Author: Emmanuel MAIPE

The country will in the coming weeks and months, see the flights of the massive C-17A Globemaster aircrafts over Papua New Guinea (PNG) airspace as part of a big logistical training exercise conducted by the militaries of three countries. Two of these aircrafts were involved in a parachute drop of fifteen Australian Army personnel as part of a demonstration by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A over Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport just outside Lae, yesterday. The two C-17A aircraft are currently flying in PNG skies as part of Exercise Global Dexterity 23-2, which will involve up to three C-17A…

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The sky over the Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport just outside Lae city was invaded today by two C- 17A Globemaster transport aircrafts dropping down man on parachutes and cargoes as if to overrun and take control of the airfield, but it’s not that, rather it’s a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the allied landing at Nazab during World War Two. Speaking at the significant ceremony today at Nadzab, the Australian Acting High Commissioner, Dr. Joanne Loundes, gave a brief history of what happened all those years ago that turned the tide in the Pacific War against imperial Japan.…

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The National Government’s Connect PNG Program has received a sizable allocation in the 2024 National Budget, showing the government’s focus on continuing to create road links to bridge service and development to the people in parts of the country. The Treasurer, Mr. Ian Ling Stuckey said the allocation comes under the Capital Budget of K10.7 billion, which in itself is the largest in the history of National Budgets in Papua New Guinea (PNG). “The largest part of the Capital Budget is our own funded Public Investment Program, the PIP budget,” said the Treasurer. It is under this PIP budget that…

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The Commissioner General of the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC), Mr. Sam Koim is not happy with the 2024 National Budget that was presented by the government to parliament this week in Port Moresby, because it did not include some of IRC’s legislative proposals. Speaking to tax agents at the opening of the annual Tax Agent Liaison Group Meeting on Wednesday in the city of Port Moresby, Mr. Koim said the proposals for legislatives for the improvement of tax administration in collecting tax revenue, was not taken into the budget for next year. “The budget was disappointing, I have to say,”…

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The continuous law and order problem, which saw an increase this year, has been an eye opener for the State, resulting in the government allocating over K200 million for the police in the proposed 2024 National Budget. Speaking during the introduction of the record K27.3 billion 2024 National Budget this morning, the Finance Minister Rainbo Paita said the huge K287 million allocation will greatly assist police in their welfare and operational matters. “This has not happened before. We have put in a massive allocation to cater for their needs,” said the minister. Mr. Paita said this should cater for housing,…

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The people of Abau district of the Central province will in the near future have the services of electricity and even water, reaching them. This was made known in this sitting of parliament by the Minister for State Enterprises, William Duma, when responding to questions from Member for Abau, Sir Puka Temu, on the status of electricity supply to the Central province, especially his electorate of Abau. Sir Temu said that with the new state of the art Edevu Hydro dam coming on line, there is now sufficient energy supply that would reach both the parts of Central province Eastwards…

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The Nuku District Station in the West Sepik province came alive last week Friday 17th of November, with the celebration of the establishment of the Nuku District Youth Development Council. The youth, community and government officials converged at the Nuku Central Local Level Government (LLG) Chambers to witness the swearing in of the youth leaders from the four (4) Local Youth Development Councils (Nuku Central, Palai, Yangkok and Maimai Wanwan) into office as executives of the District Youth Development Council (DYDC). The newly appointed executives were sworn in by the local magistrate, His Honour Nasihing Bingtau. An historic moment for…

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The total of K10 million has been allocated by the government to go towards the relief supplies for the displaced people from the Mt. Ulawun volcano eruption in the West New Britain (WNB) province this week. This was confirmed by the Minister for Defence and caretaker Minister for National Disaster, Win Bakri Daki, when responding to questions from the Governor for West New Britain province Sasindran Muthuvel, during question time in parliament today. The governor asked the Minister to request for assistance from partner countries of Papua New Guinea (PNG) like Australia and the United States and China, in terms…

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The Government’s ambitious Connect PNG program since its launching 2020, has seen the creation of road links to places that were once isolated from main centers; however, the matter of its priority of roads was questioned by the National Capital District (NCD) Governor in parliament this week. Governor Powes Parkop during question time in parliament, asked if there was some sort of structure in place in the Connect PNG program that gives priority to road links of economic benefits to provinces and districts, before going on to other road links. The governor’s question was directed towards the Minister for Works…

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The Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) have come under the gaze of the prime minister after concerns were raised about how these health authorities are operating and their use of funds for health sector administration in the provinces. Prime Minister (PM) James Marape in parliament today, without revealing too much about the 2024 budget allocation for the health sector, said that health will continue to be a major priority. “We are ramping up more allocation to the health sector. The health sector will continue to receive great support,” said the PM. “I will ask the health minister to present all PHA…

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