Department of Personnel Management has clarified that the sit-in protest undertaken by members of the PNG Nurses Association is illegal. Secretary Ms Taies Sansan said the state has not been informed of any industrial dispute or a call for withdrawal of labour registered by the Industrial Registrar and there was no secret ballot conducted by the nurses and therefore the notice issued for withdrawal of labour in the media is illegal and improper. Secretary Ms Taies Sansan said, the government is doing all it can to address issues contained in the Memorandum of Agreement signed by DPM, PNGNA and the Department of Health on the 25th of August 2020. Secretary Sansan said, the government through respective agencies has taken steps to prioritize and commence implementation of the awards contained in the MoA. “We have made a commitment to ensure duty related allowance for this group of front line health service providers for the next 3 years commencing 01st January 2021 is agreed to. However, considering the severe budget constraints compounded by covid-19, it would be more appropriate to find an amicable way forward to resolving the issue”. Secretary Sansan said, following the signing of the MoA DPM further issued a Circular Instruction 5/2021 on the 17th of February 2021 calling on all line agencies employing nursing officers to ensure implementation of the MoA and also informing Finance & Treasury to assist employing agencies in consultation with DPM to configure and allocate a code for the nurses Life and Medical Insurance subsidy on the payroll. “We have been in constant consultation on this matter with PNGNA and NDOH and are doing everything possible to honour the awards as per the MoA”. Ms Sansan, the last meeting held with all parties in which PNGNA was present was on the 10th of September when the status of implementing the awards was provided. The Nurses Award provides for all Nurses duty related inconveniences and hardships suffered by nurses from time to time in all public health facilities due to: unforeseen health hazards, risks of violence from patients, their families and the public, arduous physical efforts, danger in remote rural locations and most importantly the high risk for contraction of communicable diseases in line of duty, the following were undertaken; 1. 2021-2023 MoA Signed Nurses as front line workers were given special considerations and this was done through the MoA despite challenges the government is currently facing especially in light of covid-19 2. Circular Instruction for Implementation Issued Circular Instruction No.5 of 2021 was issued on the 17th of February 2021 for all implementing agencies to implement the awards. 3. Finance & Treasury Informed A letter of advice was issued to the 2 responsible departments for funding implementation of the MoA. Secretary Sansan has assured PNGNA that configurations of most of the allowances have been done and the new rates and allowances will commence as soon as practical with technical requirements which are time bound. “DPM is in constant dialogue with Department of Finance who will implement this on the payroll. I call on the PNG Nurses Association to withdraw the sit-in protest as it is illegal and should not in any way hinder health service provisions for our people especially at this time when covid-19 is putting a strain on our health system”.

Link PNG will resume flight services to Kavieng airport in New Ireland starting tomorrow after it announced the suspension of its operations to the province yesterday due to safety concerns. The airline advised the travelling public that the safety concern regarding loose gravel on the runway at Kavieng airport has now been resolved by the National Airport Corporation. The airline’s flight to Kavieng yesterday was cancelled while waiting for the issue to be resolved. Passengers holding onto confirmed tickets are required to reconfirm their travel dates at the nearest Air Niugini sales office or a travel agent.

PNG Air has advised passengers and the travelling public that flights into Kavieng, New Ireland Province have been suspended until further notice. This is due to safety concerns over loose gravel following recent runway upgrade work. The airline announced that this suspension of services is effective as of today until such time when the runway is suitable for safe operations. It also advised passengers holding onto confirmed tickets to rebook onto later flights at no penalty once a confirmed resumption date has been decided, subject to availability.

THE consumption of medical oxygen in hospitals in the country has risen high since the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, especially in the high risk provinces including National Capital District. Health authorities are now calling on everyone to adhere to the non-pharmaceutical measures to help prevent further spread of the virus as oxygen demand  in the country is expected to increase  if the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise rapidly. The non-pharmaceutical measures include avoiding  crowds, physical distancing by 1.5 to 2 metres, wearing of masks in public places such as markets and shop, following hygiene measures such as washing of hands with soap often or using sanitizers, and coughing into bent elbow rather than into the hands.  “Oxygen is the main medical therapy for COVID-19 patients. Moderate, severe and critical patients require high oxygen levels at 10-15L/min,’’ said National Control Centre clinical lead Dr Scotty Kandelyo, who is also the Deputy Chief Emergency Physician for Highlands and Momase Region. “A single moderate Covid-19 patient consumes oxygen in two large size cylinders (G size- 7600L x2) in 24 hours and a severe or critical patient consumes  oxygen in three G size cylinders (G size-7600Lx3) in 24 hours.’’ Dr Kandelyo said the oxygen consumption has increased by more than 100 per cent in the surge provinces. “Supplying of oxygen is currently struggling but keeping up with demand but if there are more cases we might run short with oxygen supply. Therefore, non-pharmaceutical measures are important,’’ said Dr Kandelyo. Dr Kandelyo said BOC Gas, the company supplying medical gas to the public health facilities, has reported that it has upscaled its oxygen supply by 75 per cent, but the logistics of supplying oxygen to the hospitals is also very challenging therefore the health facilities have to be proactive in assessing their oxygen capacity and request for resupply before their buffer supply is depleted so that the supply does not become so critical and put lives in danger. Recently, more than 400 oxygen concentrators have been distributed to each province about 18 per province on average which is supplying oxygen to the mild and moderate cases as well. Plans to build Pressure Swing Absorption Oxygen Plants in Port Moresby and Kokopo in East New Britain,  in Lae and Mt Hagen to ease the demand in the regions are being implemented with one in Port  Moresby already completed. The Deputy Controller for the National Pandemic Response Dr Daoni Esorom has cautioned that “if we get surges in all the provinces we will put a lot of strain on the already high demand for oxygen”. “Oxygen is also required for other medical conditions and sections of the hospital. Oxygen is required in the Emergency, Theatre, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Paediatric ICU and  Outpatient. “CEOs of PHA must order their oxygen requirements accurately to prevent out of stock,’’ said Dr Daoni.

Visit Port Moresby Nature Park’s Reptile Haus today! It proudly displays a collection of snakes, frogs, lizards and not forgetting the iconic pig-nosed turtle that’s featured on Papua New Guinea’s five toea coin! While at the Reptile Haus, you can also learn something new about the amazing life of snakes and especially during this time while the Park is running its “Locate & Win” promotion, you might be lucky enough to spot one of our prized stickers within the vicinity. There’s more for you to see and be part of so visit the Nature Park today!

A small primary school in the remote Green River LLG in West Sepik Province has received a major boost after local MP and PNG’s Opposition Leader, Belden Namah visited the area. Hogru Primary School which consists of 163 students from Elementary to Grade Seven. Recently, the school had one of its classrooms blown away by strong winds and continuous rains in the area. Recently, Local leader Belden Namah visited Hogru and spent two nights there where he presented the school with K30,000. With the assistance of community members, the classroom that was destroyed by strong winds was reconstructed within two days. Hogru Primary School’s headmaster, Jerry Homai, says despite many challenges the school faces every year, the community’s efforts in keeping the school year going has kept them thus far. He says, Hogru Primary School is in dire need of an extra teacher as the school currently has only three teachers which will not be enough to support the next year’s pioneer intake of grade eights. “We have one teacher for elementary school and two others teach multi-grades from grades one to seven. We have already applied for another teacher for next year and we are hoping the education department acknowledge our request,” said Mr Homai. During this week, local MP Belden Namah accompanied by his District officials was ferried into the area by Heli Solutions to present a K70, 000 cheque to Hogru Primary School to upgrade its classrooms to a permanent standard. Namah said Hogru has been cut off since 1964 after the arrival of missionaries but soon like many other areas in the Green River Rural LLG will open up and access services to in Vanimo town.

Nambawan Super Limited Chairman, Mr Reg Monagi, responded to the National Executive Council’s push to privatise State Owned Entities (SOEs) through the superannuation industry. The statement was issued following claims that the PNG Government is pursuing a reform agenda that includes the merger of the State’s telco assets and possible partial privatisation with majority ownership and board control to be passed onto the super funds. Mr Monagi said NSL is a growing fund that is actively seeking good investment opportunities that will contribute to long-term returns for our members but clarified that all investments considered by the Fund follow strict regulatory frameworks. “NSL is the Trustee of more than K8.5 billion in savings of everyday, hardworking Papua New Guineans and it is essential the Fund is prudent in its consideration of all possible investments,” Mr Monagi said. “The Fund considers all investment opportunities on their own merits in consultation with our Licensed Investment Manager as required under the prudential standards and regulations. “This process guides investment decisions and ensures opportunities for returns for our members are considered against the appropriate level of risk. Monagi confirmed preliminary talks have been held regarding the State’s telco businesses on a non-committal basis. “There are still a number of steps to be undertaken before NSL can make any commitments regarding SOEs, including the telcos,” he said. “But it is pleasing generally to see the State’s willingness to allow the private sector to take majority control of some of those businesses.” Nambawan Super is PNG’s largest superannuation fund with more than K8.5 billion in funds under management for more than 200,000 members of the private, public and informal sectors.

New water and sanitation facilities at Bisiatabu are providing more accessible, clean water and sparking changes in hygiene and sanitation for the entire community. Students and more than 200 people in the community are benefiting from two 9,000 litre water tanks and a community meeting space installed at Bisiatabu Primary School in Sogeri as part of the Central Water Security Project. The project is supported by the Australian Government in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea. through the Kokoda Initiative program. Grade eight students Andrew and Vagi said they were glad to have water tanks close to their school and will set a good example on proper hygiene. “We are always reminded to wash our hands regularly with soap and water or sanitise our hands when we get to school. The water tanks just make it easier for us,” Andrew said. “If we can show how to properly wash our hands with soap and water every day, our little ones in school will see and learn from us, and that is the right thing to do.” Vagi expressed. Both tanks are connected to an open-air roof structure to capture rainwater and is also a shelter for communities to sit and collect water and for students to rest, fetch water and have lunch under the shade. School head teacher Mathew Toba said facilities are very useful to the school. “The water tanks have really served their purpose in school and the community,” he said. “With the rise in COVID cases around the nation students are always reminded to wash their hands regularly and practice other protective measures in and outside school.” “Our students and children are our future – clean hand hygiene and healthy living will help protect them for a brighter future especially during this pandemic.” Mr Toba continued. “Hand hygiene is something we must do every day in school, home and wherever we are. In addition to the new facilities, the Bisiatabu community were also trained on safe hygiene practices – including handwashing and COVID-19 awareness – to prevent the spread of common diseases and illnesses, especially in children at school. The Central Water Security Project is part of the water security project in 36 communities across the Kokoda Track region to improve their quality of life through the access to clean drinking and cooking water.

Link PNG Limited (a subsidiary airline of Air Niugini Limited) regrets to advise the travelling public that with immediate effect, it has suspended its operations into Kavieng airport due to safety concerns over loose gravel following recent runway upgrade work. The presence of loose gravel material poses safety hazard and risk to our aircraft and passengers therefore in the interest of safety, the airline has taken this step to suspend operations until the airport operator (National Airports Corporation) resolves the issue. Link PNG looks forward to resuming services once there is assurance that the matter has been resolved and it can operate safely into Kavieng airport. Passengers holding onto confirmed tickets will be rebooked onto later flights at no penalty once a confirmed resumption date has been decided. Link PNG regrets the inconvenience caused to the travelling public to and from Kavieng, however the safety of its passengers and crew is of paramount importance.

Universities say their foreign enrolments have remained "astonishingly high" and they are hoping international students can return to the country in the middle of next year. But they say it is not practical to expect large numbers of students until managed isolation and quarantine requirements are dropped. Universities New Zealand chief executive Chris Whelan said the eight institutions had about 14,000 international students, which was a lot better than initial "doom and gloom" forecasts at the start of the pandemic. "At this stage our international student numbers are about 70 percent of what they were pre-Covid, quite astonishingly high," he said. "A lot of international students have stuck with their New Zealand studies and carried on from undergraduate into postgraduate, but a surprising number of students have been continuing studying remotely, either starting qualifications in the hope they can get here to finish them, or finishing off qualifications where they just haven't been able to get back." However, Whelan said numbers were falling as students completed their studies. Universities hoped students might be able to enter the country in the middle of next year, he said. "A lot of it's going to depend on when borders reopen," he said. "Even when we get an announcement it's going to take at least five or six months from the point where we can start telling students 'yes you can come back' to them actually being able to complete all the processes and to organise their lives and actually arrive here." Whelan said large numbers of students would not be able to return until the government dropped managed isolation and quarantine requirements. "We want students to return, but only in ways that are safe for New Zealand," he said. Other countries were moving to allow international travel by people who were double-vaccinated and universities expected that would eventually happen in this country, he said. SOURCE: RNZ NEWS

The major partnership between ExxonMobil PNG (EMPNG) and Port Moresby Nature Park is truly unique! It extends beyond a mere funding to one of genuine commitment by EMPNG to seeing the Park reach its full potential for the benefit of the community and for the preservation of PNG's amazing and diverse biodiversity. Port Moresby Nature Park’s Chief Executive Officer, Michelle McGeorge, recently acknowledged its longest running partner ExxonMobil PNG for its support as one of its major sponsors. She said the funding support provided by the operator of the PNG LNG Project since 2013 has helped to shape many areas of Nature Park, including exhibits for endangered tree kangaroos, a reptile house, birds-of-paradise precinct and other aviaries. McGeorge said the funds from ExxonMobil PNG enabled the Park to conduct meaningful research and breeding programs including support for Kikori's endangered Pig-nosed Turtles, tree kangaroos, birds-of-paradise and most recently, the breed-for-release frog programs. “EMPNG’s funds helped the Park during its most critical time during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and we were able to continue providing food and the highest standards of animal care and welfare to the animals, arguably the most significant collection of PNG wild animals in a single location. “As well as that, the release of 47 pig-nosed turtles into the Wau Creek Conservation Area last year with ExxonMobil staff was a milestone for conservation,” she said. The creation and delivery of the Park’s internationally award-winning schools education programs have reached over 125,000 NCD and Central Province school children since 2012 and has been largely operationally funded through ExxonMobil PNG. “By thinking outside-the-box, ExxonMobil PNG enabled us to re-purpose unused camp and office buildings from the LNG Plant site to convert them into staff training and meeting facilities, as well as create a commercial kitchen to run our cafe. A number of old storage and shipping containers were also relocated and have been used for multiple purposes included the main housing of the reptile collection in the Reptile Haus, which was recognized with the 'Best Exhibit Design - Small Scale Development' Award from the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia,” McGeorge said. The containers are also used to store animal food and supplies and one of them was converted to a 'live-animal insect breeding room', a vitally important area and function required to ensure the Park’s staff can feed and replicate the natural diets for many of the animals including the birds-of-paradise who love to eat maggot larvae and crickets. Even the 'smokers-boxes' at the LNG Plant site have found a new home at the Nature Park converted into off-display areas for animals undergoing medical treatment or quarantine periods. EMPNG also provides IT support to the Park. The Park started off with four independent desktop computers and with multi-year support of the ExxonMobil IT (EMIT) department, it has helped built their capacity. It now has 35 computers with a dedicated server that can cater for a score of complex programs that run their ticketing, bookings, memberships, accounting, payroll, inventory and wildlife management software. McGeorge said in addition to IT support, the EMIT department has made numerous donations to the Park over the years with some of them being the computer servers, desktop computers, laptops and television screens. Every donation received from them has helped to move the Park forward. “Besides the donation, funding and infrastructure support, the volunteer hours that hundreds of ExxonMobil PNG staff have dedicated over the years have played a part in shaping the stories, memories and experiences of those that have walked through our gates. “I want to acknowledge the hundreds of passionate ExxonMobil PNG staff that have volunteered their time at the Park for the Saturday 'ExxonMobil working bees'. From painting fences, shifting piles of sand into the kid’s playground and planting plants across the grounds,” McGeorge said. She said the insight and leadership from ExxonMobil PNG’s Dale Pittman, Dinesh Sivasamboo, Keith Killian and Scott Sandlin have been invaluable and contributed to shaping the Park's journey and future. Since opening on 16 June, 2012 almost 1.1 million people have visited the Park.

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, MP, clarifies the misreporting on PNG official delegation’s attendance at the current COP26 Climate Summit, in Scotland, led by Special Envoy and Minister for Environment, Conservation & Climate Change Hon. Wera Mori. In response to Friday’s Post Courier headlines of costs involved for the delegation traveling to Glasgow, Scotland, Prime Minister Marape said that the official delegations are all attending COP26 and related meetings sanctioned by NEC, given that PNG’s climate change agenda is different than most nations, and we were targeting an economic return for our forest and oceans in not just the main COP 26 meeting but other high-level meetings which are running on the margins also. “The decision to approve for leaders to accompany the Special Envoy, was for them all to fully participate at the Summit and side events and to state our case that we mean business. If the world wants our forest to be saved then big carbon emitting nations and industries must pay us to conserve our forest as well as funding our climate mitigation efforts.” “I am advised by Minister Mori that he had assigned them to specific side meetings and they had performed exceptionally well, given that for some of them, it was their first time to engage in an international meeting.” said PM Marape. “The issues of climate change, its effects, the adaptation and mitigation efforts, and the whole concept of carbon credits and REDD + is an important and emerging agenda for our country, and it is important that more of our leaders are aware of the opportunities which are going to emerge out of these discussions.” "One such valuable meeting was the Governor Juffa initiated sustainable forest conservation and management pilot project in Managalas (Oro Province) that culminated in the formalization of a Host Country Agreement, on the margins of COP26, with the International Council for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF)." "That now enables this project to commence and engage resource owners in preserving their ecosystem in an economically sustainable manner." "Additionally, Special Envoy Mori signed a MOU on Capacity Building for Participation in Global Carbon Markets with his Australian counterpart, Angus Taylor." "Further and quite significantly, our Energy Minister Hon. Saki Soloma signed a Master Development Agreement with the Principal of Fortescue Futures Industries, Dr Andrew Forrest, for transition to alternative sources of cleaner energy, which will see our Hydro and Geothermal sites developed for hydrogen ammonia based clean energy of the future and these projects are equivalent to multibillion dollar projects." "These augurs well with my government’s initiative to promote Green Energy by 2030 and transition into a carbon neutral country by 2050 as stated in our country’s Vision 2050." "Over and above the green energy agenda, the deal with Fortescue Futures Industry, represents important investments domestically, employment for our people and taxes for the government. These are important outcomes that outweigh the cost of getting there.” PM Marape said. As for the officials’ it is far less than 62 and they comprised of selected government departments and agencies including the Climate Change Development Authority, National Energy Authority, the departments of Foreign Affairs & International Trade, Forest, Agriculture, Works & Implementation, Justice & Attorney-General and my Department, that have been directly involved in negotiating PNG’s position at the global climate summit on accessing global carbon markets and climate funds for adaptation and mitigation. To provide an overall accountability of the PNG delegation’s participation at COP26, an NEC Policy Submission is currently being prepared by officials to capture the outcomes of Special Envoys meetings and the conclusion of the above arrangements including a Matrix for implementation. The delegation is accountable to the National Executive Council, and they will dutifully ensure that the details of their work in Glasgow is presented to NEC for deliberation and for actions later. “Special Envoy Mori has full authority to negotiate global carbon markets given the recent passage in Parliament of the Climate Change Management Act amendment and access to global carbon markets, will draw maximum returns and greatly complement our national budget and development agendas,” said Prime Minister Marape. “I will ensure these outcomes are effectively implemented, as they will generate maximum returns that will far outweigh the figures that these faceless people are exaggerating. The Prime Minister also said it is important to note that part of our delegation is registered as PNG delegates but represented the Coalition for Rainforest, an outfit, championed by the late Great Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare." "The staff from the Coalition for Rainforest and Ernst and Young Accountants travelled at their own cost to support Minister Mori who is current Chair of CfRN. They sponsored the PNG Pavilion, which was an important part of the facility that greatly enhanced our presence in Glasgow. This is a serious business trip where PNG as 13% holder of earth’s rainforest and 6% of biodiversity are attending to demand that the big industries and industrialized nations must pay PNG to converse our forests. The gains from this engagement will far outweigh the cost of attending, which appears to be the current concern. At present, forestry harvest contributes to our economy and if other countries want us to conserve our forest, then they must pay money equivalent or above the forest sector revenue we gain at present which is around $1billion every year. The forest area people need income for development including good roads, schools and health care too. Secondly the industries and their nations must pay the climate change mitigation funds for the damages due to sea level rises and other climates changes we experience in small island states and communities. “Least we forget the G20 nations have pledge to put up over $100 billion annually for both conservation of forest and climate mitigation hence our leaders and officials were sent not for just one COP 26 session but many other meetings and lobby that were happening for our nation’s cause.” PM Marape said. The Prime Minister also appealed for people to understand the mechanics of COP 26, the side events, and the technical negotiation that is taking place, to clearly understand the importance of the work that our technical and policy officials are doing. “It is more than what meets the eye, and sometimes our discussions on these matters and the conclusions we draw is based on incomplete information and a misunderstanding of what these global events are about, without giving some recognition to those who are the forefront of getting important deals for our country through negotiations.” PM Marape said.