An independent study launched by FTI revealed that illicit alcohol makes up 71% of the total alcohol market in Papua New Guinea, posing serious health, social, and economic threats across the country. Over 10.5 million liters of pure alcohol were consumed in PNG’s urban and peri-urban in 2024 – majority being unregulated, untaxed and often dangerous. Papua New Guinea has lost significant income due to illegal alcohol consumption. The report stated that the country lost up to K2.59 billion in government revenue last year alone. Key Findings: Illicit alcohol accounts for 71% of consumption. Cheap branded products are the largest category (37.9%),…
Author: Aseneth WAIDE
The La Salle Technical Secondary School in Port Moresby city on Wednesday 2nd July officially opened a new 8-in-1 classroom building to cater for its large number of students, reaffirming the school’s commitment to providing a conducive learning environment for the students. A generous funding of K600, 000 from the Department of National Planning and Monitoring greatly assisted in enabling the school to pursue this project. Principal of La Salle, Brother Antony Swamy, extended his heartfelt appreciation tọ Mr. Roger Kara, Deputy Secretary of the Department of National Planning and Monitoring for the financial contribution. “Your generous sponsorship gave us…
Minister for Rural and Economic Development and Member for Kandrian Gloucester, Joseph Lelang, has presented cheques totalling nearly K3 million for the construction of new classrooms across the district, in West New Britain. This marks another key milestone in his long-standing commitment to improving education in the electorate. Minister Lelang also highlighted the district’s student scholarship scheme, which has been in operation continuously since 2013. Over K26 million has been invested into the program over the past 13 years, benefitting more than 5,000 students. Many recipients now work in government and private sectors, supporting their families and communities. “This year…
The Hiri-Koiari Boxing Association, led by President Varuko Morea, has announced that they will hold one final trial this Saturday, July 5th in the Central province, to finalize selections for the upcoming 2025 National Boxing Championships in Lae city. This trial follows the earlier one held at Porebada junction, where officials deemed an additional event necessary to settle final selections. The upcoming trial will take place at Lealea village, which will also serve as a fundraising event for the team’s participation in the championships, scheduled for July 24 to 27 in Lae. The Hiri-Koiari Boxing Association, a relatively new affiliate…
Prime Minister James Marape has pledged the government’s strong commitment to addressing the growing problem of illicit alcohol in Papua New Guinea. During the official launch of the FTI Report on Illicit Alcohol in PNG this morning (01/07/2025) at Hilton Hotel, Port Moresby city, he called for a collaborative effort between government agencies, industry leaders, and the community to tackle illegal trades that are harming public safety and the nation’s economy. The Prime Minister began by highlighting the importance of proper regulation in alcohol production, warning of the public health and safety risks posed by unregulated and illegal products. “We…
Title: Frozen Hot Boys (2025) Director: Nareubadee Wetchakam & Tanakit Kittiapithan Rating: TV-14 Genre(s): Coming-of-Age Run Time: 1h 58m Star(s): Natapohn Tameeruks • Nuttawat Thanataviepraserth HEARTWARMING COMING-OF-AGE FILM WITH TACKY SPECIAL EFFECTS “Powerful encouragement for troubled teens, once you ignore the tacky special effects.” A teacher in a juvenile detention centre signs up a group of misfit boys in a snow sculpting contest in Japan. Meanwhile each member of the team struggles with personal conflicts during the journey. The film explores themes of redemption, and mentorship. As each boy carves ice, symbolically they carve a new path for themselves towards…
New Graduates and Teachers have been cautioned about scammers in Papua New Guinea (PNG), particularly those who have recently graduated. They are advised not to engage with fraudsters posing as employers from the Teaching Service Commission and demanding fees. Teaching Service Commission (TSC) Acting Chairman, Mr. Samson Wangihomie, gave this warning following a social media post that was shared. The post encouraged new graduates and teachers who are not yet receiving a salary to reach out to the poster via a provided phone number for assistance, which comes at a cost. He said the poster, “Anonymous Participant” used the TSC’s…
Keep Your Profile Private Why It Matters: Protecting your privacy is important and keeps you SAFE! Limiting who can view your posts ensures you stay in control of your personal information. What to do: Set your accounts to private, only allowing friends and family to view your posts. Double-check privacy settings often. Think Before You Post Why It Matters: Internet is forever, even if you delete them. An impulsive comment or photo might come back to haunt you later. What to do: Before posting anything, ask yourself: “Would I be okay with everyone seeing this?” If not, maybe don’t post it. Respect Other’s Privacy Why…
As Papua New Guinea confronts a national HIV crisis, mothers and children are emerging as some of the most vulnerable victims of a rising epidemic that continues to develop across the country. According to new data released by the National Department of Health, approximately 11,000 new HIV infections occurred in 2024—an average of 30 new cases every day. Of these, nearly half were among children and young people aged 24 and below, highlighting a disturbing change in the age profile of those affected. Most alarming, however, is the high rate of mother-to-child transmission, a preventable tragedy that continues to occur…
Church organizations from the Highlands region have joined forces to confront the ongoing crisis of Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV), calling for urgent government support to help combat the horrific practice. The announcement comes after a two-day meeting held at the Melanesian Institute in Goroka from June 25 to 27. Representatives from various denominations, came together condemning the brutal impact of SARV on families and communities. “As spiritual leaders and pillars of our society, we cannot remain passive while our people suffer under the shadow of violence and fear.” Among the promises made by the group were: • A Unified…