Air Niugini and PNG Air have suspended all flights into Nadzab and Kiunga starting tomorrow (1st September).
This follows a notice from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to the National Airports Corporation for failure to compile and meet administrative regulations.
NAC Managing Director, Rex Kiponge said CASA had accused NAC staff of not completing the Fit and Proper Person Test, which was an administrative matter.
“To put on record, the Airport Manager for Nadzab had passed the FPP Test and was certified by CASA. While for Kiunga, the Airport Safety Manager has submitted his application for FPP Test which is with CASA awaiting schedule of his test,” said Kiponge.
This afternoon, PNG Air issued a statement saying the suspension of flights will remain indefinite because airport regulation works on resolving this issue relates to both aerodromes. While Air Niugini stated it will resume services as soon as the airports are reopened by CASA.
Meanwhile, Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation Walter Schnaubelt has confirmed that both airports will be closed starting tomorrow. The Minister said an update will be posted tomorrow (1st, September) and has urged CASA and NAC to solve the issue swiftly.
A policeman in Kimbe was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison for the death of a known criminal.
29-year-old Darryl Yakali from Avatip in the Ambunti-Drekikier District of East Sepik Province was convicted on the charge of murder on the 22nd of August, 2022.
The National Court in Kimbe heard that on 25th June 2020, Yakali and other policemen went searching for Dale Benny at Section 15 Area.
Between 4:30 pm-5 pm, they saw Benny Torua, Dale Benny’s father. Yakali spoke to Benny and told him to bring his son to the police station the next day with K500. Soon after, gunshots were heard around that same area. Dale Benny was shot and injured and taken to the hospital. He later died that evening.
Yakali had pleaded not guilty but admitted to shooting Dale Benny in the defence of self-accident. However, the court found that there was no evidence to support Yakali’s belief.
From the post-mortem report submitted in court as evidence, Dale Benny sustained fractures to his left and right lower bones in the leg (tibia) and both his artery had been severed.
Yakali also argued that the deceased was listed in the most dangerous person category of the Kimbe Police.
Dale Benny was said to be involved in an armed robbery at Biala and was arrested on 19th August 2019. However, while in police custody, he escaped through the cell ceiling. Whilst on the run, Benny was said to have broken into JJ Mart in Kimbe Town and Yakali was tasked as the case offer to that case.
Benny was also said to have had countless cases of phones and bilums snatching and attempts to catch him were unsuccessful because he was harboured by his community.
Justice Panuel Mogish in his judgement said, despite the deceased being a Person of Interest to the Police, he was entitled to the full protection of the law.
“The offender was a policeman at the time of the offence. He held a position of trust to the community he served and that was to protect life and property. He abused that trust when he killed the deceased,” said Mogish.
The Board and Management of the National Airports Corporation (NAC) have brushed aside reports of shutting down the Nadzab and Kiunga aerodromes following the expiration of vital operation certificates alluded to by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Managing Director and CEO Rex Kiponge said NAC as the Aerodrome Operating Certificate Holder was not served any notice on the claimed adverse decision as required under the Civil Aviation Act.
“As the aviation document holder, I have not received any adverse decision nor notice of an adverse decision from the Director of CASA. Therefore, I want to assure the travelling public that Nadzab and Kuinga airports are safe for operations and remain operational today and are business as usual,” Kiponge said.
Mr Kiponge was responding to an article published today in one of the dailies. According to the report, Nadzab has 21 non-compliances, and 7 non-compliances for Kiunga. However, Kiponge added that non-compliance is an administrative matter that doesn’t warrant the immediate closure of the airports.
“In this case, the CASA director is alleging that the staff of NAC have not passed the Fit and Proper Person (FPP) Test which is an administrative matter. To put on record, my Airport Operations Manager in Nadzab has passed the FPP Test, and is certified by CASA.”
“For Kiunga Airport, my Senior Manager who is in charge is a Fit and Proper Person also certified by CASA. The Airport Safety Officer for Kiunga has submitted his application for FPP Test which is with CASA awaiting scheduling for his test,” Kiponge said.
Kiponge called on for better dialogue between CASA and NAC stating this is the first blunder of notices the two agencies have had in 10 years.
NAC Management in today’s media Conference in Port Moresby.
On the eve of Repentance Day in PNG, 26th August 2022, a Christian Women’s Magazine was launched, appropriately titled “EVE’’.
It had been in the making about five years ago, at a time when a lot of violence against women was being reported in the media; sadly the violence is rampant today, particularly sorcery related violence against women in PNG. The latest in July, four women killed in Enga province while five sustained serious injuries. They were accused of sorcery and causing the death of a well-known businessman.
Eve Magazine is founded by Priscilla Raepom and Imelda Griffin. Priscilla Raepom currently works at the National Parliament. She was the founding editor for Newagewoman, PNG’s first Women’s Magazine launched in 2000. While Imelda Griffin is a Communications Specialist. Both women decided that a women’s magazine will give voice to the womenfolk to inspire and equip them and give hope through Christian principles and belief. They launched their publication on Thursday August 25 at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby. The breakfast meeting was effectively titled, Breakfast with a Lady and the theme, ‘’Transforming a Nation through Women Leaders.
In reference to the breakfast’s theme, Guest speaker, Lady Emeline Dadae, the spouse of Governor General, Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae said, “transforming a nation through women leaders was not only thought provoking but timely as well, at an age where PNG is going through its own transformation politically, socially and from unique cultures to one that is embracing the modern way of life.” She also paid tribute to the two newly elected women in Parliament, Rufina Peter, Governor for Central Province and Kessy Sawang the Member for Rai Coast.
Four esteemed women leaders with shared Christian values made up the panel at the breakfast meeting.
There was Lesieli Taviri, known for her many leadership roles in the corporate sector, she is currently the Executive General Manager for Kina Bank, however, she credits her most important role to that of being a Sunday School teacher in her local church and quoted a bible verse ‘teach your child how they should live and they will never depart from it.’
Another panelist, Ruth Kisam Tindiwi is recognized for her work in Sorcery Related Violence against women in PNG, her tireless efforts are also recognized globally. While it is stressful and challenging knowing the statistics of women being tortured and murdered and children sexually assaulted, Ruth draws her strength from God. She says, a personal relationship with God will cost you time and rearranges your focus.
“It’s either the world or the word, we as leaders are competing against a world that is relentless to destroy the lives of young people and women but when there is so much darkness, there is grace, “she said.
Esther Igo the 3rd Panelist contested the Wewak Open Seat in the 2017 National General Election. She is a Strategist Advisor and sits on various boards and brings perspective of women to candidates who want to represent women in Parliament. When asked to name a woman she looked up to in the bible, Esther said, ‘’Ave Maria’, she bore a leader.”
The final panelist, Imelda Griffin is a communications specialist and one of the founders of Eve Magazine, when asked why the name ‘EVE’, Imelda said, it all goes back to the bible, the blue print of why a woman was created. She is also inspired by the story of Miriam in the Bible who she said is the strategic thinker, a teenage girl that brought redemption to a people nation, the Israelites.
The women captivated the audience with their messages of transformation and hope for more women leaders to rise up and address issues affecting them.
The Christian Women’s Magazine is a quarterly publication with a limited edition released on the 25th of August 2022. If you are interested in a copy, you can subscribe via email evemag.png@gmail.com or go the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EVEmagazine.
Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong will visit the country this Monday as part of her mission in the region.
The Minister in a statement said her visit is part of the important relationship Australia has with PNG.
“I will meet with Prime Minister the Hon. James Marape following his re-election, as well as my counterpart, the Hon. Justin Tkatchenko and other members of PNG’s new cabinet” stated Wong.
Her visit comes at an opportune time when PNG is aiming to review a number of its foreign trade policies with its partner countries, especially Australia. Recently PM Marape stated that Australia must balance its trade with PNG and buy more PNG-Made exports.
“We want to move now into industrialisation by tapping into downstream processing of our natural resources,”
“Australia and PNG businesses have had a relationship for a long time and that is good but we need to reach new heights. With Australia as a place of export for our products, we have a huge trade imbalance where we import more from Australia and export less there,” said PM Marape.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Wong will also have a special audience with Central Governor Rufina Peter and Rai-Coast MP Kessy Sawang – the only two women elected into the 11th Parliament.
“I look forward to hearing views from PNG’s leaders and my priority will be to ensure we are pursuing our shared ambitions on the basis of trust, open communication and mutual support,” said Minister Wong.
The Minister will leave the country on Wednesday for Timo-Leste.
Steps are now afoot to ensure the country has access to the climate funding that’s available for climate change preparedness and adaptation available to affected smaller island nations like Papua New Guinea.
Lead agency Climate Change Development Authority together with its partners and stakeholders concluded a two-day validation work on the final draft of the National Adaptation Plan which is the first step to achieving the cause.
“There are two sides to climate change, you have the mitigation and adaptation. Climate change adaptation is mainly to do with enhancing the capacity of people at this time with the event of climate change with its intensity and frequency of the adverse effects happening to us,” General Manager Adaptation and Project Division Jacob Ekinye said.
He added, “We have to reduce the level of vulnerability and exposure of our people to those effects and we have to build their resilience so that they are able to cope with the adversities”.
“Under the Paris Agreement article, 79 under the climate change manage act section 74 provides for a national adaptation plan. Even you have heard of the global climate change facilities like the climate investment fund, especially Global Climate Fund (GCF), in order to solicit funding from those financing institutions; this is the box you have to tick,” Mr Ekinye said.
The Adaptation plan will be the first for the country in terms of its strategies and actions needed to deal with climate change impacts and meet international standards.
“This National Adaptation Plan, it has taken us two years, GCF funding we got if from a resource pool called the Reediness Finance to the tune of US D 1.7 million (to deliver this plan) and UNDP is our delivery partner,” Mr Ekinye said.
He added, “It’s not business as usual anymore, we have to factor in the climate change element in every development planning process”.
The CCDA is committed to ensuring this document is in place before the year-end.
Caritas PNG, a major partner of the PNG Electoral Commission in the 2022 National General Elections has called on the National Government to intervene and end all forms of election-related violence.
The organization before the elections rolled out a nationwide voter education awareness program with the intent to educate people and prepare them to make informed choices in a free, fair and safe election.
However, with the number of election-related violence throughout the country including ongoing fights in Mendi, the organization is calling for a swift response from the Government.
National Director, Mavis Tito in a statement said the responsibility falls on the candidates, including the ones that were elected into parliament.
“It is a mass that you created, and we are calling on you to resolve it immediately. Damage to property and lives taken is unnecessary and should be prevented at all costs,” stated Tito.
They have also highlighted the despair of concerned citizens who were not satisfied with the outcome of this election. Four regional forums will be organized to gather the views of citizens and will be given to relevant authorities to consider going forward.
“We are now calling on every one of you to come forward, attend these forums and express your views. We will process this and see to it the next NGE would be a better one, that is truly free and fair for us all,” Tito said.
The Assistant Deputy Bishop of Caritas PNG, Bishop Ain Soongie has supported calls by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to rectify the situation of the 2022 National General Elections.
The bishop made this statement following what has been described as the worst National Elections in the history of Papua New Guinea.
“There was no democratic exercise of the right to elect a leader to the parliament. That is obviously experienced mainly in the Highlands provinces, but more so in all other provinces,” Bishop Soongie stated.
The bishop also made mentioned that after almost 50 years of independence, there was no improvement in this vital system of government.
“As a matter of fact, getting towards 50 years of independence, we would by now have improved all systems of the government, however, what has transpired in this election seems that we have a long way to go,” Soongie said.
He also called on the country’s leaders and important stakeholders to evaluate, plan and strategize for a better election come 2027.
“The people of Papua New Guinea deserve better from our leaders. In whatever way you have entered parliament today, you have the responsibility before you to make sure that citizens of this country get better services,” he added.
“If there is a change to be made for the better of our nation, it must start now. We have 5 years to prepare for a good election. 2022 National General Election was one that deprived the rights of the citizens of this country for a fair election,” he said.
Villagers along the north coast of Madang are calling on Prime Minister James Marape and the Mining Minister to establish a regulatory framework for sand mining in PNG.
The call is for the Mineral Resource Authority to make a provision within the Mining Act for sand mining policies and laws.
Currently, there is no regulatory framework or policy in place in Papua New Guinea.
Vanansius Barrar of Murukanam village Sumkar District says his village is under threat from logging activities and now sand mining is becoming a threat for locals who depend on the marine life for their sustenance and livelihood.
They are now carrying out a land survey to protect their land from sand mining and other illegal activities that continue to destroy the environment.
Barrar explained that the National Government must establish a regulatory framework for sand mining in the country in order to protect the environment.
Another local, Willie Mayng said their land is a conservation area and is a nesting zone for the endangered leatherback turtles.
He said the Government must take interest in this matter as the locals have been fighting hard since establishing the conservation area in 2008.
The landowner’s call was made following a one-day training on the environmental impact of sand mining in Madang recently.
The training was facilitated by an academic researcher, Ms Winnifred Duk, in the biology strand at the University of Goroka.
Duk explained PNG does not have any policy or legislative framework at this stage on sand mining operations.
Furthermore, there is no risk assessment guideline to protect the environment from sand mining operations.
As sand protects the environment and is not a renewable resource, the large scale of mining sand would bring environmental concerns, and social and economic impacts, including the direct habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity.
In November of 2020, landowners of the twenty-five villages along the north coast held a public forum at Tokain village and protested a Singaporean company, Niugini Sands after it filed an application to obtain an exploration license.
The mining of black sand would cover 51km of sandy beaches and cover a width of 10km into the sea and another 10km inland from Murunas to Tokain.
The black sand beach of Tokain Village. Picture By Wenceslaus Magun via Facebook.
However, the company withdrew its application attributing it to the adverse publicity and negative commentary against the company’s reputation.
The former chief justice, Sir Arnold Amet, who was representing the locals as their legal advisor, said there is no separate law on sand mining in PNG.
In October of 2020, the Mineral Resource Authority Director, Jerry Garry, in a television interview also explained that PNG is yet to develop specific laws on sand mining.
Garry says the closest legislation that can be used for sand mining is the Alluvial Mining Act which does mention other minerals that can be extracted from sand.
Wenceslaus Magun, who heads MAKATA, a local NGO, dedicated to preserving the nesting areas of the leatherback turtles said the Government must act now.
Magun says there is no international law on sand mining and there is a huge gap that big companies are taking advantage of to push their agendas.
The member for Gazelle, Jelta Wong has pledged his commitment to serve the people of Papua New Guinea as the new Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources. After the swearing-in on Tuesday, Minister Wong highlighted the importance the Fisheries sector has on the economy, stating the commitment remains to create employment opportunities as well as protecting the fisheries stock from environmental damage.
“The Ministry for Fisheries and Marine Resources has a significant function for our country right now and into the future, as our marine resources must be managed properly and must be harvested in a sustainable way,” Wong added.
PNG has the largest fisheries zone in the South Pacific with a total value market estimated at K400million per year. However, it remains under-developed with no space for downstream processing and tangible support for local markets to survive.
Inspection of the new Sand Fish Hatchery in Kimbe, West New Britain Province. Since 2019, NFA has opened a number of enabling infrastructures to support local markets. Picture By NFA Media
“As Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, it is clear that there is a lot of heavy lifting ahead in the coming weeks, months and years.”
“Over the past three years our Government under Prime Minister Marape has sought to implement long-overdue reforms in the sector, but much of this work was undermined by the interruption of the pandemic,” the Minister said.
With a Fisheries Strategic Plan for 2021-2030 already in place, it provides PNG with the opportunity to adapt to the changing global economy in the fisheries sector. And sustainability is one key area in achieving that goal for the country.”
“Considering the needs of our future generations is also a reason that I intend to lead a crackdown on illegal fishing in our waters. The Prime Minister has indicated his support for the expanded export of sustainably harvested fresh seafood to global markets.”
“We will also work with investors under this plan to value-add in the processing of our tuna and other seafood in our own production facilitates,” said Minister Wong.
Minister Wong will serve his 2nd term in Parliament and has previously held office as the Police, Health and State-Owned Enterprises Minister.
