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Central Provincial Land Board Sworn In

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Central Provincial Land board

THE Governor for Central Province, Rufina Peter recently witnessed the swearing-in of the newly appointed board members of the Central Provincial Land Board.

The swearing in of the board members marks a significant milestone in the administration, development and governance of Land in Central Province.

The Central Provincial Land Board is headed by Paul Sai as the Deputy Chairman, with Members, Ruben Kaiulo, Anna Bais, Elliot Mark and John Orea. They were sworn in by Central Provincial Senior Magistrate Alex Kalandi.

The five (5) newly appointed Board members will deliberate and make decisions on state leases application, including other responsibilities pertaining to land in Central Province.

Central Provincial Land Board with Lands Minister John Rosso and Central Governor, Rufina Peter.
Lands Minister, John Rosso speaking to Central Governor, Rufina Peter in the presence of the newly sworn in Central Provincial Land Board.

In congratulating the newly appointed board members, the Governor said Central Province has a lot of land issues that must be addressed.

“The issues that my province faced within the land functions include the common illegal land grabbing, and provincial boundaries between Central province and NCD, and more recently between Gulf and Central province,” the Governor said.

She also challenged the board members to uphold the principles of transparency, impartiality and accountability.

“Your role as members is to ensure land resources are allocated in a fair and equitable manner, protecting the rights of our people, and promoting sustainable land use and practices,” she said.

Also there to witness the swearing in was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Lands and Physical Planning John Rosso, the executive management team from the Department of Lands and Physical Planning, and members of the Central Provincial Executive Council.

Deputy Prime Minister Rosso said: “A land board that can better manage and administer the affairs of land in Central Province is critical to the development of the province.”

Minister Rosso added that a highly technical Lands division in the province is also critical to ensure better framework are in place for the board members to deliberate and make their decisions.

Deputy Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning, Customary Lands, Mr. Lazarus Malesa in his remarks, gave his assurance that the department stands ready to work with the board to address land issues in Central province.

Deputy Secretary Malesa said: “Land Grabbing and other land related issues in central province, is a result of a lack of effective communication between the Department of Lands and Physical Planning, and the Central Provincial Government.

“Going forward, we must work hand in hand to manage customary land and other state land in central province.” Malesa said.

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Community

IOM and USAID deliver rain catchment materials in Highlands

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IOM

THE International Organization for Migration or IOM has delivered rainwater catchment installation materials to the Kumbal Community in Jiwaka province.

These materials were generously funded by the United States Agency for International Development Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID-BHA), and was welcomed by the Kumbal community, located at the border of Simbu and Jiwaka provinces, and home to approximately 10,000 people from six council wards.

With the population in the area, the accessibility of water has been an issue, especially for women, children, and the elderly, which has resulted in the collection of drinking water from the muddy Waghi river and nearby creeks.

IOM’s interventions will alleviate water scarcity, and provide quality water, which is very much needed by these communities.

Jiwaka Provincial Disaster Coordinator, John Kupul, acknowledged USAID’s funding assistance, and thanked IOM for being an active partner working closely with his Jiwaka Provincial Administration to improve the resilience of local communities.

“All thanks to the people of America through USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance for this critical assistance to improve community access to safe drinking water. This has been a need for the people of Kumbal,” said Kambiye Tolak, the Councillor for Kumbal Ward 2.

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News

DWU Rabaul Campus opens a new administration building

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DWU Rabaul Campus opens new administration building

The Divine Word University or DWU Rabaul Campus officially opened a two-story administration building at the Kabaleo Teachers College in Kokopo District on Friday (5 April) 2024.

The building is named after the late Archbishop Karl Hesse, and replaces the old building that was burnt down in 2010.

DWU Rabaul Campus

Speaking at the occasion, DWU Rabaul Campus Vice President, Professor Francis Hombhanje said the national government financed the building at a cost of K2.2 million and had been constructed by Kanda Construction Limited.

“St Mary’s Vunapope School of Nursing is now a department of nursing under the faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences and is no longer school of nursing.

“OLSH Kabaleo Teachers college is now a department of Primary Teachers Education under the faculty of Education and is no longer Kabaleo Teachers college,” said Prof Hombhanje.

The DWU Rabaul Campus consists of two faculties; the faculty of Education and the faculty of
Medicine & Health Sciences and has been developing new infrastructures slowly but steadily.

Delivering the speech for the Minister of Department of Higher Education, Research, Science,
Technology & Sports (DHESRSTS) Don Polye, was Principal Data Analyst Franklyn Kulukal
who said that true power emanates from one’s ability to learn from their mistakes and emerge
stronger and wiser.

“I extend a challenge to this great institution to expand our offerings to encompass Early
Childhood Education and Secondary Education. Also extending into the highest echelons of
academia like Masters and PhDs. I also call on the DWU nursing program to diversify our
programs into specialized branches such as pediatric nursing, critical care nursing, mental
health nursing, community health nursing, obstetric & gynecological nursing and geriatric
nursing,” said Ms. Kulukal.

The expansion will cater for evolving needs in health care and ensure that nurses are fully
equipped and specialized with the necessary skills they need.

She further commended the leadership of Prof Hombhanje for the transformation from ashes
into a magnificent building, adding that the structure stands as a testament of his exemplary
leadership.

Deputy Provincial Member Boniface Gerep said that the DWU Rabaul campus has shown it’s
potential by extending it’s infrastructures as it advances it’s status to be one of the leading
institutions in the province and country.

“The ENB Provincial Government is embarking on improving all our existing secondary schools
to meet the standards,” said Mr. Gerep.

ENB Education Planner Wilson Kairat said that the provincial administration will continue to
support the institution to make sure students are given the best so they can go out and serve
the people.

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Health

18 New HIV Cases Recorded Daily in PNG

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Lukautim Yu Yet Long AIDS - Billboard

An estimated 18 new HIV infections per day (approximately 6500 in 2022) is PNG’s current statistics.  This represents a 131 percent increase since 2010.

Around 800 new HIV infections occur annually among infants born to HIV positive mothers, equivalent to 2 infections per day in 2022.

CSO representatives taking questions from the media.

The total number of people living with the virus stands at 72,000 in 2022 translating to 1% percent prevalence nationally among adults aged 15 – 49. This level is the highest in the past 12 years.  UNAids reports that all 22 provinces recorded HIV infections with most showing an upward trend.

Most new infections result from sexual transmission due to multiple unprotected sexual encounters.

On the occasion of World TB Day, Sunday 24th March 2024,  Civil Society Organizations also called for action in consultation with the government and media to prevent the spread of the virus.

Speaking at media networking event on Wednesday 27th March, organized by Media Development Initiative, a PNG-Australia partnership, UNAids Country Director Maoela Manova said there is a critical need for immediate action to address the HIV epidemic in the country.

18 new HIV cases recorded daily in PNG
UNAIDS Country Director Maoela Manova

While Tuberculosis is preventable, it is closely related to HIV infections thus in PNG, TB remains a major health issue causing nearly a thousand deaths among people living with HIV.

An estimated 44,000 people fell ill with TB in PNG alone in 2022.

In her statement, Mrs Manova said while there is a decline globally in HIV infections, PNG is seeing the opposite.  Globally the number of new infections has dropped by 59 percent from 2.1 million in 2010 to just 1.3 million in 2022, this progress in a testament to decades of knowledge and evidence-based prevention strategies worldwide. 

Jonathan Wala – KPAC Rep

Other key partners in the fight against HIV/Aids are amplifying the messages of awareness on testing and stigma and discrimination and treatment through Antiretroviral Therapy.

Two such groups are Catholic Church Health Services {CCHS} and Key Population Advocacy Consortium PNG [KPAC].  CCHS has over 200 Health Facilities and 1,600 staff spread across 21 provinces. Meanwhile KPAC advocates for human rights of key populations to reduce stigma and discrimination and also advocates for legal and policy reforms as part of its mission.

Graham Apian – CCHS Director Projects
Graham Apian – CCHS Director Projects

These CSOs agree that PNG’s HIV status can be contained through awareness and the treatment of ARV drugs.  A major part of collaborative work by Civil Society Organizations is getting people to know their status through testing.   Antiretroviral Treatment is also free and available in most health centers. 

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News

Sikola Debris to be Cleared

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Sikola, Gumine Road

Story and pictures supplied by ENNIO KUBLE

Steady progress have been made during the Easter period to free-up the mega landslip that covered the length of 100 meters of Sikola section of Gumine road in Simbu province.

Gumine deputy district administrator John Gull said he was happy for the united stand taken by leaders and community to have the Sikola section cleared.

“We have a coordinated effort here with our political leaders, the provincial and district administrations, civil organisations, the Australia and PNG Defence Force joint operation, and the communities,” Gull said.

Supervisors on site, said clearance was made to the epi-center, about 50 meters, where debris as high as 20 meters covered three houses and buried 10 people including a pregnant mother on 12th March.

Earthmoving machines at work, two excavators, a dump truck with a grader is currently deployed to remove the debris at Sikola landslip.

“Once the clearance is made, the 30 kilometers road restoration program will begin at Sikola,” Gull said

Simbu Governor, Noah Kool rallied together K3.3 million and the provincial administration had taken charge of the disaster relief and restoration efforts in the province since March 13.

Gumine MP and Minister for Education Lucas Dawa Dekena, also provided K5 million in support of the restoration program in the district.

He said the relatives of the 10 people buried in the landslide allowed work to progress on the landslip area, and the workmen are working hard to clear up the debris..

Gumine is one of several areas worst affected with the main roadlink cut off to an estimated 50,000 population with another 50,000 people in Salt-Nomane sub-district of Karamui, and Mt Au in Jiwaka province.

Gull said for Gumine the priority is to make the road that is battered, butchered, and pasted with debris along 50 different sections of Gumine road cleared.

Meanwhile, the Civil Engineer to Gumine Works Unit, Ali Junior Kee said work is progressing well to remove the debris from the road.

“We are mobilising equipment from other places to beef our fleet of earthmoving machines to clear up the road starting from Sikola – Wara Sua, to Olegain, and from Gaima ringroad to Onule.

“Hopefully by this week, we will start work into Gumine,” said Junior Kee.

Mr. Ali Junior Kee (third from left) and Mr. John Gull (green shirt, center) surrounded by community leaders at Sikola where the landslip debris removal work is in progress. These men are on site to supervise the work since March 20th when work started.

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International

Graphic Video Surfaces: West Papuan Man tortured and Beaten to Death

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A Papuan activist holds up a separatist 'Morning Star' flag during a rally in 2019. West Papuans have accused the Indonesian military of widespread abuses in the province. Photograph: Dita Alangkara/AP

A disturbing video has emerged on social media, and going viral depicting the brutal torture and eventual death of a West Papuan man at the hands of his captors. The victim, whose crime remains unknown, was brutally beaten while bound and confined within a 44-gallon drum, leaving him with no chance of escape from his tragic fate.

Frank Makanuey, a Papua New Guinean citizen of West Papuan descent, has voiced his outrage and concern over the treatment of indigenous people by Indonesian soldiers.

He highlights that this atrocity and incident is in violation of the New York Agreement, an agreement signed over 69 years ago in secrecy between the US, the Netherlands, and Indonesia, paving the way for the occupation of West Papua in 1963. Makanuey said the original intent and purpose of the New York Agreement is not to exact human rights abuses.

Frank Makanuey being interviewed by Inside PNG News crew
Frank Makanuey

Mr. Makanuey condemns this barbaric act as a crime against humanity, yet laments the world’s indifference towards the atrocities faced by the indigenous population of West Papua in their struggle for freedom.

The footage, showing Indonesian soldiers inhumanely assaulting an unarmed man trapped in a drum, serves as a damning indictment of the ongoing crimes against humanity in the region.

Blurred video shows the barbaric torture of the man by Indonesian soldiers.

Since the implementation of the New York Agreement and Indonesia’s prolonged dominion and occupation over West Papua, countless such atrocities have unfolded, claiming the lives of thousands of indigenous Melanesian individuals.

Mr. Makanuey said further that crimes against humanity have long been outlawed by the United Nations, following the atrocities of World War II.

He calls for an immediate cessation of aggression against the indigenous people of West Papua, asserting that their right to self-determination supersedes Indonesia’s domestic affairs and warrants intervention by the United Nations.

As a respected West Papuan community leader, Mr. Makanuey urges the United Nations General Assembly to take decisive action and grant independence to the Melanesian people of West Papua, in accordance with its Human Rights Charter that was ratified in 1948.

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International

Authorities Investigate How Chinese Drug Suspect Obtained PNG Passport

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PAPUA New Guinea’s Immigration Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, John Rosso, has revealed that the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority office is investigating how Mei Lin, also known as ‘Gigi’, a China-born businesswoman accused of orchestrating a methamphetamine “black flight” in March last year, was able to obtain her PNG citizenship.

This follows the publication of an investigative news article by Inside PNG and partner OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) on the 26th of January this year that revealed Mei Lin appeared to have falsified key parts of her citizenship application.

Mei Lin Arrest
Mei Lin arrested in Brisbane. [[Photo credit: Australian Federal Police]]

Mei Lin, 41, was charged in Brisbane in January by the Australian Federal Police for allegedly helping to facilitate the smuggling of 71.5kg of methamphetamine (or crystal meth) with a street value of over K33million from PNG to Australia last year by light plane; in what police have argued was intended to be the first of a series of smuggling attempts.

According to the PNG Police and the Court, the dangerous drug was packed in over 80 small plastic bags and was transported to Bulolo Airstrip and was transported by air on a black-flight to Australia. Mei Lin has pleaded not guilty, before the Court in Brisbane.

Inside PNG and international partner OCCRP, in January revealed in an investigative report how Lin, a powerful businesswoman in the city of Lae, built a web of ties with prominent PNG citizens. She owns dozens of businesses including KC 2, located at Lae’s 7th Street, where 71.5 Kg of crystal meth was stored and then transported to Bulolo.

The report also revealed that she appeared to obtain PNG citizenship in 2016 by falsely claiming to have attended two elite local schools in the capital city, Port Moresby.

“We understand that the person that was arrested is a PNG citizen, and Immigration is currently investigating the process of how she got her citizenship,” PNG’s Deputy Prime Minister and Immigration Minister, John Rosso, told Inside PNG in Lae last week.

Among other details, Inside PNG and OCCRP’s January investigation revealed that Lin’s 2016 citizenship application included a letter — rife with grammar and spelling errors — purporting to confirm her attendance at Port Moresby Grammar School that school authorities say was signed by a non-existent staff member and labelled the document as fraud.

This follows a joint investigation in June 2023 by Inside PNG Investigative Journalists and OCCRP who visited the schools Mei Lin claimed she attended in Port Moresby when applying for her PNG citizenship. The school Administrations of the two elite schools, Port Moresby Grammar and Port Moresby International confirmed that Mei Lin has never attended these schools, nor graduated from these institutions.

Inside PNG met with then PNG Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau last year and revealed how Mei Lin got her citizenship. Hulahau shockingly told Inside PNG that there would be an inquiry into how she got her citizenship, however, that didn’t happen.

Immigration Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, John Rosso at a press conference speaking about the investigation into allegations against PNG’s former Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau.

Lin’s questionable citizenship application is not her only entanglement in PNG’s immigration system.

Reporting by Inside PNG and International Partner OCCRP and other media has also revealed that companies linked to Lin have benefitted from a controversial Australian-funded program to care for refugees that is now being probed for corruption.

Australian authorities have also alleged that Lin ordered one of her accomplices to pay A$10,000 (US$ 6,546) to a Sydney bank account in the name of PNG’s then-chief migration officer, Stanis Hulahau, in order to obtain a visa to travel to PNG to take part in the drug trafficking scheme. Hulahau resigned in February and has not been charged with any crime.

However, Immigration Minister and Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, told Inside PNG last week that the allegations are serious and investigations are underway by KPMG, to prove the allegations against the then Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau.

“Allegations are allegations until completion of all the necessary investigation and if prosecutions if any, this should be put in place,” said Rosso.

Meanwhile, 15 people have been charged over the March 2023 meth flight. Eight men, including six PNG nationals and two Chinese citizens, are facing trial in PNG. Lin was the seventh person charged in Australia.

An Inside PNG Investigation! ©

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Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Insurance Service Restored

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Insurance Service Restored

Insurance services in the Autonomous Bougainville Region has been restored after more than 30 years through a partnership between the Bougainville Government and Capital Insurance Group.

The re-establishment of this vital services now provides a safeguard mechanism for the establishment of new businesses and expansion of existing ones.

Paved through the Toroama-Nisira Government Bougainville’s vice President and Minister for Commerce, Patrick Nisira said the initiative is desired to restore investor confidence on the island region following the Bougainville conflict.

“Insurance services is a crucial elements of our economic independence journey that we are embarking towards achieving prosperity and self-determination,” Nisira said.

Capital Insurance Group, Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Norton said bringing back an insurance service to Bougainville was their response to the business community that encountered business losses due to natural disasters and human-made causes.

Capital Insurance Group, Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Norton, addressing the public in Buka town.

“This is an important part of our long-term commitment and will drive sustainability and provide the foundation for a gradual roll out of services across Bougainville,” Norton said.

The new branch will be housed in the same location in the existing TISA office in Buka. The services offered include insurance solutions such as business protection, workers’ compensation, motor and general liability to individuals and businesses.

“An important function of a good insurance company is to provide its clients with risk management advise and recommendations. This has an important role in minimizing and preventing accidents, fires, break ins, vehicle crashes and workplace accidents,” Norton said.

ABG Secretary for Department of Commerce, Trade, Industry and Economic Development, Alex Kerangpuna thanked Capital Insurance Group for sharing Bougainville’s aspirations for economic growth and for their commitment to establish their services in Bougainville.

“Our endeavor to bring in insurance services cannot come easily without having an established business partner in the insurance sector that takes up the challenge to invest here,” Kerangpuna said.

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Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Community Hall

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New Community Hall

A new government hall built for community engagements was declared open in Ioro, Panguna District in Bougainville.

This facility is a purpose-built for community meeting spaces with kitchenettes and storage rooms, a disability access ramp, chairs and storage racks, ceiling fans, and a 9,000-litre water tank.

Delivered at a cost of K30 million, it is one of several infrastructures built by the Australian government through the 19 districts in the Autonomous Bougainville Region.

Australian High Commissioner to PNG John Feakes was in Bougainville to witness launch of Australia funded projects.

“These buildings provide meetings spaces for community governments and wards, furthering their efforts to meet their community’s development needs, ” said Feakes.

This community government infrastructure initiative supports Australia’s localisation policy, which prioritises contracting of local Bougainville-based service providers. The project created employment and skills development opportunities in the construction sector for over 200 people across Bougainville.

Minister for Community Government and District Affairs in the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Theonila Roka-Matbob, said the Community Government facilities are designed to support community governments and wards.

She added that the hall now provide a functional space for the elected women and men to work together to perform their leadership and administrative duties and for community meetings and local activities.

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Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Increasing Access to Electricity

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Access Electricity

Residents in Arawa town should start enjoying a more reliable access to electricity supply with the completion of renewable energy upgrades come 2025.

This includes the Autonomous Region of Bougainville’s first commercial-scale solar farm with battery storage.

These upgrades are part of a broader suite of the Australian support for provincial power stations across Papua New Guninea and include plans to upgrade Buka’s power station.

To mark the project’s half-way point, Australian High Commissioner To PNG, John Feakes, was taken on a tour by Autonomous Bougainville Government President, Ishmael Toroama to the power station

Feakes said Australia is committed to improving access to energy in Bougainville and is supporting the ABG’s economic development and energy goals.

“The solar panels installed are already providing power to Arawa. Once fully completed in 2025, this project will further improve power supply for local businesses and enhance many facets of people’s lives, including health and education, and increasing safety and security, especially for women and girls,” said Feakes.

The PGK18.8 million renewable energy upgrades in Arawa are being implemented in two stages.

The first stage is a small solar plant at PNG Power Limited’s (PPL) existing power station that, as of March this year, has begun supplying power in Arawa.

The second stage will deliver a larger solar farm with a battery energy storage system at a new site that PPL acquired in 2023 with assistance from the ABG.

Once completed, the upgrades will decrease running costs for PPL by reducing reliance on expensive diesel fuel and will cut carbon emissions by 1,800 tonnes of CO2e in the first year alone, allowing PPL to supply more reliable power to the people of Arawa.

“Australia looks forward to jointly launching the completed project with the Government of PNG and the ABG in March 2025,” Feakes said.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/new-community-hall-ioro-panguna-district/

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