The Department of Provincial & Local Level Government Affairs (DPLGA) has set a target to open the long-awaited Wutung Border Post on 16th September 2025, aligning with Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations. This milestone will benefit the people of Wutung and the wider West Sepik Province, while strengthening ties between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, Soroi Marepo Eoe, stated, “There is no better time or gift for the people of Wutung than to open the long-awaited Wutung Border Post and light up their homes on Independence Day 2025. This project…
Author: Paula DAVID
Sir John Pundari has reiterated that any leader who seeks to bring about change in the current regime must be free of systemic corruption and dishonesty, emphasizing that individuals who embody these negative traits are unfit for the office of Prime Minister. “A leader who aspires to make a difference must first be clear of corruption and theft. These behaviors have no place in the leadership of our nation, and those who engage in such practices are unfit to govern,” said Sir Pundari. He also expressed concern over leaders with authoritarian tendencies, drawing comparisons to figures like Idi Amin of…
People in the northwest part of New Britain have been urged to stay alert after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit this morning at 6:05am, April 5th, 2025. According to a member of the West New Britain Provincial Disaster – Kimbe Volcano Observatory Officer in Charge Mr. Hereman Volele, they are still monitoring the situation at this time. He said, the earthquake shook Pomio and came down to northwest of New Britain, where the Ulawun station is. He said, after the earthquake that struck in the early hours of this morning, his team is very busy at this time as they…
A group of vanilla farmers from Mandi Village, Wewak District, East Sepik Province, have successfully secured an export deal with a buyer in Singapore. Supported by the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, over 200 farmers—including women and youth—are preparing their first shipment. Vanilla farming, one of the world’s most expensive spices, offers significant potential to boost rural incomes and strengthen PNG’s position in the global vanilla market. The farmers are benefiting from comprehensive support, including climate-smart agricultural training, healthy vanilla cuttings, and exposure to global trade shows. Through the Programme, Mongs AgTrade Services Ltd, which represents these farmers, received critical training in…
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is set to expand its rural transformation strategy by adopting South Korea’s successful Saemaul Undong (SMU) model, following a 13-year pilot in Eastern Highlands Province (EHP). This decision, announced by Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Soroi Eoe, will extend the model to five additional provinces. The SMU, or New Village Movement, is a community-driven development approach that helped transform South Korea from a war-ravaged, poor nation to a global economic leader. The model emphasizes self-help, cooperation, and community ownership, principles that PNG seeks to apply in empowering its rural areas. Launched in the…
The National St John Ambulance (NStJA) has successfully completed the first two of five scheduled Basic Emergency Care (BEC) courses in Papua New Guinea (PNG), including two train-the-trainer programs. These sessions, conducted over four days at Port Moresby General Hospital, have trained more than 20 BEC facilitators, marking a significant step in strengthening emergency care capacity in the country. These courses are being delivered as part of the Regional Emergency and Critical Care Systems Strengthening Initiative (RECSI), which is funded by the Australian Government. NStJA is facilitating BEC course rollout in PNG alongside other stakeholders. The BEC course was developed…
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Papua New Guinea has officially presented the draft Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Policy to the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs (DPLGA), marking a key milestone in PNG’s efforts to support displaced persons. During the handover ceremony, DPLGA Secretary Mr. Philip Leo emphasized that the IDP policy is designed to comprehensively address the immediate and long-term needs of internally displaced persons. “The situational analysis conducted by the DPLGA and its partners identified critical policy gaps requiring immediate attention. It revealed that a significant number of people within our communities is periodically…
The much-anticipated Rigo Coast Super League soccer competition kicked off on Saturday 29th March, at Kaparoko village in the Central province. Competition President and Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) Vice President for Southern Region, Mr. Morea Vavine, has gathered teams from the Rigo coast to participate in the competition that will run for 5 months with 11 teams, to prove themselves as the top teams to take part in the PNGFA-sanctioned regional club championships, under the affiliation of Koupa Soccer Association. He said the competition started on Saturday and soccer being a dominant sport in the Rigo coast, a…
Turubu landowners near Wewak in East Sepik Province are seeking a judicial review of permits issued for the Momase Large-Scale Integrated Agriculture Project on their land. The land portion 144C covers an area of 116,840 hectares was a subject of the inquiry into Special Agriculture Business Lease between 2014 and 2017. The landowners are demanding transparency and justice and seek answers to why these permits were granted without community consent. Speaking on behalf on the landowners, Mr Eugene Mondu Director of Mojirau Wildlife Management Area said, “The Supreme Court revoked the Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) in 2017 and ruled…
Prime Minister James Marape met with executives of the Wellington Phoenix Football Corporation during his recent trip to New Zealand to discuss pathway development for young Papua New Guineans through a football academy training program there. Prime Minister Marape met with General Manager David Dome of Wellington Phoenix Football Corporation, who is keen to work with Oceania Football Confederation nations, including Papua New Guinea, to help football development in the country. Mr. Dome informed Prime Minister Marape and his visiting delegation that the academy will benefit PNG in terms of developing upcoming Papua New Guinean players. “There are three ways…