The Deputy Controller of the National Pandemic Response Dr Daoni Esorom has advised people against using COVID-test kits that are not approved by the National Control Centre for testing and for self-testing for COVID-19. Currently, he said there is only one test kit namely Panbio that is approved as a rapid test kit to be used to test for COVID-19. He said, “Any other test kits that are being used are not approved and anybody selling them must stop selling them and must take them off the shelves. The use of non-approved rapid test kits will mess up the national…
Author: PNG Haus Bung
Work on the restoration of power supply into the Upper Highlands Region is still ongoing as of this afternoon. PNG Power expects to have the work completed tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon and have full power supply restored to the Upper Highlands Region townships of Kundiawa, Minj, Banz, Mt Hagen, Ialibu, Mendi and Wabag. We would also like to correct the misleading headline put out on the front page of one of the dailies (Tuesday February 8) stating that the power outage will be off for an indefinite period. We would like to assure the general public affected by this outage that…
The United Nations Development Programme continues procurement of new ambulances in support of efforts to address ongoing pressures of the latest COVID-19 surge on Papua New Guinea’s rural health system. As the number of infected people continues to soar, emergency response services in rural regions are in need of effective ambulance services. On presenting a new ambulance today to the Government of Papua New Guinea for designation to Finschhafen District in Morobe Province, the UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Dirk Wagener explained that the ambulance will “help to address some of the pressure, but we must lift vaccination rates and raise…
On the eve of the 2022 National Elections and in light of reports of administrative delays, the impartiality and integrity required by PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) officials in the provinces to uphold the constitutional guarantee of free, fair and safe elections has never been more crucial. This was the message shared with provincial election managers at a one-day workshop in Port Moresby hosted by Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) in partnership with the PNGEC. With only two months before the start of the elections, and delays on key electoral processes, TIPNG is working with partners to bolster mechanisms of…
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Opposition leader Chris Luxon have launched stinging attacks on their opponents in their opening speeches to Parliament this year. Ardern today delivered her Prime Minister’s statement marking the first session of Parliament in 2022, warning as New Zealand enters its third “challenging” year of the Covid-19 pandemic that Omicron was unlikely to be the end. She also targeted the opposition’s approach to Covid-19, housing, and infrastructure in her opening speech to Parliament this year. She said the expert advice was that Omicron would not be the last variant, and New Zealand could expect new and…
The first shipment of the Novavax COVID vaccine arrived in Australia last night ahead of the rollout later this month. The shipment, containing about 3 million doses, landed in Sydney airport from Singapore. Another 48 million more are expected to arrive over the coming weeks to make up Australia’s full order of 51 million doses. Novavax is the fourth COVID-19 vaccine approved for administration in Australia. Who is eligible to get Novavax? The Theraputic Goods Association (TGA) has cleared Novavax for anyone over the age of 18. It is available to be used as a first and second dose, but at this stage it…
What a great way to start off the 2022 Academic Year for the University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Natural and Physical Sciences, particularly, the Earth Sciences Division, to have the Chief Executive Officer and Director of K92 Mining Ltd, Mr. John Lewins, present the K92 Tertiary Scholarship in Geology on Thursday, 03 February, at the UPNG’s Waigani campus. The 2022 Recipient of the K92 Tertiary Scholarship in Geology, Ephraem Nick, who is a final year Earth Science student, was awarded the Trotsky Benjamin Medal, by Mr. Trotsky Benjamin, Superintendent Mine Geology, a senior staff and the longest standing…
Australia has announced that its international borders will reopen for all travellers including Papua New Guineans from 21st February. Likewise, Philippines has announced that its international borders will reopen for all travellers including Papua New Guineans from 10th February For both Australia and Philippines, travellers must be fully vaccinated but do not have to quarantine on arrival. Normal visa requirements still apply. Travel on direct services from Papua New Guinea to Cairns on is still banned by the Queensland Government, presently until 26th March. Passengers flying into Australia must complete a negative rapid test within 24 hours of scheduled departure.…
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape yesterday commended and thanked the leadership of China for allowing for a very positive engagement to expand their country’s ongoing interest in Papua New Guinea’s oil and gas sector, particularly in two of our biggest gas projects coming up – Papua LNG and P’nyang. The Prime Minister said this in relation to the negotiations between his team and China’s giant petroleum company, Sinopec, held on Saturday 5 February 2022 in Beijing. PM Marape also thanked and commended his Minister for Petroleum and Energy Hon. Kerenga Kua and Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd Managing-Director Wapu Sonk who…
Foreign Exchange (FX) liquidity and the Kina performed well in the final quarter of 2021, with strong commodity prices supporting the FX market turnover’s rise by 9.8 percent over the past six (6) months. According to BSP Financial Group Limited’s Pacific Economic and Market Insight Q4 report for 2021, strong commodity prices in Crude Oil, Copper, Palm Oil and Coffee have supported an increase in FX market turnover. Loose Monetary Policy in the US drove a continued uplift in the US Dollars, and by extension the PNG Kina /Australian Dollars, through most of the quarter. Inflation, COVID-19, and Monetary Policy…