Author

Inside PNG

Browsing
News

80th Anniversary Landing at Nadzab

By

ON Saturday, 02nd December 2023, Nadzab Airport in Lae came to a standstill when fifteen Australian Army personnel conducted a parachute demonstration from a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A Globalmaster aircraft over the Nadzab Airport, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Landing at Nadzab; an Allied operation during World War Two.

Two C-17A aircrafts are currently flying in the Papua New Guinean airspace as part of Exercise Global Dexterity 23-2.

This exercise will involve up to three C-17A aircrafts from the RAAF, the United States Air Force, and the Royal Air Force.

The Australian Defense Force (ADF) acknowledges and appreciates the support of the PNG Government and PNG Defence Force and the wider community in allowing the RAAF to test their skills in one of the world’s most complex flying environments.

The training achieved in PNG during Exercise Global Dexterity 23-2 ensures that Australia and its allies can deliver humanitarian assistance anywhere in the Indo-Pacific.

Australian Defence Advisor to PNG, Colonel Travis Gordon, said the Exercise will predominantly take place in Australia, however, will include two missions to PNG.

In addition to the landing at Nadzab demonstration that occurred over the weekend, the three aircrafts will conduct low-level flight training in the Central Highlands today.

The aircrafts will fly through valleys traveling east from the vicinity of Telefomin towards Mt. Hagen and Chimbu before turning north towards Madang; and will eventually land at Momote airport on Manus Island.

The C-17A aircraft will then be loaded with ADF vehicles and equipment used in Exercise Puk Puk for their return flight to Australia.

“During Exercise Puk Puk, the ADF worked closely with the PNG Defence Force Engineers on partnership and capacity building exercises, including refurbishment of facilities and accommodation, drainage, and road repair on Manus Island,” said Colonel Gordon.

PNG Defence Force personnel will integrate into Exercise Global Dexterity 23-2 by supporting ADF personnel in preparing the clearance zone at Nadzab and help load and secure equipment being extracted from Momote.

“This cooperation between our forces builds on our longstanding Defence partnership and enhances our ability to support the PNGDF on future peacekeeping and humanitarian and disaster response operations,” said Colonel Gordon.

Keep Reading
By
News

Oro Supports Trustee of PNG

By

NORTHERN Governor, Gary Juffa is keen to have matters of Land Settlement Scheme (LSS) resolved with his support to the office of Public Trustee of PNG in Popondetta.

Juffa’s assurance to the officer of Public Trustee, David Nohoro was accompanied with keys to a Toyota Landcruiser this week in Popondetta.

Nohoro says there is a little over 1000 outstanding cases relating to next of kin accurate reissuance of estates of state including land, houses and plantations that have remained unattended since pre-independence.

“I am humbled that Gary Juffa has finally recognized our struggle and this vehicle accelerates our effort to adequately attend to pressing extension work in the field.

“We are an instrumental institution that has been overlooked by successive governments and if you study a lot of our law and order and or ethnic clashes – most are related to wrongful ownership to estates of state, especially land,” said Nohoro.

Nohoro further stated that the office function was decentralized in 2014 and the Oro provincial administration had taken full operation of its function. However, to date it has been operating on a recurrent budget of K10,000 annually.

Nohoro added that Governor Juffa has indicated to provide further funding support through his office starting next year.

Keep Reading
By
International

PM Marape in U.S for APEC 2023

By

PAPUA New Guinea’s Prime Minister, James Marape is scheduled to meet with U.S Secretary of State, Antony Blinken this Thursday while attending the APEC 2023 Leader’s Summit.

Marape arrived in San Francisco at 4.45pm local time, with Climate Change Mitigation Issues, increased trade and commerce and security for the Pacific as three top issues he plans to speak about.

Prime Minister James Marape Arrives in San Francisco.

“APEC is the biggest block that PNG belongs to, and we value the link and opportunities that this forum provides for us. PNG is fortunate to have developed strong bilateral relationships with nearly half of these economies,” Marape said.

He will join 20 World Leaders of APEC economies in high-level discussions that have been preluded by senior government officials and ministers’ meetings on 11 – 13 November.

Under the theme, Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All, the 2023 Summit is desired to address economic-related issues like Sustainability, Digitalization, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Trade Facilitation, Energy Security, and Health.

Marape said PNG’s participation at the series of senior officials and minister’s meetings is important because it gives PNG the opportunity to discuss with economies and potential investors.

At the close of the Summit this Friday, the World Leaders should culminate in the adoption of an Outcome Document.

While in the US, Marape is expected to hold private sector meetings with the U.S Chamber of Commerce, Renew West, Source Global, ExxonMobil and International Development Finance Corporation.

APEC economies include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America, and Vietnam.

Keep Reading
By
Health

Optical Eye Screening

By

by Frank Mogona

Kerowagi, SIMBU – Hundreds of people with disabilities are gathering at Kerowagi’s Mingende Station to seek eye-care and other specialist services.

This follows an outreach program by the Callan services targeting people with special needs in Simbu Province.

Optical eye checks in Simbu.

Callan services is facilitated by the locals in Mingende in partnership with donor partners from the Christopher Blind Mission in New Zealand and serves the six districts of Simbu province which are, Kerowagi, Kundiawa-Gembogl, SinaSina-Yonggomugl, Chuave, Karimui-Nomane and Gumine.

A former teacher from Eastern Highlands said Callan is doing a very important outreach that is reaching those in the rural communities.

He added that if they travel to Port Moresby for an eye check or eye cleaning, it will be too expensive for many taking into account accommodation, airplane fares and hospital fees.

Keep Reading
By
Crime

Police directed to track down man in viral video

By
Police directed to track down man in viral video

Police in NCD have been directed to identify a man who was seen in a video circulating on social media poorly dressed in a police uniform and carelessly carrying a weapon around Downtown Port Moresby.

NCD and Central Police Commander, Anthony Wagambie Jnr, who gave the directive said the actions of this man whether or not he is a police officer is a total disgrace to hard-working members of the RPNGC.

“This is unprofessional and unbecoming. I have directed the Metropolitan Superintendent and his officers to find out who this person is and have him dealt with if he in fact is a serving member of the Constabulary.

Wagambie said when he first took up the position as Divisional Commander NCD/Central, he made it a point in his first parade that police would have no room for ill disciplined , unethical and unprofessional behavior from serving members.

“I also said I will make it my business to get rid of criminals in police uniform,” Wagambie stated in his social media post.

Since then the NCD Command made significant improvement, with quick attendance to public complaints, instilling command and control, and general operations. There is still room for improvement.

Wagambi said however, such actions by individuals become a hindrance to progress.

“I am seeking assistance from members of the public who may have witnessed this incident to make contact with us and assist us to identify this man. Let us help to make the Constabulary better by weeding out such.

There is no room for “Raskol , Mafia or gangster Police!”. We will get rid of them like others who have been previously dealt with, “ Wagambie said.

Keep Reading
By
Environment

ACT NOW! reveals evidence of illegal logging in ENB

By
ACT NOW! reveals evidence of more illegal logging in new case study

ACT NOW! has released another case study report that reveals more illegal logging under the pretext of agriculture development.

This new report titled “A New Forest Grab” focuses on the Mengen agriculture project in East New Britain Province.

ACT NOW! says the report reveals how a Malaysian owned logging company, KK Connections, has used highly suspicious claims that will establish a forest plantation and agriculture projects to obtain a Forest Clearing Authority (FCA), which it is now using as cover to export thousands of cubic meters of round logs.

An FCA is only supposed to be used to allow the clearing of small, discrete areas of forest for agriculture or other land use changes, but satellite images analyzed by ACT NOW reveal the logging company in the Mengen area is roaming over a large area, selectively felling and extracting valuable timber with no forest clearance or agriculture planting.

The second report follows its first report, Ten Years Without a Crop, published last month in conjunction with Jubilee Australia.

The first report according to ACT NOW! revealed how another Malaysian-owned logging company, Global Elite Limited who has already sold US$31 million (115 million kina) worth of round logs from the Wammy FCA in West Sepik Province, but has not established promised palm oil or rubber plantations.

ACT NOW!’s Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago said to make matters worse, both reports highlight how the FCA logging operations have been approved by the PNG Forest Authority without the informed consent of a significant proportion of customary landowners.

He said just last week, Prime Minister Marape again reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the protection and sustainable management of our forest resources, yet the PNG Forest Authority is continuing to allow illegal logging across the entire country.

ACT NOW! Is calling on the PNG Forest Authority to cancel the Forest Clearing Authorities for both the Mengen and Wammy projects and to impose a moratorium on logging in all FCA areas.

In total there are 24 active FCA logging operations across nine Provinces which cover an average area of 61,849 hectares, the equivalent of more than 11,000 rugby fields.

Eddie Tanago, said: “FCAs are routinely being used as a loophole to authorize the theft of PNG’s forests. We call on the National Forest Board and PNG Forest Authority to extend the current moratorium on new FCAs, suspend logging in all existing FCAs and conduct a comprehensive public review of the projects”.

ACT NOW says it is also calling on the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Fraud squad to open investigations into these illegal logging operations as they are continuing under the supervision of Forest Authority officers.

Keep Reading
By
News

Do not work in isolation – disaster boss Mana urges provincial coordinators

By
Provincial Disaster Coordinators urged not to work in isolation

THE Acting Director of the National Disaster Centre , Lusete Mana, has urged provincial disaster coordinators not to work in isolation but to keep in constant communication with their provincial administrators and the National Centre on issues related to disaster, emergency and imminent droughts.

Mr Mana made the call last Friday at the closing of a weeklong provincial disaster coordinators conference in Port Moresby at the Gateway Hotel.

He said two key issues raised in the recent and most conferences are financial and manpower constraints.

Mr Mana said the two same issues are always raised during conferences however, solutions must be found to address these issues.

“ The challenge is on us to send situation reports and keep in constant communication with our provincial administrators.

“ We cannot work in isolation – we must have good communication with our provincial administrators, give them updates and reports to receive a good budgetary support, Mr Mana said.

“ The roaming days are over. Now it is time for real business. We will not waste time. We have to go back and set our targets right,” Mr Mana said.

He thanked the UNDP for their support in assisting the Centre in hosting the conference.

Former Acting Director for NDC, Martin Mose said the recent conference was the best one he ever he had attended and the Chief Secretary for AROB Esther Usurup described the conference as a ‘fantastic time of learning’.

Esther Usurup, AROB Chief Secretary
Esther Usurup, AROB Chief Secretary.

Ms Usurup said provincial disaster coordinators must have a military mindset so they can effectively manage disasters in their provinces.

The National Disaster Centre Office formerly came under the office of Provincial and Local Level Governments but now is part of the Defence Department.

Twenty two Provincial Disaster Coordinators attended the weeklong conference with the objective of discussing how they could strengthen their local capacities to disaster risk reduction in line with the Government’s goal to ‘Leave No One Behind’.

All Provincial Coordinators gave thorough updates.

An update of the climate outlook and drought condition was also distributed at the conference in a report – PNG Drought Response and Recovery Plan 2023 to 2024 .

The National Disaster Corporate Plan 2023- 2024 , was also distributed to the provincial coordinators.

The NMSA Captain Krzyszt (Kris) Orlowski led discussions on important issues of response capabilities and preparedness to potential disasters. Issues of risk and hazard mapping, disaster data based and information system too were discussed.

Story by: Harlyne Joku

Keep Reading
By
News

Exercise Pukpuk Concludes

By
Exercise Pukpuk

Exercise Pukpuk was conducted at the PNGDF Lombrum Naval Base, in Manus. Concluding with the completion of a three in one classroom, road and electric works done at houses at the naval base.

Conducted for the first time at Lombrum Naval Base, the annual engineering exercise brought together PNG Defence Force members from the Engineering Battalion and the Australian Defence Force; Townsville 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment and members of the British Army.

Supplied Picture

PNGDF Commanding Officer for Lombrum, Buni Dorea spoke highly of the joint efforts by all three defence forces.

“Most of the works being completed are repairs and maintenance around the school and married quarters. And there are lots things to be done here. To have Australians here, especially on [Exercise] Pukpuk, has grown the relationship and made it stronger. This is the way forward to have a good partnership,” said Commander Dorea said.

Australian Army Captain Helena Sorial described the joint exercise as a rewarding experience.

“The best part is working with the PNGDF, in their country, experiencing their culture, and doing real-time tasks. When you go overseas on holidays you often skim the surface of understanding a place and its people. But we get to interact, see how the people live, how they work, and complete the work with them, ” said Captain Sorial.

Exercise Pukpuk

The repair works include, tradies repaired stairs, decking, roads, and made-safe electric wires in the Married Quarters. And also a renovated classroom for children of Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) members posted to the base.

CO Dorea said the joint exercise created the solution for school children to not be moving around during the rainy season and children won’t be disturbed from their lessons.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/pacific-partnership-in-moem/

Keep Reading
By
News

Disaster Preparedness

By
Disaster Preparedness

Communities in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and nine other provinces in Papua New Guinea will undergoing trainings or activities aimed at building resilience and improving government systems when responding to natural disasters.

This is part of the a renewed partnership between International Office of Migration (IOM) and United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID).

Through this partnership a $2.5 USD million was injected into IOM to facilitate the project called, Addressing the Drivers and Consequences of Disaster Displacement Through Enhancing Resilience in Papua New Guinea.

This project is aimed at forming a closer working relationship between sub-national and local disaster responses though timely information management with local authorities in disaster prone communities.

IOM will be leading discussions on how to maintain preparedness and how to respond to disasters that is in line with the PNG National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework, the Provincial Disaster Risk Management Strategies and Standard Operating Procedures.

This is a collective approach and IOM will be working with government, civil society, faith-based organizations, community services organizations, and partners in disaster risk reduction and management to provide quality, timely and sensitive protection and assistance.

Since opening up a USAID Country Representative Office in Papua New Guinea, more humanitarian assistance work as been coordinated by IOM with support from the USAID Country Office.

Keep Reading
By
Agriculture

Inspection Trip

By
China Engineers

PORT MORESBY:

A technical team from the China Machinery Engineering Corporation or CMEC arrived in Port Moresby on Sunday for a week-long inspection trip.

From the 5th to the 10th of November, they will inspect all ranches and abattoirs owned by PNG’s state-owned livestock company, Livestock Development Corporation (LDC).

The CMEC team is sent from their headquarters in Beijing, China.

The visit follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed between LDC and CMEC earlier this year as a company to company arrangement that was sanctioned by former Agriculture Minister John Simon.

Under this MOU CMEC will inspect all ranges and abattoirs in PNG and design and construct several state of the art abattoir facilities in designated sites, in line with the PNG Government’s downstream processing and food security policies.

The inspection started on Sunday afternoon at Tiaba, abattoir, 12mile, just outside the Port Moresby city.

Before inspecting the abattoir, LDC Managing Director Terry Koim took the team around the 35 hectares land to show them the potential of production if the abattoir is revived.

The engineers were amazed with the amount of land, saying with an abundance of free land, PNG has the potential to be a global exporter of cattle and China being a major beef consumer, can be it’s biggest client.

Apart from Tiaba, the Chinese delegation will also visit LDC establishments in Launakalana in Central Province, Wariman and Urimo in East Sepik, Sagalau in Madang and Baiya in Western Highlands Province.

As part of the MOU, CMEC with its vast experience in engineering design and construction of reliable power projects in well over a 100 different countries, will further assist LDC with renewable energy generation to promote commercial agriculture.

Carrying on from where the former Minister left off, Minister for Livestock Hon. Seki Agisa acknowledged Prime Minister James Marape’s visit to China last month, affirming the need for CMECs visit.

CMEC is one of China’s reputable companies entrusted to roll out vital infrastructure projects in more than 100 countries under the China “One Belt, One Road” program.

Keep Reading
By
Pin It