Prime Minister James Marape is set to sign a Framework Agreement for Closer Security Relations between Australia & Papua New Guinea. The agreement will come after a bilateral meeting the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday, December 7, 2023. This landmark agreement, among others, encompasses Australian Federal Police support for the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, reinforcing mutual security interests in the region. Prime Minister Marape emphasised the strategic importance of this security arrangement for both Papua New Guinea and Australia. “The security arrangement is in the best interest of Papua New Guinea…
Author: Vonu LIBITINO
The Kokopo main market was declared the first ‘model healthy marketplace’ in Papua New Guinea recently. This declaration was based upon the World Health Organization’s (WHO) and National Department of Health’s (NDoH) Healthy Island Concept (HIC). The concept of ‘Healthy Islands’ was developed in 1995 during the initial Pacific Health Ministers Meeting on Yanuca Island, Fiji. WHO Representative Nola N’drewei explained that Kokopo market is currently modelled as a healthy marketplace after fulfilling several HIC standards. The standards include water and sanitation, waste management, and general layouts and operations of the market. She applauded the ENB provincial market authority for…
The Commander of NCD and Central Provinces Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Wagambie Jnr had assured the public in the National Capital District that police will make sure that police will respond to any issues reported to them like they used to do in the past. He said the situation will not stop them or make them back down but will continue to do their mandated duty to protect lives and properties. He also issued a warning to those spreading false information and issued threats to police officers and their families to stop because police would not hesitate to arrest…
The newly open Gom Footbridge in the Nawaeb District, Morobe Province, will now ease travel and create more access for coffee farmers, school children and the vulnerable people in the area. The footbridge, which was officially open by the Nawaeb MP Theo Pelgen, will now connect Gom and Lowai Areas to Wain/Erap Local Level Government (LLG). The 60 meter cement reinforced bridge will cater for the people of the area who commute on a daily basis. While thanking the contractor, Spider Engineering for the completion of the project, Mr Pelgen also praised the youth in the area for their support…
The National Government has proposed it’s annual budget for 2024 of a record of K27.3 Billion, which is an 8% increase from this year’s budget. The Proposed Budget was presented by the Treasurer Ian Ling-Stucky, in this morning’s budget lockup session at the National Parliament in Port Moresby. Themed “Securing the Future” the budget focuses on growth and creating more employment. The budget record total includes, an operational expenditure of K16.7 billion, a capital expenditure of K10.7 billion and a revenue total of K23 billion. The Treasurer said the budget also aims to further grow the economy in 2024. “Our…
Lawlessness in the East New Britain Province (ENBP) is fast becoming a major burden on the health care system. This was the concern raised by a medical doctor in the Rabaul District, who suggested more cooperation between law enforcement agencies and communities to curb escalating lawlessness and promote safety, to minimize this seemingly, unnecessary burden on the hospitals. Dr. Kauve Pomat, a pediatrician with the Rabaul Provincial Hospital, said this state of lawlessness, has caused an upsurge in trauma cases that are overwhelming hospitals, by depleting their limited resources and overworking hospital personnel. “The surgical unit is receiving trauma cases…
Cocoa Farmers in rural Sawataetae Village in the Duau Local Level Government (LLG) in the Esa’ala District of the Milne Bay Province, are building a cocoa drying facility that will allow them to process their own produce for export. The farmers are being assisted by the Milne Bay Provincial Division of Agriculture and Livestock (PDAL). The man overseeing this project is PDAL’s Physical Development Officer for Esa’ala District, Mr. Toka Rubin. “The villagers were given cocoa seedlings in 2018, after we ran through training with them.” Mr. Rubin explained that these trees have now started bearing, prompting the PDAL to…
Rabaul District Development Authority (RDDA) welcomed its newly appointed board members in a swearing-in ceremony held at the Rabaul District Headquarters on this week. The swearing-in ceremony marked the official start of another term with the newly appointed board members pledging to serve the people of Rabaul district dutifully. The ceremony was presided over by District Senior Magistrate Maristella Painap and saw the participation of Rabaul Open Member, Dr. Allan Marat, as the newly elected Chairman. Dr. Marat’s election as the Member for Rabaul Open came after the dismissal of the leave of application filed by dismissed Rabaul MP, Graham…
PNG Prime Minister James Marape met with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of United States International Development Finance Corporation on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit as he ended his meetings with members of the American business community. The United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC), headed by CEO Scott Nathan, is America’s development finance institution that funds private sector-based projects and businesses right across the world. During the meet, the DFC CEO laid out the availability of DFC in financing businesses and developers of the private sector in countries interested in bettering themselves and their communities. Prime Minister…
The Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Papua New Guinea, Professor Betty Lovai was part of a four-person panel, discussing the topic of ‘Navigating the Present: Gender Equality in Contemporary PNG’, at the Women in Leadership Retreat in Port Moresby. Professor Lovai said the main challenge in this conversation is mindset and a change of mindset. She explained that she took on this challenge personally, as a women leader herself and in her space as a female academic at the University of Papua New Guinea. “Changing the mindset of people, starts through education.” “It has to start from home to…