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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.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/increasing-access-to-electricity-in-arawa/ , https://insidepng.com/new-community-hall-ioro-panguna-district/

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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.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/increasing-access-to-electricity-in-arawa/

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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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Community

Community Watch Initiative

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Doma Youths Association

by Frank Mogona

Youths at June Valley have initiated a neighborhood watch program aimed at creating and maintaining a safe community.

The Doma Youth Association began this program in their Port Moresby community on Monday with the promise to continue the initiative.

Association chairman, Pia Kak told Inside PNG that he wants to create avenues where youths can feel a part of.

“The association will focus on how to create a safe avenue for women and children, and also to continue to provide cleaning services in the community like grass cutting and sweeping,” Kak said.

Doma Youth Association members of June Valley taking part in neighborhood clean-up.

The Doma Youth Association is made up of young men and women who are unemployed and others who are seeking further education opportunities.

He added that had seen enough youths causing problems in their own community, hence that is the reason he came up with the idea of creating an association.

The Doma Youth Association is registered with the Investment Promotion Authorities (IPA) and can be engaged for general services like drainage cleaning and other clean-a-ton programs.

“I want to improve this community by providing the most appropriate action in the community and also to gain trust so the people can engage Doma youth’s in the near future for any general work,” Kak said.

Related: https://insidepng.com/tokarara-youth-embrace-city-watch-project/

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Rugby League

Women’s Rugby Sports Development

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Womens Rugby League

Australia has announced more support for Papua New Guinea’s Women’s rugby league development through an investment of a $9.7 million.

Belinda Gwasamun a rugby player with PNG Orchids said she was privileged to travel and play in Australia and at a World Cup and had more dedicated consistency to the high-performance training through similar development program.

“I am excited to see more female athletes playing rugby league and to have more opportunities and exposure
through the support of our own domestic national competition. This is the way forward for the Orchids to be more competitive at the international level,” said Gwasamun.

PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina signs a document as Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea John Feakes looks on.

PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina said the investment is welcoming for the enhancement Women’s rugby league development in country.

“The last two years have started the phase for long term improvement in the game in PNG. Our female game is in its initial professional competition stage, and we are looking forward to getting it off the ground for the first time,” said Hondina.

The Australian support will see the establishment of a national women’s competition in PNG and support towards a women’s talent identification program.

The partnership expands to building the capacity and credentials of PNG Rugby League coaches, support staff and administrators, benefitting both the women’s and men’s game.

Australian High Commissioner to PNG John Feakes said Australia remains committed to promoting greater inclusion of women and girls in sport.

“Women’s rugby league in PNG has come a long way in a few short years. PNG Orchids’ debut performance in the 2017 World Cup and PNG now establishing a women’s national competition shows that barriers to gender equality are being broken down. I am excited to see where the game goes in PNG, there is so much
untapped potential in this country,” Feakes said.

“The QRL prides itself on being an experienced and responsible steward of the game in Queensland and we’re happy to share our knowledge and expertise with trusted partners,” said Ikin.

QRL Chief Executive officer Ben Ikin said it’s a privilege to partner with the Australian Government, PNGRFL and the PNG Hunters to help support the growth of rugby league in PNG.

L-R QRL CEO Ben Ikin, PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina and Australian High Commissioner to PNG John Feakes.

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News

ADF’s Role in Recent Exercise

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ADF's Role

The Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea has responded to social media users’ questioning a joint exercise between the Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) and the PNG Defence Force’s First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (1RPIR).

In a statement released by Australian Authorities, Australian Defence Advisor to Papua New Guinea, Colonel Travis Gordon said the training in question is a continuation of a long history of cooperation between ADF and PNGDF that stretches back decades.

“1 RAR’s travel to PNG is the first rotation this year of the longstanding Olgeta training series, focused on activities to enhance PNGDF capability and capacity. Planning for this rotation commenced in August 2023,” said Col. Gordon.

Following the announcement of a team from ADF’s 1RAR preparing to travel to Papua New Guinea, many social media users questioned the role of the Australian Army in PNG.

Thus the head of the Australian Defence Force in country says the trainings is part of the longstanding Defence ties between Australia and Papua New Guinea, the ADF regularly deploys Mentor Training Teams to work alongside the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).

“The partnership between the ADF and the PNGDF plays a vital role in the broader relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea,” Col Gordon explained.

These teams deliver training and activities with the PNGDF on a rotational basis, returning to Australia upon completion of their training activities.

The 1 RAR’s deployment to PNG is only for the purpose of participating in the next Mentor Training Team activity.

Related: https://insidepng.com/exercise-pukpuk-concludes-pngdf-lombrum/

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News

100th Anniversary

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The beautiful Yule Island in Central’s Kairuku district is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Lieutenant Léon BOURJADE, a French flying ace in the First World War who died in 1924.

The restored plaque of Lieutenant Léon BOURJADE.

As part of the celebrations, crew members of Auguste Bénébig a French navy vessel based in New Caledonia, anchored on the island and performed a memorial action through the cleaning and restoration of the grave of Lieutenant Léon BOURJADE. Famous for his “acrobatic” landings, his name is still associated with aviation through the expression “landing like Bourjade”.

French Navy vessel Auguste Bénébig at anchor on Yule Island, Kairuku District.

French Ambassador Guillaume Lemoine, European Union Ambassador Jacques Fradin and Central Governor, Rufina Peter were part of the dignitaries to the island.

The commemoration ceremony of Lieutenant Léon BOURJADE comes days after the first official visit of General Yann LATIL, Commander of the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC), to Papua New Guinea. He made a 3-days official visit to Port Moresby at the end of February, where he met officials from Department of Defence and PNGDF to sign a 2024-2025 cooperation plan.

French Ambassador Guillaume Lemoine (right), European Union Ambassador Jacques Fradin (obscured), crew members of Auguste Bénébig and Central Governor Rufina Peter (center) laying wreaths in honour of Lieutenant Léon BOURJADE

The FANC enable France to have permanent military presence in the Pacific Region in order to protect French interests in the region and maintain France’s military partnerships in this area of strategic interest.

With over 1,650 military personnel, the FANC provide regular support for missions involving government action at sea. They have the capacity to intervene in the event of a security or climatic crisis affecting the area. The FANC regularly share their expertise in the field of HADR and maritime security with the security and defence forces of partner countries in the Pacific.

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Education

Scholarships for Geoscience Students

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Nickel 28 support development of professional geoscientists

In efforts to foster the growth of more qualified professional geoscientists in Papua New Guinea, Nickel 28 Capital Corporation, formerly known as the Highlands Pacific is sponsoring two geoscience students at the University of Papua New Guinea.

The announcement was made last month (Thursday, February 22) by Nickel 28 Capital Corporation’s Head of Asia Pacific, Craig Lennon.

“We want to give back to PNG. Having more professional geoscientists is an area that needs more support,” said Lennon during the award presentation.

Shirley Ambang, who was the inaugural recipient of this scholarship when it was first introduced last year (2023) continues her scholarship this year (2024), while Tongia, is a first time recipient of the scholarship.

The scholarship valued at K19,000 per year covers tuition fees, lodging fees, book and living allowances for Ambang and Tongia.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES: Carlos Tongia (Left), and Shirley Ambang (Right), are two of the first N28 Capital Corporation scholarship awardees. They now have a stronger chance of employment in the mining industry with this scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES: Carlos Tongia (Left), and Shirley Ambang (Right), are two of the first N28 Capital Corporation scholarship awardees. They now have a stronger chance of employment in the mining industry with this scholarship.

“This is only our second year for this scholarship. We started last year with the objective of growing to the point that we have an ongoing program with three students each year,” added Lennon.

The tertiary student’s sponsorship package is an initiative of Nickel 28 Capital Corporation carried out in partnership with the Earth Sciences Division in the School of Natural and Physical Sciences at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG).

This support takes much of the school fee burden off of the students and their families.

It also assures resource companies like Nickel 28, that there is and will be a sufficient pool of professional geoscientists to recruit from in the future and gives certainty of employment for scholarship awardees after graduation.

Nickel 28 Capital Corporation is a Toronto-based Company that holds 8.56% joint-venture interest in the world-class Ramu Nickel Cobalt operation in the Madang province.

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News

Neighboring Wards Unite for Peace Amidst Conflict

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Three adjacent wards within the Morobe Patrol Post in Huon Gulf District have come together to call for peace, aiming to quell over three years of internal strife. Representatives from Mayama (Ward 3), Zinamba (Ward 4), and Amoa (Ward 5) recently convened with District Administrator Andrew Namuesh to discuss strategies for reconciliation in a closed-door meeting at the district office.

The primary goal of the meeting was to restore peace and ensure unimpeded movement and service delivery within their communities. Reports shared during the meeting painted a grim picture of the toll the conflict has taken, including casualties, injuries, displacements, and property destruction in Amoa.

The conflict’s origins date back nearly two decades, rooted in a disputed land boundary issue aggravated by settlement encroachments and increased lawlessness, fueled by the growing logging industry in the Local Level Government (LLG) area.

Participants from the three wards unanimously agreed on the urgency of engaging in land mediation, with plans to follow up with a public peace and reconciliation ceremony. Their collective desire for tranquility was emphasized:

“We want peace and normalcy.”

Recent peace initiatives included the deployment of Morobe Water Police two weeks prior and plans announced by Namuesh to conduct comprehensive land and subdivision surveys to accurately delineate boundaries in the conflict-affected wards. Villagers’ cooperation was sought for these endeavors.
Namuesh also revealed intentions to formalize agreements through a Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement during a peace ceremony in the LLG. However, he stressed that the district would not provide financial compensation, highlighting the need for community-led initiatives in resolving issues and fostering peace.

Acknowledging historical neglect, Namuesh underscored the significance of Morobe Patrol Post while calling for a collective shift away from past grievances. He encouraged collective responsibility in elevating Morobe’s stature and reputation.

In response to villagers’ requests, Namuesh noted calls for a permanent police presence and the establishment of a village court system, hinting at potential future developments aimed at enhancing security and governance within the area.

This united effort from neighboring wards in Morobe Patrol Post signifies a crucial step towards peace and stability in the region, demonstrating the power of community collaboration in resolving longstanding conflicts and building a better future for all residents.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/clean-water-for-nasuapum-village-after-40-years/

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News

Upholding Security Amid Transportation Challenges

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Madang Police

In the face of transportation hurdles that have hindered police mobility in Madang, Acting Superintendent Robert Baim has rallied for collaborative efforts between business entities and law enforcement to sustain police presence in the region.

Baim has emphasized the necessity for heightened vigilance and precautionary measures due to the looming threat of opportunistic crimes.
“It’s really affecting our mobility, but with the help of a few business houses and supportive police allies, they have been assisting to at least show police visibility around,” remarked Baim, shedding light on the ongoing challenges confronting law enforcement in the province.

Recognizing the constraints imposed by transportation obstacles, Baim has urged businesses to bolster their security protocols, cautioning against potential exploitation by opportunists. He has underscored the risk of delayed police response to incidents under such circumstances, stressing the imperative of increased vigilance within the community.
“Opportunists might take advantage of the situation and commit acts that police might not respond to promptly,” cautioned Baim, highlighting the significance of proactive measures in mitigating security risks.

Despite the adversities, Baim has reassured the public of the police force’s preparedness to tackle any criminal activities. He has affirmed the unwavering commitment of law enforcement personnel to uphold law and order, while urging cooperation from residents in safeguarding their communities.

The concerted efforts between business establishments and the police epitomize a unified approach towards addressing the security challenges prevalent in Madang. Baim’s proactive stance underscores the pivotal role of community engagement and collective action in ensuring public safety amidst logistical constraints.

Furthermore, the repercussions of fuel rationing have extended to operations at the Jomba police station, where suspects detained in cell blocks are being managed amidst logistical constraints.

Acting Superintendent Robert Baim, the Madang Provincial Police Commander, disclosed that the fuel shortage impacting police mobility has also affected the management of detainees at the Jomba police station. Despite these hurdles, Baim has assured that the police force is diligently working to uphold essential services, including the management of detainees.
“The fuel rationing police are managing at the moment has also impacted operations at the Jomba police station, where suspects detained in cell blocks are being managed,” affirmed Baim, addressing the additional strain imposed by fuel shortages on law enforcement activities.

Baim’s proactive approach and collaboration between stakeholders serve as a beacon of hope in navigating through the challenges posed by transportation constraints, reaffirming the collective commitment to maintaining security and order in Madang.

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