With a dream for Madang to grow into an economic powerhouse for Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister James Marape announced a funding of K100 million for the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ).

Marape said hundreds of millions of kina for the PMIZ had been squandered during the terms of the past two governments, with nothing to show for, and assured the people that this would not happen again.

“The project would be managed by the National Fisheries Authority and the K100 million, included in the 2022 Budget, had already been allocated,” said Marape.

The PMIZ project was first mooted in 2004, and launched by the O’Neill government in 2015, but nothing has happened with hundreds of millions of kina wasted.

Marape said the National Government will spearhead this and appeals to the people in Madang to support his Government drive the project.

The Prime Minister assured the people of Madang that the mistakes of the past two governments would not be repeated.

“We are doing it (PMIZ) much better (than previous governments),” he said.

“This year, for the first time, we are putting K100 million into the PMIZ project.

“We will be making the PMIZ project come to life for the first time.”

A leading environmental and human rights firm will be tasked to carry out an impact assessment on the Panguna Mine and its surrounding communities.

This was discussed in the second meeting of the Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Committee held recently in Ioro in the Panguna area of Central Bougainville.

The committee, made up of representatives from various clans in Panguna including the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and mining company Rio Tinto met to discuss a way forward in assessing the environment and human rights impacts and damages associated with the now defunct Panguna Mine.

Following an agreement made in the 1st meeting, a draft assessment report was presented to provide vital information to the impacted communities for the main impact assessment to begin.

“Throughout this process engaging well and informing our community members will be critical for the impact assessment,” said Paramount Chief Blaise Iruinu.

Currently the impact assessment is in a tender process where a firm will be selected to undertake this process within an 18-month period. An independent fund management system is also in place to enable a transparent contracting and payment of the selected contractor.

With discussion being made on the possibility of reopening the Panguna Mine, the legacy committee has agreed to keep the ABG informed on the progress of the impact assessment.

The assessment is planned to start in July.

Meanwhile A 3rd meeting of the committee will be held in May with representatives from Rio Tinto.

A clash by two clans in Karizogo, in upper Bundi, Madang Province on the 17th of March 2022 has not only disturbed peace but almost cost the lives of four people.

Footage supplied by Kumura Foundation show three man bleeding uncontrollably and a woman nursing cut fingers.

The four were slashed with machete or bush knives.

They were lucky, medical experts from Kumura Foundation were close by.

Bundi is located at the border of Madang and Simbu Province. It has some of the most challenging terrains in PNG making it difficult to get to a nearest health center immediately.

Vincent Kumura, the Director of Kumura Foundation said two of the injured were escorted for miles uphill to Snow Pass and the other was carried on a makeshift stretcher for two hours to Betty Camp near Pandambai, Upper Bundi to be transported in the Kumura Foundation’s Upper Bundi Ambulance to the Sir. Joseph Nombri Memorial Hospital (SJNMH) in Kundiawa.

With the help of Rat Wara- a local PMV owner of Gembogl, the head of the Emergency Department at the SJNMH Dr Bobby Welsh and his team, all four injured persons received timely treatment.

Three of them have been discharged from the hospital.

The other is in a stable condition.

Kumura thanked the Sir. Brian Bell Foundation for the much needed Upper Bundi Ambulance that is saving lives in this part of the country.

The Ambulance was donated last year.

So far, 140 patients have been transported to health facilities in Simbu Province.

Thirty percent are from the Kundiawa-Gembogl District and the rest from Bundi.

Long serving West New Britain Provincial Administrator, Williamson Hosea has resigned from duties.

Today he handed over the reigns to his successor, Leo Mapmani who will be Acting Provincial Administrator for the next three months.

Mr. Hosea has served for 46 years in the public service with 10 years as Provincial Administrator.

West New Britain Governor, Sasindran Muthuvel said this follows a National Executive Council decision on the 9th of March under the compulsory retirement age of 65.

Muthuvel said this is a directive with both Mr Hosea and Mr Mapmani receiving letters from the Department of Personnel Management.

“We will do a formal farewell ceremony after Parliament sitting”, said Muthuvel.

The Governor added that this should see a smooth flow of transition to ensure the public service in West New Britain continues to deliver services.

Muthuvel thanked Hosea for his outstanding service to the people of West New Britain and urged him to work with his successor during the transition period.

Mr Hosea hails from Galilo Village in the Hoskins LLG of Talasea District. He started as an Agriculture Officer and worked his way up to Deputy Provincial Administrator before being appointed as the Provincial Administrator.

He reached the retirement age of 65 last November.

Meanwhile Hosea’s successor, Leo Mapmani was the District Administrator for Talasea District prior to this appointment.

Both announcements were made at the Office of the West New Britain Governor.

Thirty-Five (35) public servants have recently graduated from the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance (PILAG) Highlands Regional Centre in Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province.

The eight females and twenty seven males were awarded with certificates in Leadership and Governance, a course funded and supported by the SP Foundation Incorporation since 2018.

The public servants were from 9 different organizations within the Highlands region.

While congratulating the participants, Department of Personnel Management Secretary,Taies Sansan who is also the interim Chairlady of the PILAG Board took time to inform them about several changes within the sector.

She highlighted a number of key policy changes to the public service which includes the Public Service long term plan, and the Human Resource Development Strategy Plan 2020 – 2050.

“The public service now has training policies which aligns to and complements the 30 year long term plan”, she adds.

Sansan challenged the graduands to be the change agent in their respective organizations when they return to work.

“Serving in the public service is a well-regarded and privileged role for individuals who are paid to carry out services for and on behalf of the general public.

“Public Servants are expected to display commitment, dedication and ethics in their conduct”, said Sansan.

Secretary Sansan also took time to acknowledge SP Foundation Incorporation for their continued support and PILAG for ensuring that their regional centers provides more leadership training courses to those in the provinces that need up-skilling.

COVID19 entry requirements into PNG has been relaxed.

Commissioner of Police and Controller of the National Pandemic Response David Manning released the new measures today, replacing Measure No.2.

The new measures omits the “timeframe” required by a passenger to get a booster shot or any of the approved vaccines, however passengers travelling by plane will need to take a covid19 test 72 hours before boarding.

Test results from Polymerase Chain Reaction of PCR will be the only one accepted.

For passengers and crews entering PNG through the maritime Ports, covid19 tests will now take place upon arrival.

Previously, the passengers took the covid19 test 72 hours before arrival.

For passengers whose test results return positive they will be required to follow the normal isolation and quarantine protocols until cleared of covid19.

The new measures come into effect on 21 March 2022.

All passengers travelling by both modes of transport must be fully vaccinated.

Moresby North West MP and Pangu Pati Member, Lohia Boe Samuel has been refused police bail after he was charged for Murder.

NCD and Central Divisional Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner, Anthony Wagambie Jnr said the MP was invited to Boroko Police Station where he was formally charged under the Criminal Code Act.

Police report say the deceased, a father of seven lost his life after he was allegedly shot with a firearm in a restaurant in Port Moresby.

Police have established that the licensed firearm is owned and registered to Mr. Samuel and at the time of the incident the member was in company of his staff and the deceased.

Commander Wagambie explained that it took police a while to make the arrest because police investigators had to gather evidence to ensure the right person is charged for Discharging a firearm.

Police Commissioner David Manning is not too pleased with the media after one of the daily newspapers wrote that the police are not election ready.

Post Courier newspaper had “Police Not Poll-Ready” on the front-page headline of today’s newspaper.

The author of the report received comments from Deputy Police Commissioner Operations, Anthon Billy saying there are no firearms and no munitions.

Commissioner Manning called for a press conference today to clarify the RPNG’s preparedness and also took the time to school the media about responsible reporting.

Manning said the media must report responsibly as it is easy for people to misinterpret information.

“The elections, as we all know in Papua New Guinea, are often times volatile. We have a very impressionable population that is often swayed by either public opinion or posts on social media.”

While he did not directly admit what his Deputy had said Manning said it is not for the police force to arm itself but to provide safety.

“The police hierarchy has an ongoing program to replace aging weapons but the delay is caused by the procurement process.

The Police Commissioner said it is their procurement plan to ensure that people are provided the best possible logistical support.

“Elections have its associated risks, as I said there are high proliferation of illegal firearms; high powered firearms in our communities continue to be a risk we will work towards mitigating. ”

“But delay is beyond our control, it’s either the late warrant of funds, of course being public funds, the procurement process needs to be followed.”

Meanwhile the Minister for Police William Onglo says the Government is focused and wants to ensure that the 2022 National General Elections will be free, fair and safe for everyone across the country.

“The Marape Government has transferred K111million already into our police operations for the elections.”