The body of the member for Kerema Open, the late Richard Mendani, lies- in- state today in the Grand Hall of the National Parliament to mark the start of the state funeral program after almost a month following his passing as a result of Covid-19 in a Port Moresby hospital. According to the Gulf Provincial Administrator, Mr. Emmanuel Xavier, the state funeral in the province will take place tomorrow at the provincial capital Kerema town, and it will be done outdoors so to avoid any spread of the coronavirus. The body of the late member will be flown out of…
Author: Emmanuel Maipe
Australian Football League (AFL) fans in Port Moresby need not have to worry about disruptions to the 2021 season because the city’s AFL management is taking steps to ensure that there will still be a competition in case the covid-19 situation in the country force sporting activities to continue the suspension for an extended period. According to the Port Moresby AFL President, Mr. Douglas Lai, a plan has been put together already that would enable a short season to take place just like last year, if sporting activities are forced again to start late in the year. “We want to…
The suspension of sporting activities in the country, issued by the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation (PNGSF), is most likely to continue for more than the initial two weeks given. According to the Sport Foundation’s Committee Chairman, Dr. Kapua Kapua, the suspension will likely go on for four to eight weeks following the current trend in Covid- 19 transmission. “We are in a very precarious situation now in PNG and nothing is certain for the next few weeks. What is clear is that cases are increasing and deaths are rising.” “So we will hold off till we see a change…
The United Labour Party (ULP) has endorsed Joe Tonde as its candidate to contest the Moresby Northwest seat by election. Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Sam Basil, said Mr. Tonde exhibits good quality of leadership in community work, especially in the church and health services. “He has been a very active community member of Moresby Northwest by providing services in health and of course small community projects in all the ward areas in Moresby Northwest. He is a very strong candidate that has support and we seen what his done, he is a hands-on man whose done some…
A two weeks mourning period has been announced by the Prime Minister James Marape starting Friday 26th February to Friday 12th March, to pay respect to the founding father of Papua New Guinea, the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare. The PM also says Cabinet has designated Monday the 1st of March to be a Public holiday for the nation to start remembering the late Grand Chief. The 12th of March 2021 has been designated by the Cabinet as another day of public holiday. “Hopefully if the national organizing community led by myself and the Prime Minister’s Department and…
Prime Minister James Marape announced that this coming Monday the 1st of March will be a Public Holiday for the nation to start remembering the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, and Friday the 12th March is also to be another public holiday as well. In a press conference today, PM Marape said a two weeks mourning period has been announced by the Prime Minister starting today 26th February to 12th March, to pay respect to the founding father of Papua New Guinea, the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare. Listen in to the news on NAU FM, Yumi FM…
Despite the Police Commissioner, Mr. David Manning tested positive for COVID-19, the Police Headquarters (PHQ) where his office is located, has not gone into a 14-day lockdown period as required. This was confirmed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Mr. Donald Yamasombi this morning. In fact, Mr. Yamasombi has ordered the headquarters to close for a few days only to allow the health team to disinfect the whole building, beef up the COVID-19 screening facilities at the main entrance, and then open on Thursday to resume normal operations. “I am urging everyone (police officers and civilian staff) to…
The Acting Papua New Guinea (PNG) Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Simon Sinai, made it clear this week that there is enough time available to hold by elections this year, like a by election for the Moresby Northwest seat left vacant following the death of the late Sir Mekere Morauta. However, Mr. Sinai clarified that it is only after July this year that no more by elections will be held before the next National Election in 2022. “The law forbids me not to go beyond 24th July 2021, which is exactly one year before the next issue of Writs. So, we have…
The return of the Writ for the Bougainville Regional Seat to the Governor General on Tuesday marked the end of the by election; however, the same cannot be said about the payment of the services provided to achieve a successful by election. According to the Acting Papua New Guinea Electoral (PNGEC) Commissioner Mr. Simon Sinai, this was due to the insufficient budget allocated for the by election. He said the PNGEC requested for K15million to cover for the three electorates. The K15million divided into the three electorates will see about K5million spent for each electorate conducting the by election. …
The state of Papua New Guinea this week signed documents that will see Total, the developer of the Papua LNG project, move forward with its planning and design phase of the country’s second LNG project in Gulf and Central. Petroleum Minister, Kerenga Kua, said this is significant as it guarantees the protection of the fiscal arrangement. “The documents we have signed guarantees the protection of the fiscal arrangement. The cost of construction, the tax regime and all those things are stabilized, so it gives certainty to project planning and project execution. So that was a very important milestone process that…