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…
Author: Paula DAVID
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…
In a major step toward raising awareness and advocating against violence, NRL PNG’s Cathy Neap led a powerful Voice Against Violence workshop in Enga Province, in partnership with the Regina Sagu Foundation and supported by the Australian Government through the Team Up Program. The workshop engaged Enga Mioks rugby team players, who participated in group activities and discussions aimed at addressing domestic violence, gender equality, and respectful relationships. “Rugby League is more than just a game; it is a platform to influence lives positively,” said Cathy Neap. “Through programs like Voice Against Violence, we hope to inspire players to become…
The Australia Awards In-PNG Scholarship Program proudly celebrated the 2025 Somare-Whitlam scholars at recent ceremonies in Madang and Mt. Hagen, marking the beginning of their academic journey. The In-PNG scholarships provide Papua New Guineans with opportunities to study education, nursing, and midwifery at 12 higher education institutions across the country, directly addressing critical workforce shortages. The program also supports women in the maritime industry by offering cadetships that create new career pathways. This initiative plays a vital role in strengthening PNG’s workforce, particularly in remote areas where graduates often serve as teachers, nurses, and midwives. The extension of the Somare-Whitlam…
Prime Minister James Marape, has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to providing tangible opportunities for youth empowerment through education, overseas employment, and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). At a press conference held at the APEC Terminal in Port Moresby city after returning from his New Zealand trip on Friday, Prime Minister Marape highlighted his government’s efforts to build clear pathways for youth engagement and development, acknowledging that many young people across Papua New Guinea (PNG) face unemployment or lack access to formal education. “For the first time since 1975, my government is taking the issue of youth employment seriously. We have established new…
The Central Provincial Government is hosting of the Papua Governor’s Dialogue 2025: Shaping the Next 50 years, starting today in Port Moresby city. Central Province Governor Rufina Peter said in partnership with the Governors of the Papua Region, the 2025 Papua Governors’ Dialogue (PGD) is running for three days starting today Wednesday 26th and ending on the 28th of March. Under the theme “Papua Our Land, Our People, Our Future”, in Motu “Eda Bese, Eda Tano, Eda Vaira Maurina”, this significant gathering marks a milestone in Papua New Guinea’s history, aligning with the nation’s 50th Independence Anniversary. “I’ve put my…
PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNG Ports), which oversees 15 ports across Papua New Guinea, including the international terminals in Port Moresby and Lae, is pleased to announce the appointment of Deborah Onga as Chief Commercial Officer, which will come into effect on April 1, 2025. In her new role, Onga will lead the Commercial Division, with key responsibilities including the commercialization of port assets, the development of the Lae Industrial Park, and stakeholder management. Bringing extensive experience across the maritime, logistics, and property development sectors, Onga is well-positioned to drive PNG Ports’ commercial strategy. PNG Ports CEO Neil Papenfus welcomed…