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Pomat Voted Unopposed as Speaker of 11th Parliament

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Member for Manus, Job Pomat has not only been re-elected as the Member for Manus but also as the Speaker for the 11th Parliament.  

Pomat was nominated by Gulf Governor, Chris Haiveta.

With no other nominations, Member elect for Madang Open Brian Kramer called for the close of nominations.  The Clark of Parliament Mr Kala Aufa then declared Mr Pomat the Speaker of the 11th Parliament unopposed.  

As is tradition, a man dressed in traditional attire stands beside the Speaker’s Chair and beats the drum as part of the announcement.  

Pomat was then escorted by a jolly Chris Haiveta and Governor for Hela, Philip Undialu to the Speaker’s Chair.  

“Honorable Members, mi laik kisim displa taim, tok bikpla hamamas tru, long thankim parliament givim mi displa bikpla honor, olsem Speaker blong displa 11th Parliament”.  

[Translation: “Honorable members, I would like to take this time, to thank the parliament for giving me the greatest honor of being the Speaker of the 11th Parliament.“]

Following a short speech, the Clerk of Parliament then announced that the Mase which has been placed under the table has been raised to the top of the table following the election of the Speaker and the beating of the kundu drum.  

“Honorable Members, the mace which has been placed under the table has been raised to the top after the beating of the garamut, signifies that the Parliament is in session with the Speaker elect presiding.” 

A Mace is a symble of authority that is placed on the table in Parliament when the Speaker is in Chair.  Pomat then adjourned the parliament for a few minutes to allow for his official swearing in  at the Office of the Governor General. 

He later returned to Parliament to chair the nominations for the Prime Minister’s seat among others.  Job Pomat was first elected to the 8th Parliament in 2007 under People’s National Congress Party.

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News

Ramu NiCo Completes new Mine Site Clinic

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Ramu NiCo mine clinic

Ramu NiCo Management Limited’s newly built and recently opened Kurumbukari Mine Clinic is well equipped with vital medical devices capable of serving more patients.

The clinic has upgraded its capacity from a two bed space to a six bed space clinic. Providing a more spacious and conducive facility for all patients seeking medical assistance. The clinic now houses, two consultation rooms, a dispensary, emergency treatment and treatment room for small wounds and others, observing ward and a waiting lobby.

The vital medical equipment available at the new and improved Clinic include; an oxygenator, electrocardiogram machine, glucometer, multi-analysis drug testing devices, including the Rapid Diagnostic Test kits for malaria and COVID-19 including other devices for basic testing and diagnosis.

The now standalone clinic is capable of serving and accommodating more patients within the mining camp, including locals from surrounding communities unlike at the previous locations. The new KBK Mine Clinic is a day clinic where no admissions are made.

Nursing Officer in Charge Mr. Cyril Tapasia (Left) Assistant Nursing Officer, Ms. Bernadette Soagili (Centre) and the physician on site, Dr. Wei (Right) at the new and improved Ramu NiCo’s Kurumbukari Mine Clinic.

The RNML KBK Mine Clinic has two Chinese Physicians and three local nursing staff who are on a 28 days on site and 14 days off site shift. Three health personnel are always on site (at the clinic) from 8am to 5pm every day.

Nursing Officer in Charge, Cyril Tapasia, who has been employed with Ramu NiCo Ltd for 14 years now stated; “Since it is a day clinic, we focus mainly on work related injuries. Serious cases are only stabilized at the clinic and referred to the Walium or Usino Health Centres while the very serious cases are identified as emergency cases and referred to the Madang Provincial Hospital,”

RNML’s KBK General Manager, Joseph Umare said “It is only fitting for the company to build a facility big enough to cater for or accommodate more patients, because at any one time, there are about 600 to 700 employees on site”

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Sport

Baru, flag bearer for Team PNG at Closing Ceremony

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Baru, flag bearer for Team PNG at Closing Ceremony

Team PNG’s silver medalist Morea Baru has been announced as the country’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games Scheduled for Monday 8th August, 2022.

The closing ceremony will commencing 8pm UK/5am+1 PNG Time.

Baru won the silver medal in the Men’s 61kgs division of the Weightlifting Competition, outclassing his rivals bar one.

Chef de Mission Michael Henao congratulated Baru on his appointment. “What a Privilege it is to carry the Flag of a thousand tribes, and what a privilege it is for the Team to be led by you”, Henao said

Baru is no stranger to Commonwealth Games success. In 2018 he won a silver medal at the Games on the Gold Coast and has represented PNG at Numerous world and regional Weightlifting competitions including the Olympic Games.

In a small gathering held by Team PNG General Management Team on Saturday, Baru was acknowledged for his achievement and given the honours of cutting the Cake on behalf of the team.

All athletes and officials were also presented commemorative medals by the Commonwealth Games Federation for their participation at the games.

The little ‘kibung’ was also used to thank the Team Assistants / Volunteers assigned To Team PNG.

“Our team assistants were very helpful during our entire time at Birmingham Assisting the General Management Team and the respective sports. They have Made it easy for us throughout our stay and we thank them for that,” Henao said

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Sport

New National Record for Women’s 4x100m Relay

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Women's 4x100m

Team PNG’s Women’s 4x100m Relay quartet of Adrine Monagi, Toea Wisil, Isila Apkup and Leonie Beu set a new national record of 45.38 seconds in front of a packed Alexander Stadium on Saturday morning.

Despite finishing sixth in their heat, the time was still good enough surpassing the 45.85 recorded at the recent 2022 Pacific Mini Games in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.

In other results from Day 9 of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Feanor Siaguru and Madako Suari Jnr proved too strong for Guyana’s Shomari Wiltshire and Jason-Ray Khalil with a 2-0 win in the Plate Quarter-Final of the squash Men’s Doubles.

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Sport

Iga sets PB in Men’s Decathlon

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Iga Sets PB in Men's Decathlon

PNG’s Karo Iga’s valiant efforts in the Men’s Decathlon saw him rewarded with a Personal Best next to his name at Alexander Stadium on Friday night.

Over the two days of competition, Iga set Personal Bests in the 100m with 10.94 seconds, in the Shot Put with a throw of 11.05 meters and in the 400m after clocking 48.61.

Iga Sets PB in Men's Decathlon - Pole Jump
Iga Sets PB in Men's Decathlon

Iga also set a Season’s Best in the 110m Hurdles recording a time of 16.73.

There were three more Personal Bests for Iga in the Discus Throw with 31.88, in the Pole Vault clearing 3.90 meters, Javelin Throw with 51.30 meters and ending with another Season’s Best in the 1500m with a time of 4:56.54.

Iga finished with a total of 6761 points placing seventh overall.

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Sport

PNG Boxers Bow Out

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PNG Boxers

Results for Team PNG boxers on Day 7 of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, sees fighters Neville Warupi (Welterweight), Arthur Lavalou (Heavyweight) and Jamie Chang (Bantamweight) all bowing out in the quarter finals.

Warupi went the full three rounds against Tyler Jolly from Scotland with Jolly winning on points.

Lavalou’s bout against England’s Lewis Williams was stopped by the referee midway through the first round with the win awarded to Williams.

Chang fought on gallantly right up until the last round with Owain Harris-Allan from Wales winning on points.

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Sport

Jack’s of PNG is official Supplier of Team PNG Merchandise

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The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee have today unveiled Jack’s of PNG as the Team PNG Merchandise supplier and Corporate Partner of the PNGOC for 2022 and 2023.

One of the leading clothing retailers in Papua New Guinea, Jack’s of PNG today sealed a two-year merchandise partnership which saw the PNGOC award the supplier the licensing rights to its Team PNG brand to manufacture, advertise and distribute Team PNG merchandise apparel for the two-year period.

The merchandising agreement allows the PNGOC to provide its Team PNG trademark to Jacks of PNG to create an agreed range of Team PNG supporter apparel for the general public to purchase from all Jack’s of PNG retail outlets.

In addition to the licensing agreement, Jack’s of PNG has also pledged sponsorship in kind to the PNGOC to the value of K100,000 over the two-year period (2022-2023). The value in kind sponsorship covers the walkout uniforms and accessories for Team PNG to the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and 2023 Solomon Islands Pacific Games in addition to Board and Staff uniforms for the organisation.

Welcoming the partnership, PNGOC Secretary General Auvita Rapilla stated “Jack’s PNG came on board last year sponsoring Team PNG’s walk out uniform for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and we are pleased to see this partnership extend to include Team PNG Merchandise”.

Rapilla acknowledged and thanked the Jacks of PNG Board for having the confidence in the Team PNG brand and for taking up this new challenge to market and promote the Team PNG merchandise to the general public.

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Politics

O’Neill Seeks Legal Clarity on GG Invite

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Former Prime Minister and leader of the People’s National Congress Party, Peter O’Neill is asking the Supreme Court to look into the legality of the parliament sitting next Tuesday and the invitation issued by the Governor General’s office to form Government.

“In the application to the Supreme Court, an action I did not take lightly, I seek clarification on the appropriateness of the first meeting of Parliament next Tuesday and the legality of
the invitation being extended to the party with the most declared seats being able to nominate a candidate for the position of the Prime Minister, “ Mr O’Neill said.

Another question he is putting forward to the court to interpret is whether it is legal to proceed in the election of the Prime Minister when seats are yet to be declared.

“I have also asked for the court’s interpretation of inconsistencies between the Organic Law of Political Parties and Parliament Standing Orders in addition to requesting the Supreme Court interpret and provide direction on the denial of rights of many to have a voice in Parliament if the writs in their electorate are not returned by this afternoon,” O’Neill said.

Yesterday, Pangu leader and Caretaker Prime Minister, James Marape issued a statement saying that his party and its coalition stands ready to form government.

“I thank God and the people of Papua New Guinea for participating in the 2022 National General Election as Pangu prepares to receive the invitation to form Government,” PM Marape said.

The Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai is expected to hand the returned Writs today to the Governor General at the close of business.

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Business

Locals undergo training at Ramu Nico’s Kurumbukari Mine

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Communities in the impacted areas of Ramu NiCo’s Kurumbukari mine were given a chance to undergo various trainings in the extraction process.

Ramu NiCo has been providing employment for locals especially, since operations began in 2012. The company has so far trained and employed locals in the impacted areas to work in various fields that don’t need specific qualifications.

The Kurumbukari mine, in July of 2022, recruited 22 locals of whom 18 were trained to run and operate the Volvo Articulated Dump Truck and four for excavator trainings from the surrounding communities in the impacted zone.

Their training started on Thursday 7th  July, 2022 and will continue until all the apprentices are familiarized with the functions of the vehicle.

The 18 trainees started off with their T – 1 training at the mine pit and will continue to do their T- 2 Training (800 hours on the job training) and will later be verified based on their competency before joining the work force as qualified Volvo ADT A40E truck operators.

The exercise provides an employment opportunity for locals to work with Ramu NiCo. The 22 locals Selected were from the four major clans around the Kurumbukari Mine site.

This was based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) between Ramu NiCo and the landowners.

Recommendations for training and employment are made by village leaders in the impacted zone of the Ramu NiCo project. Under this program each clan leader who are affiliated with the Company’s Community Affairs Office recommend locals who are able to work in the various fields.

General Manager of Ramu NiCo’s Kurumbukari Mine, Mr. Joseph Umare said the job/employment Opportunity for the mine is given back to the locals as priority.

“Ramu NiCo had been a major contributor of employment to landowners living in the impacted areas Around the Kurumbukari Basin, especially in the Usino Bundi District and parts of Rai Coast District.

The Company recruits 90 % of its employees from Madang Province with the remaining 10%, from other provinces,” Umare said.

He said the training will qualify them to work in the mine’s operations after they finish their T-1 and T-2.

Training respectively including a three-month probationary period. A proud local and trainee Mr. Rex Minembo said, they are very proud to be accepted by the company.

“We are proud to wear the company uniforms and to learn how to operate the mine truck,” Minembo said

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Sport

Agari Narrowly Misses out on First Win

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Team PNG’s Tammi Agari narrowly missed out on a win in her second match against Fiji’s Touea Titana in the Women’s Singles table tennis event at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on Wednesday.

The sixteen-year-old from Tubusereia in the Central Province, managed to shake off the nerves after the loss of her first match to push her Fijian opponent all the way into the seventh game only to be edged out 4-3 (18 – 16, 10 – 12, 9 – 11, 12 –10, 11 – 4, 6 – 11, 11 – 9).

Geoffrey Loi, PNG Table tennis rep

In the Men’s Singles, Geoffrey Loi put up spirited performances in his 4-0 losses to Barbados’ Tyrese Knight and to Malaysia’s Qi Shen Wong.

Loi and Agari are students at the Butuka Academy in Port Moresby and do long commuting every day from Tubusereia to school, then after to training and then back home to Tubusereia.

Amongst the Team PNG supporters in the crowd was Chef de Mission Michael Henao who commended the two youngsters on their improved performances stating “A lot of sacrifice, has been put in by our athletes and officials to prepare for this competition and we encourage support from our fellow Papua New Guineans back in Papua New Guinea and around the world,”

“Unless we have walked, run and played in their shoes, we will truly appreciate their hard work and sacrifices – the sweat, the tears and the hardship that came with it.” Henao said

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