Following the formation of the Provincial Disaster Committee yesterday and the declaration of a State of Emergency (SOE) in the West New Britain province, SOE controller and Provincial Administrator Wilfred Augustine has advised PNG HAUSBUNG that the emergency teams have already been set up and have initiated their Initial Damage Assessment for the surrounding area. Augustine stated that it is not yet determined the amount of destruction caused by the eruption of Mt. Ulawun but has assured that they are doing their very best to work towards ascertaining that information. He said a Forward Operating Base has been established on…
Author: Nigel-Francis MADO
The Papua New Guinea (PNG) National Research Institute (NRI) have finally published key findings from their observations of the 2022 National General Election (NGE) in the Highlands Region and have concluded that the key issues have not changed from the previous election observation reports. According to the NRI, the issues are particularly around the matters with election administration and legal and integrity of the electoral process, such as the use of outdated common roll, block voting, double and multiple voting and also new trends, such as control and distributive voting by only few community leaders. Spotlight Vol. 16, Issue 17…
The Department of Personal Management (DPM) has announced its calendar of holidays for the festive period which will see most, if not all Government offices and Departments, closed for the remaining days following Christmas. This was announced by the Department Secretary Ms. Taies Sansan through a circular released recently. According to the circular all Government Departments, Provincial Administrations and offices of the National Public Service will cease work on Christmas Day and return to work a day after the New Year. “The Government has determined the arrangements for the Christmas and Holiday Shutdown. The Shutdown Starts on Monday the 25th…
Police in West New Britain (WNB) have advised that they are now working around the clock to assist in the evacuation of the people of Mt. Ulawun, following its eruption earlier this week. Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent Peter Barkie told PNG HAUSBUNG that police personnel are now being mobilized and will be working to provide assistance to those displaced. Barkie said for starters they have restricted movement between East and West New Britain and have set up roadblocks to ensure movement from Mt. Ulawun is uniform and also to make sure that safety and security remains top priority for…
The Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Timothy Masiu, and Minister for State Enterprise, William Duma recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for DICT and PNG DataCo partnership in Digital Transformation. This formal agreement between DICT and DataCo ensures that both entities will operate with respective mandate, and collaborate in achieving a digital government for Papua New Guinea (PNG). Masiu stated the historic nature of the event, describing it as the commencement of an exciting journey toward a brighter digital landscape for the country. “The MoU reflects a shared vision between DICT and PNG DataCo, recognizing their important roles…
Starting today till the 26th of this month, the Members of the East Sepik Boxing Association will be conducting a one week coaching workshop for club coaches. In collaboration with East Sepik Boxing Association, professional fighter Junior Kauko Raka will be officiating as guest official at Sir Michael Somare Stadium, Wewak. With the aim to develop good up-coming PNG boxers, the current NCD Boxing Tournament Director Junior Raka, is extending his assistance to team East Sepik, with the sponsorship aid from his team Manager Brethren Vaelo, to assist in the coaching workshops for ESP Boxing coaches and boxers. He also…
As the Kumul Petroleum PNG Barramundi’s and Lewas gear up for international events in the coming months, Cricket PNG alongside Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited [KPHL] and the International Cricket Council [ICC] recently granted 34 members of both the Barras and the Lewas full contracts. In a short conference yesterday, 18 members of the Barramundi’s team received their contracts while 16 members of the Lewa’s team. Five other players were given development contracts, Michael Charlie and Patrict Nou for the Barras and Dika Lohia, Erani Pokana and Mahuta Jayperth were identified for the lewas. The List of fully contracted Barras and…
After an intense two weeks of non-stop consultation with people of the Momase and the Highlands region, the Parliamentary Law and Order Committee have advised that they are working on presenting their findings along with resolutions to the floor of Parliament as soon as they have completed their report. Reuben Derrick, the Secretary of Law & Order Committee told PNG HAUSBUNG that there was a lot of interesting things that were spoken about during the two week consultation period, with many voicing concerns about the spike in crime and calling for more stringent approach to addressing this. “We are on…
More drama in the Lagaip Open by-election this week as it was revealed that the Returning Officer for the District, Norman Waliyo had resigned from his position, leaving the counting for the by-election in limbo. This was revealed through a letter to the Electoral Commissioner from Waliyo. According to Waliyo, this decision came following relentless intimidation from political candidates and supporters during the supplementary election. “The pressure exerted on me has been overwhelming and has compromised the integrity of the electoral process,” he wrote. “The recent tragic shootout in Wabag town resulting in the loss of four civilian lives has…
New directions have been issued to the returning officer for the Lagaip Open Returning officer to commence counting in Wabag town today following recommendations by key stakeholders to the Electoral Commission. In a letter to the Lagaip Open RO, Newman Waliyo, the Electoral Commissioner, Simon Sinai rescinded his previous order to move the counting venue to Goroka in Eastern Highlands Province and has now instructed Waliyo to start counting in Wabag town. According to Sinai, upon citing reports and concerns over security issues regarding the safety of the ballot boxes, he has now come to the conclusion to allow counting…