Author: Rolland BANABA

Candidates are threatening to halt the counting process for the Moresby North-West electorate citing irregularities in the election process. 41 candidates have combined forces to petition the PNG Electoral Commission and have vowed to do all it takes to halt the counting process while calling on the Commission to declare the election a “failed” one. “We want the Electoral Commission and the Returning Officer to explain to us the basis in which Presiding officers and assistant Presiding officers were replaced by new officers,” said candidate and spokesperson Dr. Thaddeus Kambanei. The candidates got together to map a way forward and…

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Female students at the University of Papua New Guinea’s Waigani campus led a peaceful march from Games Village to the campus Forum Square in protest over continuous harassment on female colleagues on campus. The march was in line with a planned forum that was scheduled for the day to address harassment cases on female students. A group of male students attacked and prevented media personnel who turned up on campus to report on the protest march and demanded that they (media) leave; throwing sticks and stones at them. No one was hurt. The open forum was held afterwards for the…

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The second game of this years Isuzu Cup was another low scoring affair as Yellow took on Red at Amini Park under clear skies. After tasting defeat in Game one Isuzu Yellow were keen to bounce back while Red were making their first appearance in this years event. Kipling Doriga won the toss and elected to bat with Yellow opening with two youngsters in Mavara Hekure & Hoge Henao. Unfortunately both were picked up early by Reds opening bowler Kabua Vagi. The batting was tough with Doriga and Jason Kila struggling and dismissed early as well as Kieth Griffin Yellow…

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Students and staff of the University of Papua New Guinea eager to cast their votes for the Moresby Northwest by-election were left outraged by delays brought about by Electoral Commission officials which saw them take to the polls well after midday yesterday. The unavailability of an updated common roll at the UPNG Drill Hall was a main cause of much confusion which saw polling officials stall voting at the location for the earlier part of the day while awaiting directives from the Assistant Returning Office who had left to consult with the Election Manager on a way to go about…

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Voters turned up in numbers as early as 7am at Gerehu Primary School in Port Moresby, but were denied entry and forced to wait outside the gates for Election officials, security personnel and scrutineers to get organized for polling to start. Polling started after 10 in the morning when the gates opened and voters were allowed in to cast their votes, but frustrated voters complained about the late start and demanded an explanation from election officials. Officials claim the delay was all because of the late set up, but polling was to go ahead expecting an early finish depending on…

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383 students from Tokarara Secondary School in the Nation’s Capital were among a total of 75,000 grade 10 students from around the country to sit their grade 10 Written Expression examination yesterday. The school’s Deputy Principal Mr Jennor Taniwui said that although disruption to classes brought about by the ongoing COVID19 pandemic is most likely to have had an effect on students’ preparedness for the written expression examination, they had prepared well. “Students need to have a continuous learning so that their mindset is fixed on what is being taught.” “With students having to miss out on classes for an…

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Schools students in the country will soon access a 24 hour educational television channel following a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Department of Education (NDOE) and Digicel Foundation PNG. Digicel PNG Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer Lorna McPherson stressed the importance of literacy as being the key to the development of the country. She said the partnership with NDOE is an opportunity for Digicel to be part of educating the vast population through this television channel. The Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra said the platform is a step in the right direction as the…

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Papua New Guinea has recorded three new COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday May 25, increasing the total number of deaths to 162. Of the three deaths reported in Jiwaka, two are males and one is a female between the ages of 45 to 60 years. The latest deaths have now increased the number of deaths in Jiwaka province to nine. The National Capital District has recorded 73 deaths, Eastern Highlands 13 deaths, Western Highlands and Simbu 12 each, Morobe nine, East New Britain seven, West New Britain six, Milne Bay five, West Sepik and Western four each, New Ireland, Central and…

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The lack of proper operational and housing facilities for police personnel throughout most of the Morobe Rural Division is a hindrance to effective policing efforts in the province, said Morobe Acting-Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector John Daviaga. Chief Inspector Daviaga said there are districts in the province which require separate police station facilities capable of catering for their vast populaces. “In Kabwum for example, officers are utilizing a small office space within the district office itself as the police station.” “There should be a stand-alone police building for each district big enough to attend to the needs of the citizens,…

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At the 2021 Employer and Member Conference, Nambawan Super outlined new technology being introduced making it easy for Employers to remit Member contributions using digital technology. Mr. Chris Mota, Manager Employer Relations, presenting during the 2021 Nambawan Employer and Member Conference, provided an update on current Employer initiatives of 2020, a major one being the Nambawan Employer Pay. “The Nambawan Employer pay is a new online payment portal system for employers and the fund to remit contributions and employer listings.” “This is a solution to the current manual contributions and reconciliation process in practice between the fund and our employers.” The…

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