South Pacific Brewery recently announced that both their Port Moresby and Lae facilities have both achieved 1000 consecutive days (2.74 years) without an injury, incident, or accident resulting in time off work at their breweries.
This marks a significant safety milestone for our staff and company. Port Moresby Brewery Manager Coen Oreel stated “The first goal of going to work is going home safely”,
“Safety is important to us, and we strive to maintain a strong commitment to secure practices for all our employees”
This significant achievement is the result of the brewery’s constant drive to adopt best practices and standards to align the company to the most updated safety processes and principles.
Oreel added that every day is a new record for the brewery and reminded everyone that they need to practice safety every day.
The Lae Brewery on Saturday 03rd September 2022 also recorded 1000 days without any accidents.
Lae Brewery Manager Stella Ikasa said they are now looking forward to passing their record of 1533 days without any recordable accidents.
In celebrating the significant milestone, Lae Brewery held a small acknowledgment function for the employees.
PNG Power Limited (PPL) has confirmed that water levels at its Yonki Dam catchment have reached a critical level due to an unusually dry season experienced in the area.
The reduced water levels have forced PNG Power to decrease generating capacity and carry out load shedding on the Ramu Grid, which supplies power to Lae, Madang and the Highlands Provinces.
The Ramu Hydropower Station is operating at 35% of its total generation capacity, due to the reduced water levels in the reservoir. PPL is accelerating projects to rehabilitate alternate power generating supplies, to reduce the need for load shedding. However, load shedding will continue until water levels improve substantially and generating capacity can return to normal operations.
Similar issues are occurring at Sirinumu Dam in Port Moresby, supplying the Rouna Hydropower Station and the river system feeding the Warangoi Hydropower Station in East New Britain.
Meanwhile, Independent Power Producers (IPP) are continuing to meet generating capacity shortfalls, especially in Lae with Posco Daewoo (Munum Power Station) and PNG Forest Products through their Baiune Power Station.
PNG Power is appealing to the general public to be mindful of water use and to conserve and ration water supplies when possible. The situation is unlikely to improve in the short term.
IN an effort to reduce the high number of visa applications and turnaround time for clients, the Minister for Immigration and Labour, Bryan Kramer, reactivated the visa auto-grant function for selected visa classes on Wednesday (August 31).
Kramer said the visa auto-grant system operates independently, and when the applicant meets all the requirements of a selected visa class, the visa is automatically granted and emailed to their nominated email address almost instantaneously.
“This system is now available. PNG Immigration have used it before during the APEC in 2018, the Women’s Soccer World Cup and the Pacific Games in Port Moresby to facilitate large volumes of delegates. I want to reactivate this in a similar way but with strict conditions attached to the auto-grant letters,” he said.
The auto-grant only applies to visitors who apply online and meet all requirements under the visitor visa classes including Tourists (own itinerary and tour package), visiting relative, yacht person (crew and owner), easy visitor permit (30/60 days) and the Restricted Employment Visa.
The Minister said the auto-grant will allow tourists and visitors on short-term visits to get their visa granted immediately instead of waiting for seven days to get an approval.
He said the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) will step up its compliance and enforcement efforts to ensure visitors are complying with the conditions set out in the auto-grant letters.
“With limited staff on strength, I am taking this option so personnel in the department can concentrate on other visa categories that need careful assessment and consideration. The auto-granting of applications does not in any way compromise the integrity of our systems or pose security risks as there are border officers to monitor any unusual movements,” Kramer says.
Minister Kramer re-launched the auto-grant system at the PNG ICA Headquarters in Waigani, Port Moresby, witnessed by senior officials from the department, and the media.
The Board and Management of the National Airports Corporation (NAC) have brushed aside reports of shutting down the Nadzab and Kiunga aerodromes following the expiration of vital operation certificates alluded to by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Managing Director and CEO Rex Kiponge said NAC as the Aerodrome Operating Certificate Holder was not served any notice on the claimed adverse decision as required under the Civil Aviation Act.
“As the aviation document holder, I have not received any adverse decision nor notice of an adverse decision from the Director of CASA. Therefore, I want to assure the travelling public that Nadzab and Kuinga airports are safe for operations and remain operational today and are business as usual,” Kiponge said.
Mr Kiponge was responding to an article published today in one of the dailies. According to the report, Nadzab has 21 non-compliances, and 7 non-compliances for Kiunga. However, Kiponge added that non-compliance is an administrative matter that doesn’t warrant the immediate closure of the airports.
“In this case, the CASA director is alleging that the staff of NAC have not passed the Fit and Proper Person (FPP) Test which is an administrative matter. To put on record, my Airport Operations Manager in Nadzab has passed the FPP Test, and is certified by CASA.”
“For Kiunga Airport, my Senior Manager who is in charge is a Fit and Proper Person also certified by CASA. The Airport Safety Officer for Kiunga has submitted his application for FPP Test which is with CASA awaiting scheduling for his test,” Kiponge said.
Kiponge called on for better dialogue between CASA and NAC stating this is the first blunder of notices the two agencies have had in 10 years.
NAC Management in today’s media Conference in Port Moresby.
Caritas PNG, a major partner of the PNG Electoral Commission in the 2022 National General Elections has called on the National Government to intervene and end all forms of election-related violence.
The organization before the elections rolled out a nationwide voter education awareness program with the intent to educate people and prepare them to make informed choices in a free, fair and safe election.
However, with the number of election-related violence throughout the country including ongoing fights in Mendi, the organization is calling for a swift response from the Government.
National Director, Mavis Tito in a statement said the responsibility falls on the candidates, including the ones that were elected into parliament.
“It is a mass that you created, and we are calling on you to resolve it immediately. Damage to property and lives taken is unnecessary and should be prevented at all costs,” stated Tito.
They have also highlighted the despair of concerned citizens who were not satisfied with the outcome of this election. Four regional forums will be organized to gather the views of citizens and will be given to relevant authorities to consider going forward.
“We are now calling on every one of you to come forward, attend these forums and express your views. We will process this and see to it the next NGE would be a better one, that is truly free and fair for us all,” Tito said.
The Assistant Deputy Bishop of Caritas PNG, Bishop Ain Soongie has supported calls by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to rectify the situation of the 2022 National General Elections.
The bishop made this statement following what has been described as the worst National Elections in the history of Papua New Guinea.
“There was no democratic exercise of the right to elect a leader to the parliament. That is obviously experienced mainly in the Highlands provinces, but more so in all other provinces,” Bishop Soongie stated.
The bishop also made mentioned that after almost 50 years of independence, there was no improvement in this vital system of government.
“As a matter of fact, getting towards 50 years of independence, we would by now have improved all systems of the government, however, what has transpired in this election seems that we have a long way to go,” Soongie said.
He also called on the country’s leaders and important stakeholders to evaluate, plan and strategize for a better election come 2027.
“The people of Papua New Guinea deserve better from our leaders. In whatever way you have entered parliament today, you have the responsibility before you to make sure that citizens of this country get better services,” he added.
“If there is a change to be made for the better of our nation, it must start now. We have 5 years to prepare for a good election. 2022 National General Election was one that deprived the rights of the citizens of this country for a fair election,” he said.
Villagers along the north coast of Madang are calling on Prime Minister James Marape and the Mining Minister to establish a regulatory framework for sand mining in PNG.
The call is for the Mineral Resource Authority to make a provision within the Mining Act for sand mining policies and laws.
Currently, there is no regulatory framework or policy in place in Papua New Guinea.
Vanansius Barrar of Murukanam village Sumkar District says his village is under threat from logging activities and now sand mining is becoming a threat for locals who depend on the marine life for their sustenance and livelihood.
They are now carrying out a land survey to protect their land from sand mining and other illegal activities that continue to destroy the environment.
Barrar explained that the National Government must establish a regulatory framework for sand mining in the country in order to protect the environment.
Another local, Willie Mayng said their land is a conservation area and is a nesting zone for the endangered leatherback turtles.
He said the Government must take interest in this matter as the locals have been fighting hard since establishing the conservation area in 2008.
The landowner’s call was made following a one-day training on the environmental impact of sand mining in Madang recently.
The training was facilitated by an academic researcher, Ms Winnifred Duk, in the biology strand at the University of Goroka.
Duk explained PNG does not have any policy or legislative framework at this stage on sand mining operations.
Furthermore, there is no risk assessment guideline to protect the environment from sand mining operations.
As sand protects the environment and is not a renewable resource, the large scale of mining sand would bring environmental concerns, and social and economic impacts, including the direct habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity.
In November of 2020, landowners of the twenty-five villages along the north coast held a public forum at Tokain village and protested a Singaporean company, Niugini Sands after it filed an application to obtain an exploration license.
The mining of black sand would cover 51km of sandy beaches and cover a width of 10km into the sea and another 10km inland from Murunas to Tokain.
The black sand beach of Tokain Village. Picture By Wenceslaus Magun via Facebook.
However, the company withdrew its application attributing it to the adverse publicity and negative commentary against the company’s reputation.
The former chief justice, Sir Arnold Amet, who was representing the locals as their legal advisor, said there is no separate law on sand mining in PNG.
In October of 2020, the Mineral Resource Authority Director, Jerry Garry, in a television interview also explained that PNG is yet to develop specific laws on sand mining.
Garry says the closest legislation that can be used for sand mining is the Alluvial Mining Act which does mention other minerals that can be extracted from sand.
Wenceslaus Magun, who heads MAKATA, a local NGO, dedicated to preserving the nesting areas of the leatherback turtles said the Government must act now.
Magun says there is no international law on sand mining and there is a huge gap that big companies are taking advantage of to push their agendas.
Queen Pads PNG, a locally owned SME that supplies locally made menstrual pads to help young girls and women in rural communities by conducting awareness and supplying their products has partnered with BSP Financial Group Limited.
This support will help the work and product distribution of Queen Pads PNG.
BSP recently purchased 1000 Queen Pads products, to help the SME distribute and conduct awareness to encourage menstrual health and hygiene in rural communities.
“We are a community oriented bank that believes in people. We also strongly support health, women and girls in communities and invest in where we believe can elevate community levels, especially in rural areas,” said BSP Corporate sponsorship Manager, Amelia Minnopu.
“As the largest private sector employers in the region, BSP employs over 4,000 staff, with women making up 50% of the workforce.”
“These products are made of durable, environmentally friendly and gentle cloths that can last for up to five years and it’s useful for female that can help is many ways. This entailed well with our Go Green campaign in supporting awareness on environmental risks. Moreover, it is an innovative new way to decrease our environmental impact,” Minnopu said.
She added that this support aims to contribute positively towards community building and reducing health risks within societies.
Founder and owner of Queens Pads PNG, Ann- Shirley Korave said around 80% of women and girls in rural areas still do not have access to basic hygienic sanitary pads, hence, the support from BSP will help in her work to reach the wider communities.
“Menstrual Health and Hygiene is essential to the well-being and empowerment of women and adolescent girls,” added Korave.
BSP and Queen Pads PNG’s partnership is a way forward in supporting women and girls in schools, workplaces and rural and local communities. More importantly, breaking the silence around it in the communities.
THE PNG Games Council has unanimously agreed to recall the 8th PNG Games from the Host Organizing Committee Mendi, Southern Highlands Province with reference to Clause 8.9.1 of the PNG Games charter which empowers the Council to monitor and evaluate games preparations and recall rights to host.
This decision was reached after the presentation of the Sports Technical Advisory Committee venue inspection report which was conducted in Mendi on 26-29 June, 2022.
The main concern raised during the visit was the pace of the construction of the games facilities, and the number of completed venues that are ready for sports competitions by the end of this year. The STAC concluded that the venues will not be ready by November for SHP to stage the Games.
After much deliberation, the Executive Committee made the following recommendations to the PNG Games Council for their endorsement;
That the SHP Provincial Government won the bid in 2015 and the venues preparation have fallen behind schedule for Games delivery in 2022. Therefore, the Council is to consider recalling the right to host the 8th PNG Games from HOC – SHP.
That the Council will invite other provinces to express their readiness to host the 8th PNG Games as soon as practicable. The Executive Committee also proposed for the Council to consider NCD/Central Province to co-host the 8th PNG Games in NCD in June/July 2023 given the availability of world class venues in Port Moresby.
The Council also recommended limiting the number of sports to 10 compulsory ones as captured in the PNG Games Charter. Other sports may be considered subject to the recommendation of the new hosts. The compulsory sports are:
Athletics
Basketball
Boxing’
Touch Football
Soccer’
Powerlifting
Rugby League Nines
Touch
Volleyball (Indoor)
Netball
Meanwhile the PNG Sports Foundation has taken steps to work with HOC Mendi and SHP Government to complete the construction of all the facilities. The Executive Director Albert Veratau has expressed satisfaction that much has been achieved.
With the collaboration of key government departments including Department of National Planning & Monitoring and Departments of Treasury & Finance the state of the art facilities will be constructed in SHP. This decision relieves the pressure of HOC SHP and gives them sufficient time to complete the venues and be better prepared to stage the next PNG Games.
Landowners of the four project impact areas of the Ramu Nickel Project under Ramu NiCo Management Limited, were paid their royalty payment totalling to K14.8 million for the year 2021 on July 20th, 2022.
The landowner groups that the payments were made to include Kurumbukari, Inland Pipeline, Coastal Pipeline and Basamuk. Kurumbukari got a portion of approximately K8.6 million, Inland and Coastal Pipeline LO’s got approximately K2 million each while Basamuk Los got a portion of approximately K3 million respectively.
All payments made totals to the grand total of royalty payment to LO’s for 2021, including the other years concerned. The recent payments are the 6th made by the company since production began in 2013.
Jacob Winis, Principal Landowner of Memeume 1 and Chairman of the Maigari (Inland Pipeline) Landowners Association said, the royalty payments made by Ramu NiCo has contributed immensely in improving the people’s state of living by having access to basic services.
“The royalty payments made by Ramu NiCo to the landowners has helped us in setting up small Businesses or projects, supporting us with school fees, access to health services and I see that there is actual change” Winis said.
The first royalty payments made were in 2018, for years 2013 to 2017, paid in two separate accumulated payments; first payment of approximately K25.5 million was made in June of 2018. While the second payment of K8 million plus, was made in the same year for July to December of 2017.
Royalty payment of approximately K16.3 million for 2018 was made in 2019, for 2019, approximately K26.2 million was made in 2020. 2020’s payment of K 17.3 million approximately was made in 2021.
With the most Recent payment of approximately K14.8 million made this year, for 2021. A total of K108.1 million in royalties has been paid since 2018 to landowners.
