Australia has boosted Papua New Guinea’s defence capability with the official handover of 12 up-armored Landcruiser’s to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF), alongside the opening of the refurbished Sergeant’s Mess at Murray Barracks. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles made the announcement in Port Moresby recently with PNG’s Minister for Defence Dr Billy Joseph. The handover, valued at more than PGK 8 million, is aimed at strengthening PNG’s ability to respond to domestic security challenges and deepening defence cooperation between the two nations. The lightweight, armored vehicles will allow PNGDF personnel to move securely and…
Author: Aseneth WAIDE
The Granville Seventh-day Adventist Church at 9 Mile in Port Moresby city, recently held a Career Fair Workshop, providing participants with practical tips on career growth, job preparation, and online safety. The event covered topics like developing a growth mindset, academic coaching, CV and cover letter writing, interview skills, and cyber safety. Mr. Allan Robert from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) spoke about the various types of cybercrimes affecting Papua New Guinea, such as identity theft, cyberbullying, and cyber harassment. He emphasized the importance of being mindful when sharing personal information online and encouraged participants to use…
Westpac PNG has announced the appointment of Miriam Rothera as its new Head of Retail Banking, a key leadership move aimed at supporting the bank’s strategic transformation, community engagement, and alignment with Papua New Guinea’s national development goals. Miriam Rothera brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served within the Westpac Group for 36 years across a range of senior positions in Australia. Her impressive career includes leading the Queensland Property team, heading the Business Institute in Sydney, and managing retail branch networks at both St George and Westpac. Known for her “people first” leadership approach, Rothera is…
Children from Buk bilong Pikinini’s (BbP) Tatana Library Learning Centre recently visited Bank of South Pacific’s (BSP), Waigani Head Office to learn about the importance of financial literacy and the importance of saving while still young, as part of their Book Week programs. The visit provided the children with a chance to participate in interactive activities, observing how money is handled, how transactions occur, and how customers are attended to, effectively bringing their classroom lessons to life in an authentic banking setting. The children received a warm welcome from Samuel Okti, Branch Manager of BSP Waigani Banking Centre, who shared…
The United States has ramped up efforts to support Papua New Guinea in addressing the threat of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) through training and major funding initiatives aimed at keeping communities safe. A five-week Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) training program recently concluded, led by U.S. Marines from the 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company. The training was conducted in Port Moresby city and other regions and equipped Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) personnel with essential EOD skills, including safe handling, ordnance identification, controlled demolitions, and emergency response. Col. Baskins, U.S. Defense Attaché in Port…
Children from Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) swapped their classrooms for printing presses during an educational excursion to Theodist’s printshop in Port Moresby city as part of National Book Week celebrations. The visit, part of a partnership spanning more than a decade, gave students a behind-the-scenes look at how books, brochures, and other printed materials are created. Guided by Theodist’s graphic designers and printing team, the children designed and printed their own brochures while learning how the machines operate. BbP Founder Anne-Sophie Hermann said the hands-on experience was a valuable way for children to connect their love of reading with real-world…
Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) has officially launched its 2025 Book Week celebrations (August 11–15) with the release of five new titles in its When I Grow Up reader series, aimed at inspiring children to dream about future careers. This year’s theme, “My Future Career – When I Grow Up I Want to Be a…”, introduces young readers to local professionals through engaging stories and role play activities at BbP’s learning centres across Papua New Guinea. The five new titles launched are: – When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chef – featuring Chef Julian Henao (The Locker Room…
The PNG Bahá’ís Visitor Centre at Tokarara recently hosted a thought-provoking roundtable discussion on various topics – one of them exploring the growing tension between westernized education and the preservation of Papua New Guinea’s traditional knowledge and cultural practices. Participants shared personal stories and observations, noting that while western formal education offers recognized qualifications and formal employment opportunities, it has also led to the gradual sidelining of indigenous skills and cultural learning. Practices such as learning one’s mother tongue, carving a canoe, or understanding traditional governance systems are increasingly being treated as secondary, with little economic value attached. Speakers expressed…
The Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT) Administration in Lae city has identified five students allegedly involved in the harassment of a young woman, an incident captured in a distressing viral video currently circulating online. According to a press statement from the university’s Senior Executive Management Team (SEMT), the incident took place on 9th August and involved verbal, physical, and sexual harassment of a young female; a blatant display of disgusting behavior from the male university students involved. The identified students have been reported to campus authorities, with investigations continuing as a matter of urgency. The SEMT condemned the…
Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) has partnered with two contestants of the Miss Bird of Paradise Gulf Pageant 2025 to donate books to schools in the Gulf Province as part of its Book Week campaign. Miss Serah Molowia Karu (Miss Keipi) and Miss Monica Julius Maravila (Miss Tairuma) approached BbP for support in providing reading materials to children in their respective communities. Both women are passionate advocates; Miss Karu for literacy in rural areas, and Miss Maravila for youth empowerment and cultural pride. BbP’s official handover today marks a joint effort to improve literacy and inspire a love of reading. Book…