The K19.4million dividend that was paid recently to the landowner company Mineral Resources Star Mountain (MRSM) Limited by Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML), is attributed to the good commodity prices experienced during the last year along with good investment returns despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was revealed by Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) Limited Chief Operating Officer, Mr. John Tuaim, during the presentation of that dividend payment to the 12 landowner village beneficiaries in Ok Tedi in Western province on Monday 28th June. Mr. Tuaim said the total investment value of MRSM in 2020 was K841million,…
Author: PNG Haus Bung
Minister for Health and HIV/Aids, Hon. Jelta Wong, MP, has slammed the Acting Opposition Leader, Hon. Allan Marat, MP, over baseless claims on the National Pandemic Act. Minister Wong said if the Opposition had taken any interest in the passage of the legislation, they would not be making such reckless and empty claims, particularly as the country braces for further COVID-19 disease spread. “The National Pandemic Act was the most effective way to manage the COVID-19 crisis while balancing the need for business and the economy to stay open and recover,” Minister Wong said. “It astounds me that the Opposition…
Police Commissioner and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response Mr David Manning said as being discussed and agreed last year by the National Control Centre, testing will have to be scaled back to allow the PNG Government pandemic response to focus on rolling out the vaccination program. Mr Manning said the arrival of the vaccines (AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and soon the Johnson &Johnson vaccines) has allowed the pandemic response team to make that transition to not only focus on the vaccination program but expedite the PNG Government strategy to implement and return to the New Normal or “Niupela Pasin”.…
Papua New Guinea needs at least 70 percent vaccination coverage to protect its citizens against the deadly Delta variant virus that is rapidly sweeping across countries in the world. Currently, the deadly variant has spread to at least 98 countries with low vaccinated coverage. It has spread through Europe, parts of Asia, South and Central America and also Africa. It has made its way to neighboring countries including Australia, Indonesia and Fiji thus prompting PNG to tighten up all entry points among other measures to protect its citizens. Deputy Controller of the National Pandemic Response, Dr Daoni Esorom says PNG…
The Commissioner of Police and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response David Manning said calls for public protests over the recently released pandemic measures are unjustified. Mr Manning said that certain individuals and interest groups with ulterior motives are making these calls over the social media but there is no basis because the domestic travel measures have not changed. Mr Manning, “We simply included an additional category to Schedule 1 of Measure 3 which now enables those who have been vaccinated to travel when-ever and where-ever they wish domestically. “Other travelers will need to fit one of the…
The Catholic Diocese of Kundiawa in Simbu province has her new bishop, Paul Sundu been installed on Saturday at the St. Mary’s Parish in Kundiawa attended to by 10 bishops in the country with Cardinal Sir John Ribat. The three-hour consecration of Bishop Paul Sundu with the liturgical program was attended by a packed crowd coming from the 13 Catholic parishes in Simbu. Under an overcast sky the bishop’s solemn installation investiture began with leading of Paul Sundu to the altar guarded by the 10 bishops by Fr. Peter Kim, the district superior of Divine Word Missionary (SVD) representing the…
Staff from Family Sexual Violence Action Committee and partners have sharpened up on essential legal skills to continue to champion access to justice for vulnerable groups in communities. This follows a weeklong Community Based Paralegal workshop delivered through the Australia and PNG partnership with the hope of equipping staff and key partners from civil society groups to better support survivors of violence, those who are often marginalized and in need of protection. The workshop was the collaborative effort of FSVAC and the office of the Public Solicitor through the support of the Justice Services for Stability and Development (JSS4D) program. “This workshop will increase knowledge, awareness and empower community advocates to fill the gaps in providing much needed legal awareness, information and support in communities”, said Marcia…
The Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape, MP assured the country that our freedom of movement is a fundamental right, which is protected under the National Constitution. PM Marape said this following the release of a measure by the Controller of the COVID-19 National Coordination Centre that purports to restrict any unvaccinated persons from travelling domestically. He assured that country that the Government is not about to undermine this right in any way. “At the same time, the Government takes full responsibility to ensure that COVID-19, and any variants of the virus, is prevented from spreading to other parts of the…
Goilala Catholic Faithfuls have began the annual pilgrimage leading up to 4th of July at Yule Island in Bereina Diocese of Kairuku Hiri District. 4th of July is being observed in the catholic calendar in PNG because on the same date in 1884 the first missionary celebrated the first Holy Eucharist on the island when suddenly a wild boar appeared from the bushes and spilled the blessed wine, used to signify the blood of Jesus Christ on PNG soil. This significant event is observed and commemorated every year on the island and this year will see again catholic faithfuls from…
The Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) launched the nation-wide common platform for retail electronic payments on Monday, 22nd July 2019. The Retail Electronic Payments System (REPS) is the first ever initiative by the BPNG to offer digital payment services using plastic cards and mobile phones so more people and businesses will have access to financial services throughout the country, especially outside the main urban centres. The first phase of REPS was the establishment of the National Switch which is now offering inter-linked services across all the ATM and EFTPOS devices of financial institutions (FIs) that are connected to REPS.…