The International Organization for Migration (IOM), working in partnership with the National Disaster Centre (NDC) and East Sepik Provincial Disaster Centre (ESPDC) is delivering aid to communities affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake, and flooding in the ESP. IOM prepared 300 shelter kits and 200 Non-Food Item (NFI) kits in Wewak before ESP was hit by the earthquake and flooding. These kits, which include buckets with lids, jerry cans, soap, water treatment tablets, and solar lights, were made available through the financial assistance of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). Funded by USAID-BHA, IOM’s initial response to earthquake-and flood-affected communities will directly benefit up to 2,500 people in East Sepik province. IOM, prepositions relief supplies in disaster-prone and strategic locations throughout the country to enable a quick and efficient response in times of disaster because PNG is prone to natural hazards including earthquakes, flooding, and landslides says Serhan Aktoprak, IOM Papua New Guinea Chief of Mission. Wewak town, the provincial capital of ESP, was identified as a prepositioning location by provincial authorities and IOM and to arrive at this result, assessments were completed, and various factors considered, such as the province's exposure to natural hazards, and the area’s accessibility to remote areas where assistance may be needed. Mr Aktoprak added that following an official request for international humanitarian assistance, IOM has worked closely with the NDC and local authorities to immediately release prepositioned NFIs and shelter repair tool kits for distribution to vulnerable and disaster-affected communities, especially women, persons living with disability, old persons, and internally displaced persons. NFIs have been transported to the Forward Operating Bases at Yambi Station (Gawi District) and Angoram District for distribution. He further stated that IOM has also deployed its technical staff from Port Moresby and Kiunga in Western Province to East Sepik, to support local authorities in planning and deploying assessment and relief supplies. The USAID-BHA team is also on the ground together with IOM, visiting affected communities, and coordinating with the local authorities to enhance the response. “At this critical hour, IOM teams on the ground in affected areas of the ESP are working side by side with our NDC and PDC partners and with the support of our donor and partner USAID-BHA, IOM has promptly and without delay launched its response efforts to bring relief and protection to those affected,” said Serhan Aktoprak, IOM Papua New Guinea Chief of Mission.

A modern Level 4 Hospital and a new Police Barracks will be built on land potion 884 in Ward 12 of Moresby North East just beside the 9mile Cemetery outside 9mile. The downpour this Wednesday afternoon did not stop the ground breaking ceremony from commencing. The people of Moresby North East braved the wet weather to hear about the good news of a new satellite township that will be built in their area. Moresby North East Member John Kaupa thanked the community for accepting the development and asked them to take ownership and embrace the development that will come in due time to change and also to benefit their lives. “Development should happen where people are, and this new town ship that will take shape in few years time is basically bringing in job opportunity and basic support for life.” Kaupa added that the Level 4 Hospital is a must and much needed service that people of Moresby North East need and it will take about three to four years to fully complete the Level 4 hospital. Kaupa stated that for the development of the Level 4 hospital a funding of about K10m was put up for the project, however this is phase one and over construction if more funding is need then Moresby North East Office, National Capital District Commission, National Government and Provincial Health Authority will all co-fund to complete the hospital. “The initial K10million now was a joint funding from the Moresby North East DDA, NCDC and the National Government.” “Within the Level 4 hospital we will also have paediatric ward and maternity ward, so for this we will also look at sourcing funds from the development donors and partners.” He added that work has already commenced with fencing all up, separating the cemetery from the project area. Kaupa further stated the importance of building a mini–Police Barracks in the new development area was significant because it will complement the already established Police station and also ease police housing worries so that Police officers can sleep closer to the station and work. “For the establishment of the new police barrack, a K3.4million was already allocated to the project and 10 duplex will be built.” “However there needs to be a road link from the barracks to the police station so with that also captured, the total costing is around K3.5m for the Police Barracks Project.” He also stated that the project was awarded to YFIG Contractors, an Asian Contractor who is responsible for most of the houses constructed at Kennedy Estate. Kaupa further elaborated that the project area is about 900 square metres, and a three-storey shopping mall will be built on this land. This mall will house ATMs, a bank branch, post office and more. “This whole place here in the next 5 years will become the satellite town; there will be a fire station, St Jones ambulance station, police station, market, shopping mall and a level 4 hospital.” Kaupa also revealed that there are plans in line to construct 200 houses between the hospital and the police barracks, and that housing scheme will be built for the middle to upper class citizens. “The total cost of building this township is roughly around K500million and want to ask the people of Moresby North East to embrace development.”

The number of people injured in a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in eastern Taiwan climbed past 1000 on Thursday though the death toll remained steady at nine, with dozens workers on their way to a hotel in a national park mostly now found safe. The temblor, the strongest in 25 years, hit on Wednesday morning just as people were readying to go to work and school, centred on the largely rural and sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien. Buildings also shook violently in capital Taipei, but damage and disruption there was minimal. Taiwan's fire department said the number of injuries had reached 1050, putting the total number of missing at 52. Around two dozen of almost 50 hotel workers on their way to a resort in Taroko National Park had been located. The fire department said the group was trapped on the cross-island highway which traverses the gorge connecting Hualien with Taiwan's west coast and is a popular tourist destination. It showed drone footage of some of the hotel workers, along with other people, waving from the side of a road, with the crushed back part of a minibus also clearly visible. Another group of 26 workers had also been found, it added. On Thursday morning, a helicopter rescued six people who had been trapped in a mining area, the fire department said. The railway line to Hualien re-opened ahead of schedule on Thursday, although one rural station north of Hualien city remains closed due to damage, the railway administration said. In Hualien city, where people who had been trapped in buildings have all been rescued, some people slept outdoors overnight as more than 300 aftershocks rocked the region, unnerving residents. A lady, 52, who gave her family name as Yu, said she checked herself into a tent on a sports ground being used for temporary shelter late on Wednesday night because she was too scared to sleep in her apartment, which she described as "a mess". "The aftershocks were terrifying. It's nonstop. I do not dare to sleep in the house," she said. An earthquake of magnitude 6 struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on Thursday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. The quake was at a depth of 32 km, it said. - Reuters Source: RNZ.com

Taiwan's biggest earthquake in at least 25 years killed nine people on Wednesday and injured more than 900, while 50 workers travelling in minibuses to a hotel in a national park were missing. Some buildings tilted at precarious angles in the mountainous, sparsely populated county of Hualien, near the epicentre of the 7.2 magnitude quake, which struck just offshore at about 8am and triggered massive landslides. As darkness fell, some people were spending the night in tents and other shelters. Meanwhile scores of emergency workers were trying to shore up damaged buildings and demolish those deemed impossible to save. "The Uranus building behind us is a very badly damaged place. It is a building with one basement level and nine floors above ground. The first and second floors are now underground," Deputy acting chief of Hualien Fire Department Lee Lung-Sheng said. Hualien city mayor Hsu Chen-Wei said all residents and businesses in buildings that were in a dangerous state had been evacuated. Demolition work was beginning on four buildings, the mayor said. More than 50 aftershocks were recorded, weather officials said. "I'm afraid of aftershocks, and I don't know how bad the shaking will be," a 52-year-old Hualien resident, who gave her family name as Yu, said as she made her way to a shelter. The power of the quake was captured live as news anchors delivered their breakfast bulletins, steadying themselves against giant screens as their sets swayed and lighting rigs rocked back and forth overhead. The earthquake hit at a depth of 15.5 kilometres, as people were headed for work and school, setting off a tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines that was later lifted. Video showed rescuers using ladders to help trapped people out of windows. Strong tremors in Taipei forced the subway system to close briefly, although most lines resumed service. Fire authorities said they had already evacuated some 70 people trapped in tunnels near Hualien city, including two Germans. But they had lost contact with 50 workers aboard four minibuses heading to a hotel in a national park, Taroko Gorge, they said, and rescuers were looking for them. Another 80 people are trapped in a mining area, though it was not immediately clear if they were inside a mine. On a highway through the mountains, huge boulders from a landslide were strewn across the road. The Fire Bureau of Taichung City Government said it rescued a man in his 50s who was unconscious in a truck. Fighter jets A woman who runs bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Hualien city said she scrambled to calm her guests. "This is the biggest earthquake I have ever experienced," said the woman, who asked to be identified only by her family name, Chan. The government put the number of injured at 946. "At present the most important thing, the top priority, is to rescue people," said President-elect Lai Ching-te, speaking outside one of the collapsed buildings in Hualien. The rail link to the area was expected to re-open on Thursday, Lai, who is set to take office next month, said. The White House said the US stood ready to provide any assistance necessary. Taiwan's air force said six F-16 fighter jets had been slightly damaged at a major base in the city from which jets are often scrambled to see off incursions by China's air force, but the aircraft are expected to return to service very soon. In Japan, the weather agency put the quake's magnitude at 7.7, saying several small tsunami waves reached parts of the southern prefecture of Okinawa, while downgrading its tsunami warning to an advisory. In the Philippines, seismology officials warned coastal residents in several provinces to move to higher ground. Chinese state media said the quake was felt in the southeastern province of Fujian, while a Reuters witness said it was also felt in the commercial hub of Shanghai. Chip supplies Most power has been restored after the quake, electricity utility Taipower said, with the island's two nuclear power stations unaffected. Taiwan's high-speed rail operator said no damage or injuries were reported on its trains, although services would be delayed as it made inspections. A major supplier of chips to Apple and Nvidia , Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, said it had evacuated some fabrication plants and safety systems were operating normally. Nvidia said it expects no supply disruptions from the earthquake. It said later its workers were safe and had returned to their workplaces shortly after the earthquake. It said impacted facilities were expected to resume production during the night. TSMC's Taipei-listed shares ended down 1.3 percent, but the benchmark index largely brushed off the quake's impact to close down 0.6 percent. The official central news agency said the quake was the biggest since one of magnitude 7.6 in 1999 that killed about 2400 people and damaged or destroyed 50,000 buildings. Taiwan weather officials ranked Wednesday's quake in Hualien as "Upper 6", or the second-highest level of intensity on a scale ranging from 1 to 7. Such quakes collapse walls unless they are made of reinforced concrete blocks, while people cannot stand upright and must crawl in order to move, experts say. This story was originally published by Reuters. Source: RNZ.com

The National Statistical Office mandatory domain lingers in the space of data which ultimately ends up as a powerful tool for development planning, investment and policy decision making, effective resource allocation and governance as well as tracking our development progress and envisage our future. Thats from the National Statistician Mr John Aseavu Igitoi. “Data is the only window through which we can look ahead and plan with confidence.” “The importance of having reliable population data for PNG cannot be overstated,” said Mr Igitoi. Igitoi added that without accurate population figures, all planning and programs risk being ineffective or futile given that the last census took place over a decade ago. This supplemented by limited population census surveys, and with growing demand for data to support evidence-based planning, electoral reviews, the development of the Medium Term Development plan, monitoring progress towards PNG Vision 2050, the Sustainable Development Goals and various sectoral plans, it is crucial for PNG to obtain up to date population data that serves multiple purposes. “Primary goal of the census is to accurately count all individuals in Papua New Guineas, encompassing men, women, children, newborns, the elderly, homeless, prisoners, and those with disabilities residing in all corners of this country.” “It is designed to capture the size, the composition and the distribution of the country’s population.” Igitoi highlighted that the 4th Census was in 2011 and 7.3million people were counted, however it is now over 13 years without proper stock of the population being taken so the question now is what the population number is now, and this question must be put to rest in this round of census. “Our strategy to conduct the Census has been always the face-to-face interview whereby interviewers recruited and trained will interview the heads of households as the main respondents.” In this round of Census, National Statistic Office (NSO) will use tablets to collect census data from respondents in a large-scale statistical operation since NSO started collecting census data for the country. This strategy will greatly reduce statistical processing time and improve data quality. “The provincial Administrations and the Local Level Government will play a crucial role in the census, they are the link between the field officers and the NSO, therefore support from the Provincial Administrations is highly needed,” said Igitoi. Mr Igitoi further assures the country that NSO has a very committed Census Team that is supported by UNFPA, US Census Bureau, Australian Government, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. “We ask for everyone’s support and cooperation because Census is about every one of us, you and me and you must be counted in order for you to be in the records of the Government and place yourselves in the development picture.” Igitoi further added that the National Government and the sub- national government must know it population size, sex and composition in each of the districts and LLGs in order to build the right number of classrooms and clinic, train enough teachers, nurses and midwives, procure the right number of drugs for our health facilities, connect everyone with air, sea and land transport, communication and electricity networks and so on. “Your numbers are very important, so you need to Be Counted this 2024 National Census.”

The 2024 National Population Census was officially launched last evening marking the start of a nationwide exercise to collect relevant and timely data that will enable the government to make informed decisions and policies on development and service delivery for the people in the years to come. Census 2024, theme “Be Counted, Leave no One Behind,” was launched in Port Moresby at the Stanley Hotel by the National Statistical Office (NSO) through the support of the new Ministry for Administrative Services and Minister Assisting Prime Minister on Constitutional Matters, and Prime Minister (PM) James Marape. Addressing the audience of government delegates, staff and important stakeholders at the launching, the Minister for Administrative Services and Minister Assisting Prime Minister on Constitutional Matters, Richard Masere, highlighted that the 2024 Census holds immense significance for the future of Papua New Guinea (PNG), and serves as the cornerstone for the nation’s development. This is because the Census ones completed will provide invaluable data to inform policy decisions, allocate resources effectively, and address the needs of our diverse population. “Since the establishment of the new Ministry in January 2024, we have dedicated ourselves to strengthening planning, preparations and oversight of National Statistical Office and the 2024 census process,” the minister said. “Recognizing the importance of this task, we have worked tirelessly with NSO team to ensure that every aspects of the census are well planned and executed efficiently.” “From Healthcare and education to infrastructure and social welfare, the data collected will guide us in designing programs and initiatives that uplift every Papua New Guinean, leaving no one behind.” Masere emphasized that the Census also embodies the commitment to inclusivity and to ensure every individual is accounted for regardless of their background or circumstances. “Moreover, the 2024 Census will provide us with valuable insights into emerging issues such as urbanization, migration patterns and demographic shifts.” “This information will be crucial in planning sustainable urban and rural development, managing population movements, harnessing the demographic landscape to drive PNG economic growth and development.” He also added that the census data will serve as a foundation for monitoring progress towards PNG’s Sustainable Development Goals and other national planning and development targets. Minister Masere further highlighted the objectives of the census, stating that the aim is to obtain accurate and comprehensive data on the size, composition and distribution of the country’s population. “This Census also seeks to identify vulnerable and marginalized groups to ensure they receive the support and services they need and also to foster a sense of national unity and solidarity as the country come together to participate in this important national duty.” Masere then stated the obvious that the success of the Census hinges on the participation of every PNG citizen. Everyone’s cooperation is essential in ensuring that a true reflection of the nation’s population is obtained, hence urging the people to cooperate with the Census teams when they are approached during the exercise. “Whether you reside in urban centers or remote villages, your voice matters and your contribution is invaluable; therefore, by participating in the census, you are not only helping to shape the future of our nation but also ensuring that your needs and concerns are heard and addressed.” The 2024 National Population Census exercise will run for about two weeks, starting from June 17th and ending on June 30th, 2024. “During this time our dedicated teams will be visiting households across the country to collect data and I urge you all to welcome them with open arms, and provide them with the information they require to complete their task.” The last census was conducted in 2011, 13 years ago, and since then it has left everyone questioning about the quality of the data collected and used for subsequent government policies due to the long period in between the next one. Therefore, Masere said it’s high time this new thorough and comprehensive Census is conducted, one that will set new standard of excellence and quality in data collection and analysis.

In response to the widespread natural disasters ravaging parts of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Prime Minister (PM) James Marape has announced an envelope of K500 million funding package aimed at providing immediate relief and restoration to the affected populations. Marape stated that to facilitate this relief effort, the funds will be drawn from a variety of sources including the 2024 Budget, Connect PNG Programme, the District Services Improvement Programme (DSIP), the Provincial Services Improvement Programme (PSIP), and disaster funds and support from development partners. He also added that the Office of the Chief Secretary understands the enormity of the situation and is coordinating a whole of government approach through a National Disaster Steering Committee to assess and coordinate with the help of National Disaster Office and provincial disaster offices for special interventions. “This financial mobilization is aimed at ensuring that the support reaches the communities most in need without delay, and restoration is made to areas affected.” “I call on districts and provinces directly affected by these natural disasters to expedite the process of accessing their allocated DSIP and PSIP funds. This proactive measure is intended to enhance the efficiency of the relief distribution process, ensuring that the funding support not only reaches all affected areas, but does so in a timely manner.” To ensure funds are immediately available, Marape has directed Finance Minister, Rainbo Paita, to facilitate the immediate drawdown of DSIP and PSIP funds, plus infrastructure funds that are in the 2024 budget. Further financial instruction has been made to ensure the use of service improvement funds to address disaster relief. "Papua New Guinea, has been recently hit hard by earthquake, flooding caused by heavy rain and ensuing landslips, king tides, strong winds and others," said PM Marape. “This includes the earthquake in East Sepik and parts of Madang provinces where assessments are currently being carried out in partnership with provincial and local authorities. He further commended the work done by Department of Works and Highways in opening up the Highlands and Ramu highways. The PM further detailed the targeted areas, notably mentioning Gumine District in Chimbu Province, as a region of particular concern where the impact of these natural calamities has resulted in loss of lives. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the citizens who have been hard hit by these disasters.”

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed to significantly improving digital connectivity in Jiwaka province was signed recently between PNG DataCo Limited (DataCo) and the Jiwaka Provincial Government. The MOU outlines a collaborative effort to connect Jiwaka Province to the National Transmission Network (NTN) as well as to provide Data Centre and Cloud Services in priority areas identified by the provincial government. Under the terms of the MOU, Jiwaka Province commits to Collaborate with DataCo to identify priority areas for internet and cloud service rollout, to provide necessary logistical support, including site identification and permitting. The Jiwaka Provincial Government will work with DataCo to raise awareness and promote the adoption of these services within the community and to cover the costs associated with connectivity and services in the designated priority areas. Conversely, DataCo pledges to collaborate with the Jiwaka Provincial Government to assess and address internet and cloud service needs. Dataco will design and implement a robust and secure network infrastructure throughout the province and also provide ongoing technical support and expertise to ensure the smooth operation of the services. During the signing of the MOU, Governor for Jiwaka, Simon Kaiwi, stated that Jiwaka is a new Province that is only 12 years old, thus they are still behind on a lot of things, however the province is progressing slowly. He said one of the main areas he is focusing on as the Governor for the province is the Education Sector. “I see the need to educate our children, because without education for our children, we will have restless community.” “I see education is fundamental for human development and I am so happy to sign the MOU on behalf of Jiwaka Provincial Government so students can have access to information and internet for development.” Governor Kaiwi further added that the world is heading in the internet communications technology direction, hence PNG is taking the same direction to be able to better educate its people to compete in country and abroad. “We will be working together to get the system up and running in the province.” Also speaking during the signing was PNG DataCo CEO, Mr. Paul Komboi. Mr. Komboi announced that it was a privileged to partner with Jiwaka Provincial Government, adding that people are the greatest asset in the country and that people without knowledge will not be able to optimize the country’s natural resources or take part in developing our economy. “We are bringing in this enabling infrastructure to improve health, education, law and order and also in the greater public and private sector.” “We want to deliver internet technology to all the schools in Jiwaka province to bring them up to speed so they can contribute meaningfully to the development of this nation.” Komboi further added that after the signing of the MOU Dataco will implement internet throughout Jiwaka Province, connecting Jinwaka Province with the rest of the world. “Our target is aligned with the MDTP 4 where we want to connect all districts throughout the country with fiber optic infrastructure where possible.”

Eleven (11) people are believed to be dead after being buried alive under the debris caused by a huge landslide that occurred in the Sikola village in Gumine district of Simbu Province following the heavy rains experienced in the area. The continuous rainfall has caused massive natural disasters to occur in many parts of Simbu province and Gumini District is one of the districts hit hard with natural disaster. Landslides, destruction to roads, bridges and houses, and the massive floodings have been reported all over the province. The incident at Sikola village occurred on Wednesday 13th March at around 6:12am in the morning, burying the eleven people and leaving others displaced. Mr. Terence Kee, the Coordinator for Dead and Alive, Triage and Case Management at Kundiawa Sir Nombri General Hospital, confirmed this incident. In an exclusive interview with PNG Hausbung, Mr. Kee revealed that out of the 11 buried alive, 9 are children, 1 pregnant mother and 1 adult female, while two male survivors were brought into Kundiawa Nombri General Hospital a day after the landslide. These two male survivors had no major injuries, they just sustained soft tissue injuries and were treated and discharged from the hospital. Member for Gumine District, Mr. Dawa Lucas Dekena has conveyed his condolences to the immediate families of the victims and reminded Gumine citizens to take extra precautions as the district authority moves in to assist with disaster relief for the victims. Mr. Dekena stated that Gumini District alone experienced 12 landslides with the biggest at Sikola village where the sides of mount Bemal slid down and blocking the road, buried the Bailey bridge, formed a dam and also claimed lives. The local Member said that to actually reach Sikola village, the District team had to clear the debris at Koltamak, and two new landslides at Garinda and Baul before reaching Sikola. He added that the district team are on the ground with excavators on both sides of the landslip but rocks and debris are still coming down from Bemal ridge some 200m up the steep mountain, and therefore it was too dangerous to start work right away. “They will wait for the weather to improve before starting the clearance," he said. He said this is the first time Gumine District has experienced a natural disaster of such magnitude, and he is now appealing to the National, Provincial government and international agencies for assistance. The Member already informed the Prime Minister along with the Minister for Works about the damages and lives lost from the disaster. He has also informed the National Disaster Centre and Defence Force Engineering battalion at Kerowali in Jiwaka province to access the situation and report back. “We need the disaster office to visit the site to assess the situation, and we also need rescue workers to assist in the search for the 11 unaccounted lives," he said. In the meantime, Mr. Dekena notified that the Gaima-Genabona-Onule road is open for use, but they will give clearance for people to use after the checks and confirmation if it's safe to use. Meanwhile, Mr. Kee confirmed that the retrieval exercise for the 11 bodies buried under the landslide is expected to commence around 4pm this afternoon. Mr. Kee also added that there are mass reports of natural disasters happening in almost all districts of Simbu Province, from Sol- Nomane, Gembolg and Chuave, but reports are not confirmed yet. However, reports from Gumini district and Gunange in Sinesine Yongomugl district are confirmed with casualties and deaths known. In Gunange, he said two young girls aged 9 and 4 years of age were killed by flood waters.

The Defence Rugby League Club is thrilled to announce that training has already commenced for the upcoming Port Moresby Rugby League season. Trainings are held during the week days from 4pm to 6pm at the Murray Barracks Rugby Field. Defence Head Coach Mr. Wesley Laveliu extend the invitation to all aspiring players who want to join the club this season to come over and try out. Mr. Laveliu highlighted that their training program will be conducted in three stages, with each stage designed to assess and prepare players for the challenges of the season ahead. Stage 1: Medical Evaluation Test and Standards; During this stage, all players will undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation to ensure they meet the required physical fitness and health standards and this step is crucial in safeguarding the well-being of the athletes and ensuring they are ready to give their best on the field. Stage 2: Strength and Conditioning Tests and Standards; in the second stage, players will participate in a series of strength and conditioning tests. This phase is aimed at gauging their physical abilities and determining areas for improvement. “Our dedicated team of trainers and coaches will provide guidance and support to help players enhance their strength, endurance, and overall performance.” Stage 3: Announcement of Final 25 Players per Division; following the completion of the first two stages, they will announce the final 25 players for each division, which includes the A Grade, Women’s, and Under 20 teams. “We encourage all players to give their best throughout the training program to secure their spot in the final line-up, because the final 25 players will mark the official roster for the 2024 Port Moresby Rugby League Season”. Coach Laveliu encourages all individual interested to be part of the club to come dressed in proper training attire and gear to ensure a safe and productive training session, thus this includes appropriate footwear, comfortable sportswear and any necessary protective equipment. “The club is excited and cannot wait to witness the enthusiasm, passion, and talents from our neighbouring communities and we welcome all new and continuing players of the Defence Rugby League Club as we embark on this 2024 Port Moresby Rugby League season, hoping to create excellence and unforgettable memories on the rugby league field.” For further inquiries or additional information, interested individuals are advised to contact Wesley Laveliu at 81886958 (WhatsApp number] or on Gmail wesleylaveliu40@gmail.com

The New Ireland Provincial Government (NIPG) is shocked at the recent stunt by the Kavieng Open Member of Parliament (MP), Ian Ling- Stuckey for by-passing the District Development Authority (DDA) Act and going straight to the prime minister to endorse what he termed as a “13 in 1” Provincial Budget. In a statement refuting a recent media statement from the Office of the Prime Minister (PM), Deputy Governor and Chairman for Economics and Natural resources, Mr. Sammy Missen remarked that it was interesting to note that Mr. Stuckey has now become the media man for the PM, resulting in misconstrued information about New Ireland being released to the public. “The media release incorrectly stated that Provincial Assembly reps were present to witness the handing over of the so called 13 in 1 budget.” Mr. Missen added that there were no Provincial Assembly representatives present and that only the representatives from the Kavieng DDA (KDDA) were there. “The so-called budgets from the districts and 10 LLG’s were never presented to the Provincial Executive Council (PEC) before the 30th of November last year as stipulated in the DDA Act, which means their budgets were never passed on the floor of Assembly during the handing down of the Provincial Budget on the 20th of December 2023.” “We have not collectively discussed the budget estimates presented by the two districts, they just illegally combined their budget with the Provincial budget and presented it to the prime minister recently. A total breach of the Provincial and Local Level Government and DDA Acts,” said the Deputy Governor. He said that in section 105A subsection 3 under Financial Responsibility in the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments, stated that before any budget or any appropriation is proposed for submission to the Provincial Assembly, the PEC shall through the Joint Provincial and Budget Priorities Committee, consult with any appropriate provincial permanent committees. However, this subsection does not confer any right or impose any duty of consultation after initial stages of the preparation of the budget or Appropriation by the PEC. Mr. Missen also questioned the legality of representatives from the KDDA submitting the budget to the PM since their member of parliament has never been legally sworn in as a member of the Provincial Assembly since his return to office in 2022. He also raised concern that several sections of the DDA Act of 2014 have been breached by the Kavieng and Namatanai DDA’s where expenditure report of millions of public monies have been unaccounted for. “In point 8 subsection ( a ) & ( b) of the DDA Act, it states the DDA’s must cooperate with the Provincial Government and not perform any of its functions or exercise any of its powers in a way that is inconsistent or in conflict with the policies and plans of the Provincial Government.” “It also states in part 9 (1) that the Provincial and Local Level Government service monitoring authority shall monitor the performance of the Authorities and the implementation of the Act.” Missen said. Missen further stated that since 2021 a total of K106.8 million in royalties has been paid directly to the DDAs of the two Districts, that’s K53.4 million each, while the Provincial Government has received K26.7 million since 2021. “What’s so difficult about giving the Provincial Government your expenditure reports?” The Deputy Governor is now calling on PM James Marape to put the Budget submission by the KDDA team on hold until proper consultation with the PEC and an audit into the expenditure of the two districts is completed. He said the PM should accept the New Ireland Government’s recommendation.

Papua News Guinea’s very first ever Bridal shop opens now at the Vision City Mall in Port Moresby. This new shop is a passion put into reality by two passionate Papua New Guinean women, who recognized the increased fashionable expectations by women in PNG. The new Bridal Accessories & Fabric Shop will focus on meeting the needs of every female’s challenge of picking out the perfect dress for her special day. The shop provides girls with different taste in fabric with dresses ranging for bridal party and honeymoon making every fabric package a memorable one. Part-Owner Janet Sios speaking on behalf of the two owners stated that they are thrilled that they have been able to offer a service that is not only new but rare in a city that is now growing with high interest by many who are wanting to look good and feel confident in whatever clothing they wear on a special occasion. The two owners hope that this shop will not only cater for this market but also help women to choose for themselves and wear a dress on their wedding day and feel good in it. “Our people can achieve such businesses, if you look around big shopping malls in the city, most shops are owned by Chinese and other foreigners, but why?” “Some are even selling PNG inspired fabrics and products.” “We ought to reserve these for our local people.” “It is never easy for our women to be able to finally feel free to make this choice themselves when planning for a wedding and we hope by offering this unique service, this challenge becomes our challenge and we look forward to helping this growing market,” said Mrs Sios. Apart from ensuring that the bride looks perfect on her special day, the new BAF shop is also offering an event planning service that will also ease the burden of planning a wedding day. She added that as women the owners feel that the new business will truly empower many other women in the industry to now have an outlet that will provide "quality” products for them in fabrics and accessories. Mrs Sios, who is also the Founder of PNG’s Fashion and Design Week Ltd, added that wedding dresses in rich, bold colours, luxurious fabrics and a taste of modern accessories will be offered at this new hub for women who want to spend a little more to look their best and feel good about themselves. Furthermore, the new hub will also be offering honeymoon packages to top off a union by two souls who plan to remember their moment together. “These packages will definitely be something that newlyweds will find handy when planning their gateway after the perfect wedding.”