Only 56 staff of the NCD Provincial Health Authority (NCD PHA) were vaccinated against COVID-19 out of 591 staff as of Friday the 21st of May. The NCD COVID-19 Vaccination roll out started last Friday and it has been one week with only a handful of frontline workers volunteering to be vaccinated. NCD PHA Acting CEO Mr Ken Wai confirmed these statistics and expressed his disappointment over the reluctancy displayed by the frontline health workers who are supposed to be the first ones to be vaccinated in order to work with the general public during this pandemic. He said he…
Author: Rolland BANABA
The President for the UPNG Student Representative Council (SRC) Bradley Yombon Copio is calling on the UPNG School of Medicine and Health Sciences to rectify a circular that was put out yesterday which infringed on student rights for those students who opted not to receive the AstraZeneca Vaccine. The Circular was signed by the Executive Dean, Professor Nakapi Tefuarani and the Deputy Dean Academic Professor John Vince, clearly instructing students to choose between getting vaccinated to continue their studies at the Medical Faculty or stream to another course at the main campus if they refused the vaccine. SRC President Bradley…
Police in Jiwaka have sought the assistance from the general public in the province to assist them in apprehending suspects involved in an a act of arson at the Kudjip Primary School recently. Jiwaka Provincial Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Gideon Kauke called on the community in Kudjip to assist them in the handing over of suspects responsible for the recent burning down of a classroom and school office building belonging to the Kudjip Primary School early hours of last Thursday. Reports from police say a double storey classroom with 25 computers in it was burnt down by arsonists whose identities…
While most schools throughout the country resorted to a traditional dissemination of printed handouts for students to complete during the 3-week long National Isolation Strategy and a further week of school holidays which greatly interfered with the first term of the academic year, others opted for a more modern utilization of online resources. The students at Caritas Technical Secondary School in the NCD are now full swing into term 2 lessons thanks to Edmodo, an online e-learning tool which was first brought into play by the all-girls school during the initial 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. School Principal, Mrs Wilma Kalimet, said…
NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu has expressed disappointment in what he claims is the one-sided reporting of police related issues by some media houses. Mr Ikumu said the good work police do to keep law and order at a manageable level continues to be overlooked. This follows what Superintendent Ikumu described as the erratic behaviour of the media on reporting the detaining of Media Niuguni Limited, Richard Magei by police officers on COVID-19 enforcement duties in Port Moresby on Friday. NCD Met Supt stated that Magei was detained for using his mobile phone in a suspicious manner to stealthily capture…
Criminal charges have been laid as of Friday afternoon against Dave Benjamin Gau, the main suspect of the gruesome murder of his two sons in Port Moresby more than a week ago. NCD Metropolitan Superintendent, Superintendent Gideon Ikumu stated the delay in formally charging the suspect was due to the slow response by doctors in carrying out a psychological examination sought out by investigators. “We have proceeded with the charge and if the issue of insanity be brought up as a defense, then the courts can make a referral then.” NCD police boss added that not only will a mental…
The absence of a proper dining facility for boarding students attending Pamaya High School in the Nuku District of West Sepik Province is the primary concern raised by the school’s Deputy Principal, Mr Allan Roy. Mr Roy is calling for urgent assistance from the West Sepik Provincial Government and other stakeholders. He said many times students resort to having their meals out in the open or under trees at most times due to the school not having a proper dining hall for its boarding students. “There is a simple kitchen, however no proper dining hall for the students to use…
It has been more than a week since the horrific murder of 5-year-old Shane Benjamin and 2-year-old Ethan Benjamin, allegedly stabbed by their own biological father after an argument with the boys’ mother. Dave Benjamin Gau, the suspect in the double murder of his sons, remains in police custody as criminal investigations continue. This is day 9 and the suspect is still awaiting charges to be laid. NCD Metropolitan Superintendent, Superintendent Gideon Ikumu said the suspect is still in police custody due to the severity of the crime committed. Ikumu stated the reason for this being to protect the suspect…
Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent Peter Barkie says with reinforcements now on ground in Alotau, police are in a better position to go after criminals who were responsible in the recent launching of a series of indiscriminate attacks on Alotau town. At about 8 PM on Thursday night, police responded to a report of a wanted criminal at a settlement in town. Upon arrival on the scene the police officers were confronted with heavy gunfire. This was followed by a series of indiscriminate attacks on residential properties and business houses in Alotau through the night and into the…
A man believed to be from Goilala, was brutally murdered early hours this morning at Koki in Port Moresby by two unknown men who were also captured on CCTV footage while committing the crime. The CCTV footage shows two bush knife-wielded men attacking the deceased in a merciless and brutal manner while he tried to get away to his safety. Police were deployed to the scene as early as 4am to ease tensions among relatives while attending to the crime scene. NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu said this could be a payback killing, however police will get more details once…