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November 2022

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Connect PNG – Momase Economic Corridor Project Launch

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The National Government has officially launched works on the ‘Momase Economic Corridor’ of the Connect PNG Project.

The launch will see a major road upgrade and sealing of the Sepik Coastal Highway between West Sepik and Madang Province.

The West Sepik side will start from Wutung on the PNG-Indonesia Border to Aitape town. The project will also cover inland roads such as the Vanimo to Green River road, the Bewani to Imbio ring road, and the Lumi to Nuku road.

A government delegation led by Minister Rainbo Paita and Solan Mirisim was in Vanimo yesterday to launch the project with funding presented to contractors.

“This Government is serious about connecting PNG. For too long past governments have made commitments and nothing to show for it. We are here with the funding, work will start,” said Works and Highways Minister Solan Mirisim.

With the Connect PNG now officially legislated, successive Governments will be obliged to see this project complete by 2040.

For the next 5 years, the Government aims to connect the Momase and Highlands Regions to the Southern Region. This means, priority will be given to missing road links in rural areas, thus enabling government services to reach these communities.

“I must highlight that the Connect PNG Programme is a National Roads Infrastructure Development Programme implemented in all regions and provinces. In the medium term, the program aims to connect the Momase and Highlands Regions to the Southern Region through the Trans-National Highway by 2025,” Minister Mirisim said.

For the Sepik Coastal Highway, 10% of the total K139.85million project has been given to the contractor Green Hills Limited and China Railway to start works between Vanimo and Wewak town.

“Marape-Rosso Government recognizes the strategic importance of the Momase Economic Corridor road network and its huge potential to affect socio-economic development in the Momase Region and PNG as a whole,” Minister Mirisim said.

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Health

Rural Road Link Vital for Services

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A woman was forced to give birth in a makeshift shelter in remote upper Bundi after a landslide blocked road access for an ambulance to reach her on time.

The Kumura Foundation Ambulance was responding to the emergency when it came across the massive landslide that completely blocked off the road in the Pomie Village area. However, the woman was able to give birth without major complications.

Heavy rainfalls last Monday caused multiple landslides, cutting off road access to Bundi Station from Chimbu Province.

Work on removing the debris left by the landslide started last Tuesday, with the Foundation donating funds to rally locals to clear the road passage.

Locals clearing the debris from the landslide.

Under its Community Service Obligation, the Kumura Foundation will continue to serve the people of remote Bundi with its ambulance service.

“Christmas is approaching, and we have three primary schools in Bundi, SMEs, farmers, and the Kumura foundation’s activities such as the ambulance service and PMVs from Simbu that access this vital road link must continue to deliver its services,” said Foundation Director, Vincent Kumara.

People in remote upper Bundi rely on this road access to get basic services in Kundiawa Town.

Mr. Kumura appealed to the MPs of Usino-Bundi and Chimbu provinces to assist the foundation as well as other service providers in maintaining this rural road access.

The Kumura Foundation Ambulance is stuck in a ditch outside Pomie Village in remote Bundi. The vehicle was donated by the Sir Brian Bell Foundaiton.
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Health

Emergency Section Upgrade

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Healthcare services at the Rabaul Provincial Hospital are predicted to improve with the introduction of new medical facilities.

This follows renovation work done at the Hospital’s Emergency Section which cost the Provincial Government K100,000.

The inclusion of new facilities provided by Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited includes a mini theatre, acute and care sections, a resuscitation bay, and a nurse station.

The hospital’s acting managing director, Dr. Osiat Baining said there are plans to build a children’s emergency outpatient section.

The donation of half a million kina worth of equipment is part of KPHL’s social engagement program.

KPHL Corporate Services Manager, Luke Liria said part of the investment is to provide training for health staff so that there is regular and proper maintenance of equipment.

“We have supported the cardial service at the Port Moresby General Hospital, we will fully equip that hospital so that no one has to seek medical assistance overseas,” Liria said.

Rabaul Provincial becomes the first hospital outside of Port Moresby to receive this life-saving equipment.

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News

Teng Airstrip Taking Shape

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[Picture supplied by Maisen Hungito: (Manolos chopper dropping off PNGDF personnel at Teng airstrip construction site)]

The Teng airstrip constructed by the locals of Deyamos LLG of Morobe’s Kabwum District 49-years ago will be completed soon by Lae’s PNGDF Engineering Battalion Team.

Yesterday, a second troop of the Engineering battalion flew in by Manolos aviation to accompany their fellow comrades in preparation for the drilling and blasting of rocks.

The rocks obstructed the completion of the airstrip runway, which the PNGDF personnel from the Engineering Battalion at Lae’s Igam Barracks commenced drilling and will use explosives to blast the rocks in preparation for the construction.

The arrival of the Engineering Battalion Team motivated the local men, women, and children who helped with joyful hearts in clearing the runway to see the airstrip take its shape before the first plane lands to serve a population of over 2,000 from Deyamos’ 11 villages including Dawot, Timowan, Sei, Kautnon, Gongoman, Gomandat, Boulon, Hemon, Mumungam, Patak and Finon.

Nearby villagers from Teng, Dawot, Timowan and Kautnon have been working closely with the PNGDF personnel in clearing the airstrip since the first deployment of PNGDF personnel last week Wednesday.

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News

PM jets off for APEC in Thailand

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Prime Minister James Marape says Papua New Guinea will maintain all bilateral agreements and cooperation with other 20 member countries during the 2022 APEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Prime Minister reiterated that meetings with close development partners like New Zealand, Australia, China, Canada and the United States will be paramount.

PM Marape said the previous APEC meeting has seen maturity and understanding between member countries.

“We will bring our agendas to the table, we are now emphasizing on two agendas, down streaming and exporting finished products to the world markets,” said PM Marape.

He added that Papua New Guinea boast vast natural resources and will ensure talks open more dialogue with world leaders to support grow the local economy.

The Prime Minister said the APEC Summit will open doors for Papua New Guinea. He maintained that he will be attending all the meetings including other State Ministers and beauracrats.

“It’s a very significant meeting for us. APEC is where world leaders meet and discuss for business and trade talks, ” said PM Marape.

The Prime Minister also announced that Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso will be incharge of the country for the next 10 days.

“I leave the country in the good hands of our Deputy Prime Minister and will return before Parliament resumes for the November session to hand down the 2023 national budget, ” said PM Marape.

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Climate Change

Dialogue on Coffee & Climate Change

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An agriculturalist and researcher say coffee can bring in cash for both economic purposes as well as generating revenue in the carbon space of Climate Change.

Mawe Gonapa, a Ph.D. student in a short presentation told local government authorities coffee packs carbon in its leaves, stems, and even beneath the earth using its roots, thus offering benefits as a cash crop.

“Coffee has the potential to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, and if we come together and make our position clear on how to involve coffee in the carbon trade, create relevant guidelines to get it into the carbon trade, and have the carbon credit certified,” Mr. Gonapa said.

The Ministry of Environment Conservation and Climate Change initiated the meeting with Mr. Gonapa and is pleased with the information and discussions knowing it may be a prospect for the future.

“We have been talking about it (Climate change), we have been going to conferences, what’s needed from us now is action, coffee carbon trade may be our answer,” First Secretary to the Minister for Environment Conservation and Climate Change Motsy David said.

The officers from Both authorities under the Environment and Conservation and Climate Change Ministry – Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) and Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) who were present, noted successive tree planting campaigns were unstructured and failed to provide an accurate number of trees that were already planted.

Mr. Gonapa added, “There is a huge potential (for coffee) to improve livelihoods as farmers will get additional income, improve conservation and bio-diversity when coffee is grown with other trees”.

Other tree species have been used in the tree planting exercise over the years, this is the first time the government agencies are eyeing coffee as an alternative.

First Secretary to the Environment Conservation and Climate Change Minister, Motsy David said, “The Minister responsible upon his return from the UN-sanctioned Conference of Parties (COP) 27 will initiate dialogue with Minister Coffee and other related ministers to progress this”.

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Education

Perseverance to Improve Education

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Herman Namora, 21, is a 3rd-year student studying Literature at the University of Papua New Guinea. He is from Madang and is passionate about the importance of education.

Having made it thus far to the highest learning institution prompted him to help those less fortunate.  He was concerned about so many Grade 8 and 10 school leavers pushed out of the education system with no hope of advancing their career paths and returning to the village where social issues impacted their way of life.

His concerns started back in 2019 after completing Grade 12. He had returned to the village during the holidays to find out that one primary school had enrolled 60 Grade 8 students only to pass out 13 while 47 were back in the village.

 This scenario experienced in most rural schools persuaded Herman to do a survey with primary school teachers. The teachers expressed concern that students struggled with English and faced difficulties with reading and comprehension.

Herman Namora meeting with Teachers during his survey.

Herman decided then to help in any way he can. He gathered young adults in the community and conducted awareness on the importance of early childhood learning. With the help of the Catholic Diocese and Madang Teachers College, 14 school leavers were taught Phonics to be able to return and serve their communities.

Their work is voluntary and for two teachers who returned to Dallam they faced challenges such as setting up a classroom and sourcing materials coupled with ethnic clashes which hindered the progress of their teaching but all was not lost, the community realized the keen interest in learning by children aged 3 to 5 years and decided to build a classroom.

After two years and sheer determination, the first batch of graduands from the Early Childhood Learning school will be certified at the end of this month.

There is still more work to be done but excitement is in the air for Dallam village as they prepare for graduation day.  For Herman and the teachers, all the work is voluntary and they hope to seek funding for learning materials and reading books for the children.

The first batch of students. The classroom was built by the community.
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Crime

Investigations Underway for Kiriwina Deaths

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A Police Criminal Investigation team has been deployed to Kiriwina in the Milne Bay Province to investigate and prepare for a coronial inquest into the fight on October 24 which has since resulted in the deaths of 24 people.

Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent Peter Barkie said 22 people were killed initially in a three-hour fight that broke out after an argument between the coastal and inland villages over a soccer match. Two recently succumbed to the wounds they received during the fight thereby increasing the death toll to 24.

Mr. Barkie said the police CID investigation team was deployed after the Quick Reaction Force (QRP) completed its assessment of the situation on the ground on Kiriwina Island.

Mr. Barkie said he wants the coroner to be involved because of the large number of deaths. He said this is a first of its kind on the island so he wants the court to be involved and not just the police.

“I have spoken to the senior provincial magistrate about that. My team is up in Kiriwina doing that now. Hopefully, they will get all the necessary paperwork done within 14 days,” Mr. Barkie said.

Mr. Barkie said the people from the affected villages in Kiriwina are cooperating well. Police have discussed with the villagers the need to have all the suspects surrender and they have agreed to do so.

Mr. Barkie said the villages did not destroy any government, private properties, or business houses when they fought and the fight did not involve the entire Kiriwina Island.

He said the villages affected were from the Southern part of Kiriwina Island and around Louisa station. The Central and Northern part of Kiriwina was not involved.

Mr. Barkie said that normalcy has been restored, all shops are open, government businesses continue and people are carrying on with their usual daily chores.

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News

PILAG Partners NRI For Quality Research Training

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Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance will be working in partnership with PNG National Research Institute to ensure quality research and training for the public service sector and the people.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between the two institutions.

The MOU is aimed at strengthening the Corporation between the two institutions on how best they can serve the people with the use of research and training.

PILAG CEO Micheal Barobe said PILAG has been offering competency-based training to the public service sector, and with quality research from PNG NRI, deficiencies within the public sector can be reduced.

“It’s a very good opportunity for NRI to come on board because research can extend right into District wards and LLGS,” the CEO said.

He said participants from sub-national levels are also at PILAG and NRI can use them for research.

PNG NRI is an institution mandated by the constitution to carry out independent research on national issues.

The research contributes to evidence-based public policies and decision-making processes to improve service delivery and quality of life.

PNG NRI Director Dr. Osborne Sanida said the MOU reflects the mutual value both institutions hold in terms of training and research.

“PNG NRI is glad to go in partnership with PILAG, which is mandated to train public servants in PNG in order for them to be effective and efficient in their roles and responsibilities,” Dr. Sanida said.

The director said under this MOU the two institutions can also collaborate in a joint research partnership, co-hosting seminars and workshops to disseminate research findings through the networks of both organizations.

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News

Bougainville Featured on Korean TV

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Bougainville Featured on Korean Television

The Autonomous Region of Bougainville was featured on Korean Television channel KBS, a public broadcasting station of the Republic of Korea for the first time.

A special documentary titled ‘Reading Culture in Young Koreans‘, which was aired on KBS 1TV on Friday 21st
October 2022, highlighted the publication of “Bougainville, The Island Given By God“, a book
that introduces the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

In this documentary, CEO, Geun-Su Kim, who currently runs BOU&KO Ltd, a public enterprise in
Bougainville, appeared to explained the history, economy, society, and culture of Bougainville in detail.

After 12 visits to island of Bougainville, he wrote the book about Bougainville and had it published in Korean and English. According to writer, the book is scheduled to be released in November.

Morae-al LLC, a startup founded by university students who successfully published “Bougainville, The
Island Given By God” in the Republic of Korea, said they will take the lead in promoting and spreading the potential and beauty of Bougainville to Korea and the world through various media.

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