“The Lockdown in NCD will only come about based on medical advise.” “My view is that the advise will be that great enforcement of the NIUPLA PASIN will have to be done such as enforcing the No Mask, No Entry rule for the shops and even schools,” said the National Pandemic Controller, Mr David Manning. The Controller said this after rumours of a lockdown to be imposed here in the National Capital District. He said that a lockdown will be expensive and challenging however it did serve its purpose last year in controlling community transmission in the city. He further said that they should be investing the limited resources more on enforcing non clinical measures such as banning mass gatherings and enforcing mandatory mask wearing. He also said that statistics show that community transmission is evident however there will be no lockdowns but more work to be done on enforcing the NIUPLA PASIN. He will be giving more updates after a briefing today.

Alec Baldwin was the tough screen face of blue-collar America in the 1990s. And it suited him. His best early roles were gritty ones in brutal films such as Miami Blues, or the screen adaptation of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross, where he gave a showstopping performance that won him many fans. Baldwin had the manner and look of an ordinary man who wanted to survive at all costs. Now, in the saddest of media storms, following the accidental shooting of a colleague on the set of his latest movie, the actor will need every ounce of the self-preserving grit he once accessed so easily on film. Baldwin comes, authentically enough, from the sort of unpretentious middle-income American family that politicians fight over, desperate to win their trust. His father, Alexander, was a football coach with a deep admiration of President Kennedy, and his mother, Carol, was a history teacher. He was the eldest of four boys and two sisters in a Long Island family with a strong Roman Catholic faith and an equally active Democratic allegiance. Yet, although the Baldwins cared about both politics and books, it was a cultural universe away from the sophisticated LA life of poke bowls, valet parking and yoga that Hollywood stars enjoy. Law was the first plan for the young Alec, and he applied to study at George Washington University. At the last moment, however, a confident audition for the acting course at the Tisch School of the Arts in New York diverted Baldwin from this path and away from an imagined future in state politics. [caption id="attachment_16243" align="aligncenter" width="776"] Baldwin with his daughter, Ireland. Photograph: PictureLux/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy[/caption] Scholarship in hand, his ambitions turned towards becoming a performer. It was a switch that may also have shaped the future of his younger male siblings. Daniel, Billy and Stephen have all followed Alec into the cinema, each working to a greater or lesser extent under the shadow of their big brother. In his 20s, Baldwin’s charisma and leading-man looks earned him a string of fairly soppy roles, such as in the Dallas spin-off television series Knots Landing, or as the best friend in She’s Having a Baby, but it was his “real man” credentials that got him noticed in those crucial years. A small but important role in Working Girl, playing the uneducated boyfriend that Melanie Griffith has to shake off, is typical of this work. Baldwin also has a back-catalogue of action adventures to his name, appearing in thrillers such as The Hunt for Red October and lately in a succession of Mission Impossible outings with Tom Cruise. In recent years though, having been first claimed by glittering fame then washed up on the shores of Tinseltown before being raised up high again by a run of acclaimed work on television, stage and film, Baldwin has become something of a showbiz emblem of the straight-talking American left. In middle age, he has told interviewers repeatedly, he has gained control. As the father now of six young children, dubbed “the Baldwinitos” by their mother, Baldwin’s second wife, Hilaria, the actor is now mostly concerned about remaining available to his family and providing for their future. Why does all this heavy emphasis on “being in control” matter, even before the terrible events of the last few days? Well, Baldwin has the kind of mucky track record of reckless and angry behaviour that has often seeped out from under the shimmering veil that protects cinema’s elite from the public eye. His courtship of Kim Basinger, one of the biggest female stars of the 1980s and also perhaps the last of the old school “screen sirens”, put Baldwin in the headlines immediately after they met on the set of the 1990 film The Marrying Man. Despite a turbulent relationship, they married three years later. A decision to separate permanently came not long afterwards, but Basinger was pregnant and a nasty custody battle over their new daughter, Ireland, followed. In 1995, Baldwin was reported to have hit a cameraman who was filming Basinger as she took the baby home from hospital. In 2006, in what was probably the most damaging debacle for the actor, a tape of Baldwin berating his 11-year-old daughter on the phone for not staying in touch was leaked to the press. The language and tone were not at all fatherly. In fact, Baldwin accused her of being “a pig”. Ireland, now 25, describes their relationship these days as “excellent”. Baldwin hit the news pages again for riding his bike the wrong way down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue and arguing with the police about it. And on another occasion he was thrown off a plane before take-off after an argument with a flight steward who had told him to turn off his phone. More recently, in 2013, the star resorted to leaving Twitter for a while in the wake of an unseemly row with a journalist over whether or not Hilaria had been caught texting on her phone during the funeral of Sopranos actor James Gandolfini. Baldwin had used homophobic language in his furious response. And Hilaria herself has taken some direct public criticism. Last year, she was accused of cultural appropriation and misrepresentation by some for claiming she had Spanish-American heritage. The truth, it seems, is that she grew up in Boston as plain old Hillary. The incident prompted her husband to rail publicly against the attack-dog mobs he believes stalk social media, waiting to pounce on celebrities who are found wanting. “Cancel culture is like a forest fire in constant need of fuel,” he tweeted. The composure that has largely characterised Baldwin’s public persona in recent years has come along with greater recognition from his peer group. Screen performances for Martin Scorsese in The Aviator and The Departed and in Woody Allen films, including Blue Jasmine, and then opposite Meryl Streep and Steve Martin in the mid-life comedy It’s Complicated, have coincided with fresh television kudos. His work on Saturday Night Live, where his impersonations of Donald Trump became staple comic fare, and his part in the award-winning sitcom 30 Rock have placed him at the heart of America’s savvy, satirical community. So too has his job as host of his own evening chat shows on MSNBC and then ABC. In the light of the death of the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins last week, it is tempting to see Baldwin’s recent bold claims to be in control of his life as a bad case of baiting the fates. A man who has worked so hard to win back the respect of the liberal elite, and of women in particular, has now accidentally killed a rising female camerawoman. Certainly, the actor appears to be one of those unlucky people who live at the mercy of the Gods, either buffeted by ill-fortune, or actively inviting disaster. His Tony-winning Broadway portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire, playing a sensitive but angry man who ultimately seriously harms a woman, could make a compelling comparison. But this episode is not really part of Baldwin’s own dramatic narrative. It is Halyna Hutchins’ sorrowful story, one felt by her family much more keenly than any other. And it is the failure to safely handle dangerous props on a film set that will likely soon be in the dock. The fates, even in a Hollywood tragedy like this, do not come into it. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Legal services provided to more than 15,000 people living in Daru have been improved following village court information sessions and inspections held in the area recently. A team of officials from Western Province accompanied by an officer from PNG’s Village Court and Land Mediation Secretariat met with village court officials and community members from the Tamate, Iaru, Cawo’o, Darowaro, and Central Kiwai Village Courts. The meetings were an opportunity to share information and ideas about court and mediation services and how they can best support the community. The officials inspected village court records, reviewed the conduct of court officials, observed court procedures and held information sessions for more than 300 community members. The activities were supported by the Australian Government through the PNG-Australia Partnership to strengthen village court and land mediation services in Western Province, recognising the central role village courts play in bringing justice to remote communities. Australian High Commission representative Elizabeth Beard, who supported the inspection team visiting the Daru area, said effective village courts and land mediation services were important to improving community safety and security. “For many people, village courts are where they can access justice and resolve disputes over land, debt or petty crime before they escalate into something more serious,” said the representative. “That is why the PNG-Australia Partnership is committed to working with PNG to strengthen village courts by training officials, providing resources and conducting inspections.” Since 2016, the Partnership has provided training for more than 2360 village court magistrates and clerks across Papua New Guinea, improving the quality and accessibility of legal services provided to more than 1.4 million people.

The PNG Council of Churches (PNGCC) has launched a handbook to promote health and theological messages supporting the safety, effectiveness and importance of COVID-19 vaccination. The PNGCC COVID-19 Vaccine Handbook was launched in Port Moresby on Monday 18th October by PNGCC Chairman Cardinal Sir John Ribat along with Health Minister Hon. Jelta Wong, Heads of Churches and Australian High Commissioner Jon Philp. Cardinal Sir John Ribat said the handbook gives all churches a starting point for informed discussions with their congregations and broader communities about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine. “Our great God in his wisdom has blessed the world’s leading scientists with knowledge which has led to advanced research and development of vaccines to protect the lives of men, women and children,” he said. “The PNGCC has given its undivided support for the use of the COVID-19 vaccine as a safe, effective and lifesaving provision by God for the protection of our people during the unprecedented times of COVID-19 Pandemic.” “We now need church leaders to give their congregations accurate information about vaccines and combat myths that are causing people to avoid vaccines to the detriment of their health and community wellbeing.” The PNGCC had previously declared its support for COVID-19 vaccines as a safe, effective and lifesaving tool to protect people from sickness and death because of the pandemic. “The PNGCC church leaders support the vaccine as the safest way to protect people against COVID-19,” Cardinal Sir John Ribat said. “This was a stance taken after examination of the theological, cultural, social, academic, media and political issues; analysis of common doubts and suspicions; and believing in God as the giver of life. “We commit our members to protecting their families, communities and country by supporting the national vaccination rollout.” The PNGCC is a coordinating body of the seven Mainline Churches in Papua New Guinea, mandated to be the prophetic voice of the Churches to the nation on social, political, religious, and economic issues. The PNGCC Covid-19 Vaccine Handbook is freely available online at https://tinyurl.com/56a9sbtz

The University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to fund a science scholarship programme in 2022 for Year 11 students of Nauru Secondary School. The signing ceremony was held at the USP Nauru Campus on 18 October 2021 between the USP Vice Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia and NORI in-country Manager Peter Jacob. VCP Ahluwalia thanked NORI for its generous support towards the initiative and further acknowledged USP Nauru Campus Director Sarina Tamakin for their work. “This partnership is an important one for the campus as it brings the school and University closer together. In addition, it is more efficient and cheaper for the students to transition from the school to the campus because they can further their studies in their home environment,” VCP Ahluwalia said. He went on to say that the University was delighted to be a part of the effort since it would help the region meet its needs owing to a scarcity of people in science, technology, and engineering. NORI in-country Manager, Peter Jacob said he was proud to be part of the historic signing that would fund preliminary and foundation science programs for 2022 and 2023. “NORI also funds a diverse number of community projects with education as a major sector; there are shortfalls in our level of education especially in the areas of science and engineering which are identified in our National Sustainable Development Strategy as weaknesses that needs to be addressed,” he said. He added that NORI was excited to engage with Nauru and the USP Nauru Campus to expand their science support and activities. Nauru Campus Director Sarina Tamakin said that was the first time the Campus had received funding support from an external organization. “The funding will go towards investing in our children’s education through a science scholarship program for the students from Nauru Secondary School,” she said. NORI annually awards science scholarships to undertake further studies at the USP Laucala Campus with the first recipient in 2013 graduating in Electrical Engineering.

The Bomana Correctional Service maximum security detainees, staff and family of staff will no longer have to look far for clean water, thanks to BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP)’s subsidiary - BSP Finance who came to their aid with a new backup water system and other related support to the value of  K30, 000. BSP Finance installed a backup water system that comprises of two water tanks (9,500 and 9,000 Liters), a pump and hand-washing basin at the facility. The BSP subsidiary and its contractor also carried out minor renovation to the prison clinic under its 2021 Community Project Initiative and handed over the project today, Thursday 21st October, 2021. Bomana prison Acting Commanding Officer, Superintendent Yelly Oiufa thanked BSP for this timely support especially during the Covid Pandemic saying, it will cater for over 700 detainees, including 200 Correctional service officers and their families. “We sometimes, take the detainees to Bomana River when water doesn’t come, to use for bathing and doing laundry because there is nothing much we can do because water is a need for all human beings. Thank you BSP, this is a very worthy community project,” said Oiufa. BSP Group Financial CEO Robin Fleming said BSP’s Community Project is not just about giving back to the communities but more about being part of the community. “Sometimes we forget what PNG is. If you want to run a good business, run the government or a good community, you really have to understand what it is like to be in those areas. Whether it is here in Bomana, Namatanai in New Ireland, Koroba in Hela and up in Aitape; you have to be there to really see, and be part of that experience. It gives you an opportunity to participate more fully with the community, and that BSP! We participate and assist, not only as a corporate organisation but as the leading banking institution in PNG,” Mr Fleming added. Bomana Prison, its clinic inmates living areas now have 24 hours water supply for drinking and for hygiene upkeep. The new water supply and hand-washing basin makes it convenient for prisoners, staff and visitors to wash hands and bathing before any engagement or prisoners attending to health clinic facilities or court cases instead of going days without washing.

Aviation operator HEVILIFT will again declare strong dividends for shareholders in coming months, underpinned by the soaring success of its investment in community initiatives. HEVILIFT Director John Tuaim said the company had created a long-term talent pipeline through its pilot and engineering cadetship program, delivering significant social and financial returns. “We are proud to support the communities in Papua New Guinea through our pilot training and engineering apprenticeship programs,” Mr Tuaim said. “Our training program gives local people the opportunity to access world-class industry training and secure a career with a leading aviation company. “HEVILIFT also supports the community by declaring dividends, which go to local landowner beneficiaries for use in community investments and infrastructure development projects like schools,” he said. Since its establishment, the HEVILIFT training program has provided career pathways for local people, employing 10 cadet pilots and six apprentice engineers. HEVILIFT commits to ensuring the costs of flight and engineering training are not prohibitive to the pursuit of careers for aspiring aviators, offering financial assistance to cadets and trainees. Head of Flight Operations Dirk Markesteijn said the cadetship program would form a critical part of HEVILIFT’s rebound from the COVID-19 lockdowns that have devastated the aviation industry. “The aviation industry, especially in Papua New Guinea where the terrain is very difficult, needs skilled pilots and engineers, and the HEVILIFT program ensures our staff have the training they need to succeed,” Mr Markesteijn said. “With COVID, we know that many aspiring pilots have had to think twice about entering the aviation industry. Once the industry does recover, we want to be ready with a skilled team ready to take to the skies. “We are proud to be a business that supports local people and positively impacts the communities in which we operate,” he said. In 2020, HEVILIFT commenced further community initiatives, establishing of an environmental plan and carbon program to offset its emissions. Mr Tuaim said a tree planting project was among the environmental initiatives designed to benefit the community and contribute to a greener future. “We partner with local businesses to plant approximately 1,000 native trees per month in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, providing revenue and employment to the community,” Mr Tuaim said. “Tree planting is only the beginning of our commitment to a more sustainable future, and part one of an ongoing plan to look for opportunities to contribute to growing the community.” Picture source: MRDC

A Super League club has its eye on Mitchell Pearce and have even tabled a huge offer, however the Knights aren’t going to let the veteran halfback go that easy. French Super League club, Catalans Dragons, have identified their replacement for James Maloney and it’s Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce. According to a News Corp report, Catalans are set to table a three-year deal to the 32-year-old worth $1.8 million. Catalans signed Maloney for the 2020 and 2021 Super League seasons on a $600,000 salary. With Maloney officially retiring from professional footy, this year’s grand finalists are on the hunt for a replacement. Pearce is signed to Newcastle until the end of next season after the club gave him a one-year extension him in March. News Corp reports Pearce is yet to discuss the offer with the Knights, however the club is aware of Catalans’ interest in their star No.7 after some “robust conversations.” However Newcastle won’t release him unless they can secure an adequate replacement. The plan is to shift superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga to the halves but that move isn’t expected to happen until 2023. Pearce has played over 300 NRL games and has represented New South Wales, however given his age, it’s unlikely he’ll be offered a new deal in Australia beyond his current one. Source: Fox Sports  

Trukai Industries recently donated rice towards a relief support for a village in Gulf Province. The one tonne rice donation will go towards providing food for the Kukipi villagers whose food gardens, water supplies and cash crops have been destroyed by the effects of the king tides. This impact of global warming has caused village homes to be destroyed while some were completely flooded. Trukai’s Public Relations and Communications Manager Andrea Tagamasau reaffirmed the significance of this donation stating that this act of kindness was part of Trukai’s corporate social responsibility. “At Trukai we believe in giving back to the community which we live and operate in because the community supports us. Through our community programs we support community organisations such as the Kukipi Flood Relief Committee to help them progress the good work that they are doing to help those who have been impacted by this effect of global warming,” said Ms Tagamasau. Kukipi Flood Relief Committee member Molly Lava on behalf of their committees in Gulf Province and Port Moresby thanked Trukai Industries for the timely donation. “We are very grateful for this generous donation which will help our fellow villagers and will definitely alleviate the suffering that they are currently facing,” said Ms Lava. Trukai also gives monthly rice donations to NGOs such as Cheshire Disability Services and City Missions in Port Moresby and Lae to name a few. Recently the rice company donated a combined 600 kilograms of rice to both Youth With A Mission (YWAM) medical ship and Samaritan Aviation in East Sepik. Both organisations attend to Papua New Guineans living in remote areas by providing life-saving medical treatment and emergency evacuations. Trukai’s corporate social responsibility program supports a wide variety of community activities and programs for people living with disabilities, sports, education, and health.

We’re now into fourth term of the academic year and with it comes recognition of students’ efforts throughout the year. For our Education team here at Port Moresby Nature Park, our team took to several schools, presenting the Top Explorer and Champion Explorer Awards for schools who repeatedly visited the Park for its school excursion programs. One such school was La Salle Technical College’s Year 10 students, also undertaking Tourism & Hospitality studies who had visited the Park for practical lessons in July and August this year. On hand to receive the class certificate award was teacher Dorothy Edipau who was equally excited and surprised to receive the class award. Over 70 schools have participated so far in the schools excursion program of which the Education team are truly proud of, noting the range of students from pre-school through to tertiary institutions. Apart from La Salle Technical College, there are a number of other secondary schools and tertiary institutions such as St Charles Lwanga, Port Moresby International School, APTC and the University of Papua New Guinea who have also participated in the park’s education programs. “We are always particularly happy to see more secondary and tertiary students participate in our education programs. Eco-tourism goes hand-in-hand with our mission of delivering conservation education and these are the very people who are ready to join us in on that mission”, said Ms Shirley Mogi, Port Moresby Nature Park’s Education Manager. The Port Moresby Nature Park wishes to thank all the schools, Foundations, NGO Groups, Church Groups, Youths, etc from around Port Moresby and Central province that have so far participated in its education programs this year. Special thanks goes to the Park’s valued sponsors Sir Brian Bell Foundation and British High Commission as well as its supporter, NCDC Transport Division, whose sponsorship and support has allowed more students to be educated at the Park. Port Moresby Nature Park through its Education Program educates students and the local community on the importance of the natural environment in order to enhance the cultural integrity of local people, giving them more reasons to protect and conserve their natural environment.

Legal services provided to more than 15,000 people living in Daru have been improved following village court information sessions and inspections held in the area recently. A team of officials from Western Province accompanied by an officer from PNG’s Village Court and Land Mediation Secretariat met with village court officials and community members from the Tamate, Iaru, Cawo’o, Darowaro, and Central Kiwai Village Courts. The meetings were an opportunity to share information and ideas about court and mediation services and how they can best support the community. The officials inspected village court records, reviewed the conduct of court officials, observed court procedures and held information sessions for more than 300 community members. The activities were supported by the Australian Government through the PNG-Australia Partnership to strengthen village court and land mediation services in Western Province, recognising the central role village courts play in bringing justice to remote communities. Australian High Commission representative Elizabeth Beard, who supported the inspection team visiting the Daru area, said effective village courts and land mediation services were important to improving community safety and security. “For many people, village courts are where they can access justice and resolve disputes over land, debt or petty crime before they escalate into something more serious,” said the representative. “That is why the PNG-Australia Partnership is committed to working with PNG to strengthen village courts by training officials, providing resources and conducting inspections.” Since 2016, the Partnership has provided training for more than 2360 village court magistrates and clerks across Papua New Guinea, improving the quality and accessibility of legal services provided to more than 1.4 million people.

Dirio Gas & Power Ltd and PNG Power Ltd announced this week that the 100% nationally owned Independent Power Producer will begin supplying power into Port Moresby grid at the end of this month. Directors of Dirio and PNG Power signed an agreement on Wednesday, which paves the way for Dirio to supply power into the Port Moresby PNG Power grid. Dirio built and commissioned a 45 mega-watt (MW) power plant at Caution Bay in Central province in November 2020 but was unable to supply electricity due to PNG Power not building a transmission line nor having sufficient capacity and stability on the existing transmission line to take the full supply as per the Power Purchase Agreement. Dirio and PNG Power worked together to resolve the Port Moresby grid transmission network stability issue, and on 20 October 2021 signed another significant agreement which allows the supply of power to begin on October 30, 2021. “This is the first phase of the full implementation of the agreement,” Chairman of Dirio Ambassador Isaac Lupari said at the signing. “There has been some delay due to technical issues, but those have now been resolved, and I thank our Directors and everyone for being patient.” “This business is owned by landowners. I am proud that our people are getting into the downstream processing business.” “Our aim is to provide stable, affordable power to consumers in the capital city, and generate sustainable income from the business,” Ambassador Lupari said. Hela Governor Hon. Philip Undialu, representing the landowners and provincial governments who own Dirio Power, said it was a bold decision to get into the power business. “For too long, we have left it to foreigners to dominate the electricity sector in PNG. That must change. Papua New Guineans must get into this sector and I am glad we have taken the bold stand with this initiative,” Mr. Undialu said. He thanked the board and management of Mineral Resources Development Company and Dirio for working hard to deliver the project. Dirio is owned by PNG LNG Project landowners and the Hela, Southern Highlands, Gulf, and Central Provincial Governments.