Author: Paula David

The Flexible, Open and Distance Education (FODE) will host a total of 8, 300 students nationwide to sit for the grade 12 mid-semester exams in the first week of July. FODE Principal Mr. Anthony Rayappan said, the idea for the students to take up the mid-semester exams is for students to apply through the DHERST online portal to the tertiary intuitions. “This is a very good thing because, the FODE grade 12 students were considered as Non-School Leavers and now this time, they are considered as School Leavers, and they will be considered in the online DHERST selection system.” Mr.…

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The Bintangor Goroka Lahanis winger Amos Kafare has been suspended by the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC) Judiciary for 3 years after pleading guilty to detrimental conduct. The Match Review Committee referred the player directly to the Judiciary to determine the appropriate penalty. The incident occurred in the match against WNBPG Kimbe Cutters earlier this season. The player was sent off from the field. He was charged with detrimental conduct which involved him making a deliberate and unnecessary contact with a match official. He is suspended for three years and is not eligible to play in any…

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A 10-member team of volunteer medical professionals from Australia, the PNG Angels, on their 7th mission to Papua New Guinea (PNG), were at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) recently from the 3rd to the 7th of June performing 18 life-saving surgeries. This team consisting of neurosurgeons, nurses and anesthetists, operated on 4 children and 14 adults, addressing spine and brain tumor cases. Also joining the team was PMGH’s very own neurosurgeon, Dr. Benjamin Thomas, who travelled into the country from Sydney where he is doing a 6-month course. Neurosurgeon, Founder and Director of PNG Angels, Dr Marc Coughlan, said…

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A lot of comments by teachers and the public on the issue of teachers’ 3% have been noted. Minister for Education Lucas Dekena assured the teachers that it is a real deal signed as a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by the Papua New Guinea Teachers’ Association on behalf of the Teachers, Teaching Service Commission on behalf of the Government and witnessed by the Department of Personal Management Secretary on behalf of the State. “That MOA is legally binding.” “It has not been politicized nor is it neither a lie, nor a myth as quoted in the National and circulated even…

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With much disagreement thrown on the floor of Parliament this afternoon, from both the Government and the Opposition sides respectively, the Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Private Business Committee, Job Pomat said, out of the 5 technical requirements for a motion of a Vote of No Confidence, another error was found on the notice number 4 of the Alternate Government’s VoNC. He said, the defect in number 5 of the technical requirements was due to submission of names which was written with the last names of the candidate put first instead of the candidate’s first names. The Opposition…

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Prime Minister James Marape said, the main issue regarding Bougainville’s Independence is how to adhere fully to the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) and the Papua New Guinea Constitution. PM Marape made this statement in Parliament during a debate on Bougainville, which saw active participation from both sides of the house. He emphasized that Parliament will decide on Bougainville’s independence in accordance with the PNG constitution. He urged Bougainvilleans to consider the PNG perspective and for Papua New Guineas to understand the Bougainville perspective, emphasizing unity as the Christians and Melanesians. “This will allow us to find a common ground…

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Minister for Bougainville Affairs Manaseh Makiba said, the issue that is facing the country and its parliament is the procedure in is which the Bougainville referendum result would be brought into the house to make a final decision for the political settlement for Bougainville. This is in response to Central Bougainville member Simon Dumarinu on the status of the Bougainville Referendum with a result of 97.7% votes. Minister Makiba said, in the last consultation that took place in POM last year, the Era Kone agreement was reached between the 2 governments and the referendum results should have been brought in…

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With a total number of 6 seats still vacant in Parliament, Member for Finschhafen Rainbo Paita called on the government to give an update and when funding would be made available for the Local Level Government By-Elections to take place. “We live in a country with many challenges, and these are unprecedented times and it will continue to do so ahead,” said Paita. He said, in an event when disaster strikes, the first person to stand and support its people are the mandated leaders, but at this time, there are currently a couple of seats that are still vacant, and…

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With the first Parliament session underway, Provincial Member for Oro Province Garry JUFFA raised several questions on the floor of parliament if there are any plans in place for the government to take and respond in a swift manner to help the people when disaster strikes. Juffa said, the current disaster laws and response protocols are outdated and asked if the national government have plans to assist provinces in building provincial disaster management centers in our province. Defence Minister Dr. Billy Joseph in response said, critical disaster emergency departments are not in one place which makes work difficult. “The first…

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Preparations are coming along well for students attending Wesley Secondary School in the Esa’ala District in the Milne Bay Province. School Principal Mr. Davanai Robia said, out of the 80, 015 grade 10 students nationwide, a total of 214 grd10 students from Wesley Secondary School are confirmed to sit for the National Written Expression Examination on Thursday 6th June 2024. He said, all through this term, their teachers have been conducting remedial classes with the students. “Our teachers have been doing remedial with our grade 10 students and I believe our students will do well.” “Everything is in order, and…

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