under three major sub-sections of the four-hundred-and-thirty-kilometer road from Lae Nadzab airport junction to Kagamuga junction in the Western Highlands province and we got three major Chinese companies that are working under the ADB funding.” “We are halfway through the project duration and the achievements so far as far as the physical works are concern, we are about forty-five to fifty percent complete now.” The Governor General Sir Bob Dadae officially signed the documents this morning along with the Department of Works Secretary and the contractors to make way for the works to begin.

The Em Nau Niukick program for the National Capital District (NCD) kicked off yesterday at the St Peter Chanel Primary School in Erima with youngsters taken through the basics of the Australian Football League (AFL) code to teach them about the sport and built their interest in the footy game as well. AFL Junior Development Program Manager, Mr. David Topeni, said the event is the first for 2021 after the Office of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response Controller, gave the go ahead for sporting activities to start. “The Em Nau Niukick program takes students through the basic skills of ball handling and kicking. Once the students have gone through the basics, they are usually arranged into groups and then take part in non-contact fun games.” He added that apart from this the Niukick team will also be giving out awareness to students on social issues like violence and illicit drugs and their bad effects. All these are aimed at promoting a positive mindset for the youngsters to help shape their futures. This week the Port Moresby AFL Junior Development Program team will be busy running the Em Nau Niukick program for primary and secondary schools. Today will see the team at Kilakila Primary and Secondary Schools, while Gerehu Primary School will host the team tomorrow. The Em Nau Niukick program was made possible with the support of Paradise Foods Ltd through sponsoring the program and the Junior Development Program will continue to work alongside Paradise Foods throughout this year in delivering the Niukick program to schools throughout the country.

The newly sworn in member for Moresby Northwest, Lohia Boe Samuel, will not waste anymore time going into delivering some of the promises he made to his people in the suburbs, the settlements, and the villages of Motu Koita. Speaking at the press conference today in parliament after his official declaration of office and swearing in by the Speaker of Parliament, the new member said the time frame from now until the general elections in 2022 is just 8 months and within this period he will try to deliver some of things he promised his people. “So, my role now is to ensure that the long-suffering people of Hanuabada, Gabi and Tatana, the people of ward one, get services immediately,” he said. “We will make sure that some of the commitments we made during the campaign, are rolled out.” However, considering the short time frame he has as a leader, Mr. Samuel made it clear that not everything planned or promised during the campaign can be delivered. “Also, with the support of the prime minister, we have committed to ensure that settlements are turned into suburbs. It's not a quick fix, it’s a medium to long term plan that the prime minister and I have set down to discuss.” Mr. Samuel added that some of the issues in the suburbs like bad road condition will also be look at immediately. The election of Lohia Boe Samuel also marks a significant milestone for the people of Motu Koitabu whose land is where the city of Port Moresby is sitting on. “The people of Motu Koita haven’t had a member in the last thirty-five years. Our last member of parliament was my grandfather, Mahuru Raruararua, back in 1982. Since then, we haven’t had a member, so we have suffered for a very long time.” "So, by God’s grace the people of Motu Koita have been given an opportunity to have services delivered to them and also have a voice in parliament. "

The twelve landowner villages that received their share of payments from the K19.4million dividend proceeds from Mineral Resources Star Mountain (MRSM) Limited’s equity in Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML), were urged to put to good use the funds that they will continue to receive to sustain their future beyond the life of the mine. Western Governor, Taboi Awi Yoto, told the recipients that OTML has less than 10 years before it winds down. The task of the provincial government now is to look after the people after the mine closes, but the people must also make further investments and go into business as well to sustain themselves going forward. “We must find an alternative source of income generation once Ok Tedi mine closes,” said the governor. The Western Provincial Government is doing its part to generate income going forward, which the governor said is through initiatives like building a road to Frieda River through Telefomin in West Sepik Province so to create an opportunity in times of negotiation for the Frieda mine to access existing facilities in Western Province to process the gold and copper, thus generating income for the province. However, the provincial government can only do so much in taking these initiatives to generate income for the province. “These resources will one day end, so I appeal to landowners to ensure the future of their children is secure.” Governor Awi Yoto also applauded the landowners for partnering with the provincial government to invest in businesses, like the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby which landowners are benefiting from. He said this is how things should go in terms of investments. “I appeal to our leaders; I know you want to invest for the future because we don’t know when the mine will close. I am told that around 2027 or 2028, the mine will close. So, we got seven to eight years to prepare.” Meanwhile, the cheques of the portions of the dividend payment were presented to the twelve Directors of the villages at a presentation ceremony at the Migalsim village in Ok Tedi on Monday.

Villagers of Porebada village in Central province were proud recipients of dinghies with outboard motors yesterday that should go to ease their livelihoods making a living from fishing the seas to sustain themselves. This was made possible when the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) through its subsidiary Gas Resources PNGLNG Plant Limited (GR-PNGLNG PL), handed over a few of its Community Investment Trust Fund (CITF) to Porebada beneficiaries of the PNG LNG Project. The Board Director for Porebada village on the GR-PNGLNG PL, Mr. Peter Vagi, said the dinghies are going to be distributed among all the thirty-five clans. “This is because there is a lot of hardship people are facing at the moment and we want to help them ease some of the burdens in the village, in terms of benefit for the people,” he said. The CITF projects are essential projects and infrastructures that will contribute to the sustainability of the people of Porebada and other PNG LNG impacted neighboring communities. The thirty- five dinghies were among other items all at a total cost of K3.7million that were handed over to the people of Porebada village. The others include, • a fully-operational community health centre; • three health staff houses; • two community trucks; • one multi-purpose tractor; • two small-church trucks; • an ablution building; • three incinerators with generators; • a water tank for the Health Centre and; • a board walkway for the Porebada-east community. GR PNGLNGPL funded these projects under its 2019-2020 CITF which MRDC manages. Meanwhile, speaking during the hand-over, Managing Director for MRDC, Mr. Augustine Mano said, the projects are vital and will deliver broader community benefits to the Porebada village.

The Port Moresby Australian Football League (AFL) Association has finally got the go ahead from the office of the Controller of the PNG Covid-19 National Pandemic Response to start the 2021 season, mid-year. Port Moresby AFL Association President Mr. Douglas Lai also confirmed that the pre-season will start this Saturday 26th June at the Colts Oval.  However, the games will be played following strict COVID-19 sports protocols. “We will be following strict COVID-19 protocols and that means there will be no spectators during the games,” he said. Meanwhile, the city competition this year will be played from time to time at villages in the Central province. Mr. Lai, said the purpose of holding the recent games at Keapara village and the previous one in Hula village, was to get the youths interested in the sporting code and to encourage local clubs to join the main city competition. Already a team from Hula village has shown interest and is currently in the process of getting registered in the city competition and hopefully participate the in 2022 season.

If there was any lesson to learn from the government's closure of the Porgera Mine last year, one thing is for sure; that the people must be able to sustain themselves whenever the mine reaches its life span, and closes. That is the message from Ms. Elizabeth Iarume, who is the President of the Porgera Women in Business and the owner and operator of the Aumbi Guesthouse in Porgera. She said the people have come to depend on the mine for almost everything and when the mine closed due to the non- renewal of its Special Mining Lease (SML) license over a year ago, the people suffered a lot as local businesses had to scale down and prices of goods and services increased. “We strongly believe that sustainable development after the mine closes must become a priority for the government and the developer,” said Ms. Iarume. The one year the mine remained closed has been challenging, especially for the women and children and the elderly population. Therefore, she said everyone is looking forward to this Framework Agreement signed by the government and the developer of the Porgera Mine, Barrick (Niugini) Limited. “Now that the government and the developer have signed the Framework Agreement, it is a big relief, and it is good news for the people of Porgera.” She said the Framework Agreement is for the best as it is a win for the people of Porgera and for the country as well because the prime minister has secured a good deal for the landowners to benefit from equity and royalties moving forward. As such, she is appealing for collaboration among the leaders in the Porgera valley. “I appeal to our leaders, whatever differences we have, put it aside and let the mine reopen. Later we can always go to the drawing board and discuss. The people have suffered enough.” [caption id="attachment_10008" align="alignnone" width="294"] Ms. Elizabeth Iarume, is the President of the Porgera Women in Business and the owner and operator of the Aumbi Guesthouse in Porgera.[/caption]