Nineteen officials from government and non-government organizations (NGOs) were awarded certificates today for actively participating in a six weeklong online Dedicated Mentoring Program (DMP) held from April – June 2023. The DMP aimed to train government officials across different sectors on the development of project concept notes and funding proposals to access international climate finance through the Green Climate Fund Mechanism to fund Papua New Guinea’s climate actions.
The participants also participated in a five weeklong Green Growth Fellowship Program (GGFP) held from May – June 2023. The GGFP aimed at providing support to Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) and relevant national and provincial government staff in providing green growth policy advisory support, including low-carbon growth and sustainable development advice.
Acting Managing Director of CCDA William Lakain congratulated the participants and described both programs as critical for broadening their knowledge and skills in developing climate finance projects, and green growth policy interventions towards a low carbon growth in Papua New Guinea.
“These two programs are very important and should be supported into the future as it will greatly improve the knowledge and skills of government officials on key areas such as developing project concept notes and providing policy advisory support on low carbon growth and sustainable development”, said Mr. Lakain.
The participants were also the first to receive their certificates under a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Climate Change and Development Authority with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the three Universities; the University of PNG (UPNG), University of Technology and the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE) to run the programs.
DFAT Australia was represented at the ceremony by Mr Nic Jonsson, the Counsellor Economics at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby. Mr Jonsson said Australia was very proud to fund the DMP and GGFP knowing the value it added will help build the capacity of the Government of PNG and NGOs to access international climate finance and render quality climate change policy advice.
Ms. Priscilla Pep, one of the participants expressed that these two programs are very important because currently, workplaces are becoming more competitive as new ideas or skills are introduced.
“These programs have helped us upscaled our knowledge in building and managing projects at different scales be it private or public sectors”, said Ms. Pep.
The Pacific Leatherback turtle, an awe-inspiring species, now faces critical endangerment due to numerous factors, including industrial fishing, nestling and egg harvesting, and water pollution. Despite these challenges, leatherback turtles hold immense cultural significance for indigenous communities in Papua New Guinea.
Villages such as Karkum, Tokain in Sumkar, and Mur, Yamai, and Male in the Raicoast region of Madang Province, have a rich heritage of legends, songs, dances, and rituals associated with sea turtles. These communities have a profound connection with these gentle giants, reflecting their historical ties and traditional practices.
Indigenous lore celebrates the leatherback turtle’s influence, evident in traditions like the Dalal song, which imitates the turtles’ movements during nesting, symbolizing the deep bond between the communities and these majestic creatures. For instance, the Dawang clan of Mur traces its origins to the sacred leatherback turtle, believing they can catch and utilize them as food or currency through sacred rituals. Karkum’s Legend, a captivating tale of transformation, highlights the cultural significance of leatherback turtles by narrating the tale of a woman who morphs into a turtle and embarks on a journey of resilience.
The population of Pacific Leatherback turtles has dramatically declined by over 90% in just two decades, primarily due to industrial fishing, nestling harvesting, water pollution, and plastic accumulation in the ocean.
Additional factors, including chemical use in agriculture, accidental entanglement in fishing gear, and predation by dogs and feral pigs, have contributed to the irreversible decline of other nesting species like green turtles, hawksbill, and loggerhead varieties.
Preservation efforts should focus on safeguarding the areas where leatherbacks nest, forage, and migrate.
Papua New Guinea’s Huon coast, near the industrial city of Lae in Morobe province, along with sporadic sites in Madang and islands such as New Britain and Bougainville, have been identified as critical nesting sites. To prevent leatherback turtles from the brink of extinction, it is crucial to recognize their vital role in the lives and traditions of indigenous communities and work collectively to ensure their conservation.
The Sea Turtles Restoration Project: Wenceslaus Magun, an ardent advocate for environmental protection in the Western Pacific, has dedicated his life to educating Papua New Guineans, particularly in Madang and across the country, about preserving endangered species like the leatherback turtle.
Collaborating with the Turtle Island Restoration Network, Magun has spearheaded the Sea Turtles Restoration Project in Karkum village. This project aims to protect endangered sea turtles, preserve cultural heritage, safeguard marine habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity, restore food sources, stimulate alternative economic opportunities, and promote integral human development.
The primary objective of the Sea Turtles Restoration Project is to create a conducive environment for marine and near-shore resource management plans through the participation of the resource owners.
By empowering indigenous communities in Papua New Guinea, the project aims to preserve their environment, benefitting both the endangered species like leatherback turtles and the people who rely on them for sustenance. Recognizing the importance of preserving cultural practices, the project seeks sustainable solutions that harmonize community needs with environmental protection.
Through the Sea Turtles Restoration Project, Magun and his team strive to raise awareness about preserving endangered species and their habitats while fostering alternative sources of income for local communities.
Group posing with large leatherback turtle. (Picture courtesy of Wenceslaus Magun)
By adopting a holistic approach to conservation, the project aims to create a sustainable future, empowering communities in Papua New Guinea to take charge of their environmental welfare.
To ensure the project’s long-term success, Mr. Magun collaborated with the Turtle Island Restoration Network to establish the local NGO, Mas Kagin Tapani (MAKATA) association, which sustains the Sea Turtle Restoration Project.
On November 17, 2008, three representatives from each of the four clans in Karkum village signed a conservation deed, granting them greater control and power over their resources. The deed preserves customary practices and enables the villagers to become direct custodians and stewards of their resources. This landmark event empowers them to assert their customary rights, respond to threats, assist in land and sea management, identify crucial protection areas, and preserve and safeguard their traditional knowledge.
Protecting the leatherback turtles of Papua New Guinea requires a concerted effort to balance environmental conservation with the cultural significance bestowed upon these majestic creatures. By acknowledging the integral role of leatherback turtles in the lives and traditions of indigenous communities, we can work together to ensure their preservation. Through initiatives like the Sea Turtles Restoration Project and the dedication of advocates like Wenceslaus Magun, Papua New Guineans are striving to create a sustainable future that respects both their cultural heritage and the delicate ecosystems that support these endangered species.
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Reporting for this story was supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network
Coca-Cola PNG has rolled out a new program to decrease the amount of plastic waste in and around the environment and encourage the collection and recycling of PET beverage bottles.
The program entails the collection of coke and other soft drink bottles for an incentive.
Tim Solly, the Commercial Director for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PNG said, as a beverage manufacturer, it is their responsibility to have a long-term commitment to sustainability in regards to packaging.
“Packaging waste is undoubtedly a major challenge, and it’s also a solvable one if we take action”.
This collaborative exercise between CCEP PNG, Coca-Cola PNG and Branis Recycling Limited aims to prevent plastic bottle waste from going into landfill, waterways and the environment in general.
Members of the public will be crucial in contributing to the program by collecting PET plastic beverage bottles and taking them to Branis collection centres at Ahuia Street, Gordons; Spondias Street, Hohola; Movivina Street, Gerehu, Stage 6; Gordons Market and Badili, along Hurbert Murray Highway.
There, the bottles will be weighed and the consumer will be paid one kina per kilo depending on the number of plastic bottles brought in.
To help the recycling exercise of plastic bottles, Coca-Cola PNG has purchased two PET shredders to pre-process the PET bottles into flake, which is a more cost-effective material to ship offshore; prior to this, all PET beverage bottles were baled before being shipped offshore.
ACTNOW! an advocacy group in Papua New Guinea has recently launched a website called the “DDA Watch”.
The website is designed to be an information hub for district developments in Papua New Guinea, targeting to promote transparency with the use of the District Services Improvement Program funds.
The website has gained massive interest from diplomatic missions, other non-governmental organizations and the general public who are concerned about developments in their districts.
The launch itself saw attendants from the PNG Anti-Corruption Movement for Change, Catholic Professionals, Independent Commission Against Corruption, US Aid, ABC’s Media Development Initiative and the Media Council of Papua New Guinea.
They all shared similar views that such a website is timely as the Government increases DSIP funding from K10 million to K20million per year.
Other supporters sent messages via the DDA website itself seeking to find out more and how they can contribute in supplying information about developments in their respective Districts.
ACTNOW Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago stressed the importance of social auditing by the public as a crucial component of the website.
The DDA watch website has a landing page for each of the 94 District Development Authorities in the country and allows the public to upload pictures of DSIP funded projects in the district as well as comment on whether there is development in their districts or not.
District Development Authorities are encouraged to utilize the website in sharing their 5-year district development plans and other necessary auditing reports so that their people are aware of how the DSIP funds are being spent.
The public can also rank their DDA based on key documents such as the 5 year development plans, annual budgets, acquittal reports, Inspection reports and audit reports.
Passengers of Air Niugini who have been bumped off their flights and provided with hotel accommodations are now facing another challenge; the hotel partnered with the airline, the Crown Hotel has reportedly turned them away due to fully booked rooms.
According to reports, after a flight cancellation, the airline provides hotel accommodations to affected passengers until the next available flight. However, passengers have complained that they have been waiting for up to eight hours at the terminal, only to be turned away by the hotel due to the unavailability of rooms.
Crown Hotel management have confirmed their rooms are fully booked and will not be able to cater for any more.
Passengers have expressed frustration and disappointment at the situation, as they feel that they are being let down by both the airline and the hotel. Some passengers have reportedly been forced to find alternative accommodations on their own, which has caused them additional financial burden. And others are stranded trying to find other means of accommodation.
Air Niugini staff at the customer service have acknowledged the issue and stated that they are working to find a solution to the problem.
PAPUA New Guinea’s national airline, Air Niugini, has been facing a wave of flight delays and cancellations, causing inconvenience and frustration for passengers.
According to Air Niugini officers at the Jackson’s International airport in the capital city of Port Moresby, the airline has been struggling with technical difficulties, and issues relating to crew members; which have resulted in a high number of cancelled and delayed flights. Passengers have been left stranded at the airport, unable to reach their destinations on time.
The situation has caused widespread frustration among passengers, many of whom have taken to social media to express their displeasure. Some passengers have reported waiting for hours without any updates or information from the airline. Other international passengers transiting through PNG are now faced with an added dilemma as they don’t have PNG visas to stay longer in the country.
With the cancellation of flights, Air Niugini Jacksons’ staff are advising passengers either to rebook for the next available flight or find a place to stay till the next available flight.
Many frustrated passengers both international and domestic travellers are calling for compensation for the inconvenience and financial losses they have incurred as a result of the delays and cancellations.
“The situation is unprofessionally handled because they won’t tell you why the flight is cancelled”, says a frustrated international passenger.
“They’re not very transparent on the cancellations and this causes passengers more money, also some of the Air Niugini officers are rude. This is not my fault that the flight is cancelled. The least they could do is explain to us properly”, another frustrated international passenger shares.
“The lack of communication and continuous flight updates from Air Niugini was a disappointment; half the time we were lost because of no announcements about the delay in timing…” said a third frustrated traveller.
One passenger said; “they should compensate us as, this is inconveniencing us and costing us beyond our budgets”.
The situation has also raised concerns about the overall state of the aviation industry in Papua New Guinea.
Attempts to get ANG’s comments about the issues have been unsuccessful.
We all have experiences that leave a lasting impact on us; some motivate us into become beacons of hope for others.
It is not solely the responsibility of our elected leaders or government officials to support communities in need.
Every Papua New Guinean has a role to play individually, offering care, support, and mentorship in their own capacity to assist their fellow countrymen.
Jennitha Japhetz, the Owner and Managing Director of Island Elegance, firmly believes in the transformative power of education for women.
Having established her own SME two years ago, she has unwavering faith that every skill she imparts to a woman serves as a seed for nation-building.
Japhetz’s conviction drives her to contribute towards empowering women, recognizing that by educating a woman, an entire nation is educated.
Ms. Japhetz embarked on her journey at the Beon Correctional Institute in Madang on Monday, initiating a prison rehabilitation program aimed at empowering inmates through life skills training. The program commenced with an introductory session, emphasizing the significance of life skills as a stepping stone and foundation for personal growth.
Particularly focusing on female detainees, the training serves as a crucial step in providing them with a second chance in life after their time at Beon. On Thursday, Ms. Japhetz extended the training to juveniles, aiming to equip them with the necessary life skills to foster a changed and positive mindset upon their release from prison.
The objective of the training is to enable inmates to reintegrate into society with a transformed perspective and the ability to earn a livelihood genuinely. This initiative is not the first instance of Island Elegance reaching out to support the community. Previously, the local SME supported the Friends of the Hospital in Madang during their hikes up Mt. Wilhelm in Chimbu Province and Mt. Kanagio on Karkar Island, raising funds for vital equipment for the local hospital.
Currently, Island Elegance is actively raising funds to support the fight against cancer in Papua New Guinea. The company specializes in creating meri blouses, T-shirts, laplaps, and dresses using unique designs of their own.
Prime Minister James Marape has urged the government and public service bureaucracy to hasten the reform process of the provincial government system in order to improve service delivery to the people. He made this call during the opening of the Provincial Governors Conference in Port Moresby, which is themed ‘Continuing Dialogue to empower Provinces for Improved Service Delivery, Economic Growth and Self Reliance’.
“Provincial governments are the anchor posts of our country and we must empower them with clarity. We must bring reforms that will allow for positive change that translate to actual delivery of goods and services,” said Marape.
He also acknowledged the struggles and weaknesses faced in delivering services to the people, but reassured governors that the government is not seeking to dilute or remove their powers. Instead, the goal is to empower them to function better in providing services that translate policies to the people.
“The vision and the rationale of establishing the provincial governments is correct because in a land of so much diversity, a centralised form of government in Waigani has no complete answer for our people. The government closest to our people must be functioning better to provide services to our people,” the Prime Minister.added.
The conference brings together the leaders of each of Papua New Guinea’s 22 provinces to discuss issues related to provincial government and service delivery. The conference will continue for the next two days and is expected to cover topics such as funding, governance, and decentralized decision-making.
PHOTO FILE: People look at the mangled wreckage of the two passenger trains that derailed Friday in Balasore district, in the eastern state of Orissa, India, Sunday, June 4, 2023. The derailment in eastern India that killed 275 people and injured hundreds was caused by an error in the electronic signaling system that led a train to wrongly change tracks and crash into a freight train, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape has offered his condolences to the Prime Minister and people of India following a tragic rail accident that claimed close to 300 lives on Friday 2nd June 2023. The accident reportedly occurred in the Indian state of Odisha, and is believed to be the worst rail crash in 20 years in the country.
PNG Prime Minister, James Marape.
In a statement, Marape expressed sympathy to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, as well as to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives in the tragic accident. The accident occurred when a passenger train collided with a stationary freight train, resulting in the pile-up of another passenger train travelling in the opposite direction.
Several world leaders have also expressed their condolences to India following the accident. The tragedy has sparked concerns about the safety of the country’s railways, which are said to be outdated and in dire need of an overhaul.
The Indian government has since pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the accident and take steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The country’s railway network is one of the largest and busiest in the world, with thousands of passengers using it daily to travel across the country.
As the world continues to mourn the tragic loss of lives in the Odisha rail accident, the Indian government has assured its citizens that it will leave no stone unturned in finding out the cause of the accident, and in ensuring the safety of the country’s railways.
The Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change and Member for Lufa Simo Kilepa says as long as he remains in office, education will be one of his priorities.
He said this during the week when presenting K188, 000 to the University of Papua New Guinea as part of the school fee assistance package.
“This funding is from the District and Provincial government to support the National Government’s support to our students studying in the institutions,” he said.
About 47 students from the University of PNG benefited from the assistance, part of a K2m package for school fee assistance.
“K1m is from our Lufa District Development Authority funding and K1m is from Governor’s assistance”.
Students from the Pacific Adventist University outside Port Moresby also were recipients of the school fee assistance.
Many who gave their testaments at the presentation of the funding support said it was the first of its kind to see support coming to them from a political representative.
“This funding is to help your parents and off-set some of the burdens they have, I understand many of them are subsistence farmers and many sell store goods in the informal space,” Minister Kilepa said.
All Lufa students throughout the country will benefit from this funding according to the DDA.
