The Kanosia road in the Malati LLG of Kairuku District in the Central Province of Papua New Guinea is a popular route for participants of the sport of Game Fishing.
It’s the route used by team leads to check on their crew during the tournaments.
With a spike in the number of visitors that enter Kairuku during the Game Fishing season, the local District Administration think it’s best to upgrade the road.
Kanosia road is about two kilometers from the main highway before reaching the jetty.
In a recent trip along the highway to inspect the road, local MP Peter Isoaimo said the road is durable during the dry season but the wet weather brings its own challenges.
“We want visitors passing through for the Game Fishing to access the jetty with ease, rain or shine,” Isoaimo said.
The road is not only frequented by the game fishing teams but also families in Port Moresby who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
This creates an opportunity for villagers along the highway to earn a bit of income from the comforts of their home instead of travelling into the city.
The newly created Kairuku District is prioritizing the upgrading of all feeder roads to allow accessibility.
This year the DDA has committed K1 million for road upgrades.
Local contractors have been given the opportunity to bid for the funding.
TEN students from Unggai-Bena District i Eastern Highlands Province are settling well at China’s Three Gorges University.
The students departed PNG shores at the beginning of this month and will undertake various Undergraduate programs at the University.
This program to pursue education abroad is fully funded by the Unggai Bena District Development Authority.
Costing about K388,000, the district commits to give young Papua New Guineans the opportunity of exposure to study overseas and experience different cultures.
The crop of students included in this program are recent Grade 12 graduates and who met the entry requirements of University.
The District aims to send a maximum of 200 students by 2025 to study abroad.
Director of the Unggai-Bena District Education Scholarship, Dr Jethro Messimato expressed gratitude toward the local MP and Minister for Higher Education, Research Science and Technology, Kinoka Feo for the support.
“Our aim is to provide our young people with exposure and opportunities they may not easily access locally,” Messimato said.
“We facilitate the process by helping students identify scholarships, apply to universities and secure placements based on their academic achievements.”
The District also has a Memorandum of Understanding with India’s Parul University with a similar number of students expected to depart soon under this agreement.
Papua New Guinea was left with three losses and a draw in this years Prime Ministers XIII Challenge.
The Junior Orchids lost to the Australian School girls 14 points to 4, while the Junior Kumuls Managed a draw with the Australian School Boys 22 points each.
The Junior Kumuls took an early lead but with 7 minutes remaining Australia scored three tries back to back to force a draw.
The biggest thumping from Australia came in the Womens match when the Australian Women’s Prime Ministers XIII side had a field day scoring 50 points with the PNG Women left scoreless for the entire match.
PNG Womens PM’s XIII side left scoreless on Sunday. Pics by NRL.
In the main game Papua New Guinea came out early to score two converted tries taking a 12 – 0 lead but were forced to chase down a 42 points lead from Australia. PNG’s errors and discipline led them to lose their early lead only managing 20 points. In the end, the Australian PMs XIII side ended the game winners 42 points to 20. Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape said that the concept was very important for PNG and Australia’s partnership, especially the push by Papua New Guinea to be the 18th team in the National Rugby League (NRL) which has gained much support from the Australian Federal Government.
Prime Minister James Marape promised an even bigger Prime Ministers XIII Challenge during Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence in 2025.
An optimistic Marape added that by 2028 PNG should have a positive answer from the National Rugby League competition in Australia.
“I want to appreciate the Australian Government for their support. We hope to see our own team play in the NRL hopefully in 2028 onwards,” Marape said.
Representing the Government of Australia was Pat Conroy Minister for Defence Industry & Capability Delivery who he is also the Minister for International Development and the Pacific.
Sharing similar views with Marape is also positive about the ongoing discussions for Papua New Guinea to enter the NRL.
He said rugby league was a key factor in uniting the two nations in the Pacific.
Conroy said the spinoff from a successful NRL Bid will bring more development and job opportunities for Papua New Guineans in PNG and in Australia as well.
“Like Prime Minister Marape I am very optimistic we have reached an agreement with the fundamentals, just the final details but I am very confident we are going to get there and nothing will bring our two countries closer together.
“More PNG players in the NRL will be an awesome thing and I think in the years to come a PNG team will rival Penrith for dominating the competition,” Conroy said.
Brendon Nima after a strong showing in the Queensland Host Plus Cup has been chosen for the Papua New Guinea Prime Ministers XIII side.
The Prime Ministers XIII rugby league challenge between Papua New Guinea and Australia will be this Sunday (13/10/24). The the kick off will be at 4pm at the Santos National Football Stadium.
Nima who plays wing says there are many talented backliners in the PNG side and it will be a challenge for him and other players to impress selectors if they want to make the Kumuls side for the Pacific Championships. The team is focused on defense and Nima says they are ready to take on the Australians.
He adds they have a good mix of players in the side and the team is always full of pride to represent Papua New Guinea.
Elsie Albert will be leading the Papua New Guinea Prime Ministers XIII womens side today against Australia.
Albert has been power house in the Women’s National Rugby League Competition in Australia. She is currently playing for the Paramatta Eels women’s team. Elsie will be one of only four women that play in the WNRL in Australia.
Others include Essay Banu and Sareka Mooka who play for the North Queensland Cowboys and Ua Ravu with the Canberra Raiders. There is a handful of players from the Queensland Cup and other Australian based competitions. The rest of the team is made up of women from Papua New Guineas National Women’s Rugby League Competition the Santos Cup. The squad comprises of 22 women.
Elsie Albert as captain of the Women’s Prime Ministers XIII side is confident the team will be up for a win against the Australian side.
“You have to have confidence in the team and I am confident that the team that we have can get the job done for Papua New Guinea.
“Its always a proud moment when we put on the jersey and it will be the same this Sunday and we will be giving our best shot to get the win this Sunday,” Albert said.
Coach Tahnee Norris says the team has jelled well and after a few training sessions together they are looking well prepared for todays match. She said the Prime Minister XIII match will help in her selection for the Orchids side that will take part in the Pacific Championship.
She is eager to see how the women selected from the Santos Cup will perform on Sunday.
“We had a couple of training sessions and the girls have come together.
“There are a few girls that featured well in the Santos cup and have put their hands up for selection in the Prime Ministers 13 side.
“It has given them every opportunity to make that side for the Pacific Championships and I am very keen on seeing how they perform on Sunday,” Norris said.
The Australian Womens Coach Jess Skinner said they are anticipating a tough encounter with the PNG womens side.
She added that some of the women will also be looking to impress the coaches for their chance to make the Australian Jilaroos side for the Pacific Championship as well.
“The games going to be really tough and there is a lot of experience in the Papua New Guinea Prime Ministers 13 team as well. We are looking forward to the match on Sunday it will be really entertaining.
“We have the Pacific Championships and some of the other girls will be joining us then but we have a job to do this weekend,” Skinner said.
The Prime Ministers 13 fixture for 2024 is set for Sunday the 13th of October, the teams from Australia arrived on Friday (11/10/24) in Port Moresby for Sundays matches.
Papua New Guinea still has about 20 spots to fill in the PNG LNG Kumuls Pacific Championships side and will be using the Prime Ministers 13 as the final showcase to decide a team for the National side that will take on the Fiji Bati in Suva on the 19th of October.
Australia has a relatively young side in this year’s PMs 13, but all their players are emerging future Kangaroos in the NRL competition.
Papua New Guinea on the other hand has a bulk of it’s players from the Queensland Cup Competition with additions from the Super League and the Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup.
Australia has always come out on top in the PMs 13 fixtures, always the winners over the past years. PNG has only a draw with Australia in a 24 all scoreline in 2007.
PNGs new Coach Jason Demetriou has shifted focus for the team on defense, adding that they need to work on stopping the Australians from scoring.
“There is a few things we have worked on in and around our defense we want to put some practice into that before we go to Fiji for the Pacific Test,” Demetriou said
Demetriou has picked a team that is dynamic and can score points, with a couple of breakout stars in the Queensland Cup such as try scoring sensation Dudley Dotoi of the Townsville Blackhawks.
“Like I told the boys we will get tested by a quality side from Australia, I know we can score points but we will have to work on our defense.” Demetriou added.
Australian PMs 13 Coach Brad Fittler says the opportunity to represent their country is the highlight for most of the players in his camp, most of the players are just starting out their careers in the NRL.
“The one thing I have noticed picking this teams is the immense talent and potential they have, It is a long process to pick a side and the NRL season is a long season, but the players show a lot of enthusiasm and they will be a great team to challenge the PNG Prime Ministers 13,” Fittler said.
He added that the players are excited for the match. Fittler has encouraged his team to take the match as a stepping stone towards a Kangaroos jersey.
“I think anytime these players get a chance to get selected and improve, they get the chance to wear the Australian Jersey and play along side some of their idols like Damian Cook. I think its very important to them.
“A lot of these players are at the start of their careers and let alone representative careers. This is a stepping stone to hopefully be the team that are playing in the Pacific Championships in the future. It’s up to the players to see this as the challenge and stepping stone,” Fittler adds.
After the PMs 13 clash, the focus for Jason Demetriou will shift to the Kumuls side, in preparation for the Pacific Championships.
Only 10 players will leave early for Fiji while the rest of the team will be made up of players from the Prime Ministers 13.
“Every player that goes out on Sunday will have the opportunity to present themselves and put their name forward for the Pacific Championships.
“Its such a strong feeling to give the guys the opportunity to put on the jumper to represent their country. There is so much emotion from some of the guys that will be playing in this game on Sunday, it is a privilege to present that opportunity to them,” Demetriou said.
In his efforts to ensure that every citizen has access to quality education, Prime Minister James Marape, encouraged and directed the education ministries to focus not only on public schools, but also on private education providers.
He said with the growing population and increasing demand for education, there is a huge potential for private education providers to thrive in our country.
“By giving attention to these institutions, the government can facilitate their growth and provide more opportunities for students to receive a well-rounded education.
Marape said he recognizes the importance of education for the progress of Papua New Guinea and adds that his emphasis on private education providers demonstrates his commitment to creating a strong and diverse education system for all.
On a related note, PM James Marape also said he would like to ease the financial burden of parents who send their children to private schools.
Ramhaga Adventist Primary School is situated in the Huhu Local Level Government of the Alotau District, has received assistance in food and toiletries to the tune of K10,000 from the local district.
These items were presented to the school by the local MP on Monday (7 October), Isi Henry Leonard after a formal request was sent to the district office by the school.
The school, an Adventist Church-run institution comes under Northern and Milne Bay Mission.
The school in recent times has been challenged with insufficient supply of food for their boarding students.
With many students from Samarai-Murua enrolled there, the District had to chip in.
Member for Alotau, Ricky Morris also assisted the school with food supplies, however, that supply has since been depleted.
The school has planted its own garden food but the food is not ready for harvest.
Leonard said despite the school not being under his jurisdiction, it was only right for him to assist because of Samarai-Murua students and that the end of the year exams is underway for Grade 10s’.
“I saw the reports and the requests coming in and the need to support the school. The end of the year is critical as students must sit for their examinations.”
The Samarai – Murua MP also expressed his gratitude to the Member for Alotau Open for his support to the school.
Ramhaga Adventist Primary School Board Member and local mission representative Mr. Lester Toukmai thanked the Member and his team for responding to their calls for assistance.
He says these supplies are enough to take them through to the end of the academic year.
Among the food supplies, the school also requested for two drums of petrol and zoom. The district presented them a total of four drums.
The Minister for Justice and the Attorney General Pila Niningi has acknowledged the work of the Land Commission of Papua New Guinea for its ongoing research on colonial land acquisition at the Bundesarchiv or Federal Archives in Berlin.
This research is a crucial step in addressing the land ownership related historical injustices and will guide future policies to protect the rights of our citizens.
The Minister in a statement says this initiative is an important step towards reconciling our colonial past.
“By thoroughly examining the historical records, we can better advocate for the rights of our citizens and inform our policies to support rightful land ownership.”
The Minister highlighted that the upcoming diplomatic meetings the Land’s Commission will have in Berlin including a scheduled discussion with the Minister of State assisting the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, Katya Keul, is very significant because it will provide a platform to strengthen bilateral ties and explore potential support for the Commission’s work.
Minister Niningi also highlighted the potential for expanding research opportunities at additional archives such as the Geheimes staatsarchiv, the Political Archive of the Foreign Ministry and the Church Archive which will broaden our understanding of this complex history.
“Our goal is to provide comprehensive data that can inform our legislative reforms and empower our communities,” he says.
The Minister went on to thank the Marape -Rosso Government, the German Federal Foreign Office and other diplomatic partners who also came onboard to support the Land’s Commission in its effort to retrieve Papua New Guinea’s colonial land acquisition records from Germany.
He further expressed his gratitude to the commission for their dedication and professionalism in this critical undertaking.
The Minister ussures the public that updates will be provided as the research progresses
The Land’s Commission team, led by Chief Commissioner Molean Kilepak has made remarkable progress analyzing over 25,000 slides from various micro flims, relating to German – New Guinea.
The recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the USAID PNG Sustainable Landscape Program and the Department of Lands and Physical Planning marks a significant step in promoting sustainable land management in Papua New Guinea.
The agreement signing on Wednesday (09/10/24), builds upon previous agreements with organizations such as the European Union and JICA, reflecting a robust international commitment to environmental stewardship.
Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning, Mr. Benjamin Samson, emphasized the importance of a bottom-up approach in implementing the national sustainable land policy, which aims to integrate land use planning at the district and provincial levels.
This initiative not only seeks to enhance the sustainable use of the country’s rich natural resources but also aims to stimulate economic growth and improve livelihoods.
David Sean Burt, the Energy Environment Resilience Office Director, highlighted the U.S. commitment to fostering conservation and empowering women as decision-makers in this process.
By aligning efforts across various sectors, this agreement promises to advance sustainable practices in agriculture, forestry, and land use, ultimately contributing to the preservation of ecosystems vital for climate resilience.
The collaboration underscores a shared vision of sustainable development that benefits both the environment and local communities.
