Assistant Commissioner for Police – Prosecutions, Pare Kuriap, has called for urgent improvements to resource allocation and collaboration within the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC). Speaking on August 9th during the Commission of Inquiry chaired by Justice Elenias Batari, Kuriap cited a lack of transportation for prisoners as a key issue, causing cases to be dismissed. He also stressed the need for better cooperation between the prosecution and investigation units to improve case management and evidence sharing. Kuriap highlighted several other critical problems affecting the force, including legislative gaps and a breakdown in discipline, particularly in rural areas. Non-commissioned…
Author: Joshua ARLO
The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary recently heard from Assistant Commissioner for Police-Prosecutions, Pare Kuriap, regarding the challenges faced by the prosecution division. ACP Kuriap emphasized the need for enhanced training for prosecutors, advocating for higher education standards to match those of the lawyers currently defending cases. He says he has initiated discussions again with the Law faculty at the University of Papua New Guinea to upgrade the qualifications of police prosecutors through a Diploma in Law Program. This move aims to improve prosecution outcomes and enable officers to advance into legal careers. The…
PNG Power is implementing emergency load shedding in Wewak due to a significant shortfall in power generation. This comes after a major technical breakdown affected four generators at the Wewak PowerStation, according to PNG Power Limited Acting CEO Nehemaiah Naris. To address the issue, technical teams from Port Moresby will arrive in Wewak this Friday, August 16th, with essential spare parts to conduct necessary maintenance on the faulty generators. Currently, only three operational generators are supplying power, which totals about 1.8 megawatts, falling short of the province’s peak demand of 4 megawatts. The shortfall has necessitated a 4-hour interval load…
Shadow Minister for Justice, and Sinasina-Yongamugl MP Kerenga Kua has praised East Sepik’s law and justice system for swiftly handling recent violence in Maprik, with 165 criminals sentenced in just two weeks. He applauded the Wewak District Court’s efficiency, calling it a national record and urged other regions to follow this example, highlighting the need for faster case resolutions across Papua New Guinea’s judiciary to prevent crime escalation. “I was very pleased to see that within two weeks of violent incidents taking place in East Sepik Province, the perpetrators were immediately arrested, processed and charged and ultimately sentenced to prison…
As Papua New Guinea approaches its 50th anniversary, Regional Member for Bougainville and Minister for Police Peter Tsiamalili has urged citizens to seek peaceful solutions to national issues. He emphasized that violence is not the answer to the complex challenges the nation faces. His call follows University of Papua New Guinea representatives who challenged the government on current issues in the country during the official launch of the NCD Youth Summit, hosted by NCD Governor Powes Parkop on Monday August 12th, attended by Prime Minister James Marape, and several other key government officials. Minister Tsiamalili praised University of Papua New…
A prime suspect in the July 2024 Angoram massacre in East Sepik Province, where 26 Tambari villagers were killed, has surrendered to police. Jerome Malakai, identified through a viral video, turned himself to police in at Pinang village on August 12th, according to the Commander for Border Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Perou N’Dranou “Police in Wewak had brought the suspect to Wewak Police station and is now detained for further investigation and arrest.” “The surrender of the main suspect was made possible after police officers and the village leaders worked closely to go through the videos by putting names…
The New Guinea Islands (NGI) Police Command has officially welcomed a new leader. On Friday, August 9th, outgoing Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Perou N’Dranou handed over the reins to incoming ACP Naua Vanuawaru in a formal ceremony at the Islands Police regional headquarters in Ralum, Kokopo, East New Britain. ACP N’Dranou, who has already moved to his new post as ACP Border Command, expressed satisfaction with his tenure in the Islands Command. “I leave the New Guinea Islands Police Command, feeling satisfied,” he said during the handover ceremony. Reflecting on his time in the role, ACP N’Dranou acknowledged the…
The body of Central Bougainville MP, Simon Dumarinu, arrived in Port Moresby on Sunday evening, marking a solemn moment for the nation as it mourns the loss of a respected leader. Prime Minister James Marape was present at Jackson Airport to receive the casket, which was then transported to the funeral home, where it will remain until Parliament resumes on September 3rd. Reflecting on the loss, Marape stated, “It was heartbreaking this evening to receive the body of a fallen comrade.” “The people of Bougainville have lost a stalwart, Papua New Guinea as a whole has lost a peacemaker and…
Prime Minister James Marape has urged all Members of Parliament to prioritize their health, highlighting the immense pressure and scrutiny they face daily from their constituents. The Prime Minister made this call following the recent passing of several MPs, emphasizing the need for public officials to be more conscious of their well-being. “I urge all MPs to look after their health, given the immense pressure and scrutiny they are under 24/7 from their people,” Marape stated. He noted the importance of self-care in the demanding roles MPs hold and called for immediate action to prevent further losses. Prime Minister Marape…
North Fly MP, James Donald, has issued a statement on Sunday, August 11th, demanding the immediate resignation of Administrative Services Minister, Richard Masere, due to his poor handling of the 2024 Census and unresolved questions surrounding a K17 million contract for tablets. Initially scheduled for June 17-30, the census has seen significant delays, says Donald who is also People’s Reform Party leader. Donald alleged there are ‘no results’ so far, criticising Masere’s leadership, and labelling it a ‘disgrace’. “With all due respect to Minister Masere, I ask him to do the decent thing expected of him as a public official…