Archive

August 2022

Browsing
Autonomous Bougainville Government

ABG Rejects Nationwide Consultation

By

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has rejected Prime Minister James Marape’s statement calling for a nationwide consultation on Bougainville’s 2019 Referendum for Independence results. The ABG’s response is to Prime Minister James Marape’s inaugural statement delivered when he was elected as Prime Minister on August 9th.

The ABG maintains that ratification of the 2019 Referendum will be done by the National Parliament and does not require the citizens of Papua New Guinea to consult on the matter.

ABG Attorney General and Minister for Bougainville Independence Mission Implementation Ezekiel Masatt clarified that there is no legal basis for the proposed nationwide consultation as Prime Minister Marape alluded to. Masatt highlighted the provisions of the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement which called for a referendum and the results to be discussed in Parliament alone.

“Per the requirements of the same laws, the ABG and the National Government are the only two parties that will consult the overwhelming 97.9 per cent outcome of the referendum, there is no mention of a nationwide consultation on the matter,” said Minister Masatt.

Masatt said it has become clear that the National Government lacks the institutional memory to fully understand the intentions of the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement and urged the National Government to stick to the agreements reached by both Governments in the joint consultations.

“It has been agreed that independence will be no earlier than 2025 and no later than 2027. Let me make it absolutely clear, that Bougainville will be independent,” Masatt stated.

Prime Minister James Marape during his inaugural speech on August 9th.

Meanwhile Prime Minister James Marape is yet to appoint a Minister for Bougainville Affairs. In the last three and a half years, the office was held by four different MPs including the Prime Minister himself. However, when announcing his 2022 Cabinet yesterday, the Prime Minister said Bougainville needs a full-time Minister who will commit to the cause on Bougainville. Marape added a Minister will be appointed in the coming weeks.  

Keep Reading
By
Business

Morobe Mining Company Locked out of Office

By

Morobe Alluvial Mining Company, a subsidiary of the Morobe Mineral Holdings Limited, the business arm of the Provincial Government owes huge amounts of rental payment and its staff unpaid salary.

Staff based in Lae, told the media yesterday, that they were laid off by the MAML Management for almost four months without any good reasons, or an official document.

They petitioned the management concerning the alleged non-payment of their salaries and Nasfund contributions.

On the 20th of July, a list came out confirming names of almost 60 employees who were being laid off by the company.

After the Management failed to address their petition, over 30 staff went and sought help from the Labour Department.

The Provincial Labour and Industrial Relations office then wrote a letter to MAML Human Resource Manager on the 25th of July, 2022 stating the employees’ complaint concerning the following;

  1. Non-payment of outstanding fortnightly wages and entitlements for 5 staff who ceased employment.
  2. Non-payment of fortnightly wages for 14 employees for 7 fortnights.
  3. Non-payment of staff Nasfund contributions.  

The Labour office urged the company to immediately settle the outstanding fortnights for the employees who ceased employment and to settle the outstanding non-payment of wages and Nasfund contributions.

The Labour Office further stated that Morobe Alluvial Mining Limited has breached the Employment Act for failing to pay the staff outstanding payments and should respond within 14 days. 

According to the staff, the MAML Management Headed by the Chief Executive Officer, Brigitta Pondros again failed to pay the employees outstanding wages and Nasfund Contributions.

They followed up with the Labour Office again, but they didn’t receive any positive response.

The employees are currently renting and leaving in town with school aged children. They told the media that they are suffering because of the company’s ignorance.

An employee who refused to be named said, “The Company is a good concept by the Morobe Provincial Government under the Leadership of Morobe’s Former Governor, Ginson Saonu, but it’s not managed properly.”

 A lot of money is used on hire cars and accommodation rentals for the Managers.

Inside PNG went to get a response from the MAML Management located at Lae’s Velerumana Building’s 4th floor, however, the doors were locked with padlocks.

We were advised that the company was told to leave the building due to non-payment of rentals.

According to the Morobe Mines, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Office, Morobe Alluvial Mining Limited receives K5 million from the Provincial Government since 2020. 

Morobe Alluvial Mining Company headed by CEO Briggitta Pondros was established on the 14th of May 2020 by Morobe’s former Governor Ginson Saonu and is operating under the umbrella of Morobe Mineral Holdings Limited.

MMHL is a group of company operating with various Alluvial Dredging and Exploration Activities in Morobe and is a subsidiary company of Morobe Provincial Government.

The affected employees of MAML called on the Morobe Mineral Resource Holdings, Acting Provincial Administrator, Bart Impambonj and the Morobe Governor, Luther Wenge to address their concerns with the management of MAML.

Keep Reading
By
Business

BSP Partners with Queen Pads PNG

By
BSP and Queen Pads PNG Partnership

Queen Pads PNG, a locally owned SME that supplies locally made menstrual pads to help young girls and women in rural communities by conducting awareness and supplying their products has partnered with BSP Financial Group Limited.

This support will help the work and product distribution of Queen Pads PNG.

BSP recently purchased 1000 Queen Pads products, to help the SME distribute and conduct awareness to encourage menstrual health and hygiene in rural communities.

“We are a community oriented bank that believes in people. We also strongly support health, women and girls in communities and invest in where we believe can elevate community levels, especially in rural areas,” said BSP Corporate sponsorship Manager, Amelia Minnopu.

“As the largest private sector employers in the region, BSP employs over 4,000 staff, with women making up 50% of the workforce.”

“These products are made of durable, environmentally friendly and gentle cloths that can last for up to five years and it’s useful for female that can help is many ways. This entailed well with our Go Green campaign in supporting awareness on environmental risks. Moreover, it is an innovative new way to decrease our environmental impact,” Minnopu said.

She added that this support aims to contribute positively towards community building and reducing health risks within societies.

Founder and owner of Queens Pads PNG, Ann- Shirley Korave said around 80% of women and girls in rural areas still do not have access to basic hygienic sanitary pads, hence, the support from BSP will help in her work to reach the wider communities.

“Menstrual Health and Hygiene is essential to the well-being and empowerment of women and adolescent girls,” added Korave.

BSP and Queen Pads PNG’s partnership is a way forward in supporting women and girls in schools, workplaces and rural and local communities. More importantly, breaking the silence around it in the communities.

Keep Reading
By
Politics

Sawang Misses Out

By
Kessy Sawang, Rai Coast MP

One of only two women members of Parliament, Kessy Sawang narrowly missed out on a ministry as the new cabinet was made known today.

Prime Minister, James Marape said, she could have been considered if her party numbers permitted and provincial number allowed.

“She’s (Kessy Sawang) in the mix. I’ve consulted her and she was gracious with her words,”

“She said whether Minister or not I’m here to offer services,” PM Marape said when he contacted the MP.

All provinces who have representatives in the Pangu led coalition where given two ministries each.

The two continuing ministers from Madang where returned their jobs with Madang MP and single member of the Allegiance party in the coalition, Bryan Kramer as Minister for Labor and Immigration while Pangu man, Jimmy Uguro was re-awarded the Education portfolio.

“This was not an accidental pick or for political rearrangement. The leaders are placed to the structures we have in place now to secure our country and improve the economy,” Marape added.

Two provinces missed out in the ministry distributions including the two-seat Manus province as well as the Prime Minister’s beloved Hela province.

Mr Marape added, citizens should move away from the Western view of women representation in parliament.

“I want to encourage our Papua New Guineans to think away from the gender issue.”

“The Ministers here represent our people and we represent the women as well,” Marape said.

The 9th parliament saw women MPs hold office of minister. In 2017 no women were elected into Parliament, now there are two.

Keep Reading
By
Sport

PNG Games Recalled

By

THE PNG Games Council has unanimously agreed to recall the 8th PNG Games from the Host Organizing Committee Mendi, Southern Highlands Province with reference to Clause 8.9.1 of the PNG Games charter which empowers the Council to monitor and evaluate games preparations and recall rights to host.

This decision was reached after the presentation of the Sports Technical Advisory Committee venue inspection report which was conducted in Mendi on 26-29 June, 2022.

The main concern raised  during the visit was the pace of the  construction of the games facilities, and the number of completed venues that are ready for sports competitions by the end of this year. The STAC concluded that the venues will not be ready by November for SHP to stage the Games.

After much deliberation, the Executive Committee made the following recommendations to the PNG Games Council for their endorsement;

  1. That the SHP Provincial Government won the bid in 2015 and the venues preparation have fallen behind schedule for Games delivery in 2022. Therefore, the Council is to consider recalling the right to host the 8th PNG Games from HOC – SHP.
  2. That the Council will invite other provinces to express their readiness to host the 8th PNG Games as soon as practicable. The Executive Committee also proposed for the Council to consider NCD/Central Province to co-host the 8th PNG Games in NCD in June/July 2023 given the availability of world class venues in Port Moresby.
  3. The Council also recommended limiting the number of sports to 10 compulsory ones as captured in the PNG Games Charter. Other sports may be considered subject to the recommendation of the new hosts. The compulsory sports are:
    1. Athletics 
    1. Basketball
    1. Boxing’
    1. Touch Football
    1. Soccer’
    1. Powerlifting
    1. Rugby League Nines
    1. Touch
    1. Volleyball (Indoor)
    1. Netball

Meanwhile the PNG Sports Foundation has taken steps to work with HOC Mendi and SHP Government to complete the construction of all the facilities. The Executive Director Albert Veratau has expressed satisfaction that much has been achieved.

With the collaboration of key government departments including Department of National Planning & Monitoring and Departments of Treasury & Finance the state of the art facilities will be constructed in SHP. This decision relieves the pressure of HOC SHP and gives them sufficient time to complete the venues and be better prepared to stage the next PNG Games.

Keep Reading
By
Politics

Agriculture Reform Centre

By

Major changes in the agriculture sector herald an economic drive by government as it laid out its ministries and office bearers this afternoon.

Prime Minister, James Marape announced the new ministries which includes:

*Livestock,
*Oil palm,
*Coffee and,
*Agriculture.

Mr Marape says this will help streamline the job of the ministers concerned into specifics, so that the country’s produce can be enough to supply locally and meet global export demands.

The new look cabinet will also have a minister responsible for International Trade and Investment.

Other key changes in the cabinet make-up include reforms to police and correctional services which will now come under one ministry which is International Security.

All other ministries remain the same with little or no changes in the 33 ministry National Executive Council.

With 32 already occupied, the only other ministry yet to be filled is Bougainville Affairs.

Keep Reading
By
Natural Resources

K14.8M in Royalties Paid out by the Ramu Nickel Project

By

Landowners of the four project impact areas of the Ramu Nickel Project under Ramu NiCo Management Limited, were paid their royalty payment totalling to K14.8 million for the year 2021 on July 20th, 2022.

The landowner groups that the payments were made to include Kurumbukari, Inland Pipeline, Coastal Pipeline and Basamuk. Kurumbukari got a portion of approximately K8.6 million, Inland and Coastal Pipeline LO’s got approximately K2 million each while Basamuk Los got a portion of approximately K3 million respectively.

All payments made totals to the grand total of royalty payment to LO’s for 2021, including the other years concerned. The recent payments are the 6th made by the company since production began in 2013.

Jacob Winis, Principal Landowner of Memeume 1 and Chairman of the Maigari (Inland Pipeline) Landowners Association said, the royalty payments made by Ramu NiCo has contributed immensely in improving the people’s state of living by having access to basic services.

“The royalty payments made by Ramu NiCo to the landowners has helped us in setting up small Businesses or projects, supporting us with school fees, access to health services and I see that there is actual change” Winis said.

The first royalty payments made were in 2018, for years 2013 to 2017, paid in two separate accumulated payments; first payment of approximately K25.5 million was made in June of 2018. While the second  payment of K8 million plus, was made in the same year for July to December of 2017.

Royalty payment of approximately K16.3 million for 2018 was made in 2019, for 2019, approximately K26.2 million was made in 2020. 2020’s payment of K 17.3 million approximately was made in 2021.

With the most Recent payment of approximately K14.8 million made this year, for 2021. A total of K108.1 million in royalties has been paid since 2018 to landowners.

Keep Reading
By
National Elections

Yama Struck Out of Race

By

Former Governor for Madang and People’s Labor Party man, Peter Yama is officially out of the race following exclusion number 34 today.

Yama bows out with 39 058 votes.

His votes will be distributed to the last three candidates still in the race.

Leading comfortably is lawyer and People’s First Party candidate Ramsey Pariwa with 100,537 votes.

Jerry Singirok secures the second spot with 60, 657 and Benny Panti on 39,703 votes.

Yama is a seasoned politician.

He was first elected to the 5th National Parliament for the Sumkar Open Seat in a by-election in October 1992 following the death of previous MP, Galen Lang in August 1992.

He served as the Minister for Works from September 1994, then Minister for Transport and Works in 1995.

In 2001, he launched the People’s Labor Party before going into Elections in 2002.

He was re-elected into the 7th Parliament as Member for Usino-Bundi.

In 2003 he succeeded Peter O’Neill as the Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations under Somara/Marat Government.

He was decommissioned as a Minister for State in the 12th of November 2002 and recommended for dismissal from Parliament by a Leadership Tribunal on charges of misconduct in office on the 1st of December 2004.

The dismissal was however overturned by the National Court in 2005.

Yama was then appointed the member of Pensions and Retirement Benefits Committee and Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chair in May of 2006.

Mr Yama is also a prominent businessman in the Province.

Keep Reading
By
National Elections

NGI QRF commended for Successful Election Security

By

THE Niugini Islands Quick Reaction Force comprising Police and PNG Defense Force personnel were acknowledged for their efforts during the election period in the New Guinea Islands Region.

NGI Assistant Commissioner for Police, (ACP) Perou N’Dranou commended the security forces who were based in Manus, New Ireland, East and West New Britain provinces, saying NGI was the first region to complete counting.

“I want to thank all my Provincial Police Commissions for the good leadership you all have shown in ensuring instructions were given, tasks were completed and also have accommodated any last minute instructions or decisions from the top management, said ACP N’Dranou.

The security personnel who were deployed to NGI have since returned to their respective provinces.

Keep Reading
By
Education

Students Miss Out on National Written Expression Exam

By

Morobe’s Program Advisor for Education, Keith Tangui told Inside PNG that more than two hundred
students from two Secondary Schools in Lae didn’t sit for their National Written Expression Exam on
Monday due to continuous fights along Lae’s backroad area.

Keith Tangui, Morobe’s Education Program Advisor.

Tangui said the fight was believed to be caused by election related violence along the backroad area and
Bumayong.

This prevented the students of Malahang Technical Secondary and Bumayong Secondary
school from attending classes.

Mr. Tangui said the students who didn’t sit for the exam have to report to the Principal of the schools
and to the Board of Governors in order to have a position reserved for next year.

Tangui said the students have the right to education, therefore they shouldn’t be rejected by the Schools.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Education Advisor called on the communities to refrain from fighting and
respect the students’ education and school infrastructure.

Keep Reading
By
Pin It