Policewoman First Constable Jessica Tautau has topped a six-week detective training program in Port Moresby by taking out the dux award. The detective training program (DTP) was held at the Bomana Police Training College (BPTC) in Port Moresby. One of her male colleagues, First Constable Peter Aikel, took out the leadership award. Both were among 20 participants of the second batch of the DTP who concluded an intense theory and practical training on the best practices of being a detective. They received their certificates on Friday November 4, 2022. The batch comprised mostly of Criminal Investigations Division (CID) section personnel from NCD, Central, Lae and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Throughout the six-weeks training they were placed into four syndicates which comprised five participants in each syndicate.   Trainer, Detective Sergeant Ronah Lemek, said the DTP is intended for CID investigators out in the field to have better knowledge and skills in doing their job more efficiently and professionally. “The Purpose of the training is to equip the investigators in the CID section to have the best skills and practises so that they can be able to investigate CID cases and criminal offences out in their various stations,” she said. Some of the topics that were discussed in the training included: · The qualities of being an investigator - Understand who they are, and what is expected of them so they become good police officers;· Homicide, sexual offences, robbery, breaking offences – understanding the law, what it means and how Police can do their jobs in terms of the elements of the offences; · Elements of Offences; · Process of interviewing suspects and placing the correct charges; and · Search warrants and the Peace model. Detective Sergeant Lemek said the participants are selected through their Officer in Charge (OIC) at the station level. As for the outside provinces, they are selected from their OICs to their Provincial Police Commanders and they send their name list through Detective Training school. “As trainers our goal is to make sure that the participants understand what we are teaching. We also have practicals to ensure they understand the topics discussed during class. Because when they go out there, they must put into practise what they are taught, “Detective Sergeant Lemek said. The second batch of participants started on September 26 and represent their sections from fraud, arm robbery, general CID squad, Break in Squad, Sexual offences and the administration. The DTP is funded and supported by the Australian Federal Police since 2018 and until recently in 2021 the Bomana Centre for Excellence has fully taken over instructional duties in successfully delivering in-service training programs. Detective Sergeant Lemek thanked the Australian Federal Police for its assistance to date. Meanwhile, Sergeant Hillary Rigamu of the Bougainville Police Service said he was happy to be a part of the program and encouraged his colleagues to also attend such training if the opportunity was given. Sgt Rigamu is attached with the National Criminal Intelligence (NCI) in which they also carry out duties of transnational crimes duties and national criminal records. He said this training has helped equip him with better understanding on identifying evidence, digging deeper into evidence, working together as a team and following the correct procedures when investigating. He says this training will have a big impact on his career as a police officer and investigator and the BPS as a whole. “I’m privileged and very happy to be attending this training as an investigator and I hope I will get the support when I return, especially with our management in terms of logistics, stationeries and office equipment to help us carry on with our duties,” he said. Meanwhile, Inspector Leonie Simon is one of the female participants out of the four females. She serves as the admin officer attached with CID Boroko and has an investigative background which prompted her to take up the training. “As for me as an officer at that management level, I see that there are things we miss out when we are supervising our members down on the operations side of things,” she said. She thanked the trainers for breaking the topics to the simplest form where it is understood and absorbed, and hoped more trainers could be engaged for future training to lessen the workload on the current trainers. She said, “When I was accepted among the other ranks, I was so happy to be considered. Even being an officer, you have to come down to the training and utilise them to the best of your ability. This is going to help me in my field of experience and also being an admin officer at least I can get to check the court files and make sure members are supervised well.

Tabubil Secondary School Grade 10’s and Grade 12’s students recently sat for their 2022 National Exams in a comfortable, refreshed and newly renovated and extended School Hall. It was a timely handover as the school received a renovated school Hall on Friday 11th October, 2022, days before the National Exams, Thanks to BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) Tabubil branch and support partner Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) who significantly completed a full-scale renovation and extension of the School Hall days before the 2022 National Exams. The Hall was improved with newly furnished walls, patched roof, painted cement floor, an extended wing and fully painted building to give a new refreshing look of a modern facility. BSP Tabubil Branch Manager Dianne Rali Kome when handing over the completed project to the school said, “A reverence for the students and school facility can be felt when renovating and handing over a project like this, a long standing incomplete building that is more significant for the school and students’ academic activities.” “We thank our project support partner OTML and believe that this partnership approach has convened to improve and contribute to the students learning and development activities. This Hall can now help expand teaching and administrative capacity of the school.” The School Principal, Mr Galama Laka praised BSP for seeing their need and delivering a significant facility that will go a long way in helping the school succeed academically and administratively. “This hall is of great importance not only to the school but to the community at large as it can host other events,” he added. Tabubil Secondary School Hall Extension and Completion project is the 41 out of the 49 projects handed back to the communities under the 2022 BSP Community Project initiative, all coordinated and organised by the bank’s various branches, departments, units, subsidiaries and the countries in which BSP operates in.

Police Commissioner David Manning has urged Provincial Police Commanders to finalize Strategic Policing Plans for 2023 police operations in their respective provinces and metropolitan commands. Commissioner Manning made this remark when officiating at a four-day commanders’ planning workshop in Port Moresby this week. Mr Manning said, “District and Provincial plans are very critical because they provide insight to the management for proper resources coordination and allocation to maximize the police services in the country. The Constabulary is the largest organization and with limited resources and funding, we need proper planning and coordination at all levels. “Critical planning is lacking at the operational level. Thus, going forward I want commanders to improve in those areas so that the executive management will be in a better position to make informed decisions." The workshop is in line with the Constabulary Corporate Plan 2021 to 2030 which will conclude on Friday November 25 when Provincial Police Commanders are expected to submit their 2023 plans to the Police Executive Management.

Police men and women throughout the country deserve a salary increase like all other public servants who just got theirs increased by 3 percent. These are public servants who are subjected to all the economic hardships like rising prices of goods and services but continue to provide security for the country. This increase will not be a new or extra ordinary request, the Police Association, the RPNGC and the Department of Personnel Management (DPM) already have an existing and legally binding industrial agreement to increase police personnel’s salaries every three (3) years. The above parties are signatories to the Enterprise Based Agreement (EBA), which was first signed in 2006 and have been consecutively renewed until 2017 (last renewed). It was supposed to be reviewed and renewed two times since then but given the onset of the Covid 19 crisis and 2022 National General Elections, no attempts has been made and it is still pending. We are not silent and obsolete, we pursue our members’ interest as and when required, we don’t boast but we have achieved an improved employment terms and conditions that are currently enjoyed by all the police officers, including non-members. The association now demands a six (6) percent cumulative salary increase as per the EBA and also want the Commissioner of Police to sit with Association and discuss this matter promptly. In addition, we now call on the RPNGC management in the Human Resources Division to instigate consultation and dialogue to renew this EBA and award the salary increases the men and women in blue deserve. Furthermore, the association also requests the Commissioner of Police, DPM Secretary and the Treasury Department to immediately meet and factor this increase in the 2023 National Budget. Police force has done a tremendous job in successfully enforcing the Covid 19 restrictions to prevent and mitigate the spread of this dreadful disease and also, most importantly, had delivered a very vital national event, the National General Elections of 2022, irrespective of the political outcomes. They continue to contain various sporadic ethnic clashes in the nation’s capital and other parts of the country. The national government must acknowledge this efforts and labor rendered through salaries and allowances increases via the existing EBA.

In a new city and at a new club, Jake Turpin is ready to reinvent himself in the Red, White and Blue of the Sydney Roosters. The 26-year-old has racked up 60 NRL matches since debuting in his hometown of Brisbane in 2018, with the nuggety hooker a mainstay for the Broncos throughout. Now looking to expand his horizons and propel his career to a new level, Turpin has headed to Sydney's east and has embraced the move since arriving for pre-season. “I’m loving being here at the Roosters,” Turpin said. “The boys have welcomed me with open arms and I’m enjoying my first few weeks here. “I’m living in the east, it’s a really nice area to be in. I’ve never actually lived near a beach in my life so it’s been good in that way. “It’s really refreshing to come in here to a new environment. The coaches have been going above and beyond to help me out and to learn the way the Roosters play. “It’s a really good Club and one that I admired from afar at other clubs. When the opportunity came up I was definitely keen.” While he might be in a brand-new environment, the Rugby League network has a tendency to reunite familiar faces no matter what the situation and Turpin has plenty of former teammates dotted throughout the Roosters' 2023 NRL squad. Front rower Matt Lodge is someone Turpin is particularly keen to not only reconvene with on the training paddock and in the lunch room but at the front of the scrum as well. “I’m pretty close with Lodgey, I spent some time with him in Melbourne and Brisbane,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He’s a person who took me under his wing when I was 17 and just moved to Melbourne. I’ve got a lot of time for him and it’s really good to be here with him again. [caption id="attachment_30975" align="alignnone" width="1014"] Learning From the Best: Jake Turpin in action during pre-season training, with Club legend Cooper Cronk watching on. [/caption] “I know Connor (Watson) a little bit as well just from playing against him for a few years. After games, we'd stop and talk with one another. He’s a legend and a really nice down to earth fella. "I actually played a bit of juniors with Lindsay Collins too, so there's a few guys there who I'm looking forward to reunite with." One of the burning questions heading into the 2023 season is who will fill the vacancy of the no.9 jersey. Roosters Members and supporters will be buoyed knowing that fellow signing Brandon Smith is fresh off a strong campaign with the New Zealand Kiwis following the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. And while Turpin is vying to take on the hooking role which has been held by famous names across the Club's long and distinguished history, his arrival wasn't dictated solely by a chance to wear a number on his back. It’s really refreshing to come in here to a new environment. The coaches have been going above and beyond to help me out and to learn the way the Roosters play. Jake Turpin Roosters 2023 Recruit “It was just a really good opportunity to come to a really good Club with really good principles and structure,” Turpin explained. “That’s the best way I play football, to be honest. I probably went away from that over the last few years. “I spent a lot of time with Brandon in Melbourne so I’m keen to work with him when he gets back to training. “But to come to a Club like this and learn so much and get back to the football I know I can play, whatever happens with the team structure I’m just looking forward to playing the style of football I know I can. “I really pride myself on being a team player but whatever Robbo (Trent Robinson) and the team needs, I’ll 100% put my hand up for whatever that is. “I’ll put my best foot forward for what’s required for the team to win football games on the weekend.” One aspect of the Club's set up has caught Turpin's attention has been the involvement of former Roosters in a coaching capacity. With Jason Ryles as Assistant Coach, Cooper Cronk making guest appearances on the training paddock and the presence of Mitchell Aubusson, the Roosters are brimming with experience from top to bottom. But one Club legend, who shares both name and position, has stood out for Turpin -  that of course being former Premiership-winning Captain, Jake Friend. “Growing up I followed him pretty closely,” he said. “He was one of my favourite players as a kid and just going to training, seeing the ex-players that are still involved is pretty cool. “Having someone like Friendy there is great and I’m keen to learn a lot from him.” Source: NRL.Com

The National Court has ordered the return of K1.365 million to Ipwenz Construction Limited (Company) seized by members of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (Police) in Komo in the Hela Province in July 2022. The Company took out Court Proceedings at the National Court (OS No. 180 of 2022) for the release of items and cash confiscated on 2 July 2022 in Komo, Hela Province. The company argued that the funds were part and parcel of a larger amount of over K244 million contract it had secured from the National Government for the upgrade of roads in the Hela Province. On 2 July 2022, an employee of the Company, Mr. Seth Palipe boarded a chartered Air Niugini flight to Komo Airport in Hela Province. Mr Palipe was arrested by members of the Police. Mr Palipe was transporting K1,365,000.00 in cash. He was arrested by members of the Mobile Squad 03 (MS03) in which all his personal items and the cash was confiscated. The Company commenced Court Proceedings at the Waigani National Court on 7 September 2022 against members of the Police and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea alleging breach of various Constitutional Rights. The RPNGC after concluding its investigation into this matter and after being satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the monies involved in this incident were solely for commercial purposes, agreed to settle this matter to avoid further legal consequences. Under the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2015, to lawfully hold onto or have the ability and power to keep items that were found either through a complaint or search, the case officer (investigating officer) must first and foremost ensure to charge a person(s) involved with the appropriate offence(s) under the law to validate the items seized as “State evidence” or “state exhibit”. The five persons arrested in Komo with the cash and items have not been charged to date. After conducting a thorough investigation, the Police has established that: (a) The company was engaged by the National Government of Papua New Guinea (the State) to upgrade and reseal part of the Highlands Highway (the Highway) in Hela Province. The construction location is particularly along the road link between Tari and Nipa. (b) It was the parties understanding that: • The company would meet all costs involved in upgrading the road link along the Highway; and • As and when required, the company would pay compensation demands from landowners to prevent any disruptions and ensure completion of the road as scheduled. (c) On or around July 2022, the company was about to commence work on the section of the road link between Tango and Ambua. (d) The cash was intended to pay out the landowners of that particular stretch of road. On 21 November 2022, the National Court of Waigani ordered that the monies be returned to the company with all other personal items that were confiscated. The Court ordered Police to return the money to Lane Lawyers, the law firm representing the company along with other items that were confiscated.

The Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) received an award from the Papua New Guinea Human Resource Institute (PNGHRI) as one of the Best Performing Public Sector Organizations for 2022. The Governor-General, His Excellency Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae, presented the Award at the Crown Hotel, Port Moresby, today. In accepting the Award, Commissioner General Sam Koim thanked the Chairman and Council of PNGHRI for recognizing the progress made by IRC so far. He said, "I dedicate this Award to all the hardworking staff and management of the IRC who know more about tax than I do. I am just a figurehead of the organization of dynamic people." "Unfortunately, there is no benchmarking in the public sector to measure our performances; maturity model where we will measure our progress towards it, so every agency is doing its own thing. But I accept PNHRI's assessment of us because it is a non-government organization recognizing our efforts and encouraging us to be competitive." Mr. Koim added, "at IRC, we are not taking this Award as us reaching our peak, for our best is yet to come. We are not where we wanted to be, but this Award means we are not where we were three years ago. We strive to be an organization where all systems, processes, and people flow in the same synergy and perform at an optimal level. Revenue collections, how much of it, is just a by-product." The PNGHRI Award comes on the back of another award IRC received from another non-governmental organization last week. Last Friday, Transparency International (PNG) awarded the Integrity Initiative of Excellence Award to IRC. IRC continues to improve its internal controls, improve employment conditions, and weed out corruption. Source: Internal Revenue Commission (IRC)

Prominent Fijian lawyer and political party member Richard Naidu has been found guilty of contempt and scandalising the court. Earlier this year in February Mr Naidu posted on Facebook pointing out a spelling error in a judgement of the Fiji High Court. A few months later Fiji's Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed Khayum initiated Contempt of Court charges claiming the post was malicious and invited others to mock the judiciary. Richard Naidu's supporters and human rights organisations say his prosecution is a violation of the right to freedom of expression. Kate Schuetze, Amnesty International Pacific Researcher, called on Mr Khayum to withdraw the conviction. "Our main concern here is the right to freedom of expression includes the right to be critical, and judges aren't above that," she said. "It's really unfortunate that in this case, we could see a prominent lawyer, potentially go to jail over highlighting a spelling mistake, which was made by the courts in the first place." Ms Schuetze said the case highlighted the tense political environment in Fiji, and how that was leading to the suppression of rights. "We've seen this pattern within Fiji, if people step over an invisible line in terms of criticising government, individuals or government policy, they get charged under various laws," she said. Mr Naidu's sentencing is set for January next year where he could face the penalty of a fine or imprisonment. Source: ABC Pacific

Portugal coach Fernando Santos and playmaker Bruno Fernandes stressed that the news of Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United exit has done nothing to distract the squad from their World Cup goals. "Our focus is 100 per cent on national team," says Bruno Fernandes Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United exit was confirmed late last night Portugal open their Qatar 2022 campaign against Ghana on Thursday Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates will not be distracted from their FIFA World Cup™ mission by the storm of events surrounding the player’s future. This was the robust message from Portugal coach Fernando Santos and midfielder Bruno Fernandes on the eve of their opening Qatar 2022 fixture against Ghana. The timing of Ronaldo's exit from Manchester United – confirmed late on Tuesday night – has dominated the news agenda around the Portugal camp but inside it both Fernandes, his team-mate at Old Trafford until now, and Santos insisted that the focus was on the World Cup and nothing else. Speaking at Portugal's pre-match press conference in Doha, Fernandes said: "I haven’t discussed anything with Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s a personal matter that he is dealing with. Our focus is 100 per cent on the national team.” As for the impact on his own relationship with Ronaldo, the United player said: “I don’t feel uncomfortable with what is happening with Cristiano. It was a privilege to play with him in the national team and at club level. Cristiano is a role model for me. “The World Cup means a lot for Cristiano Ronaldo,” Fernandes added. “I’m sure he is focused on this competition. We usually create a lot of noise around things that are going on but I am sure Cristiano is focused.” Source: FIFA.com

Air Niugini and BSP Financial Group (BSP) customers can now book and pay for airline tickets instantly and securely online without using their BSP Cards via BSP Pay online payment option. BSP Pay payment solution allows BSP account holders to carry out online payments on registered merchants without using their BSP cards. The only information required is their CIF (BSP ID) and registered mobile number to receive security codes. The partnership has taken an exciting step in diversifying Air Niugini airline ticket payments by accepting BSP Pay as an alternate online payment option. BSP General Manager Digital, Nuni Kulu said that, “This payment solution allows BSP customers who do not own a visa or credit card, to be able to purchase tickets online,” said Mrs Kulu Nuni added that: “With BSP Pay, our customers will be able to benefit from another secure payment option and enjoy a hassle-free express checkout experience. The payment system securely and instantly generates a dynamic security code that validates each transaction with a one-time passcode through the customer’s registered mobile number. The payment process is so simple; passengers actually skip the physical reach for the wallet or purse to retrieve bankcards for details.” Air Niugini General Manager, Commercial Paul Abbot said with BSP Pay, it now gives the airline’s non-credit cardholders a safe and convenient alternative form of payment online. “Over 70% of our customers are domestic travelers, PNG based, therefore the BSP Pay option is a convenient and flexible online payment option for them. It greatly improves access and people’s ability to book travel from the comfort of their own home and now adds to other forms of online payment we already have including Visa, Mastercard and Amex. Air Niugini also accepts points plus cash payment for its Destinations Loyalty members and poli pay online payment option for travel originating out of Australia. Apart from the online payment, Air Niugini also has other forms of payment including BSP Mobile Tickets payment option, Cash and UATP card.

Nineteen employees of the National Airports Corporation (NAC) have successfully completed a specialised Training Course in Airport Master Planning. This specialised training is provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is designed for aviation management professionals and infrastructure developers. With this specialised training, these officers now have the essential knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to the organisation in the following areas; • Develop an Airport Master Plan that integrates the strategic objectives of the business. • Identify Traffic Forecasting Methodologies used in master planning • Develop and evaluate strategic options and • Design a robust development plan and phasing strategy, among others. The officers are currently in collaboration with the management to review NAC’s Master Plan alongside industry best practices to ensure that the 22 national airports and their associated facilities are strategically planned, developed and implemented in a safe, secure, environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. This would then help NAC to envision its airports and position them to foster economic growth for Papua New Guinea. The training is funded by NAC through its Project Management Unit (PMU) under the JICA ODA Loan, to meet the training and development needs of employees and to improve knowledge and skills gaps in key operational areas. Investment in this training demonstrates NAC's commitment to building a competent workforce that can deliver expected results in order to achieve the organization’s goals and objectives. Since taking office, the current Management has increased its focus and investment in the training and capacity development of the workforce because it believes that this will result in improved productivity of employees which will lead to overall improvements in business performance. The one-week training was facilitated by an independent consultant recently in Port Moresby. Source: National Airport Corporation 

Spencer Prior, a former professional football player for Manchester United player in the English Premier League is now the appointed head coach for the PNG National Women's team PNG Football Association in close consultation with the Oceania Football Confederation are pleased to confirm the official appointment of Spencer Prior as the new PNG Women’s National Football Team head coach. Spencer was preferred ahead of another 2 other shortlisted applicants out of a general field of 15 applications for the PNG Women’s National team head coach position. Spencer holds a AFF/AFC Pro coaching diploma, UEFA B coaching license and other football accreditations such as football coach educator, conditioner and analyst. He also holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science besides football. His coaching career is focused more on Women’s football development because he strongly believes that women’s football has the potential to bridge the gap of football development in all countries. Besides working with clubs in and around Australia and Asia, Spencer’s international coaching experiences included being the head coach for the Thailand Women’s National team from 2016/2017; head coach for the Australian U19 Women’s national team 2012/2013; and assistant coach for the Australian Women’s National senior team (Matildas) in 2011/2013. Having worked in Thailand and growing up in Vietnam, Spencer, a Brit turned Australian is well accustomed to different cultures and environments and is very approachable and adaptable to all. These are amongst key personalities that made Spencer stand out. Spencer had a professional football career as a player in the English Premier league for over 10 years playing with clubs such as Manchester City, Leicester City, Norwich City, Derby County, Cardiff City and Southend United as a central defender. “I would like to thank the PNG Football Association and Oceania Football Confederation Managements for giving me this opportunity to lead the PNG Women’s National team to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-offs in New Zealand in February 2023.” “We are currently preparing the players in Sydney where we are working together on developing high performance mindsets. Our aim has been to get the players to buy into the expectations on and off the pitch of what will be required to win two (2) games of football against teams that have spent 3 and a half years preparing for this moment.” “We have an opportunity to achieve the ultimate goal of qualifying for a spot in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup of which will raise the profile of women’s football in PNG.” ‘’While we have a good number of players still in country having visas and passports processed, it’s important for us to see all players that are in contention for a spot in the squad. We have organized a trial/practice match to ensure all players are given the same opportunity to be seen. This game will also provide a window to see those who have been in the high-performance program for the past two weeks. I’ am very much looking forward to meeting with all the staff and players together to discuss the next three months ahead towards the first play-offs vs Panama.’’ “The attitude and application of the players since coming into camp in Sydney has been first class. We are developing a culture that allows us to push the players beyond their limits everyday challenging them physically, mentally and technically.” ‘’This is a very exciting and challenging project and I’ am honored to be part of it.” Unquote. PNGFA Technical Director who officially welcomed head coach Spencer Prior for and on behalf of PNG Football Association said he was satisfied that our Women’s National Football team are now under a very good coaching leadership that can make a difference in a short space of time. He said the players have established very positive team bondage and culture which was encouraging for the team in the way forward.