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National Elections

Polling in Gulf Province 

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Although polling kicked off a little late then expected in Kerema Town, polling was successfully completed today for wards 1 and 4 for Kerema Urban Local Level Government. 

Gulf Election Manager Poevare Tore said polling for the other seven wards for the Kerema Open seat will be held during the week. 

Although the Provincial Election Team planned for all the wards and Electorates to commence polling today, logistical issues delayed the process. 

While Kerema Open Electorate commenced polling today, Kikori Open Electorate will commence polling either on Thursday or Friday. 

Tore said the district is still waiting for the election materials and polling officials to reach the polling sites. 

“We are running against time to get all the boxes to the other six (6) LLGs to ensure polling commence on Thursday or Friday and will go on for the next 3-4days before all materials are transported back in preparation for counting.” 

Gulf Province has only two electorates, Kerema Open Electorate and Kikori Open Electorate. 

Kerema Open has six LLG’s and Kikori Open has four electorates. 

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Life

Mead: Win Against Fiji Still Sinking in

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It’s no secret that the 2022 mid-year pacific test between the PNG LNG Kumuls and the Vodafone Fiji Batis would be David Mead’s last representative match in the Kumuls Jumper.

The lad from Tubusereia in the Central province of Papua New Guinea has been a reliable back in the Kumul ranks; at center-wing or fullback Mead has always cherished each moment he donned the yellow and red V stripe jersey.

What an achievement 15 caps for the country, many memories to share of each encounter as a kumul; in a recent correspondence with Inside PNG, Mead was grateful enough to share some of his thoughts on his career and the Kumuls moving forward.

“Nearly all games for the Kumuls have been highlights. My debut was a special one because it opened my eyes to new possibilities. The game against Fiji on the weekend to finish off my international career was beyond words. It is still sinking in,” Mead told Inside PNG.

While Mead has left the Kumuls at the age of 33 he is optimistic of the Kumuls future; the team showed they are relentless against any opponent, being underdogs against Fiji was a challenge at first but they persevered. 

“The Kumuls have got a great squad leading into the world cup. There is a good mixture of experience and youth in the team now. I’m sure there will be a few new faces which I am excited to see put on the jersey,” Mead added.

Mead has ended his Kumuls journey and having a long career at the professional level of rugby league in the NRL and in Super League, Mead is slowly winding down on his rugby league career at this level, a decision he is likely to make very soon.

“At this stage it is looking very likely that I will finish up after this year. My desire to continue playing is very small. I will make a decision sooner rather than later,” Mead said.

Like past Kumuls, Mead is patriotic about Papua New Guinea and would be a great asset to the Kumuls program; he could join the ranks of Stanley Tepend, Paul Aiton, John Wilshire, David Westley and Tommy Butterfield who are currently part of the Kumuls Coaching and Administrative staff, he may be contemplating it but it is still yet to be confirmed.

“At this stage I haven’t had discussions with anyone yet concerning a position with the Kumuls. I will help out rugby league in PNG regardless of a role with or without the Kumuls,” Mead said.

While he is winding down on his NRL career he says the performance of his Kumuls teammates not in the NRL is right up there with expectations in first grade football. 

“There are several players in the Kumuls side that played on the weekend who are more than capable of playing in the NRL every week. NRL clubs would greatly benefit from having them in their squads,” Mead said.

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National Elections

Your future is in your hands, Vote wisely

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As the campaign trail winds up to its last remaining hours, voters are being urged to keep their future in mind when choosing and voting this election. 

Alvin Gia Huk, an independent candidate, and runner up in the 2017 National General Elections for the Mendi-Munihu Open seat in Southern Highlands Province is encouraging all voters to not repeat the mistakes they made in the past in electing people who don’t have their interest at heart. 

He said voters need to make wiser decisions for long term benefits for their children, the district and the province as a whole. 

“Don’t follow money and materials today and  spend the next five years neglected of your basic right to services.  You have the power to change your course in the next week, to receive what is rightfully yours and have a better quality of life”. 

Among other policies, he said a change in voters’ attitudes is what he has been promoting and encouraging throughout the campaign period.

“I have been educating voters since last elections to not vote with a cargo cult mentality or based on family lines, tribal ties and vote for quality”. 

He admits it has been a challenge breaking the cargo cult mentality but he sees some progress from the previous elections as voters become more educated and aware of what they deserve and what qualities they want in their leaders. 

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Business

Lai Valley Welcomes New Corporative Society 

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The launch of a new corporative society for Lai Valley in the Mendi Munihu district of Southern Highlands Province will pave way for economic benefits for 60,000 locals in the area. 

The Lai Valley Corporate Society was launched in Munihu Government Station on Wednesday (June 29) in front of eager locals wanting to learn about the society and the opportunities it would present. 

Interim Chairman of the society, Karl Sopol said the society’s focus is to help get the communities involved in small sustainable activities like piggery, poultry, and other projects rather than wait for government handouts. 

The birth of the society came through discussions among elites from the area who wanted to see how they could help their people sustain their livelihoods. 

Sopol said the society is all about helping people become economically independent. 

“Our target is to have 5 to 10 projects going in the next five years and with funding support of the government and through memberships and set up market access from the area and into the rest of the highlands all the way to Lae”. 

Sopol said with the right infrastructure in place such as the new Gulf to Southern Highlands Highway and other services such as electricity, it presented many market opportunities for the people to capitalize on. 

Eric Alom, an elite from Munihu encouraged the locals to support and take advantage of economic activities through the corporative society. 

“You alone do not have the resources to mobilize resources or to find the markets for your produce or products, a corporative society is able to do that for you, its here to help you get involved in business activities”, said Alom. 

The society now has plans to continue carrying out awareness activities to help people understand what a corporative society does and how they can benefit. 

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International

USAID for Women in Forestry 

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The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Papua New Guinea Department of National Planning and Monitoring signed an Implementation Letter of USD $2.5 million for Strengthening Women’s Equality and Empowerment in Forestry in Papua New Guinea. 

The funding emphasizes America’s continued commitment to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific through our strengthened U.S.-Pacific partnerships for sustainable, prosperous, inclusive, secure, and democratically empowered societies. 

The Department of National Planning and Monitoring, Secretary Koney Samuel countersigned the implementation letter on behalf of the Government of Papua New Guinea. 

The activity will enable women entrepreneurs to access supply chains and ecosystem service markets, develop women’s leadership in the forestry industry, and build women’s climate resilience. 

Deputy Mission Director for the Pacific Islands and Mongolia Betty Chung said the $2.5 million agreement reiterates to the PNG public how hard their government has been working to secure resources and partnerships for PNG’s development.” 

Secretary Samuel and Deputy Mission Director Chung also discussed the ongoing projects in Papua New Guinea through USAID funding, and reflected on the increased partnership between Papua New Guinea and the United States. 

“I’d like to acknowledge the support of the US government through USAID. I’m happy that USAID is stepping up to support different sectors including climate change, HIVAIDs, and the PNG electrification partnership to support PNG’s Development strategy plan 2030.” Secretary Samuel said. 

The funding will benefit over 250 women with enhanced livelihood opportunities in two provinces in PNG; reduce greenhouse gas emissions in at least 250 hectares of high-carbon areas; and reach a minimum of 15000 people through advocacy campaigns.

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National Elections

Ballot Boxes Distributed to Namatanai and Kavieng Open

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Ballot papers for New Ireland province are being distributed to the two respective electorates of Namatanai and Kavieng in preparation for polling. 

Ballot papers for Namatanai were delivered on Wednesday (June 29) under tight police security.

According to Provincial Returning Officer, Benjamin Kliawi, 31 boxes containing a total of 55,750 ballot papers were distributed to Namatanai electorate.

Meanwhile 21 boxes holding 42,950 ballot papers for Kavieng Open still remain in the holding container at the Kavieng Police Station. 

“Both electorates have a total of 52 boxes which contain a grand total of 98,700 ballot 

papers for New Ireland province,” said Kliawi.

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Kliawai also confirmed that for Namatanai, a total of 82 ballot boxes were distributed, 41 of which are for Namatanai open and 41 for the Provincial seat. 

According to the Police Chief, police personnel have been doing 24/7 monitoring and securing of the sensitive materials since the arrival last week Tuesday. 

PPC Chief Inspector, Felix Nebanat says upon the electoral office’s request, police had to secure the perimeter of the storage container and oversee the extraction of the ballot papers. 

“These sensitive materials are transported under heavy escort along the four hour stretch

of the Boluminksi highway to ensure they arrive safely in Namatanai,” Nebanat said. 

PPC Nebanat appealed to the voting populace of New Ireland, candidate scrutineers and police scrutineers to make it their business to know the number of ballot papers for respective LLGs.

“It is critical that you know the total number of ballot papers so quality check or cross examination can be done when it comes to counting,” said PPC Nebanat.

In that way, you help the police in keeping a tab on the election process in order to maintain transparency, he concluded. 

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News

New Look Kavieng Town Roads

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The upgraded roads in Kavieng have officially been opened. 

New Ireland Provincial Works Manager, Solomon Pela was present with sitting Governor, Sir Julius Chan to officiate the completion of road maintenance in the provincial capital.

“Citizens of Kavieng and New Ireland have every reason to celebrate this occasion. The sealing of our city roads and side streets has never been better in over 100 years. Some of our streets stayed the same from the time they were given before Independence,” said Governor Chan.

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Simply put, we celebrate the fruits of our vision and mission in our development manual, the Malagan and New Ireland Declarations,” added Sir Julius.

PPP believes in People’s Progress. Lifting the standard of affluence from zero level to Self-Reliance and Autonomy, Chan said. 

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Governor Chan said the Kavieng Town roads and all the roads in the Province have and will be upgraded and sealed as a solid investments for the people.

He also expressed that the next priority is the commencement of work on the West Coast Highway. Sir Julius said West Coast people are distant from the service delivery because of bad roads.

“We will give the people of West Coast the same opportunities to succeed by investing big on the West Coast Highway.

It will be sealed from Fangalawa to Lamusmus, and along the West Coast all the way through Sentral Niu Ailan, through Namatanai, and right down to Lamassa in the Konoagil Council,” said Sir Julius.

He added that this is the biggest high-budget project investment in New Ireland and his PPP Government has commenced work to give the people of West Coast the best-sealed road, if not, better than the Boluminski Highway.

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News

Consultations for new Independence Constitution underway

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The Bougainville Constitutional Planning Commission (BCPC) began their consultations in North and South Bougainville on Tuesday (June 28).

Commissioners in both regions were divided into teams to cover wards in each constituency respectively.

Team South began consultations with ward members from the Baubake Urban community government on Tuesday (June 28) and consultations with stakeholders and interest groups will be on Friday while Team North began with Hagogohe Constituency in Buka.

The commissioners are now into consultation proper where they will collect views from Bougainvilleans to draft a new autochthonous or homegrown constitution for an independent sovereign state of Bougainville.

This consultation is one of the activities agreed upon by both the ABG and PNG government through the joint consultations that were held after the referendum vote in 2019.

The BCPC was appointed by the Bougainville Executive Council and sworn into office early this year with President Hon Ishmael Toroama as the chairman, Vice President Hon Patrick Nisira as the alternate chairperson and Attorney General Hon Ezekiel Massat as the deputy chairman and a total of 40 commissioners.

The CPC is supported by a Secretariat which acts as a technical team and is headed by the Department of Justice and Legal Services and Department of Bougainville Independence Mission Implementation and supported by the Parliamentary Services and Directorate of Media and Communication.

The CPC is expected to conduct consultations in three months and have a first draft of the constitution by the end of this year.

Meanwhile team Central will be starting consultation proper next week.

Bougainvilleans are urged to attend these consultations when the team visits your constituencies.

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National Elections

PPC Nebanat: New Ireland Police Ready for Election

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New Ireland, Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector Felix Nebanat, said his men and women will ensure, security for the 2022 National General Election in the province is guaranteed. 

He reiterated this upon the arrival of non-sensitive election materials in Kavieng earlier this week. 

“New Ireland Police is on par with protecting election materials that is kept under police security,” Nebanat said.

He confirmed that a section of the Tomaringa Mobile Squad was tasked to escort the election team to ensure the materials are safely delivered to its designated destination. 

“We have to remain vigilant always in carrying out our duties in making sure this election is safe, fair and secure,” Nebanat said.

New Ireland Provincial Police Commander, Felix Nebanat

PPC Nebanat revealed that his operation order is all set with two sections from Tomaringa mobile squad already on the ground with the PNG Defence Force expected to arrive later this week. 

He said the additional personnel from sister forces and will be embedded into his command 

structure to give support to the 325 local police in the Province. 

Meanwhile PPC Nebanat warned candidates, groups and supporters with the intention to rigg the election to refrain from that intent. 

“I will not hesitate to deal with this offence with the highest level of force to appropriately deal with such situations if and when they arise,” said Nebanat. 

New Ireland non-sensitive election materials

New Ireland Assistant Election Manageress, Annette Bais also stressed that this election is anticipated to be different from the previous elections with higher risks anticipated according to threat analysis. 

However she expressed confidence in the security forces in ensuring the election process comes to a successful conclusion and is carried out transparently and safely. 

She confirmed that the arrival of the non-sensitive materials completes the necessary election 

materials required for polling as New Ireland prepares to join the nation in going into polls in a week’s time.

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National Elections

PRP Raises Hand to Form Government

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People’s Reform Party is one political party determined to form Government in the 11th Parliament. 

PRP Leader, James Donald revealed this in Kiunga during a rally. Donald said PRP is ready to transform and reform the country with its policies as the driving factor. 

“We can be an economic power in the Pacific if we embark on better policies that are workable for us,” said Donald.

Incumbent North Fly MP and PRP Leader, James Donald, speaking to the crowd in Western Province.

He urged Papua New Guinean’s not to be lazy but must work the land. He said PRP has endorsed more than 10 candidates to contest the 2022 National General Elections. 

“Our resources are abundant, if we equally share the benefits our communities will see drastic changes,” said the PRP leader.

Donald expressed gratitude towards his people for their trust in his leadership in the past five years and urged voters to choose leaders who are able to deliver essential services.

“Vote for credible leaders who can do more for the people and better their life,” he said.

I spent the whole five years in Opposition bench, now I want to be in Government and emphasize more on Party policies,” he added. 

PRP Supporter at PRP rally in Western province

The incumbent North Fly MP also urged voters around the country to vote for the 12 PRP candidates endorsed by the Party. 

“I will push for reforms to ensure resource owners are not left out. The P’nyang Gas project provides that avenue to see people get maximum benefits in infrastructure, integral human development and greater financial autonomy, ” Donald said.

PRP held two major political rallies in Ningerum, Tabubil before ending it in the township of Kiunga.

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