The Department of Treasury has initiated an internal investigation to identify the person or persons involved in leaking the National Executive Council Decision No. 329/2021. Secretary Vele said “Section 23A subsections (5) and (6) of the Prime Minister and National Executive Council Act 2002 makes it a serious disciplinary offence under the Public Services (Management) Act 1995 and the Public Service General Orders.” The Department of Information and Communications Technology has also been notified of the breach and will commence its own processes with social media providers to identify the source of the post. “This is unacceptable and unprofessional behaviour…
Author: PNG Haus Bung
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Papua New Guinea (ASFPNG) is not in favour of a recent NEC decision to introduce a banking levy as part of the Income Tax Act to collect K190 million per annum. This decision will affect Bank South Pacific Group (BSP), the largest bank in PNG and the Pacific, of whom, superannuation funds on behalf of ordinary workers and tax payers are major investors/shareholders. The imposition of this new banking levy will result in a decline in profitability, dividend payments to shareholders and a decline in BSP’s share price. This is a double blow for…
Athletes from around the country are arriving in Kimbe this week for the second part of the PNG Air Athletics Grand Prix series. The competition will serve as a useful lead up to the PNG Air National Championships which will also be held in Kimbe , from Dec 3 to 5. With local competition programmes having been affected by venue closures this year the Grand Prix has provided valuable competition opportunities for the national squad. The focus will be mostly on track events this weekend with the only field events being a mens long jump, mens and womens high jump…
Prime Minister James Marape has assured the nation that Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey will deliver the nation’s 2022 Budget today amidst delays and many political speculations. “I want to assure Papua New Guinea that your Government is at work, despite many challenges and obstacles, and we will deliver our third Budget today,” he said. “The handing down of the Budget is the single most-important parliamentary occasion of any government. “With hangovers and effects of slowed economy due to COVID-19, your Government has used the last three years of National Budget to ensure our domestic economy was functional and alive, and our…
What was supposed to be a peaceful protest is turning violent, with protestors attempting to storm Parliament, and reports of thick smoke coming from the Parliament compound. Protestors gathered at the foothill of Parliament earlier today demanding they be let in, when they were refused entry, they became agitated. Police tried to control the crowd, but the crowd grew when others arrived mid-morning from Malaita. The crowd pushed their way in, police and security officers manning the gates were outnumbered. Unconfirmed reports say tear gas was fired, in an attempt to disburse the crowd. Parliament is currently in session, and…
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says the Government has no “sinister motives” in holding back K66 million allocated by the Australian Government for maintenance of the rundown Bulolo Highway in Morobe. He said this in Parliament today when asked by Morobe Governor and Deputy Pangu Pati leader, Hon. Ginson Saonu, as to why work was being delayed. The Prime Minister assured Governor Saonu and the people of Morobe that the K66 million given by the Australian Government was intact. PM Marape said he had already explained, in reply to critics, that the Bulolo Highway was so badly damaged and would…
Josefa Uluinaceva, or Jo, as he is fondly known, has contributed to the evolution of children’s literature in the Pacific for many years, in addition to his day job as a Graphic Artist at The University of the South Pacific’s Division of Marketing and Communications. Many of us who attended primary school in the Pacific in the 1990s recall reading books with Jo’s illustrations. Some of the books he illustrated include “Priya and Kaman’s Holiday” by Sendar Pillay; “Our New Car” by Taniela Qoroya; “Qalo” by Bessie Kingdon; “Going to the Beach” by Bessie Kingdon; “Two stories from Tuvalu” by Maseiga Ionatana; “Fish again! by Meere Tion Tebeia; “A new broom for Tima” by Keleni…
“Please don’t take COVID-19 to your village!” This is a plea from the Deputy Controller of the National Pandemic Response Dr Daoni Esorom to those planning to go to their home villages for Christmas holidays. Dr Daoni said COVID-19 is now affecting all provinces, but it is still mostly seen in urban areas and those villages and communities accessible to these places so everyone has the responsibility to ensure it is not spread to the rural areas where the majority of the health facilities are not equipped to care for people sick with COVID-19. “We now have evidence that vaccination…
DEPUTY Controller of the National Pandemic Response Dr Daoni Esorom says rapid test kits for coronavirus (COVID-19) being brought into the country must be validated by the National Control Centre. “I have a concern that too many organisations and (private) companies are bringing rapid test kits. It’s becoming a concern because these are not validated by NCC. These have the potential to mess up our national testing protocols,’’ said Dr Daoni. “There are certain requirements that organisations must meet before NCC gives approval for the test kits to be used in the country.’’ The three steps that need to be…
PRIME Minister James Marape has condemned in no uncertain terms “the use of force and breaking of the law” by members of the country’s disciplinary forces in yesterday’s PNGDF|RPNGC physical confrontation in Port Moresby. He has also summoned the Police Commissioner and Defence Commander to appear before him today to provide an explanation, after returning from East New Britain and hearing of the incident. He said: “I am appalled at the news that members of our two disciplinary forces have resorted to the use of force and breaking of law to resolve a law and order issue. “Police and soldiers…