By Jack Lapauve Jnr

Works and Highways Secretary David Wereh says the ‘Connect PNG’ plan is critical in improving road quality and standard in the country.

Wereh says road accessibility for citizens will open up opportunities for communities in the country. “Funding levels have increased in the past years especially the regional highways in the country. Magi, Hiritano, Buluminski, Highlands(Okuk), Ramu-Madang, and Sepik Coastal Highway among others”, said Secretary Wereh.

Wereh said the Department’s aim is to ensure by 2025 all economic highways in the country should be in excellent condition for use and travel. He said his Department is organizing and implementing a fulltime performance based contracts for road maintenance and rehabilitation as expected by the Government.

“We have fulltime contractors on site to respond to emergency needs to ensure roads are in good condition. We are shifting from traditional arrangements that is waiting for budget allocations. Most of the time our efforts to fix roads are late”, said Wereh.

The Works and Highways Secretary said the National Government has approved the new delivery model (Performance Based Contracts) for the big highways. He said this has worked out very well and giving good results in most major highways in the Highlands and Coastal areas.

“This is the best practice adapted around the world to preserve roads that are made given the massive funding investment for road works in the country. This model is working and I believe if we implement this throughout the country, by 2025 people will have access to better roads”, added Wereh.

Secretary Wereh also said guaranteed funding is key in ensuring that roads are in good condition. In the old arrangements, the delay of funding results in maintenance of roads and affects contractors cash flow to purchase materials with work delayed.

“That is why the Department has introduced the ‘Road Fund’ concept to ensure there is a guaranteed stream of funding from different revenue sources to maintain and sustain contractors work throughout the country. This is the only way to save our roads”, said Secretary Wereh.

Meanwhile the Works and Highway Secretary said the geography conditions and people has been always a challenge for the Department. He also expressed that road usage demand has increased over the years due to population with more traffic on the roads.

Wereh said over the years the Department has developed and design key standards to resist overloading on road conditions. “Recycling and Stabilization is one of the technologies we using to strengthen road pavement to resist the overloading experienced on our highways,” said Wereh.

“We have trialed it out and as we speak we have covered 200 to 300 kilometers on our highways at a cost effective rate,” said Wereh. He said the results have proved to be positive as the Department plans to use this standard to use in other highways around the country.

Wereh said a classic example is the road section from Nadzab junction to Nadzab airport with the road lasting for almost 8 years now.

According to Wereh the Works and Highway Department is taking calculated moves to find best solutions with designs given the huge capital investment and high cost of road maintenance in the country.

Wereh said it takes time and requires money to practically maintain, build and ensure Papua New Guinea has lasting road conditions which are safe and usable by the people. “We getting the kind of support never seen before including the recent passing of a law (Connect PNG Fund Arrangement Act) to see guaranteed funding for approved road plans in the country,” said Wereh.

“It’s possible to build better roads and highways if Government support is there to support key drivers. I’m quite confident that we will see the results in 5 to 6 years’ time to see the desired road conditions given the right planning, programing, design and approach with the support from other Government agencies, said Secretary Wereh.

New Guinea Islands Divisional Commander, ACP Perou N’dranou has urged police officers to uphold basic policing duties.

ACP N’dranou’s encouragement came during a short visit to New Ireland Province recently.

His visit is part of his familiarization call to ensure there is realistic overview of the state of police affairs for each province in the New Guinea Islands region.

N’dranou said he wants to see three things achieved in the region. “The first priority is getting the basic fundamentals of policing right again. It doesn’t need money to these priority target areas, all it needs is for each police officer to do their job right,” said ACP N’dranou.

The recently appointed Divisional Commander said this includes attending to complaints, investigating cases and prosecution.

N’dranou expressed that all these must be executed with integrity.

He added that his second priority is to have ‘zero tolerance to public nuisance while the third is ‘public stakeholders’ partnerships with police. The NGI Assistant Commander said New Ireland has introduced the SMART Policing concept which aligns perfectly with the regional focus to improve policing.

“This is the way forward because policing is challenging and police are under resourced at most times. Innovative approach is a smarter way to attract partnership,” said N’dranou.

N’dranou was recently appointed as NGI Assistant Divisional Commander and is based in East New Britain. New Ireland is the second province visited by him with plans of visits to Manus and West New Britain.

Rural Police Commanders from Konos, Lakurumau, Lihir and Taskul travelled into Kavieng Town to meet the new ACP. A parade was held by the local police force led by New Ireland Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector Felix Nebanat.

A US$250,000 (K830 564) health and medical equipment assistance from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has arrived in country.

The 2000 kilograms cargo consists of various medical items presented by the Indonesian Government.

The goods were received by the Deputy Controller of the National Control Centre for Covid19 Dr. Daoni Esorom and the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Elias Wohengu, in the presence of the Indonesian Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Andriana Supandy.

This assistance follows the official visit by Prime Minister James Marape on the 31st of March to Indonesia to meet with President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Presidential Palace.

During that visit, President Joko Widodo conveyed that Indonesia is ready to support Papua New Guinea’s efforts to strengthen its national resilience in the health sector through partnerships between the food and drug authorities of the two countries.

Indonesian pharmaceutical companies have also shown interest in marketing their products in the Papua New Guinea market.

Ambassador Supandy said this symbolic handing over of medical equipment to PNG portrays the strong ties between the two countries.

He said this gift, amongst several things discussed during the meeting between the two Prime Ministers in Indonesia, will strengthen the bilateral cooperation of the two countries.

Dr. Daoni Esorom, in receiving the health and medical equipment yesterday said this gift is timely and critical as the country prepares to go into it’s National General Elections in a week’s time.

He pointed out that this is not the first time the Indonesian government has given to Papua New Guinea.

During the Prime Minister’s visit to Indonesia on the 31st of March 2022, other things were discussed, including the increase in trade between PNG and Indonesia, which rose by 87% in 2021 compared to the previous year.

The implementation of the cooperation agreement in the defense sector was another agenda discussed, which will open up more opportunities for military cooperation between the two countries.

President Joko Widodo and PM Marape also discussed the synergy between the two countries to increase cooperation with the South Pacific countries, including the fields of sustainable development, climate change, renewable energy, maritime affairs and disaster management which are challenges for island countries in the Pacific.

H. E Supandy said Indonesia as the close neighbour and a good friend to Papua New Guinea is committed to assisting PNG.

“I believe there are still a lot of opportunity to be explored and as the Ambassador of Indonesia to Papua New Guinea, I would like to reiterate my commitment and give you my highest assurance to support the implementation of bilateral cooperation in the sector of political and security, economic and development, education, social and culture, and the most important is the common understanding among the people of the friendly neighboring countries.”

Research and Advocacy organization ACT NOW! and Jubilee Australia Research Centre have welcomed a report that the bank accounts of 30 logging companies operating in Papua New Guinea (PNG) have been closed.

The report ‘Logging High Risk industry’ outlined concerns by the PNG Forest Industry Association, a group representing commercial logging interest that Bank South Pacific(BSP) has closed the logging company bank accounts due to its anti-money laundering best practices.

ACT NOW Campaign Manager, Eddie Tanago said ACT Now welcomes the report stating the move by the banks in PNG will restrict financing in the logging sector as identified by the Bank of PNG.

“Over the past decades, ACT NOW! and its partners have detailed numerous examples of illegal activity in the sector which have led to the theft of vital forest resources from customary landowners. When banks provide services to logging companies, they help to prop up this destructive industry,” said Mr. Tanago.

The move by BSP to close the accounts of logging companies places the spotlight on PNG’s second largest bank, Kina Bank. Kina has yet to confirm if it is taking action to exit its logging company customers to rule out offering its services to new logging clients, added Tanago.

ACT NOW! and Jubilee Australia’s 2021 research identified that the remaining two commercial banks operating in PNG – Westpac and ANZ had policies or practices that restricted their financing to the logging sector.

A December 2021 report by ACT NOW! and Jubilee Australia, ‘The Money Behind the Chainsaw’ detailed how PNG’s commercial banks have provided at least K300million (AUS$144million) since 2000 in available credit to the country’s five largest exporters of tropical logs.

The report highlighted evidence of illegal activity and human rights abuse in the sector.

“We call on all banks to ensure that they do not bring on new customers involved in tropical forest logging and take steps to close the accounts of existing customers in this sector,” said Mr Tanago.

The Head of State and Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae was given the honor to do the groundbreaking for the newly established Nakanai District Headquarter in Bialla, West New Brittain Province.

This follows his recent visit to West New Britain during the Easter long weekend. Sir Bob was accompanied by his wife and officers from the State House.

Present to witness was Talasea MP Francis Maneke, LLG Presidents and people of Bialla.

Speaking during the event, the Governor General said the 7 new electorates are official. He urged people in the Nakanai electorate to take ownership and work with relevant authorities and allow the completion of the new district headquarter. “It is in the best interest of the Government to see public service at the doorstep of communities to serve people, said Sir Bob.

Talasea MP Francis Maneke said K5million has been allocated by the Talasea DDA to assist build the new District Office. “The funding will see the contractor begin work and build offices to accommodate public servants for the new district,” said MP Maneke.

“Public servants will be stationed here in Bialla to work and serve the people,” said the MP. Kimbe will be the headquarter for Talasea District, added Maneke.

The new Nakanai District Office is located beside the LLG Office and the new Bialla Court House.

Prior to that, the Governor General was in Mosa to witness the opening of two four in one classroom and two staff houses at Mosa High School. In his message there, Sir Bob urged students to take education seriously.

“Do not engage yourself in activities like drinking alcohol, chewing betelnut, smoking and early marriage, these will divert your attention and focus from achieving better academic results,” said Sir Bob. He said only education will be key to transform lives, communities, families and the country as whole.

Mosa LLG President Dacca Wagai who has been instrumental in setting-up the school said the school will serve the growing population. He said more work needs to be done to ensure the capacity of the school is resourced with necessary materials for both teachers and students.

“K2million was used to build the classroom complex and teachers houses, but we can do more if stakeholders work together,” said President Wagai.

Present also was WNB Governor Sasindran Muthuvel and Talasea MP Francis Maneke.

Team PNG’s participation in the two major sporting events this year, being the Northern Marianas Mini Pacific Games in Saipan from June 17the -25th and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games from the 28th of July to the 8th of August 2022, have received timely financial support totalling K150, 000 from SP Brewery Limited.

This annual commitment is part of the brewery’s three-year sponsorship to the PNGOC. PNGOC President Sir John Dawanincura thanked the Board and Management of SPB for the timely presentation as the PNGOC progresses on its preparedness for Team PNG’s back-to-back participation in two major international multi-sport events this year.

“We are grateful to the SPB Executive Board and Management for this presentation and appreciate that it was thoughtfully done well in advance before the two Teams are farewell to the Games in June and July respectively”,

“I also acknowledged the Company’s continued support to PNGOC and Team PNG over the last two years despite the challenges, especially added challenges to doing businesses due to the global pandemic”. Sir John said

SPB has a strong and long-term relationship with the PNGOC dating back as far as the early 1980s. The company has supported sports through other marquee events such as the SP Sports Awards, since 1992, in partnership with the PNGOC and PNG Sports Foundation.

SPB Managing Director Ed Weggemans stated “Even though we are dealing with trade restrictions and loss of business, SPB is proud to continue our support to Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee for another year.”

A video uploaded on social media on Holy Saturday proved beyond doubt stories of young women often visibly harassed in traumatizing ways in the capital city of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby.

The video narrated by a man who took the stand with his colleagues to save the victim.

In the video, the lady is escorted out by a traffic police officer.

But despite the presence of the lone policeman, men kept inappropriately grabbing her.

Coming out of the crowd, the horror shown on her face.

Clearly an unspeakable and horrifying experience.

She was escorted by the police officer into a waiting bus that rescued her and took her home.

The Governor of the National Capital District (NCD) has condemned this “shameful act of violence.”

Governor Powes Parkop said it is a totally unacceptable behavior and total disrespect for women and girls of our country.

“We all, especially men and boys of this country must hang our head in shame.

“Women and girls of our country have right of freedom of movement in their country free of violence and fear.

“As Governor of our Capital City I am disgusted and ashamed of such conduct in our city.

He said this continued level of GBV also demands that we roll out the GBV Strategies as soon as possible.

“Enough of talking.

“The strategy has been adopted in 2016 and launched in 2017,” he said.

Parkop said NCDC has adopted a three-pronged strategy to combat GBV and needs to upgrade it’s roll out, especially with the roll out into the public.

This year NCDC has also allocated funds to increase the size of the Reserve Police so they can help regular police to curb these activities in public places especially shopping malls, markets and bus stops.

“We will start recruiting and training new Reserve Police once we appoint a new officer to command the reserve police.

“We had hoped to employ a former Deputy Police Commissioner but this has not worked out so we working on a new engagement which I hope will be secured soon,” Parkop said.

But while Provincial Governments and the National Government “procrastinate”, as described by Parkop, gender-based violence continue to escalate.