The luxury cruise ship, Regatta, arrived at Motukea Port bringing excited tourists to Port Moresby yesterday (Wednesday 19, February). PNG Ports Limited stated that the cruise ship was brought alongside their Marine Pilots who boarded the vessel at 8:20am and berthed at 9:30am. “The arrival of the vessel, operated by Oceania Cruises, is a boost for the cruise tourism industry in Port Moresby. Planned excursions for the tourist’s included visits to the National Museum and Art Gallery, Port Moresby Nature Park, the War Memorials, and various sites. A group of them visited the Bomana War Cemetery, to pay homage to…
Author: Maxine KAMUS
The Fire and Rescue Bill 2025 was passed in Parliament today in a favor of 67 votes to non. The Bill was presented in Parliament by Defence Minister Dr. Billy Joseph who stated that the PNG Fire and Rescue Service is a State Agency in Papua New Guinea responsible for the organization, management and control of all the fire brigades under the Fire Service Act (Chapter 64) and for the protection of life and property in the case of fire. Minister Joseph stated that the Fire Service Act (Chapter 64) substantially remains unchanged since its commencement in 1968, particularly the…
National Population Census is a very important process that is undertaken by any Government across the globe and PNG is no exception. Minister for Administrative Services Richard Masere said Census is important and after every 10 years, it is carried out to understand the country’s population. Minister Masere said this in response to questions raised in Parliament by Governor of Southern Highlands William Powi in regard to the status of Census, it’s budget and when it will be announced. “Census commenced on 16 June 2024. The progress and planning of the Census had commenced in 2020, but unfortunately due to…
The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) officially signed a contract with Dustin Chen, a UK-based wildlife photographer, on Tuesday 11 March to position the country as a premier global birding destination. TPA stated that renowned for his stunning photos of PNG’s diverse avian life, TPA will engage Chen as a consultant for the development of PNG’s National Birding Trail. “The agreement is set to run from April 18, 2025, to April 18, 2026, with TPA providing logistical support and funding. Under the agreement, Chen will lead the identification and mapping of key bird-watching hotspots, conduct capacity-building programs for…
The Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA), in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Tourism Industry Association (PNGTIA), announced the inaugural Papua New Guinea National Tourism Conference 2025. The event will convene leading experts, industry stakeholders, and key decision-makers to explore critical issues, discuss emerging trends, and plan a sustainable course for the future of tourism in the country. TPA said a significant highlight of the announcement was the presentation of the Platinum Sponsorship from Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) and its subsidiaries. “MRDC, a major investor in tourism and hospitality, and instrumental in bringing the international Hilton brand to Papua New…
The Passam to Maprik Road in East Sepik Province will be funded by the National Government to be upgraded, says Minister for Works and Highways Solan Mirisim. Minister Mirisim stated in Parliament after a supplementary question was asked by Governor for East Sepik Allan Bird in-regards to the funding for the roads, which was initially supposed to be funded by the Australian Government. Governor Bird asked if the road from Passam-Maprik on the Sepik highway was initially funded under the Australian Government’s Transport Sector Support Program (TSSP) and if the Minister could confirm or deny if the initial funding by…
The Government will support the landowners in East New Britain Province recover K38 million based on the findings and recommendations from the investigation into the East New Britain Resource Group (ENBRG). Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru said the Government will now be instructing a law firm to act on behalf of the Government to support the landowners in East New Britain (ENB) province to recover the underpayments estimated to be approximately K38,730,637 (K38million) from the first oil palm plantings in 2009 to October 2024. The final report of the investigation including the findings and the recommendations was…
Prime Minister James Marape has issued a strong call to action for all Papua New Guineans to unite in combating gender-based violence (GBV) and ensuring the protection, respect, and empowerment of women across the nation. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, he commended the efforts of Governor Powes Parkop and the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment for their tireless efforts in addressing this crisis. “This issue is no longer just a concern—it is an epidemic that threatens the very foundation of our society. Women are not just our mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters; they are the backbone of…
Governor for National Capital District and Chairman, Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Powes Parkop calls for the constitutional foundation of gender equality and ending GBV during special Parliamentary session. “The calls for gender equality and the eradication of gender-based violence is neither a new nor foreign concept. It is a goal that forms the foundation of our state—the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. This is reflected in the legal framework of our National Constitution. The pursuit of gender equality and the elimination of GBV is firmly rooted in our Constitution, beginning with the Five National…
Governor for National Capital District and Chairman, Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Powes Parkop, presented his speech in Parliament to addressing the status of women and girls in our country. Governor Parkop told Parliament that this is a critical discussion on the actions they must take to elevate their status and achieve true equality. “We must particularly focus on the urgent need to combat gender-based violence, a pervasive issue that continues to impede the progress of women and girls across Papua New Guinea. Women and girls constitute 50 percent of our population. This debate and conversation…