Author: Joshua ARLO

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has joined forces with several countries to strongly condemn Russia’s war on Ukraine, and its violation of Ukraine’s independence during the ongoing conflict. Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko assured Ukraine of PNG’s moral support. “We will stand by and hopefully we see some positive results of mind changing.” “For us wherever we can help in the Pacific as we are talking to our members of the Pacific Islands Forum and Melanesian Spearhead Group.” “I’m here just to support you as Foreign Minister and give assurance of our government’s support, wherever we can assist.” The initiative for…

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Cricket Papua New Guinea (Cricket PNG) is embarking on an ambitious journey to develop young talent and elevate the country’s cricketing prowess on the international stage. With a focus on nurturing promising players from diverse backgrounds, Cricket PNG aims to build a strong foundation for the sport and compete at the highest levels of competition. The recent announcement of the Garamuts Men’s Under 19 and Siales Women’s Under 19 train-on squads marks a significant milestone in Cricket PNG’s development pathway. These squads represent the next generation of cricketing talent in Papua New Guinea, and their selection process reflects Cricket PNG’s…

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Cricket Papua New Guinea (Cricket PNG) confirmed its intensive five-week training schedule for its Garamuts Men’s Under 19 and Siales Women’s Under 19 train-on squads. The schedule, which spans from February to March 2024, marks the second phase of the selection process and focuses on preparing the players for upcoming competitions. The first week consisted of Testing and Skill Development, and kicked off on Monday, February 19, 2024, with testing sessions for both groups, where players underwent fitness assessments and skill evaluations to gauge their strengths and areas for improvement. The week also included skill and strength training sessions led…

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Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) has raised alarm over recent parliamentary proceedings, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic principles to maintain public trust and foster national development. Peter Aitsi, TIPNG Board Chair, expressed deep concerns regarding the reported refusal to entertain a motion of no confidence against the prime minister, followed by the adjournment of Parliament until May 2024. Aitsi stressed that such actions undermine democratic rights, perpetuate impunity, and weaken governmental checks and balances. According to parliamentary procedures outlined in the Constitution and Standing Orders, motions of no confidence play a crucial role in holding the Executive accountable,…

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PNG’s Law Society President, Hubert Namani has urged two new judges – Justices Susan Pardon-Sully and Derek Wood – on PNG’s Judiciary bench to uphold the rule of law amid significant challenges in the nation, including tribal conflicts, public disorder, and corruption. He made the call when congratulating them on their three-year term appointment and welcoming them into the bench, at a ceremonial sitting for judges at the National and Supreme Court in Waigani led by Chief Justice Sir Salika Gibs, attended by Justice Minister and Attorney-General, Pila Niningi and Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa, the legal fraternity and heads of foreign…

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PNG’s Opposition has chosen to pursue parliamentary procedures over legal action in their bid to challenge Prime Minister James Marape’s leadership. In a press conference held in Port Moresby this week, they declared their decision not to contest the actions of the Private Business Committee, opting instead to await the May sitting of Parliament to address the notice of motion of no confidence filed on February 20. “Contrary to the noise from Mr. Marape and his loyalists, we are in no rush to remove him from office outside of prescribed Parliamentary processes,” stated the Opposition jointly. They reiterated their faith…

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Amidst much confusion and misinformation surrounding Papua New Guinea’s parliamentary Vote of No-Confidence (VONC) process, Patrick Kaiku, a political science lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), seeks to clarify the intricacies of this constitutional mechanism. Kaiku emphasizes that the VONC is a two-week process designed to either fortify or alter the governing executive, serving as a critical tool within the democratic framework. Expressing concern, he highlights alleged attempts by the current government to mislead the public. He says the government has been claiming ulterior motives among power-hungry MPs, particularly those in the Opposition, seeking to seize control,…

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The PNG Siales U19 will hope to win their Bali tournament to secure a spot in the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup in early 2025. Cricket PNG’s Talent Identification Manager, Rodney Maha said they are impressed with the current talent pool, who returned to their provinces last week. “There was a lot of talent shown with U19 players flying in from around PNG. They came from Milne Bay, Lae, Kimbe and Central to join the majority from NCD which has the biggest cricket talent pool.” He said the current team is based around a core group of players from the…

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Commerce & Industry Minister Win Bakri Daki, through the Papua New Guinea Investment Promotion Authority (IPA), has expressed satisfaction with the visit of a 50-member Japanese investor delegation to Papua New Guinea, despite recent negative media coverage. He highlighted the importance of their presence in boosting investor confidence and demonstrating PNG’s ongoing commitment to business. “We are honoured and humbled to have you with us during our challenging times.” “Your visit signals a great message to the outside world that PNG’s problems are not unique to what’s happening around the world, and it adds to our endeavour to rebuild investors’…

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Cricket PNG announced the progression of its Garamuts Men’s U19 and Siales Women’s U19 selections to the next phase, with both teams set to compete over the coming weeks as part of an extended selection process. Training for the Garamuts Men’s U19 team began on February 19 and will continue for five weeks, focusing on strategy, skills, and physical conditioning, with the final 18-player squad to be announced in April. The Garamut’s 28-player train-on squad will compete in 50-over matches from 10:00am this Saturday and Sunday at Bisini Oval, in Port Moresby. Meanwhile, the Siales Women’s U19 team is gearing…

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