Emmanuel MAIPE

Cricket Papua New Guinea (Cricket PNG) has received K30,000 worth of gym equipment from the Carbine Club of Papua New Guinea to support the physical preparation of the country’s high-performance cricketers.The equipment will be based at Amini Park, the Home of Cricket in PNG, and will help national players prepare for domestic and international competition.The donation was funded through the Carbine Club of PNG Foundation, which raises money to support sporting organizations and young athletes across the country.Cricket PNG Board Chairman Michael Harrison thanked the Club for its longstanding support, which has included equipment, assistance with overseas travel and contributions to player development.“This donation strengthens the resources available to our national players at Amini Park and will help them prepare physically for domestic and international competition,” Mr. Harrison said.He said the Club’s support reflected its commitment to reinvesting in sport and helping young people. Previous contributions to Cricket PNG include an ice machine and a bowling machine, as well as assistance for high-performance players travelling to Australia. Mr. Harrison also acknowledged the Club’s broader support for PNG athletes competing at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.Tony Carbry MBE, Immediate Past President of the Carbine Club, said the organization was pleased to support Cricket PNG.“Through the Carbine Club of PNG Foundation, we support organizations that are doing the hard work and delivering results. Cricket PNG is exactly that kind of organization,” Mr. Carbry said.He praised the achievements of the PNG Barramundis and PNG Lewas, describing the national teams as outstanding ambassadors for the country.Mr. Carbry said cricket’s international success deserved greater recognition and support and called on the Government and business community to back PNG’s national teams. He noted that individual and private contributors had provided much of the support for recent campaigns.“These results reflect years of commitment from Cricket PNG’s leadership, administrators and players. It would be great to see everyone get on board,” he said.Mr. Carbry also acknowledged current Carbine Club President Reg Monagi’s support for cricket and said the Club looked forward to continuing its relationship with Cricket PNG.Cricket PNG thanked the Carbine Club and the Carbine Club of PNG Foundation for their continued support, noting the important role partnerships can play in developing the sport and helping PNG teams compete internationally.

Prime Minister James Marape has expressed deep sadness at the passing of Maprik MP Libert Kapris, extending heartfelt Condolences to his family, relatives, people of Maprik and Parliamentary colleagues.Mr. Kapris passed away on Saturday morning, 17 October 2026, at the Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby. Prime Minister Marape described his passing as a painful loss for the Kapris family and Maprik District, which had already mourned the death of his father and former Member Gabriel Kapris, during the current Parliamentary term.Mr. Libert Kapris was elected to Parliament in the June 2024 Maprik Open By-Election, representing the People’s First Party. He succeeded his father, who passed away on 13 August 2023.Prime Minister Marape said the loss of both father and son within the same term of Parliament was especially difficult for their family and the people who had entrusted them with leadership.“He came into Office following the passing of his father, who was also a Member of Parliament in this term. He won the By-Election and came into Office, and now, within this same term, he too has passed away. It is just a sad thing,” Prime Minister Marape said.The Prime Minister extended his sympathies to the late Member’s immediate family, clan and wider community, acknowledging the grief being felt across Maprik and East Sepik Province.He also conveyed Condolences to Hon. Richard Maru and the People’s First Party, of which Mr Kapris was a member.“I offer my Condolences to his family, his tribe, his people, Maprik District, and of course Minister Maru and the Party that he was part of,” he said.Prime Minister Marape said that, at a time of such sorrow, Christian faith offered strength and comfort when the circumstances of life were difficult to understand.“Some things in life we can never understand, but in faith as Christians, we acknowledge that God knows best,” he said.He encouraged those mourning Mr Kapris to remember his life and the responsibilities he had accepted in stepping forward to represent his people.Prime Minister Marape said the most meaningful tribute would be to preserve his memory through practical care for his family and continued attention to the work he had begun for Maprik.“The least we can do is recall and remember the one who has passed and commit ourselves to uphold and complete the work that he started,” he said.“We honour his memory by doing good to his family and his people, and by pursuing his dreams.”The Prime Minister said Mr. Kapris’s passing should draw leaders and communities together in compassion, with the welfare of the bereaved family and the people of Maprik at the centre of their response.He expressed the Government’s commitment to honouring the late Member’s memory through continued service to the people he represented.“That is a commitment we make,” Prime Minister Marape said.“To the people of Maprik and the late Member’s immediate family, on behalf of the Government and Pangu Pati, I pass on my condolences and sympathies.”

The Police Commissioner has been put on the spot to find out about what happened to the police vehicles designated for Madang that would support police officers maintain public safety in the province.Prime Minister James Marape has directed the Police Commissioner to provide an immediate explanation regarding police vehicles expected by Madang Province under an arrangement involving the provincial government and the Police Department.Responding to a supplementary question from Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa in Parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Marape said the National Government had purchased more than 400 police vehicles to strengthen law enforcement across Papua New Guinea (PNG).Governor Pariwa raised concerns over delays in vehicle allocations despite the provincial government’s contribution of approximately K2.4 million towards police resourcing.Prime Minister Marape acknowledged that Madang had contributed funding towards law and order and was entitled to question the outstanding allocation.“Madang Province, you are entitled to raise this issue,” he said.The Prime Minister said he had been advised that 30 of an earlier consignment of 60 police vehicles from Japan had already been distributed.He also acknowledged the policing needs of Lae, describing it as an important centre for customs, business and commerce.Prime Minister Marape said the National Government had arrangements to complement police vehicles purchased by provincial and district governments, while recognising that demand for police resources remained high throughout the country.He called on the Police Commissioner to respond immediately to Governor Pariwa’s concerns.

Cricket Papua New Guinea (Cricket PNG) has named a 14-player squad for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup (CWC) Challenge League campaign in Kenya from October 21 to 31, 2026, with the PNG Barramundis facing a crucial series of matches as they pursue a top two finish in Pool A.The squad will depart PNG on October 13, travelling via Dubai, where the team will play two 50-over matches against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of its preparations before continuing to Kenya for the tournament.PNG currently sits third in Pool A and faces a must-win campaign, with victories across all five scheduled matches needed to maintain a chance of finishing in the top two.The Challenge League is an important step in the ICC's pathway towards qualification for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, making every match critical for the Barramundis as they look to strengthen their position in the competition. The selected squad brings together experienced national players and emerging talent, with Cricket PNG including three players of particular interest as the team prepares for the demanding 50-over campaign.The 14 players selected are:1. Assadollah Vala2. Sese Bau3. Patrick Nou4. Kabua Vagi Morea5. Lega Siaka6. Alei Nao 7. Gaba Frank 8. Boio Ray9. John Kariko10. Tony Ura11. Dauncey Tom12. Doko Rupa13. Sema Kamea14. Aue OruThe inclusion of Sema Kamea provides the Barramundis with an additional pace-bowling option, with the left-arm fast bowler returning to the national squad ahead of the Kenya campaign.Kamea is expected to bring pace and aggression to the bowling attack, adding another dimension to PNG's efforts to contain opposition batting line-ups and take wickets throughout the tournament.Young batting allrounder Dauncey Tom, 19, has also earned selection in his first senior national squad.Tom's inclusion offers the team additional batting depth and another bowling option when required. His selection represents an opportunity to gain valuable experience at senior international level while contributing to the Barramundis' campaign.Wicket keeper-batter Doko Rupa has also been selected, earning an opportunity to press his claims for a place in the playing side after being overlooked earlier in the year.Rupa has continued to train strongly and will have the opportunity to demonstrate his progress as the team prepares for the upcoming competition. His wicketkeeping and batting capabilities could provide important options for the squad during the tournament.The selection of the three players adds variety to the squad, with Kamea strengthening the pace attack, Tom providing allrounder depth and Rupa offering wicketkeeping and batting options.PNG will play five matches in Kenya, beginning against Jersey on Thursday, October 22.The Barramundis will then face Denmark, Qatar, Kuwait and hosts Kenya in a demanding schedule that will test the squad's consistency across the tournament. The fixtures are:•Thursday, October 22: PNG vs Jersey•Sunday, October 25: Denmark vs PNG•Tuesday, October 27: Qatar vs PNG•Friday, October 30: PNG vs Kuwait•Saturday, October 31: Kenya vs PNGPNG Barramandis Head Coach said, with PNG currently third in Pool A, the team will need to approach every fixture with a strong focus on performance and results."Winning all five matches would give the Barramundis a chance of finishing in the top two, although their final position will also depend on the other teams' results.""The two 50-over matches against the UAE before the tournament will provide valuable preparation, allowing the squad to build match readiness and fine-tune its approach ahead of the opening fixture against Jersey," he added.Focus on Performance and QualificationThe Kenya campaign represents a significant opportunity for the Barramundis to improve their standing in Pool A and keep their qualification ambitions alive.With a combination of experienced national representatives and emerging players, Cricket PNG will be looking for the squad to deliver consistent performances with both bat and ball throughout the competition.The team departs on October 13, this year before beginning the team's, Kenya campaign on October 22, with five matches scheduled across the 10-day tournament period.Cricket PNG wishes the PNG Barramundis the very best as they prepare to represent PNG on the international stage.

Police in the National Capital District (NCD) is sending out a warning to all final year secondary school students sitting the National Examinations that there will be no troubles caused after the examinations.NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Warrick Simatab in a short statement released today, sent his best wishes to all the Grades 10 and 12 students, and warns them as well."To students and parents planning to celebrate once exams are over; be responsible. I will not tolerate public nuisance by students involved in the consumption of alcohol, homebrew, drugs, noise pollution or in school fights.""I will not mince my words on this. A precedent has already been set by NCD Police Command a few months ago: police arrested and charged 90 students over school fights, and they have since been convicted. That precedent stand.""I will not tolerate students' nuisance after the exams. Celebrate your achievement the right way — safely, and with respect for your community," the Metropolitan Superintendent said.The Metropolitan Superintendent urged parents to be responsible for their children after the exams.This is because NCD over the years has seen a lot of post exam troubles caused by student celebrating their end of examinations.

Prime Minister James Marape has reaffirmed his Government’s objective of securing Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) removal from the dreaded Gray List.However, he said leaving the list must be accompanied by lasting improvements that would prevent the country from returning to it.“Our objective should not be just to get PNG off the grey listing,” he said.Reforms must become part of the normal operation of government, financial institutions, and the wider economy, rather than a temporary response to international monitoring.He warned that economic growth would deliver less benefit to the people if money laundering and the loss of public funds continued.Prime Minister Marape said the shift towards a digital economy should also strengthen the ability to trace transactions and hold those responsible for wrongdoing accountable.The prime minister said this at the closing of the Second Anti-Money Laundering, Counter Terrorist Financing and Counter Proliferation Financing Conference at APEC Haus in Port Moresby yesterday.PNG was formally placed on Grey List on the 13th of February 2026 by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).The action by the FATF stems from the underlying issue that PNG had not made sufficient progress in strengthening its system for preventing and prosecuting money laundering and terrorist financing.

Local farmers in Sogeri in Central province can expect to harvest more climate resilient crops in the future to sustain their livelihoods, thanks to support from Australia.Australia is working with farmers in the Sogeri catchment area to build new skills, strengthen food security and diversify income opportunities.Bobby Anapa, a farmer from Girinumu village is optimistic about the future after harvesting African yams, a first for communities along the Kokoda Track.The introduction of non-traditional crops such as African yam, cassava and Highlands sweet potato, alongside practices such as mulching, is helping communities adapt to changing climate conditions.“It’s the first time I’ve seen a yam grow this large. It’s a first for us all and has motivated us to keep working hard,” said Bobby.“We can already see the potential of this crop to improve food security and sustain us for generations to come,” he added.   For Joanne Goraro, who supports her young family with the money she earns from her garden, this year’s harvest has inspired her to grow more.“This yam is different from the varieties we usually grow, and learning how to plant the yam was a challenge at first,” said Joanne.“I am just so happy with the harvest. Seeing one yam tuber double and even triple in size has really made all our hard work worthwhile,” she added.The PNG-Australia Partnership is supporting communities in Sogeri trial new crops and farming practices to improve food security, increase harvests and boost household income from their gardens.

Prime Minister James Marape has issued a statement commending UN Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres for his definitive, courageous opening speech to the General Debate in New York, United States.Opening the session, Secretary-General Guterres delivered a blunt, historic address warning the world leaders that global "fault lines are widening" and "cracks have become canyons".In a defining moment for his legacy, Guterres zeroed in on climate change as the world's "most profound intergenerational power imbalance" and forcefully declared that global polluters must finally be held accountable and be made to "pay".Responding directly to the UN chief’s address, Prime Minister Marape praised Guterres’ unyielding leadership and stated that PNG and its regional neighbours stand in solidarity with his mandate."Secretary-General Guterres spoke with the raw honesty the world needs," Prime Minister Marape stated."He was entirely right to state that those who hold the largest carbon footprints must pay for the damage their emissions cause. Developing nations and Pacific Island communities continue to suffer the worst consequences of a climate crisis they did not create."“PNG offers its full support to the Secretary-General’s call. We must transition from voluntary aid to mandatory accountability. It is time to make the polluters pay,” he said.

Local livestock farmers in Eastern Highlands Province are being equipped with vital skills and knowledge through training programs aimed at increasing productivity and strengthening the province's growing livestock sector.According to Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL)- Livestock Officer in Goroka, Mr. Joshua Jim Muwei, they have a variety of programs to support the different forms to livestock farming.“In the provincial DAL office in Goroka, we have fish program, honeybee, and goat, sheep and cattle programs to train farmers who want to go into livestock farming,” he said.“They are equipped with the knowledge and skills to go raise livestock.”These programs a most vital so to enable farmers to meet the demand for livestock in the province.Mr. Muwei said there is demand domestically for livestock and there is potential to further grow this sector in the province, and also nationally.Going forward, he said the demand for livestock, especially cattle are there and farmers come to the DAL office specifically to buy cattle for their stock. Hence, the proper support from State authorities must be channeled as well to this sector to see it grow further in the Eastern Highlands.

All things chocolate will be on full display in Buin as the famous Chocolate Fest returns for another year in Bougainville.Buin will host the 10th annual Bougainville Chocolate Festival from 23 to 25 September. Australia and NZ are once again happy to support the festival which, bring together cocoa farmers, businesses, industry experts and communities to celebrate Bougainville’s world-renowned cocoa.Cocoa remains one of Bougainville’s most important agricultural commodities and a major source of income for many households.Since its inception in 2016, the Bougainville Chocolate Festival has grown into a major event for the region’s cocoa industry, showcasing the quality of Bougainville cocoa while recognising the farmers, businesses and communities behind its success.The festival also promotes local cocoa enterprises and chocolate products, helping to raise the profile of Bougainville cocoa in national and international markets.Celebrating the theme, “Bougainville Cocoa, Our Pride, Our Future: Promoting Cocoa Excellence, Sustainable Agriculture and Tourism Practices for Inclusive Economic Growth,” the three-day program will feature industry seminars, trade and product displays, chocolate tasting, cultural performances and a cake-baking competition.Local business houses played a key role in sponsoring the festival including Member for South Bougainville, Timothy Masiu who also contributed.The festivities will run from 9 am to 5 pm each day for three-days, with farmers, businesses, communities and visitors are all welcome to attend.The Bougainville Chocolate Festival is an initiative of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, led by the Department of Primary Industries and is supported by the Bougainville Arts, Culture and Tourism Authority in partnership with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand.This partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting sustainable economic growth and stronger communities across Bougainville.

The news could not have come at a better time, just right after the 51st Independence Anniversary, it has been made known that the Papua LNG is a step closer to its Final Investment Decision (FID).Prime Minister James Marape says Papua New Guinea is entering an important period for Petroleum development, with Papua LNG progressing towards Final Investment Decision (FID).Speaking at Government House in Konedobu in Port Moresby city yesterday following the swearing-in of new Vice-Ministers, Prime Minister Marape said newly appointed Vice-Minister for Petroleum Gidron Maso Karipe would assist Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina as Government works with Landowners, Provincial Governments and Project Partners to progress Papua LNG.Marape said Papua LNG has an FID sunset date of 15 December 2026, with Government working to complete outstanding Landowner and Provincial Government processes. He said he had received strong assurances from Project Leadership on progressing the Project towards FID.“I want to thank TotalEnergies, especially the Global CEO, Mr. Patrick Pouyanné, who understood that to cross the line in Papua LNG, synergy between PNG LNG and Papua LNG, and having one unified Project Operator, was important,” Prime Minister Marape said.“ExxonMobil is already operating PNG LNG. If they operate Papua LNG, then the synergy will exist. I think that has moved in a positive way. Fifteenth of December is the sunset clause to the announcement on FID.”The Government recently outlined revised arrangements for Papua LNG, including the pathway towards the December 15 FID target and increased potential PNG Equity. Prime Minister Marape appealed to Landowners and Leaders in Gulf and Central Provinces to work constructively through remaining issues so Agreements could be progressed.“Put your country ahead. See the big picture. If you have any disagreements, then there should be a space to agree to disagree. Put it on the disagreement list. But those that are agreed upon, sign up on.”He said Papua New Guinea had experience from the PNG LNG Development that could help guide negotiations while recognising that Papua LNG had its own circumstances. “The precedent, the structure, the template and the ratio are already there in PNG LNG.“Sometimes human greed suffocates what is good for all of us. Let’s not allow greed to suffocate what is good for all of us, individual or collective. Let’s see the big picture for our country.”Prime Minister Marape said the Project was being advanced at a time of global economic, financing and geopolitical uncertainty, making it important for PNG to secure investment while international capital was available.He said Government wanted Agreements with Landowners and Provinces substantially progressed before November to give the Project Partners the confidence to proceed towards FID and Financing.Prime Minister Marape said the revised arrangements provide PNG with an additional 2.5 per cent Equity opportunity, taking potential total PNG participation in Papua LNG to 25 per cent, alongside other improvements negotiated by the State.He said the Domestic Gas pricing formula had also been reduced from 9 per cent JCC to 5 per cent JCC, which the Government expects to reduce the cost of Domestic Gas supplied for electricity generation.Prime Minister Marape also said changes to PNG LNG Royalty and Development Levy calculations would remove Capital Costs from certain deductions, providing additional benefits to eligible Landowners and Provincial Governments.

The leaders and people of two provinces in the highlands that are hotspots of illegal firearms have been praised by the Prime Minister for their efforts to remove them from their communities, making them safer.Prime Minister James Marape has commended the leaders and people of Hela and Southern Highlands provinces for taking ownership of law and order through the surrender of illegal firearms.Marape particularly commended Southern Highlands Governor William Powi, Hela Governor Hon. Philip Undialu, Minister for Health and Disaster and Emergency Services Dr Billy Joseph, Minister for Immigration William Bando, and Vice-Minister for National Planning Daniel Tindipu for their leadership in supporting the gun surrender programme.He said gun surrender activities taking place in Tari, Hela Province, and Nipa, Southern Highlands Province, showed leaders and communities responding positively to the National Government’s call to remove illegal firearms from communities.“I commend the leaders of the Hela and Southern Highlands for taking the lead and responding to our call for illegal guns to be surrendered,” Prime Minister Marape said.“I also commend our people in these areas who have heeded the call and are voluntarily surrendering their weapons.“This is what we want to see throughout Papua New Guinea — leaders taking responsibility and our people taking ownership of law and order.”Meanwhile, the prime minister has also announced an extension of the gun surrender amnesty to 25th December 2026 to give more time for people still holding on to illegal firearms to hand them over to the authorities.