A small but significant event made Las Kona come alive last week as NGI Divisional Commander, ACP Perou N'dranou and New Ireland PPC Chief Inspector, Felix Nebanat converged at the remote Kumim Village upon the invitation of the SOR Waipap clan who gave their customary land to establish a Police Post. For the first time in history, the landowners were moved to tears in an emotional ceremony that captured their hearts desire to see police presence is maintained in the area. "Since logging came in with Police deployment, we have seen a drastic decrease in the level of crimes in our communities,” said Judah Pais, SOR Waipap clan rep and company Public Relations Officer. Pais said seeing ACP and his contingent and PPC Nebanat with his team, signifies the beginning of a new legacy that gives new hope for peace restoration. For the past 10 to 15 years since road access to Namatanai was deteriorated beyond repair. Law & Order coincidently deteriorated along with the absence of government services and most importantly Police presence. Judah said his people access basic services by boat from Kokopo which is only an hour away compared to a laborious 9 hours walk to Kabanut (where the government road stops) to catch a PMV to travel for another 2 hours into Namatanai. The alarming number of unreported sea piracy cases, murder, marijuana, rape, arson, cultivation of brewing of homebrew, sales and consumption of drugs soared uncontrollably. Responding to their gesture to provide the land ACP N'dranou thanked the clan elders for initiative saying that he is presented with a great challenge. He said the establishment of post, its general operation and maintenance must be drawn under the microscope to ensure proper planning and implementation of the project must be done according RPNGC's due process and protocol. He highlighted the importance of having the Police post established outside of the logging company’s area, to maintain transparency and neutralism. He also challenged the District and the LLG to take ownership in funding the Police post. Present for the event NDDA CEO and District Administrator for Namatanai, Mr. Neville Tomon also pledged his support for the project. PPC Nebanat thanked the SOR Waipap clan for their recognition for the need for policing in the area and commended them for their step in the right direction to partner with the Police by giving their land to accommodate the Police Post for the LLG.

As he packed his bag before heading into Kumuls camp for the last time, David Mead reflected on the first occasion he wore the PNG jersey as a 19-year-old in 2008 and the opportunities representing his country had provided for him in the game. Mead wants other young PNG players to have a similar experience and that is why the long-serving Kumuls captain told team-mates on Tuesday that he was calling time on his decorated international career after Saturday night’s Pacific Test against Fiji at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. The 33-year-old is yet to made a final decision about his NRL future but he has advised new Kumuls coach Stanley Tepend to give his World Cup spot to one of the growing band of young players he believes would provide the talent for a future PNG team in the Telstra Premiership. “I just thought it would be a good opportunity for a young 19 or 20-year-old player to get a chance to showcase their talent so I think it is better for them to put on that jersey and get a good career out of it,” Mead said. “That opportunity was given to me at that age, as well, so I think it would be pretty good to do that for them as well. “I spoke to several family members a couple of months ago and I feel that now is the right time to say it because PNG is where it all started for me, so I wanted to say something this week while the camp was on.” Mead, who moved to Lismore at the age of 12, was a member of the Gold Coast Titans team in the inaugural under 20s NYC competition when he attended a trial in PNG for selection in the Kumuls squad for the 2008 World Cup. The tournament launched Mead’s NRL career and he played 147 matches for the Titans from 2009 to 2016, 58 for Catalans and has played another 25 for the Broncos, as well as featuring in three World Cups in 2008, 2013 and 2017. “I was packing my bag last night and I just thought about the first time I packed my bag to go and trial in 2008. I remember it like yesterday,” Mead said. “I didn’t know what it would be like playing against the guys over there, what the experience would be like, or that it would lead up to this moment so that was pretty cool. “Prior to that I played in the inaugural NRL under 20s competition, and I didn’t play too many games, I wasn’t a stand-out or anything like that. I was trialling for the Kumuls as a fill-in for the international side to play the PNG Residents team. “The Kumuls mean everything to me. I have played a fair few games for them and pulling that jersey on is probably more of a service to me than me to the country, in my opinion, because of the love the people have for the game over there. “It is a pretty amazing feeling; you go out to the villages hours away from town where electricity is sometimes unavailable, but they are finding ways to watch the games and admire guys who are one of their own going and making it. "It is certainly a proud moment whenever I put this jersey on.” [caption id="attachment_22821" align="aligncenter" width="840"] Source: NRL.com -David Mead and Michael Marum at the 2017 World Cup launch[/caption] There have been times during Mead’s 14 Test appearances where he have been few players chosen in the Kumuls side from outside the domestic PNG competition but that has changed, particularly since the Hunters joined the Queensland Cup in 2014. The 20-man squad chosen to play Fiji on Saturday night is drawn exclusively from the NRL or Queensland Cup and there are likely to be other players available for the World Cup, including Xavier Coates, Bailey Biondi-Odo, James Segeyaro and Rhyse Martin. “There is so much young talent coming through now, at Queensland Cup level but also in the development squads as well,” Mead said. “[Northern Pride winger] Rob Derby, who is going to make his debut on Saturday night, is someone who can benefit and there are others in the mix. “There are a couple of hundred registered PNG players in the Queensland region so there is plenty of talent and hopefully one can grab it and make the most of it.” With the passion people in PNG have for the game, Mead believes a team in the NRL would not only be successful but would provide a boost to the country. “I think it would be hugely beneficial for Papua New Guinea,” he said. “I know everyone focuses on building better hospitals, better roads and better schools, and I think they should be priorities for any society, but I think what this game does for the country will benefit in many different areas. “The amount of jobs it would create around Port Moresby, or wherever the team will be based, will certainly help the country. “The games would be sell-outs every week but what it also does is put PNG on the map to be spoken about on a weekly basis, where you can fix social problems and areas where they are struggling, and I think it would invite investment from overseas for people to come in and help the country. “I think there is a lot that can be improved in the country by bringing a team in the NRL so from that angle I think it would be beneficial for PNG to have an NRL team.” Source: NRL.com

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says East Sepik has the potential to become the “economic powerhouse” of Papua New Guinea. He said that because of this potential, and in memory of founding Prime Minister the late Sir Michael Somare, the next Government would be formed in East Sepik. Present with the Prime Minister were East Sepik Governor Hon. Allan Bird (National Alliance), Angoram MP Hon. Salio Waipo (National Alliance), Maprik MP and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Hon. John Simon (Pangu) and Pangu candidate for Wosera-Gawi Ronald Asik. "Sir Michael was instrumental in the formation of both Pangu and National Alliance. East Sepik has the potential to become the ‘economic powerhouse’ province of our country,” PM Marape said. “This is why I will bring Government formation to here: Firstly, in memory of Sir Michael, and secondly, in memory of Sir Pita Lus. This will be the 11th Parliament, and the first Parliament without Sir Michael and Sir Pita being alive. This will be symbolic that the nation is now being passed on to the next generation.” PM Marape said formation of the new Government in East Sepik would also inspire the new generation of leaders to hold on to the lofty ideals of the founding fathers like Sir Michael and Sir Pita. He said his Government, over the last three years, had passed major laws to fight corruption and promised the people of Papua New Guinea that some prominent leaders would be prosecuted after the elections. These include the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), Whistle Blowers’ Act and Undisclosed Wealth Act. “What would be the point of Allan Bird and I growing the economy of the country when corruption is still prevalent?” PM Marape said. “We have managed to stifle corruption in the big way with passage of the three bills during the last term of Parliament. “Over the last three years, we have spent over K56 billion, which has grown the economy by K30 billion.” PM Marape said East Sepik’s economic powerhouse potential was in agriculture, through the vast Sepik Plains, and challenged the province to start growing rice on a large scale to reduce the huge K900 million rice import bill. “Over the next few years, and into the future, we want to grow our own rice for domestic consumption as well as export to Phillipines, Indonesia and the rest if the region,” he said. “Sir Michael, before his passing, said he had helped groom me up and asked me not to forget East Sepik into the future. The way to achieve this is through economic independence." “I want every Papua New Guinean to have money in their pockets: Grow rice, grow cocoa, grow vanilla, look after cattle, bring in tourists, stop consumption of home brew, stop marijuana and other bad habits. “We are ready to take the country to the next level. I want East Sepik to be an economic powerhouse no longer dependent on Waigani." “This is why I ask the people of East Sepik to send Allan Bird, John Simon, Salio Waipo and my Wosera-Gawi candidate Ronald Asik, Ambunti-Dreikikier candidate Richard Rafa and Wewak candidate Jim Simitab to Parliament. “

Key findings from a recent evaluation of a Parenting for Childhood Development (P4CD) program highlight a reduction in family violence, abuse and neglect of children in communities exposed to this program. The evaluation, generously supported by UNICEF Australia, found that parents exposed to the P4CD program, were empowered to apply positive child rearing parenting practices and invested time to enhance child-parent relationships that helped create safe spaces for children. An estimated 35,000 children aged between 3 and 10 have been positively impacted by this intervention that has reached over 8,700 parents in six provinces in the country since UNICEF PNG, working in partnership with the Government and implementing partners, rolled out the program in 2016. While a scale up of this program is currently supported by the European Union – United Nations Spotlight Initiative to End Violence against Women and Girls in PNG, the evaluation findings has provided needed evidence to further scale up the program across the country, ensuring full ownership of the Government over the program and further improving its content to end violence against children and women as well as help build positive relations within the family. A significant change observed during the evaluation was among fathers who reported strong child-parent relations with 73 per cent of them confirming that they spend more time with their children, playing games with them, and helping them to behave the right way. “These findings are significant as they indicate a change in the mindsets of parents about raising their children in a loving and caring way which is crucial to the holistic development and overall well-being of a child,” said Claudes Kamenga, , UNICEF Representative. A large majority of parents who benefited from the program (76 percent) no longer hit their children; 45 percent no longer curse or swear at them; and 63 percent do not engage in neglectful behaviors such as leaving the child alone or letting the child go hungry. Although the P4CD program was not specifically designed to address intimate partner violence, over 58 percent of female spouses reported a reduction in violence inflicted on them by their husbands while 62 percent of females and 71 percent of males confirmed that they talk through their disagreements without using violence. The P4CD program was developed in 2016 by UNICEF PNG with the support of the Menzies School of Health Research at the Darwin University in Australia. UNICEF PNG commissioned the evaluation that was independently carried out by evaluation firm, Stratman.

Following the ONE WEEK ULTIMATUM call, New Ireland PPC, Chief Inspector Felix Nebanat wasted no time in gathering village elders from the hot spot wards of the war zone areas of Lovongai to inform them of his call last week. “Since the island cannot access news due to lack of coverage, the very people that this message targets are highly unlikely to receive my message," said Nebanat. Apart from that the Police does not have resources to keep sending personals to and from the island, so the only way to ensure they get the message is to get them into town. The leaders comprised of clan leaders, village elders, VPC's, village magistrates, church leaders, public servants from Taskul, ward members and community leaders from wards, 2, 3, 17, 18 and 19 of South and North Lovongai. Conducting the meeting on behalf of PPC Nebanat was OIC, Community Policing, First Constable George Batia who emphasized on the ULTIMATUM given by PPC. PPC Nebanat gave an ULTIMATUM of "one week" from Monday 13th to Monday 20th of June, which ended this week. All accomplices totaling to approximately 40 to 50 men were called upon to either surrender, or face the full brunt of the law. PPC Nebanat reassured the community that Police will be re-organizing with whatever limited resources they have and make an insertion into Taskul once he (PPC) can secure funding for the operation. "In the meantime, we are not in a position to name the exact time but we are working around the clock to see how best we can mitigate the situation," Nebanat said. Most of the village leaders from the meeting are pleading for Police deployment as they are sick and tired of living in fear and anxiety and being deprived of basic services like schools, health centers, access to services in town and loss of business for Micro SME owners, etc. According to clan leaders of both parties, the Taskul killing that occurred two weeks ago claims to avenge the death of a father and son duo who were murdered following sorcery allegations. After the murder, Peace Officers and Community Auxiliary Police Officers called for a negotiation to restore peace to no avail. The latter party who was responsible for the previous killings didn't turn up for the peace negotiation. This sparked frustration amongst the families of the victims which resulted in the killing at Taskul. It is reported that the exact markings and wounding done to the victims of the recent murder reciprocates the way the previous victims were slaughtered. "The Lovongai issue is a complex issue and to get to the bottom of it, one has to fully understand the behavioral pattern, the psychological trend, the cultural formation, the foundation of the Lovongai society, the demography and geographical disposition of the area in order to address this long over-due pandemic," said Nebanat.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) presented two new portable digital forensic devices to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary that would enable the RPNGC to develop and implement a digital forensic capability to investigate offences with a digital media aspect. The equipment was presented today  at the Police Headquarters in Konedobu in the nation’s capital to the Commissioner of Police, Mr David Manning. The presentation was witnessed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Special Operations Donald Yamasombi, senior officers of the PNG Australia Policing Partnership, senior officers of the Constabulary and the media. [caption id="attachment_22796" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Picture Courtesy: Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Fb page[/caption] Assistance Police Commissioner and Commander of the PNGAPP, Mr Jamie Strauss said the equipment was purchased together with a three-year Cellebrite licence to operate the machines and gifted to the RPNGC. Commander Strauss said the devices are mobile device data extraction and reporting tools that can be used on mobile phones, portable hard drives and sim cards. Mr Strauss said the equipment will allow the RPNGC capability for its own forensic process which incorporates the seizure, forensic imaging and analysis of digital media along with the production of a report on collected evidence. Commander Strauss said, “The Cellebrite Responder mobile device data extraction and reporting tool, combined with appropriate training is a significant capability. Police have seen increasing quantities of mobile phones and storage devices being seized, particularly in response to Transnational Organized Crime. The RPNGC is now capable to contract content from digital media devices and present that content to court in an admissible evidentiary manner. [caption id="attachment_22797" align="aligncenter" width="923"] Picture Courtesy: Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Fb page[/caption] “When in use in accordance with the training methodology, evidence from the digital devices can be collected with confidence in the knowledge that the validated processes have not compromised its integrity, should it be required for court.” Mr Manning accepted the equipment on behalf of the Constabulary and thanked the PNGAPP for its continued assistance to the Constabulary. Mr Manning said, “Policing has been an evolving challenge in terms of forensic in RPNGC and this capability is very much needed. As we are now in the technological era, most crimes are perpetrated through the used electronic devices and with the Cellebrite system it provides an opportunity for us to assure our people that the RPNGC is on track.” Ten members of the Constabulary have been trained in the use of this new technology. Two of them, Constable Michael Oaeke from the RPNGC’s Transnational Crime Unit and Constable Stanis Luveni from the Water Police Directorate were on hand to demonstrate the functions of the new equipment. 

Improving tax compliance in Pacific Island nations is one of the measures Tax and Customs administrations in the region are taking, to improve revenue collections which have been hugely impacted by the slow economic activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our members are at various stages of economic recovery, however, revenue collection from Tax and Customs administrations is still critical to fund the various arms of government machineries,” Oceania Customs Organization (OCO) Head of Secretariat Richard Brennan said. “If we are not effective in our collection, the government is affected and there is a trickle on effect- we all suffer.” Pacific Island Tax Administrators Association (PITAA) Head of Secretariat, Koni Ravono emphasized the need for the region to work together to resolve common challenges. “We all have a common problem caused by the COVID-19 pandemic but our challenge is that Tax and Customs administrations do not have the same capacity to resolve some of these problems,” she said. “That is why it is critical for us to work together, to help each other because the Pacific demands us of that.” In recent weeks, OCO and PITAA supported by the PFTAC trained 77 officers from Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Niue, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu this month, on strengthening the working relationship between compliance teams with particular focus on Value Added Tax (VAT), Customs valuation methodology, post clearance audit and compliance processes. “We know that improving compliance will improve revenue collection. However, to improve compliance we need to first improve our internal processes and how we work with each other,” Mr Brennan said. Officers were trained on improving information sharing to help in data collection as well as in the detection of tax avoidance. Most island nations have had huge declines in their revenue collection, some like Fiji are recording almost 50 percent less than pre-COVID-19 levels.

Papua New Guinea’s leading superannuation provider, National Superannuation Fund (Nasfund), and the country’s premier island resort, Loloata Island Resort, have partnered to provide more value for Nasfund contributors. Through the Fund’s Membership Discount Program (MDP), Nasfund members can now enjoy the following discounts; -10% discount on accommodation, -15% discount on dive bookings, and -20% discount on day trip entry fee. Loloata Island Resort General Manager Uday Kumar said this partnership seeks to provide outstanding value for Nasfund contributors. “Since the start of operations at the new-look Loloata Island Resort in 2019, the resort has been the leader in providing world-class tourism & hospitality services. Coupled with our internationally recognized dive program, Loloata Island Resort provides the ultimate getaway for Nasfund members, especially in Port Moresby, who are looking for a location to relax and unwind, away from the hustle and bustle of Port Moresby. Through this partnership, the resort is pleased to provide these discounts to active Nasfund members. To take advantage of these discounts, Nasfund members will have to show their Nasfund membership ID card. These discounts are available from Sunday to Thursdays, and are subject to terms and conditions. This offer to Nasfund members will be in place for the next 12 months.” In welcoming Loloata Island Resort to the Fund’s MDP partners, Nasfund CEO Ian Tarutia, encouraged Nasfund members to take advantage of this offering. “We thank Loloata Island Resort for coming on board the Fund’s MDP to provide discounts to our contributors. This offer certainly provides more value for our members, especially during these challenging times. We encourage our members to take advantage of this partnership, to save more while you work today

The Northern Provincial Government will now receive K40 million dividend from the Oil Palm shares. Northern Governor Gary Juffa announced this in Numba, Afore Local Level Government yesterday. Juffa said the National Executive Council had endorsed the shares which will be paid for Northern and Milne Bay Province. “As part of the Oil producing province, Northern was supposed to receive a dividend shares of about K3 million every year. “The money was being paid to Kumul Consolidated Holdings, the business arm of the government.” Juffa said in the last 35 years the government owed the people of Oro about K150m. He said Oro provincial government will now be receiving K40m. Juffa added that Milne Bay picked up K51m shares because they have bigger land for Oil Palm and more shares. “We fought for Oro and Milne Bay. That money will come to the province now to be used for the feeder roads. “It will be used by our development vehicle, Northern Province Resources limited, business arm of the province,” he said. Meanwhile, Juffa announced three major projects that have been secured with the development partners. He said projects include the two highways, Afore and Kokoda and the rehabilitation of the Oro Bay wharf. “For five years, the Australian government will be maintaining the highways under the Transport Support Sector Programme.” Juffa said the Oro Bay wharf will be rehabilitated under the wharfs rehabilitation programme at a cost of K200m. “When we build Managalas and Kokoda into the agriculture hubs of this programme where your cocoa, coffee and vanilla will be processed at the wharf and exported direct. “It takes time to build a burnt house, it does happen overnight. “Its’s working, we are moving forward, it’s not happening quickly my people, be patient, as a country we are only 47 years old,” Juffa said.

Northern will start generating about K25 million per annum following the development of major infrastructure in the province, Governor Gary Juffa says. Juffa, who is on the south coast leg of his campaign trial in the Afore Local Level Government, said Northern is growing and experiencing more developments than before. He said from an annual revenue of K900,000 a year in 2012, the province will now be able to generate K25m. “Revenue for Oro was K900,000 when I took office today its K7m and with the Divune hydro power project  will increase to about K25m.” Juffa said the provincial government will now be able to generate K10m to K15m through the K70m Divune Hydro power project. “If you think about 2012, Popondetta was called Cowboy town and Northern was known for law and order issues. “That is now a thing of the past and it’s about leadership, we took ownership of our province,” he said. Juffa said from 2007 to 2012, after Cyclone Guba hit Northern, the Australian government pledged funding to help rebuild the province but no one did anything. “When we took office I spent six months going through the processes and we were able to attend to all the issues that prevented the development from taking place in Northern. “Finally, we completed our task, cleared the way and the bridges were built and the airport was built,” he said. Juffa said the Divune Hydro project was dormant for 35 years until 2014 when an agreement was signed between the Asian Development Bank (ADB), PNG Power Limited, the National and the provincial government. “Two months ago, Prime Minister James Marape travelled the Kokoda Highway to launch the Divune Hydro power project. That hydro will generate between K10m to K15m in revenue for Oro province. We are building a house and it’s taking time but slowly and surely we will get there." “The hydro will be given to us and when the new provincial government takes over, hopefully they will look after these things and put to good use this money,” Juffa said. Story from Peoples Movement for Change

Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) joined the global community to recognize ‘International Day of Women in Mining’ with a special Breakfast hosted by the Ok Tedi Women’s Network (OWN). The event was attended by members of the management team and women employees of OTML and business partners . Keynote speakers at the event included Manager Process Asset Renewal (PAR) Interface, Lyndah Brown, who has 30 years of experience in the industry, as well as Administration Officer Crane Services, Anna Aisa, who has served the Company for 15 years. Both women shared inspiring testimonies and challenges of working in the mining industry. OWN President and OTML Manager Finance, Beverly Pasen, said the event was a celebration of the resilient spirit of women in mining. “Regardless of whether you are an OTML employee or business partner, today we are women in mining united to celebrate our talents and continue the work towards equalizing gender representation in the industry,” Ms Pasen said. She said women working in the mining industry face many challenges, however, are just as eager to overcome these barriers and assume roles that were predominantly held by men. “Our call to action today in support of women in mining is to develop and adopt diversity policies to improve the gender imbalance in employment, offer more gender-sensitive facilities, improve parental leave policies, and also develop flexible work arrangements by reviewing fixed hours and fixed work locations,” Ms Pasen said. Ok Tedi is an equal opportunity employer and in line with the Company’s 2025 Vision, diversity and inclusion are an important part of its strategy in which OTML aims to increase the number of women in the organization, and in leadership roles by 20% and 25% respectively.

The PNG National Research Institute (PNG NRI) is inviting freelancers to write and submit your election observation experience during the 2022 National General Elections (NGE). The wish of the PNG NRI is to see that the 2022 NGE is carried out fair and all protocols in place for the election are followed. People should be able to cast their votes without fear or favor. Please submit EOI including 2 page profile on your qualifications, work experience and if you have writing experience. Those selected would be given a template to work on the issues or generally about candidates, campaign issues, policies, political parties, general conduct of elections and the outcomes. Freelancers can submit their papers to PNG NRI for consideration which will be considered for inclusion as a Monograph for the 2022 NGE. The documentation of the National General Election will give more depth for future referencing. For submissions for PNG NRI to consider for publication, please send in your papers by 12 August 2022, that is two weeks after the return of writs (on 29 July 2022) to: pngnri_communications@pngnri.org