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August 2022

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Call for Unity and Harmony Ahead of Enga Cultural Show

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Enga Cultural Show

Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas has called for unity and harmony in Enga Province ahead of the annual cultural show.

Re-elected for the 6th term as the head of the province following the National General Elections, Sir Peter Ipatas urged the people in the province to unite once again for the staging of the Enga Cultural Show this weekend.

“The Enga Show is the pride of our province, an annual activity that has been staged successfully for the past 27 years and grown in stature to become an international drawcard.’’

Speaking in response to concerns about election related unrest in parts of the province, Sir Peter said Enga cannot continue to allow lawlessness and destruction to constantly dictate how the province will go about conducting business.

He urged his people stop the negativity caused by the recent election violence and instead shift to positive and beneficial attitude for the province. 

Governor Ipatas: “When we continue to allow violence to dictate our lives and activities, we are in a way tacitly accepting it.”

Enga takes pride in hosting visitors and the Governor is adamant that showcasing the province’s traditional cultures to the world in 2022 will be different.

The Enga Cultual show will be staged on Friday12th and Saturday 13th August 2022.

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Politics

President Toroama Congratulates PM Marape

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Toroama-Marape

PRESIDENT of the Autonomous Regional of Bougainville, Ishmael Toroama has extended a word congratulations to Member for Tari-Pori, James Marape on his election into Prime Ministership.

In the same fashion, the Bougainville President also congratulated Member for Manus, Job Pomat for being re-elected as Speaker of the Papua New Guinea House of Parliament.

In a statement, Toroama said the 11th National Parliament will play a pivotal role in determining Bougainville’s ultimate political future when it ratifies the 2019 Bougainville Independence Referendum Results.

In 2019, 97.7 per cent of Bougainvilleans voted for political independence from Papua New Guinea.

Since Toroama’s inauguration as President of Bougainville in 2020, both he and Prime Minister Marape built a rapport based on trust and respect despite differing opinions on Bougainville’s political future.

Toroama stated that the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement has been clear on how both the ABG and Government of PNG must implement its provisions on Bougainville’s political future.

Adding that there are no short cuts and that the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement must be done according to the existing legislative frameworks on peacebuilding on Bougainville.

The Bougainville President stated that he looks forward to implanting the BPA with Prime Minister, James Marape the National Government.

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National Elections

Counting for NCD Regional Delayed Once More

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A counting official for the NCD Regional Seat at Rita Flynn says the Electoral Commission is not keeping its promises.

Mathew, as he’d like to be called told Inside PNG, they were promised they would be paid by last Thursday but six days have passed and they are yet to be paid.

At 1pm today, Inside PNG visited NCD Regional Counting Center where counting officials sat outside and refused to resume counting.

“The Election Manager and his team told us to count and we counted, but we are not being paid, Mathew said.

At 3am this morning, counting officials doing the night shift stopped counting because of the same issue, delayed payment of outstanding allowances.

“Since Monday, we had no meals provided to us. We were told that we will be paid meal allowances, but that did not happen. Instead, we were only eating coffee and biscuit,” Mathew said.

“Also there are no more fuel vouchers for the PMVs to drop those doing night shifts,” Mathew added.

With all these concerns raised by Mathew, counting is further delayed today.

Despite four weeks of counting for the NCD Regional Seat, counting is still in the primary votes.

There are 50 more boxes remaining before quality checks are done and elimination will begin.

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Politics

O’Neill Did Not Vote

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PM Marape

PNC Party Leader and former Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill walked off the floor of Parliament moments before the election of the Prime Minister.

Earlier in the day, a three man Supreme Court bench refused an application by Mr. O’Neill to stay the Parliament Sitting.

Just before 4pm, Tari Pori MP, James Marape was elected Prime Minister for the 11th Government of Papua New Guinea unopposed with 97 votes to Nil.

Marape’s election as Prime Minister comes after Manus Open member-elect, Job Pomat was voted in as Speaker unopposed.

Marape was escorted down to the Government House at Konedobu and sworn in as Prime Minister.

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Politics

Pomat Voted Unopposed as Speaker of 11th Parliament

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Member for Manus, Job Pomat has not only been re-elected as the Member for Manus but also as the Speaker for the 11th Parliament.  

Pomat was nominated by Gulf Governor, Chris Haiveta.

With no other nominations, Member elect for Madang Open Brian Kramer called for the close of nominations.  The Clark of Parliament Mr Kala Aufa then declared Mr Pomat the Speaker of the 11th Parliament unopposed.  

As is tradition, a man dressed in traditional attire stands beside the Speaker’s Chair and beats the drum as part of the announcement.  

Pomat was then escorted by a jolly Chris Haiveta and Governor for Hela, Philip Undialu to the Speaker’s Chair.  

“Honorable Members, mi laik kisim displa taim, tok bikpla hamamas tru, long thankim parliament givim mi displa bikpla honor, olsem Speaker blong displa 11th Parliament”.  

[Translation: “Honorable members, I would like to take this time, to thank the parliament for giving me the greatest honor of being the Speaker of the 11th Parliament.“]

Following a short speech, the Clerk of Parliament then announced that the Mase which has been placed under the table has been raised to the top of the table following the election of the Speaker and the beating of the kundu drum.  

“Honorable Members, the mace which has been placed under the table has been raised to the top after the beating of the garamut, signifies that the Parliament is in session with the Speaker elect presiding.” 

A Mace is a symble of authority that is placed on the table in Parliament when the Speaker is in Chair.  Pomat then adjourned the parliament for a few minutes to allow for his official swearing in  at the Office of the Governor General. 

He later returned to Parliament to chair the nominations for the Prime Minister’s seat among others.  Job Pomat was first elected to the 8th Parliament in 2007 under People’s National Congress Party.

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News

Ramu NiCo Completes new Mine Site Clinic

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Ramu NiCo mine clinic

Ramu NiCo Management Limited’s newly built and recently opened Kurumbukari Mine Clinic is well equipped with vital medical devices capable of serving more patients.

The clinic has upgraded its capacity from a two bed space to a six bed space clinic. Providing a more spacious and conducive facility for all patients seeking medical assistance. The clinic now houses, two consultation rooms, a dispensary, emergency treatment and treatment room for small wounds and others, observing ward and a waiting lobby.

The vital medical equipment available at the new and improved Clinic include; an oxygenator, electrocardiogram machine, glucometer, multi-analysis drug testing devices, including the Rapid Diagnostic Test kits for malaria and COVID-19 including other devices for basic testing and diagnosis.

The now standalone clinic is capable of serving and accommodating more patients within the mining camp, including locals from surrounding communities unlike at the previous locations. The new KBK Mine Clinic is a day clinic where no admissions are made.

Nursing Officer in Charge Mr. Cyril Tapasia (Left) Assistant Nursing Officer, Ms. Bernadette Soagili (Centre) and the physician on site, Dr. Wei (Right) at the new and improved Ramu NiCo’s Kurumbukari Mine Clinic.

The RNML KBK Mine Clinic has two Chinese Physicians and three local nursing staff who are on a 28 days on site and 14 days off site shift. Three health personnel are always on site (at the clinic) from 8am to 5pm every day.

Nursing Officer in Charge, Cyril Tapasia, who has been employed with Ramu NiCo Ltd for 14 years now stated; “Since it is a day clinic, we focus mainly on work related injuries. Serious cases are only stabilized at the clinic and referred to the Walium or Usino Health Centres while the very serious cases are identified as emergency cases and referred to the Madang Provincial Hospital,”

RNML’s KBK General Manager, Joseph Umare said “It is only fitting for the company to build a facility big enough to cater for or accommodate more patients, because at any one time, there are about 600 to 700 employees on site”

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National Elections

Counting Official Sent Home

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Police have refused a counting official entry into the NCD Regional Counting Venue after a police complaint was laid against him by incumbent Governor, Powes Pakop.

The counting official whose name was mentioned in a letter addressed to NCD Metropolitan Superintendent, Gideon Ikumu was suspected of the following allegations,

  1. He was known as a key coordinator to Regional Candidate, Micheal Kandiu during the campaign period. Parkop alleges that the suspected official was carrying out all activities during campaign for Mr. Kandiu.
  2. The nature of this complaint, transpired from alleged foul play inside the counting venue.

Parkop alleges that during the vote recount for Koki/Wanigela Box which happened at the suspect’s counting station, the recount increased by four votes.

The allegation is that the suspect framed the issue of having foreign ballot papers with no corresponding serial numbers in the tray of candidate 12.

The initial count was at 398 but after the recount, the votes increased by 4 which brought the total to 402

Based on these allegations, police officials at Rita Flynn refused entry to the suspected official yesterday afternoon when he tried to access the counting venue.

Meanwhile counting for the Regional Seat is suspended as of 8am today and will resume at 6pm tonight.

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Sport

Baru, flag bearer for Team PNG at Closing Ceremony

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Baru, flag bearer for Team PNG at Closing Ceremony

Team PNG’s silver medalist Morea Baru has been announced as the country’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games Scheduled for Monday 8th August, 2022.

The closing ceremony will commencing 8pm UK/5am+1 PNG Time.

Baru won the silver medal in the Men’s 61kgs division of the Weightlifting Competition, outclassing his rivals bar one.

Chef de Mission Michael Henao congratulated Baru on his appointment. “What a Privilege it is to carry the Flag of a thousand tribes, and what a privilege it is for the Team to be led by you”, Henao said

Baru is no stranger to Commonwealth Games success. In 2018 he won a silver medal at the Games on the Gold Coast and has represented PNG at Numerous world and regional Weightlifting competitions including the Olympic Games.

In a small gathering held by Team PNG General Management Team on Saturday, Baru was acknowledged for his achievement and given the honours of cutting the Cake on behalf of the team.

All athletes and officials were also presented commemorative medals by the Commonwealth Games Federation for their participation at the games.

The little ‘kibung’ was also used to thank the Team Assistants / Volunteers assigned To Team PNG.

“Our team assistants were very helpful during our entire time at Birmingham Assisting the General Management Team and the respective sports. They have Made it easy for us throughout our stay and we thank them for that,” Henao said

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Sport

New National Record for Women’s 4x100m Relay

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Women's 4x100m

Team PNG’s Women’s 4x100m Relay quartet of Adrine Monagi, Toea Wisil, Isila Apkup and Leonie Beu set a new national record of 45.38 seconds in front of a packed Alexander Stadium on Saturday morning.

Despite finishing sixth in their heat, the time was still good enough surpassing the 45.85 recorded at the recent 2022 Pacific Mini Games in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.

In other results from Day 9 of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Feanor Siaguru and Madako Suari Jnr proved too strong for Guyana’s Shomari Wiltshire and Jason-Ray Khalil with a 2-0 win in the Plate Quarter-Final of the squash Men’s Doubles.

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Sport

Iga sets PB in Men’s Decathlon

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Iga Sets PB in Men's Decathlon

PNG’s Karo Iga’s valiant efforts in the Men’s Decathlon saw him rewarded with a Personal Best next to his name at Alexander Stadium on Friday night.

Over the two days of competition, Iga set Personal Bests in the 100m with 10.94 seconds, in the Shot Put with a throw of 11.05 meters and in the 400m after clocking 48.61.

Iga Sets PB in Men's Decathlon - Pole Jump
Iga Sets PB in Men's Decathlon

Iga also set a Season’s Best in the 110m Hurdles recording a time of 16.73.

There were three more Personal Bests for Iga in the Discus Throw with 31.88, in the Pole Vault clearing 3.90 meters, Javelin Throw with 51.30 meters and ending with another Season’s Best in the 1500m with a time of 4:56.54.

Iga finished with a total of 6761 points placing seventh overall.

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