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KAMALI BIBLE TRANSLATION PROJECT

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The people of Kamali Village in the Rigo District of Central Province recently celebrated the launching of the Kamali Bible Translation Project.

The project is an initiative of the Kamali United Church and the People of Kamali Village to translate the bible into the Kamali language.

They believe the people will better understand God’s words in their own language.

“We believe that this translation is very important to us, will have an impact on the lives of people, strengthen church growth and also encounter Jesus as their personal savior.

“We believe that this translation will help people to understand God more clearly in their own language,” Kamali Bible Translation Project Chairman Willie Porau said.

Following the launching, there will be more consultation with the PNG Bible Translation Association, with a framework to be established.

The framework is a guide on how to go about completing this project.

The PNG Bible Translation Association will be supporting this project with training programs for the translators who will be involved in this project.

“Our part as BTA is to manage the translation. Whatever update, whatever that you are doing, we must be aware on our end.” A PNG BTA Rep said.

The BTA Rep also explained that they will support them in any training that they need, however they will meet the cost of all training.

“Most of our translators are trained in our head quarters in Ukarumpa, in Aiyura Eastern Highlands Province, but some training will be held here just to equip our translators.” he said.

There are also plans in place for a one book workshop to be hosted in September, where participants will be trained on how to better translate the bible into the Kamali vernacular.

During the workshop, they will focus on translating the book of Ruth, with the new testament to be translated after the workshop.

Though it is a challenging exercise, the church is privileged to have the support of the people of Kamali, church pastors, Rigo District and the PNG Bible Translation Association.

The Chairman says it is through team work, that will help them achieve their goal of translating the New Testament of the Bible.

The PNG BTA Rep also urged the people of Kamali to support translators who will be working on their bible.

“Look after your translators, take care of them, just your pastors.”

Related: https://insidepng.com/rigo-rice-supports-domestic-rice-demand/

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International

Discussions begin at the 2023 Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders Summit

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Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders Summit

Vanuatu Prime Minister, Ishmael Kalsakau, official opened the 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group, Leaders Summit in Port Vila.

Environment and Climate Change, security issues, and trade agreements were top on the agendas discussed ON Wednesday (August 23).

In attendance were Pacific leaders from Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the Fiji, French territory of New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea.

The welcome ceremony held at the Vanuatu Convention Centre started with a plenary session and each Pacific Island Leader was given the opportunity to make their statements.

PNG Prime Minister, James Marape in his remarks outlined PNG’s stand on Climate Change Mitigation and called on industrialized nations to make real interventions to assist Pacific Countries facing effects of Climate Change.

“I call on China, the United States and Australia to make real interventions to the Small Island States in the Pacific,” said Marape.

Marape conveyed Papua New Guinea’s support of Vanuatu’s move to seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice on the impacts of Climate Change on the people of the Pacific.

Prime Minister James Marape at the MSG Summit

“I want to offer our support to Vanuatu’s leadership on the initiative to seek an advisory opinion on the International Court of Justice on matters of Climate Change through the United Nations through international law to protect the rights of future generations that are adversely affected. That is correct leadership and I commend Vanuatu,” said Marape.

Marape said Pacific Leaders must continue to represent views within the context of Melanesia and the Pacific.

“We all have interest in dealing with environmental issues, with Climate Change being big among us. We have development challenges; our need to ensure that genuine investors are not here just for today’s need but more importantly for the sustenance of our children after us. These challenges remain our collective voice, if we want to be heard today,” Marape told the MSG member countries.

A Leaders’ Retreat will end the summit for the leaders with an Outcomes Declaration signed on Thursday (August 24).

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Namah: Goina’s Suspension is Ill-decision

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Namah

The actions by the National Executive Council to sideline PNGDF Commander, Major General Mark Goina, is described as too soon and serves no purpose.

Speaking as Chairman of the Permanent Parliament Committee- Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Defense, Vanimo Green River MP, Belden Namah said it’s myopic and unsound.

“Why suspend the Commander when there are layers of authority between the training unit and the Commander? The Chief of Training and Deputy Commander should be suspended as well,” said Namah.

Major General Mark Goina was sidelined through an NEC decision announced by Prime Minister James Marape, late last Friday.

Marape said the suspension was for three months and it will allow a General Board of Inquiry into the Kupiano killings to continue.

But Namah said this is all superficial.

“Allow the Commander to get to the bottom of this incident. These soldiers killed and wounded are his soldiers and he owes their families”, Namah said.

Namah said NEC made an ill-decision and urges the Prime Minister and NEC to seek professional advice on such matters.

The last Defense Board of Inquiry conducted by PNGDF was in 2005 and involved a clandestine operation that flew Solomon Islands Attorney General, Julian Moti into Muda Island in Solomon Islands.

Namah said the Strategic Leadership of the force was part of the decision authorizing the use of PNGDF aircraft. Yet the Commander was not suspended. And he cooperated with the inquiry.

Meanwhile a General Board of Inquiry has commenced into the killing of Leading Seaman, Eric Gwale and Corporal Watata Kutegen and the wounding of a soldier and a civilian.

Both soldiers were killed by live ammunitions fired during the final exercise for the Corporal Qualifying Course on 4th July 2023.

Now that Goina is suspended. Deputy Commander, Commodore Phillip Polewara is acting Commander.

Related: https://insidepng.com/nec-sidelines-goina-as-inquiry-continues/

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News

Melanesian Spearhead Group

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MSG

A number of declarations are expected to be signed by members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group this Friday when the summit ends.

Prime Minister James Marape will be flying into Vanuatu tomorrow (Tuesday 22. August 23) to join other leaders of MSG countries for the official opening.

The 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders’ Summit and related meetings commenced in Port Vila as scheduled

  • 18th August – Senior Officials Meeting
  • 19th to 20th August – Pre-Summit Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)
  • 21st August – Foreign Minister’s Meeting (FMM) today (21.08.23
  • 22nd August – Official Opening of Leader’s Summit
  • 23rd August – Plenary Sessions
  • 24th August – Leader’s Retreat

Vice Minister assisting Prime Minister Muguwa Dilu is currently presenting Papua New Guinea at the MSG Meetings.

Dilu told MSG leaders in his opening statement for member countries to take ownership of development issues and provide leadership in pursuing the objectives of the MSG.

“The theme (Being Relevant and Influential ) resonates well, the need for the MSG to remain focused and bolster the efforts towards the common goal of building a stronger and resilient MSG family that is responsive to the needs and aspirations of its people, said Dilu.

He added that MSG must provide market opportunities, empower its people and strategically open up the MSG region, wherever possible to the world to seize economic opportunities to building back better economic resilience post COVID-19 through strategic economic partnership.”

Today’s FMM opened with statements from Fiji, Solomon Islands, PNG, Vanuatu, FLNKS, and Indonesia, before leaders went into a ‘Closed Session’ where in-depth concerns were raised on environment and climate change, security issues, and trade agreements, besides an operational report from the MSG Secretariat.

Other documents that are expected to signed on Friday include;

  • An Outcomes Declarations
  • A Declaration on Climate Change
  • Concord for Peace, Mutual Respect, Cooperation and Amity.

MSG members include, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and FLNKS (Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front) and Indonesian Indonesia as an Associate member.

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News

Marape Speaks Against Killings

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James Marape Speaks Against Killings

Prime Minister James Marape says, the Government is currently evaluating the police structure and the role of the defence force in Enga.

Marape said this in response to the recent killing of five suspected hired gunmen in Enga, whose images were widely shared on social media.

The Prime Minister described the act of violence as a case of “jungle justice” and requires a more peaceful and just resolution to the tribal flights and gun violence seen in the province.

“I want to implore the warring tribes of Enga to abandon violence and also denounce the concept of ‘jungle justice,” said Marape.

Marape said the Police Force has been issued explicit directives to decisively address the ongoing tribal disputes in Enga.

“Police Commissioner David Manning has been mandated to intervene in the persistent tribal confrontations in Enga, to quell the escalation of violence, and to apprehend those who persist in armed conflicts,” Marape continued.

On 15th August 2023, Police Chief, David Manning issued an internal circular to police to use lethal force.

The directive Manning issued read;
“I have directed RPNGC personnel to be prepared to deploy lethal force where it is required and reasonable. Commanders are instructed into respective operational orders.”

The continuous tribal flights and killings in Enga has forced airline companies to temporarily suspect flights into Wapenamanda airport.

While condemning the killings Marape said investigations have been conducted into the financiers of these tribal clashes, many of whom reside outside the province of Enga.

“To all warring factions in Enga, I appeal you to relinquish your weapons and allow the peace initiatives initiated by the Enga Provincial Government to progress,” Marape said.

The three month State of Emergency in Enga is still in place.

Related: https://insidepng.com/calls-against-orders/

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News

COMMUNICATION SUPPORT

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Satellite phones will be used to improve communications between Buka and communities impacted by Mt. Bagana eruption, strong winds and rain.

Five satellite phones from National Information Communication and Telecommunication Authority or NICTA were given to the Disaster Office in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville as part of continued disaster relief exercise.

Chairman of NICTA Board, Noel Mobiha said this is the first time NICTA has come on board to support government department’s response to disaster.

South Bougainville MP who heads the Information Communication and Technology portfolio, Timothy Masiu said the satellite phones were given by NICTA with support of International Telecommunications Unit (ITU).

Communication Support by NICTA and Starlink

Masiu said the Star Link satellite services will also be deployed pending regulatory processes by NICTA and Digicel PNG will also support by strengthening network coverage at Torokina and South Bougainville

The loaned service will be used for three months on Bougainville and the satellite phones will be returned to NICTA for other emergency response in other parts of the country.

“NICTA is looking at improving communications infrastructure and services to support the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory (RVO) for real time data transmission,” said Masiu.

A team from RVOC was also in Buka last week to assist. The observatory has deployed monitoring devices but need strong communications network for real time relay of information to the RVO Base in Rabaul.

SOE Controller, Esther Usurup thanked NICTA and Mr Masiu for the communication equipment and services that will come as this was urgently needed .

Masiu also announced that a K100,000 funding from his electorate will be given to support the Disaster office specifically for the Emergency Team to continue relief assistance to South Bougainville.

Communication Support

For more stories on the Mt Bagana disaster relief efforts click the links below for our other stories.

Related: SOE Extended

https://insidepng.com/soe-extended/

Bagana Assistance

https://insidepng.com/bagana-assistance/

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News

RAPID POPULATION GROWTH A CONCERN

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Population growth has increased considerably since the last census was conducted, and has placed even greater pressure on the government to deliver essential services.

Labour and Employment Minister Kessy Sawang made this statement last week, when announcing the release of the population estimates for 2021.

She commended the National Statistical Office, UNFPA and the Australian Government for supporting this initiative, saying with the population estimates for 2021 now available, it is time to conduct the population and household census.

“I am pleased that the Minister for Finance and Implementation, Rainbo Paita has confirmed that this will be done next year,” Sawang said.

Labour and Employment Minister Kessy Sawang on Population Growth
Labour and Employment Minister Kessy Sawang

Population data is of vital importance, as it helps the government make budget plans on how and where to spend government funding, to achieve minimum standards of services such as health and education, and infrastructure services.

“This data allows informed consideration of the redrawing of electoral boundaries, assessment of the conduct of the last general elections and even fiscal equalisation grants from national to subnational government,” Sawang added.
However, the Minister was alarmed at the implied average annual rate of population change of 4.9% between 2011, when the last Census was conducted and 2021.

“An average annual population growth of 4.9% places Papua New Guinea amongst the fastest growing population in the world.”
The minister further added that her Ministry has commenced using the population estimates to better understand the labour market and employment.

“Our country has a significant challenge to deal with a rapidly growing young population and that this is now an even greater priority. The implications of the new population growth rate for economic growth are stark it reveals that average income per person, after adjusting for inflation, has been falling since 2016,” Minister Sawang said.

Average income per person outside of the mineral and petroleum sectors has been falling for even longer, since 2012.

Using the 2023 National Budget forward estimates, which are conservative, the outlook is for this to continue over the period up to 2027.

The Labour Minister said if this trend is not reversed we will not meet the targets and aspirations in our development plans and strategic goals leaving people with a poorer quality of life.

“This underscores the need to implement the MTDP IV carefully and in a coherent and robust manner to achieve its goals of moving our economy onto a higher, inclusive and sustainable growth path,” Sawang added.

The minister said this must be a call to action.

“We must urgently reinvigorate and concentrate our efforts to create income and jobs, especially for our young adults and for women. We need to grow our economy outside of the mineral and petroleum sectors as only they can provide the opportunities to absorb the large number of our youths.”

The minster also highlighted the need to support private sector growth, to provide more job opportunities.

“We can do this by lowering the cost of doing business and providing coherent, sensible and stable policies,” Sawang said.

“I will seek stronger coordination with my fellow Ministers to advance appropriate education, training and skills development programs that will prepare our people to enter the formal workforce and that will build national productivity to lift economic growth.”

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News

NEC Sidelines Goina as Inquiry Continues

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NEC Sidelines Goina

Chief of PNGDF, Major General, Mark Goina is now suspended and Deputy Commander, Commodore Phillip Polewara is now Acting PNGDF Commander.

Prime Minister James Marape as Chairman of the National Executive Council said the NEC decision will allow the General Board of Inquiry into the killing of two PNGDF members, the wounding of a soldier and a civilian to continue.

Prime Minister James Marape [Supplied Image]

“Therefore to affirm the integrity of the GBOI, and also the dignity of the Commander, NEC took a decision to suspend the Commander under Section 6 (3) (b) of the Defense Act 1974 for three months, or until such time the GBOI delivers its findings,”said Marape.

Goina’s suspenssion today follows a brief report to cabinet by Defense Minister, Win Barki Daki on the shooting death of Leading Seaman, Eric Gwale and Corporal Watata Kutegen on 4th July 2023 at Kupiano.

The two were part of 40 soldiers who underwent training for the Corporal Qualifying Course but were killed on the final exercise.

NEC sidelines Goina
The two soldiers who were killed early last month.
NEC Sidelines Goina

Initial PNGDF investigations into their killings revealed that they were shot by high velocity ammunitions fired from within 40 meters.

Three soldiers were identified and one has confused to firing the live ammunitions because he had it in his possession.

The Terms of Reference for GBOI covers the shooting incident and expands into any contributing factors which may have led to arms contamination in a training situation.

“As a government we owe it to our men and women of the Defense Force, and especially those who died or were wounded and their loved ones, to find out what went wrong, and how do we fix this wrong. We therefore welcome the General Board of Inquiry that was set up by the Defense Minister,” said Marape

The GBOI is a legal process that will run independently and deliver its findings.

The government will pick up on the recommendations from the GBOI and will address all the issues that come out of the findings.

Related: https://insidepng.com/two-pngdf-soldiers-killed-during-training-exercise-in-kupiano/

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Arts & Culture

Fashion for Peace: Creating designs that foster peace

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Fashion for Peace

FASHION FOR PEACE is the theme for the 2023 PNG Fashion and Design Week.

This year, PNGFDW is working in close collaboration with final-year Art and Design students from the University of Papua New Guinea, promoting greater recognition and opportunities for the youth who graduate from this course into the real world.

The announcement was made by founder of PNG Fashion and Design Week Ltd, Janet Sios, who aims to highlight challenges faced by the students and utilize the fashion industry as the bridge to explore raw PNG talent and help build careers in fashion.

“We went through the Student Representative Council (SRC) and hosted a runway for them on the 29th of June at the University and it has opened up our eyes to the potential of the students that they could tap into such an industry.”

Mrs Sios explained that the creative industry is worth more than five billion in the whole world and Papua New Guinea is yet to reach and utilize its full creative potential.

Sios and her team have in the past eight years led awareness and advocacy campaigns for sustainable growth, addressing challenges such as intellectual property, market access, financing for small businesses and the preservation of PNG’s cultural heritage through fashion design.

“The creative arts students need to be aware of what we are doing in the industry, creating a culture creative industry in Papua New Guinea.”

With a vision to develop a thriving and progressive creative economy in Papua New Guinea, Sios explained that the fashion and design space is very much inclusive and not limited to models and fashion designers.

Theme: Fashion for Peace

“This is not just for models and designers only; jewelers, photographers, videographers and makeup artists can also join this sector and earn an honest living.”

“That is why we continue the work that we have started eight years ago, to bring awareness on how we manage ourselves in bringing this industry forward.”

“Fashion For Peace is a very important serious topic for us”

“Our country is going through a lot; our young people are lost.

“We feel that such a platform can be a powerful tool to bring the messages of positivity.”

“We’ve challenged the designers and models to create designs that reflect the various aspects of peace,” explained Sios.

In accordance with the theme, “Fashion for Peace” UPNG Final-Year Student designer, Enoch Nalong named his ‘collection “Oneness in Nature” which exemplifies the serenity of being one with nature bringing forth a sense of peace.

Enoch is the only male out of seven student designers who will showcase their designs alongside other established and emerging designers.

They are:

  1. Anna Amos – AA Tribal
  2. Wandid Amini Korimbo – Wiska/Niugini Native
  3. Elizabeth Omeri – Denani
  4. Kenny Ng – Kenny PNG
  5. Natasha Tamanabae – Baiwa
  6. Dr Jim Kari – Kari Designs
  7. Elizabeth Wong – ELIZZ
  8. Kathryn Turbarat – JeyMal Designs
  9. Esther Sione – Tehine Designs
  10. Janet Sios/Aunty Faye Collaboration (International designer)
  11. Iki Haangana (International designer)

The PNG Fashion and Design Week show will take place on Saturday (August 19) at the Stanly Hotel in Port Moresby.

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News

Appeal on Lae-Kabwum Road Project

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Lae-Kabwung Road Committee

A call has been made to Planning Minister and Finschhafen MP, Renbo Paita, Deputy Prime Minister.and Member for Lae, John Rosso and the Prime Minister, James Marape to attend the launching of the Lae-Kabwum Road Project on the 31st of August 2023.

The call by a committee of Lae-Kabwum Road Project wants to see the road connect five electorates and link up more than two hundred thousand people.

Districts included in this project are Kabwum, Finschhafen, Tewai-Siassi, Nawaeb and Lae Open.

The FISIKA Region has a high quality of agricultural products including coffee, livestock and fresh produce of immense economic value.

Committee Chairman Robert Ayang said the road was supposed to be built years back.

“The link has been missing for 137 years since the first Lutheran missionaries arrival in the country and through Morobe. There is currently no road. The only mode of transport used is air by the third level airline,” said Ayang.

The construction of the Lae, Finschhafen, Sialum and Wasu or the FISIKA road will open doors for major economic developments for Morobe.

A team of engineers from the Morobe Provincial Government are in Kawbum District with GPS machines, funded by the Morobe Provincial Government.

Lae-Kabwum Road Project

Mr. Ayang said, the team covered Burum-Kuwat in Finschaffen District and are now in Kawbum District. Ayang also confirmed that walking is another mode people use, especially from Lae to Indagen in Kabwum and as further to Wasu in Tewai-Siassi District. Mr. Ayang, said the mode of walking has caused a lot of lives due to no road. This includes those that lost their lives when walking from Lae to Indagen in Komba LLG, Kawbwum to attend the 100 Year Anniversary Celebration of the Lutheran Church in 2019.

The committee had already sent invites to the Morobe MPs and the Prime Minister to attend the launching in Indagen, Kabwum District. They’ve called on their Leaders and the Prime Minister to accept the invite and attend the launching. Chairman Ayang said, “In 2019, the Prime Minister, James Marape went to Indagen village to celebrate the 100 Year Anniversary Celebration with the people of Kabwum and made a commitment of K100 million.” Ayang said the PM’s commitment follows an act dramatized by the locals on how people died when walking from Lae to Indagen to celebrate the 100 Year Anniversary Celebration of the Lutheran Church. Ayang said, “To date, nothing has been done concerning the Prime Minister’s commitment, the people of FISIKA Region are still waiting.”

Committee Chairman Robert Ayang on the commitments made by Prime Minister James Marape.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Lae-Kabwum Road Project, Sebastian Singery said the office of National Planning has a copy of the Project concept through a submission made by the Provincial Support Improvement Program(PSIP) office in 2021. He said eight districts of Morobe have roads linking to Lae, except for Kabwum and Tewai-Siassi District. Singery called on the MPs and the LLG leaders of the FISIKA Region to unite and work together with the committee for in order to connect the missing link that would benefit the people of FISIKA.

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