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August 2023

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COASTAL VILLAGES RECEIVE BANANA BOATS

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Coastal Villages in Sandaun Province recently received eight Banana Boats, outboard motor engines together with fishing and safety gears, from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as part of the EU STREIT Programme.

The new equipment aims to help improve the livelihood and well-being of communities who mainly depend on coastal fishing. And also to drive sustainable development of agri-food value chains, improve diets, enrich nutrition, and support food security in rural communities.

They were handed over to coastal and island fishing groups in Vanimo-Green and Aitape-Lumi districts of Sandaun Province.

The recipient groups were selected based on a criteria agreed upon, between the Provincial Fisheries and Marine Resources Office and the EU-STREIT PNG programme.

Before the handover of the boats, FAO have also coordinated a capacity development training for boat skippers and crews.

The training covers basic operations of the engines including health and safety operations.

FAO Fisheries Office Mohammed Zakir said, “Banana boats are an essential means of transportation for the coastal and island people of the Sepik Region.”

“The programme is committed to facilitating the access of fishing communities to markets and assisting them in improving existing transport safety and equipment.”

“This intervention will help to sustainably increase the catch and profitability of fish business, while also contributing significantly to food security and nutrition at the household level,” Zakir said.

Angela Passingan, who is the Chairlady of BAMA Women’s Group of Ulau Village, located along the coastline of Aitape East LLG, was one of the recipients.

She said these boats will help villagers, especially women, children and youths with the supply of fish for protein or to sell to earn an income.

Acting District Administrator for Aitape Job Tomur also thanked the European Union through the STREIT PNG Programme for this support.

“We must use these boats to catch more fish, transport to market and sell to make more money because there is money in fish that can contribute to grow our economy here,” the Acting District Administrator said.

The support by FAO also includes major investment in developing the capacity of the beneficiaries. As well as the introduction of improved techniques, equipment and facilities for better production, processing and marketing of fish among fishing communities.

Related: https://insidepng.com/funds-for-major-projects-in-west-sepik-province/

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Bougainville Patriotism Day

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Bougainville Day

An evening service will kick off celebrations in Arawa town this afternoon, to commemorate the Bougainville Independence Patriotism Day.

Bougainville’s Minister for Independence Mission Implementation, Ezekiel Massat said 48 years ago on 1st September 1975, the Bougainville Flag was raised for the first time under the Unilateral Declaration for Independence.

“This was 15 days before PNG got it’s Independence, so 1st of September is significant,” said Minister Massat.

Ezekiel Massat (Credit: Autonomous Bougainville Government Official Facebook Page)

The Autonomous Bougainville Government has gazetted the 1st of September as the Bougainville Independence Patriotism Day and will be a public holiday for Bougainville.

“Historically, this day signifies the great oneness and unity that Bougainvilleans showed over forty years ago, for self-determination and this day must be celebrated in honor of our unity for our political aspiration,” said Masatt.

The ABG will be hosting a celebration at the Independence Oval in Arawa Town tomorrow (Friday 1st September 2023).

But an evening dedication service will be held this afternoon.

Constituency Members and their Community Governments will also celebrate the Bougainville Independence Patriotism Day in their respective constituencies across the Island Region.

Meanwhile Bougainvilleans have just observed 22nd anniversary of the Bougainville Peace Agreement yesterday (Wednesday 30th of September). It has been 22 years since the signing of the Peace Agreement in September 2001.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/orders-for-repatriation/

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Dangi Applauded

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Police women serving in varies roles throughout the country are rising up the rank and file, proving their worth in the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

First Constable Celcila Dangi is one of few police women, quietly reaching new heights for police women.

The 33-year-old, acting sargeant is the first and only female homicide officer and holds a team leader position in the NCD and Central Command.

Last week she was applauded for her work and commitment by NCD and Central Commander, Anthony Wagambie Jnr who presented her with a framed news article about herself that was published by the Post Courier.

“This is a small token of appreciation from the Command , take the frame, put it up on the wall at home, so your children will know what mummy does. Why mummy sometimes works late or misses special occasions,” said Wagambie.

Dangi completed her grade twelve in 2010 from Mt. Diamond Adventist Secondary School in Hiri District.

Taking after her father, she enlisted in the police force as a third intake of 2011.

She passed out of the Bomana Police Training College in 2012 and commenced her career as a probationary constable.

In April of 2016, Dangi joined the Homicide Squad at Boroko and worked under the command of Assistant Commissioner Police (ACP) Anthony Wagambie Jnr.

While working as the only female homicide officer, Dangi participated in the PNG-APP attachment Program in Australia.

Women in Police

In 2022, she was amongst three police women who attended the the 59th International Association of Women Police Conference (IAWP) in Niagara Falls,Canada.

Women in Police

Recent: https://insidepng.com/police-to-increase-presence-in-enga-inside-png/

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Sewing Reusable Pads

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Reusable Pads

A community-oriented program is desired to give school aged girls equal opportunity to remain in classes during their menstruation cycle.

In rural Papua New Guinea, access to sanitary pads is limited and many young girls stay away from classes when menstruating.

Under the Papua New Guinea- Australian Partnership Program, women in Hiri District have been sewing reusable menstruation kits for school aged girls.

Reusable Pads

The full kit includes reusable sanitary pads, a wash towel, a pair of underwear, a bath soap, a plastic bag and a carrying bag.

Arau David was one of the first 40 women participants in the Training of Trainers Program and she is restarting the project again after COVID 19 affected productions.

Just recently Ms David has been teaching other women to sew reusable pads and keep the project going.

The reusable sanitary pads were first introduced to women in Sogeri and along Mount Koiari in 2017 under the Kokoda Initiative Program.

In realising the challenges in women’s menstrual health, the partnership between the two governments identified sustainable programs to benefit young girls and women in the long run.

In December of 2020 menstruation kits were donated to students at Bisiatabu and Sogeri Primary Schools under the Seif Meri Mun Program.

Similar programs have been rolled out throughout the country with different development partners and non-governmental organizations taking the lead to promote safer hygiene.

Reusable Pads

At the national level, the Government has integrated Menstrual Health Programs into the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene or WASH Program with a focus on designing facilities and providing a supportive social environment for students.

The government has also put in place policies like; Policy and Standards for WASH in Schools 2018-2023, which includes provisions for menstrual health education for girls and boys, provisions for menstruation-friendly WASH infrastructure and services, and training of teachers and staff to supplement menstrual health education.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/beon-women-undergo-life-skills-training/

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Media workers undergo training ahead of 8th Pacific Tuna Forum

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Media personnel with Tuna training facilitators and NFA members


FOURTEEN media workers from Port Moresby are joining other media workers in Kokopo for a three-day media workshop ahead of the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum to be hosted on the 6th-8th of September in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

The biannual PTF is the main arena where all stakeholders gather gauge the pulse of the tuna industry in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and the broader ‘Blue Pacific Continent’; and to keep abreast of the latest sustainable management initiatives, innovative approaches and transformational endeavors at play or that could be further harnessed for the betterment of the industry.

The media workers training is most focused tuna and the inner workings of fisheries industry and will broaden the knowledge of those in attendance.

It is also an essential step toward understanding the importance of the tuna resource in and around the Pacific Region and will help journalists and reporters better cover the event and write stories about the 8th PTF next week.

Facilitators of the trainings include representatives from the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authorities, Forum Fisheries Agency and Pacific Island Forum Secretariat. Representing the PNG Media Council, President, Neville Choi will be facilitating a session on media ethics around the reporting of tuna resources and story writing in today’s training session.

The media training is hosted by the PNG National Fisheries Authority at the Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort in Kokopo, East New Britain.

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Lae-Kabwum Road Launching Preparation

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Lae Kabwum Road

Kabwum District Administrator, Ezekiel Nigo has called on the locals of Kabwum District to put their political differences aside and focus on building the new road that would link four Districts, Tewai-Siassi, Kabwum, Finschhafen and Naweab to Morobe’s Capital City, Lae.

The Lae-Kabwum Road is a priority project of the Morobe Provincial Government. The road will start from Hobu to Samanzing of Nawaeb District and continues to the Sarawaget Range and over to Indagen Village of Komba LLG in Kabwum District.

A trekker with a GPS Device

According to the Provincial Support Improvement Program Coordinator and Lae-Kabwum Road Committee Secretary, Sebastian Singery, 34 trekkers from Nabak in Nawaeb District, Burum in Finschhafen District, and Indagen in Kabwum District left Lae and walked to Indagen to carry out the feasibility study.

PSIP Coordinator, Sebastian Singery

The trekkers were transported by vehicles to Suguza gap in the Nabak LLG of Nawaeb District. They then took a hike up to Samanzing village, overnight and crossed the Sarawaget Range with GPS devices for the Lae-Kabwum Road.
They were then joined by the Lae-Kabwum Road Committee and Kabwum District Administrator, Ezikiel Nigo last weekend.

Kabwum District Administrator, Ezikiel Nigo

“Transportation into Kabwum is very challenging. The people travel by sea on cargo and passenger boat and small out board motors. Just last month, around 9 to 10 small out-board motor sunk. It’s quite risky. Another mode of transport used is by the third level airline. Currently, there’s only one third level airline company operating and the cost is so high.” said Singery.

The PSIP Coordinator said the Morobe Provincial Government had to charter a chopper to transport the Road Committee to Indagen last weekend because the only third level airline company wasn’t operating.

“We couldn’t make it on the small plane so we had to hire the chopper. And a trip from Lae to Indagen in Kabwum District and back cost us almost K25 thousand.” said Singery.

The Morobe Provincial Government gave K1 million for the preparation of the road project including the launching that would take place in Indagen this Thursday, (31st September 2023). The Provincial Government has allocated another K2 million for the Lae-Kabwum Road, but that is yet to be received.

The Lae-Kabwum Road Project is one of Morobe’s biggest economic corridors and will bring in government services into the rural population of the FISIKA region.

Morobe’s Members of Parliament including Finschhafen MP and National Planning Minister, Renbo Paita, Lae MP, Tewai-Siassi MP and Housing Minister, Kobby Bomareo and Deputy Prime Minister, John Rosso were invited to attend the launching.

Prime Minister, James Marape was also given an invitation to attend following a commitment of K100 million he made in 2019 during the 100 Year Anniversary Celebration of the Lutheran Church.

According to the Lae-Kabwum Road Committee, they are still waiting for the Prime Minister’s commitment.

Meanwhile, the committee called on the Prime Minister to attend and fulfill his commitment.

Related: https://insidepng.com/appeal-on-lae-kabwum-road-project/

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Children Amongst Injured

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Road Accident Kairuku

Five people are critically injured after a nasty road accident at Kaiau, near Agevairu in the Kairuku District.

Three children are amongst the nine people injured in the collision that happened around 3pm this afternoon.

The injured were treated by medical officers at Agevairu Health Center and St. John. Ambulance staff from Port Moresby who were dispatched to the scene in there ambulance units.

Once those seriously injured were in a stablished condition, the team from St. John transported them to Port Moresby General Hospital for further treatment.

The St John Ambulance team include four ambulance officers, three emergency registered nurses and one office staff made who made the three hour journey back to Port Moresby.

The nine people involved in the accident included five adult females, one adult male and three children.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/attorney-general-arrested-and-charged/

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Central Police to Visit Schools

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Central Police Commander Chief Inspector Laimo Asi

Police in Central Province are embarking on proactive measures in the hope to reduce crime rates in public areas.

This approaching includes community awareness, school visits and Highway Patrols.

Newly appointed Central Police Commander, Chief Inspector Laimo Asi is targeting school aged children and urging students to maintain discipline in schools.

“Whilst the teachers at the respective schools are doing their best to educate the students, discipline must be the responsibility of parents”, said Asi.

Since taking up the post, Commander Asi visited Laloki Secondary School and spoke to students about good behavior habits while in school.

Commander Asi, who serves as chairman of the Parents and Citizens of Laloki Secondary School and a Board member of Sogeri School of Excellence said his officers will be monitoring students who chew betel nut and smoke cigarettes while in school uniform.

“I want to see students discipline in all the schools throughout the province. I won’t hesitate to arrest and prosecute ill-disciplined students. We have to take tough actions on students at school so they will behave and produce good results, so we have good elites in the future,” said Asi.

Having just graduated with a Masters In Business Administration (MBA), Commander Asi believes more students from Central Schools can secure spaces in Tertiary institutions.

Asi also wears the hat as Patron of Rigo-Abau and Central Students at the University of Papua New Guinea.

Three of the top performing schools in Central Province include Sogeri School of Excellence, Sacred Heart Secondary in Goilala District and Mt. Diamond Secondary in Hir District.

Central, though the nearest province to National Capital District is considered a tough area to police.

It shares provincial borders with Milne Bay to the East and Gulf to the West and with an increase in drugs being smuggled into NCD via Central, proactive policing can minimize such offences.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/police-to-increase-presence-in-enga-inside-png/

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Ipatas wants New Porgera Development Forum in Enga

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Enga Governor

Enga Governor, Sir Peter Ipatas has asked the Government to continue the consultative process on reopening the New Porgera Mine in Enga Province and not elsewhere.

Ipatas says Porgera mine is in Enga, therefore, there is no point conducting the meetings concerning the mine in other centres.

His statements come after the Mineral Resources Authority announced that further consultative meetings on the New Porgera Mine will start in Alotau, Mine Bay Province, commencing Tuesday (August 29).

Prime Minister James Marape who officially opened the New Porgera Mine Development Forum last Tuesday (August 22) has openly shown his support of Governor Ipatas’s statement.

During the planning stages, all stakeholders involved were supposed to return early next week to resume the consultative process at the new Conference Centre of the Innovative University of Enga (IUE), Irelya Campus, Wabag, Enga Province before the signing of a memorandum of understanding to pave the way for the reopening of the mine.

“If Government authorities had taken the current tribal fight related lawlessness as a reason to take the meeting to Alotau, this must be corrected. There is no widespread lawlessness in the province.

“What we are experiencing currently are a series of tribal conflicts in a parts of Wapenamanda, Kandep and Porgera districts. They are confined to the certain tribes involved and their allies. They do not concern the entire province or the general public including visitors,” Sir Peter said.

He said the province has in the recent past successfully hosted the national senior education officers conference (SEOC), the 29th Enga Cultural Show and the opening of the Porgera Development forum with thousands attending from right across the country.

He said if the National Government insists on taking the meeting to another province, his government will not attend because it is insensitive and irresponsible.

“Our people are in Enga despite our challenges and as their government and leaders, we need to face them and address their issues and challenges.”

“I am not speaking for the other stakeholders. They can attend wherever the consultative talks are being held. But my government will not attend as we view this forum as a significant, once in a lifetime opportunity for my people and our government to negotiate the future of our people and province and it would be netter done in our province.”

The Enga Provincial Government has finalised its Position Paper following the presentation of the State’s proposals last week and is looking to present it to the State team in Wabag this week.

Related: https://insidepng.com/20023-04-03-new-porgera-agreement/

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Police to Increase Presence in Enga

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Acting Commissioner of Police, Dr. Philip Mitna

In response to escalating tensions and isolated instances of violent confrontations in Enga Province, the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) has pledged to remain vigilant and strengthen its presence in the region.

This commitment was declared by Acting Commissioner of Police, Dr. Philip Mitna, who also outlined additional support measures to combat domestic terrorism threats.

Reports have indicated a simmering unrest in recent weeks. The RPNGC has been keenly monitoring the situation and is engaging with local leaders to restore peace and order in the affected areas.

Mitna commended the efforts of political leaders in Enga for calling for calm and directly engaging with constituents in volatile areas.

The RPNGC has launched operations aimed at neutralizing criminal elements and ensuring the rule of law is upheld by all.

“Currently on ground we have 120 soldiers and two mobile squads, MS11 and MS 12. Another two squads are ready for deployment on Standby, should anything happen, said Mitna.

ACP Samson Kua has been assigned to lead specialized efforts against criminal elements in Enga.

“So he (Kua) takes charge of Enga, Hela and Southern Highlands. Every operations that charge of Enga will come under him directly, Mitna said.

The police force is executing search warrants against known agitators and continues to investigate. “Our efforts search warrants have been issued. Some are executed, some are yet to be executed. We are going proactive and reactive. Proactive is basically community policing so as part of our strategy is to deploy Engan based officers from NCD back to their province so they can talk to their own people,” Mitna added.

The RPNGC has confirmed the mobilization of additional mobile squads for deployment to Enga. Long-range recon units and other specialist units from the PNGDF have been inserted to provide up-to-date intelligence on criminal activities.

In a significant development, Acting Commissioner Mitna announced the formation of the Kumul 23 Police Tactical Group (PTG), an elite tactical force combining the best of the police and security forces. The Kumul 23 PTG will provide a precision capability to apprehend domestic terrorist ringleaders, dismantle terrorist cells, and target those who direct these terrorists.

In addition, Mitna announced the formation of the Miok Force, a team of 70 Engan policemen and women based in the National Capital District, who will conduct an extensive awareness campaign throughout the province.

The Miok Force members, familiar with local language and customs, will be divided into six teams covering all six districts of the entire Province.

Mitna urged all Engan elites to join the Miok Force team in the awareness campaign, stating “you are either with us and want peace and law and order to prevail, or you are against us.”

Recent: https://insidepng.com/marape-speaks-against-killings/

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