Author: Joshua ARLO

The first female president of the PNG Olympic Committee (PNGOC), Mrs. Emma Waiwai, has successfully led the annual Trukai Fun Run in Port Moresby, just a week into her new role. Mrs. Waiwai, a veteran sports administrator and president of the Basketball Federation of PNG, was historically elected by PNGOC on June 29th for a four-year term, taking over from Sir John Dawanicura, who served as PNGOC president for the past 12 years. The Fun Run event, sponsored by Trukai Industries and organized by PNGOC, brought together communities, organizations, schools, and individuals in a celebration of fitness, unity, and national…

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Alternative Prime Minister nominee and Finschaffen MP Rainbo Paita is strongly urging the government not to sell PNG’s shares in BSP Financial Group, saying that it’s a bad move for the country. In a statement, Paita urged the government and Prime Minister James Marape to reconsider the decision to sell the country’s shares in BSP Financial Group held by Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited (MVIL). Paita was responding to the National Executive Council’s (NEC) Special Meeting No. 11/2023, Decision no. 94/2023, which opted to sell these shares due to depleted national coffers. However, Paita explains that these shares bring in steady…

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Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey is under fire from the Opposition for allegedly failing to address pressing economic issues in Papua New Guinea. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Chuave MP, James Nomane, has accused Ling-Stuckey of diverting attention from real problems by focusing on technical economic terms like “flow” and “stock”, and defending his borrowing practices, instead of providing solutions to the country’s economic woes. Ling-Stuckey recently accused the Opposition of spreading false information about the economy. However, Nomane argues that the Treasurer’s explanations are merely an attempt to showcase his economic knowledge without addressing the everyday challenges faced by…

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The abolishment of private sector cheques has been rushed, says PNG National Party Leader & Sinasina-Yongomugl MP, Kerenga Kua. He says it is disappointing that the Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) has officially phased out cheques on June 30, without proper scrutiny and debate from Parliament. The phasing out of cheques has pushed many Papua New Guineans and businesses to use alternatives instead. “I still maintain that the phasing out of an important banking tool like cheques and should have been brought into parliament by way of a bill to be debated, and passed if agreed,” Kua said in…

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Papua New Guinea is reeling from a fuel crisis that, according to Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Chauve MP, James Nomane, is a deliberate, man-made catastrophe, allegedly driven by greed and political manipulation. Nomane has called for the Prime Minister to address critical questions regarding the crisis. The Deputy Opposition Leader, who is the Shadow Minister for Treasury, Finance, Economy, and Rural Development, said the root of the crisis appears to be a conflict between Puma Energy and the Central Bank, raising concerns about the State’s directive for Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) to act as a de facto…

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Opposition Leader, Douglas Tomuriesa’s Supreme Court case regarding the Vote of No Confidence (VoNC) motion returns on July 19 at the Supreme Court in Waigani. This follows directional orders made this morning (Monday, July 1) by Justice Derek Hartshorne sitting as a single Supreme Court judge. The directions are part of the process towards a substantive hearing date. The short hearing this morning follows last Friday’s unanimous decision by a 5-men Supreme Court bench led by the Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika declaring Mr Tomuriesa as having the legal standing to bring this Supreme Court application for the high court’s…

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Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa said today that the Opposition remains committed to Court rules and processes and will maintain its mandated duties outside the courthouse. This was his only comment following the Supreme Court directions hearing this morning before Justice Derek Hartshorn. Today the issue deliberated was on the appropriate time needed for the interveners to the Vote of No Confidence case to file their statements in response to the substantive case, after a full bench ruled in favour of the Opposition Leader on Friday, June 28th. The interveners are Speaker of Parliament Job Pomat and the Attorney General who…

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The Defence Council, which consists Minister for Defence Dr. Billy Joseph as Chairman, Defence Secretary Hari John Akipe, and Acting Chief of Defence Force Commodore Philip Polewara, are reviewing the final draft of the Defence Bill 2024. Minister Joseph said the Defence Counil were presented with the final working draft of the Defence Bill 2024 yesterday (Thursday, June 27) from the legal team reviewing the Defence Act 1974 and Defence (Amendment) Act 2009. After thorough review, the Bill, which aims to modernize the PNG Defence Force and enhance national security, will proceed to the National Executive Council for Parliament’s endorsement…

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The Defence cooperation between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia has been elevated to another level with the announcement of 12 new armoured personal carriers (Land Cruisers) to be delivered in October this year to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph in a statement described these vehicles as a lighter version of the Bush Masters armoured vehicles used by the Australian Defence Force (ADF). They will be used by the PNGDF and Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) for internal security operations. The support was announced by Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister,…

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