Kerebi DAVID

A K1.2 million funding was approved recently by the World Bank and this money will benefit the Cocoa farmers of the Tabar Group of Islands Cocoa Cooperative Society Limited. The Tabar Group of Islands Cocoa Rehabilitation and Development partnership project proposal was developed by Simberi Gold Company Limited (SGCL) recently and this funding was done through the Papua New Guinea Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification Project (PACD), to facilitate the development of a competitive and diversified cocoa value chains. The signing of the partnership agreement occurred recently at Kavieng between PACD, SGCL and the Tabar Group of Islands Cocoa Cooperative Society Limited. SGCL Community Relations Manager, Mr Andrew Taram stated that the creation of a cocoa industry as a sustainability project, that St. Babara Simberi Operations is supporting, is not a foreign concept, it is a practise that fits the current business model of creating post closure sustainable businesses that is through the cooperative approach. With the current business model of creating post closure sustainable businesses by St Babara Simberi, the creation of the cocoa industry as a sustainability project is not a foreign concept, this was revealed by SCL Community Relations Manager Mr Andrew Taram. Mr Taram further highlighted that SGCL as the lead partner in this project has work collaboratively with the Tabra Island Cocoa farmers and helped in finalizing their registrations last year, thus this has now paved the way for the much needed PACD Funding that supplements SGCL’s funding to enable and accelerate a truly functional cooperative entity to be managed and owned by the Tabar farmers themselves, with the ongoing support from the company and stakeholders. “We have a vision that aligns with and supports the cooperative model but one that will vigorously promote good governance, transparency, accountability, and sustainability for all partners to this cocoa project.” “Our focus on planning for eventual mine closure is on ensuring that sustainability is not only lip-service but practically executed in such Page 2 of 3 sustainable livelihood projects to do what we say and deliver to the promise.” The New Ireland Provincial Administration Economic Sector Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Edward Lasisi stated the mine should capture sustainable development projects in the province because one day the mining resource development projects in the province will end. Mr Lasist believes that the PACD cocoa partnership project will be successful for the people of Tabar in the long run. PACD Cocoa Project Manager Mr. Roland Kerina stated that, this was an unprecedented event, for a resource developer like Simberi Gold Mine Limited to be granted external funding from PACD, through a stringent selection process. “The company met all the necessary funding requirements out of more than seventy proposals.” “The scope of the project proposal met the funding objectives, and it was for the struggling cocoa farmers and to encourage more participation to meet global market demands.” Also speaking on behalf of the cocoa farmers was Tabar Group of Islands Cooperative Society Chairman, Tony Meka further who highlighted that this is a model project for the entire province, to learn from and adopt in other Local Level Government constituencies. The Tabar Group of Islands Cocoa Rehabilitation and Development partnership project is aimed at integrating small holder producers in Simberi, Tatau, Mapua and Big Tabar Island, in new business models, technical capacity building, aggregated field production and post-harvest management and improving competitive markets for the cocoa produce in Tabar. Mr Meka reminded the stakeholders that TGI Cooperative Society will not work in isolation and needs the support of all stakeholders, for it to meet expectations and build donor confidence.

The 2Mile Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church in the city of Port Moresby has joined thousands of other Adventist believers across the country in running awareness programs for the PNG for Christ Program that will commence on Friday 26th of April and ending on 12th May. The awareness program was led by their Youths, Pathfinders and Adventurers who held a march rally across the Moresby South area from Murray Barracks down to 2mile, Talai, Gorobe, Badili area, Koki and Kaugere area for the last 3 Saturday afternoons. The awareness program was also an invitation call made to all residents of Moresby South to come join in the biggest Crusade to be ever held in the country for 3 weeks, which will be preached in all 22 provinces in the country. With more than 2, 000 live down links sites for people who will not be able to be physically present to watch, this crusade will also be watch live on Facebook. In a recent circular released from the Central Papuan Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pr. Nathan Kaipu, Director for Sabbath School and Personal Ministry, confirmed that the General Conference President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Pr. Ted Wilson and his team from the General Conference will arrived on Thursday 25th April at around 5: 15am at the Jacksons International Airport and all church members are invited to come and welcome the World President. An evening fellowship will be held at the Sir John Guise stadium in the evening before Pr. Wilson leaves for Banz in Jiwaka to kick of The Revelation of Hope Crusade. The PNG for Christ Crusade will also provide free health specialist services to everyone on the country who needs specialist help. A powerful Adventist International Medical Specialist team with the assistants for the National medical support team are already now in Togoba, Western Highlands Province offering free specialist services. The medical team and their services will be there for the duration of the PNG for Christ Program and invitation is open to anyone in the country who needs specialist care and service to go to Togoba and get free medical service. Every Papua New Guinean is invited to attend the PNG for Christ Crusade at all Seventh Day Adventist Churches, crusade sites and even online to hear about the great Revelation of Hope message.

After a relatively well organised and peaceful day of voting in Solomon Islands, the electoral commission is working with donor partners to safely transport ballot boxes from polling stations all over the country to centrally located counting venues. It is a massive exercise with over 200 New Zealand Defence Force personnel providing logistical support across the 29,000 square kilometre sprawling island chain to ensure that those who want to vote have an opportunity to do so. Chief electoral officer Jasper Anisi said there were some preliminary processes to be completed once all ballot boxes were accounted for but he expected counting to begin on Thursday. "Mostly it will be verification of ballot boxes and ballot papers from the polling stations. But once verification is done then counting will automatically start," Anisi said. The big issues So what were the big election issues for Solomon Islanders at the polls on Wednesday? A lack of government services, poor infrastructure development and the establishment of diplomatic ties with China are some of the things voters in the capital Honiara told RNZ Pacific they cared about on Wednesday. Timothy Vai said he was unhappy with the former government's decision to cut ties with Taiwan in 2019 so it could establish ties with China. "I want to see a change. My aim in voting now is for a new government. Because we are a democratic country but we shifted [diplomatic ties] to a communist country," Vai said. Another voter, Minnie Kasi, wanted leaders to do more for herself and her community. "My voting experience was good. I came to vote for the right person. "Over the past four years I did not see anything delivered by the person I voted for last time which is why I am voting for the person I voted for today," Kasi said. While Ethel Manera felt there was a lack of development and basic government services in her constitutency. "Some infrastructure and sanitation [projects] they have not developed and they are still yet to develop and that is what I see should be developed in our country," Manera said. This is the first time the country has conducted simultaneous voting for national and provincial election candidates. Anisi has said they would start by tallying the provincial results. "The provincial results we count in wards," he said. "So wards have smaller numbers compared to the constituencies so you need to count all the wards in order to get the constituency number." Some visiting political experts and local commentators in Honiara think delaying the announcement of the national election results might pose a security risk if it takes too long and voters grow impatient. But others say it is a good strategy because historically supporters of national candidates who win hold noisy public celebrations and if this is done first it could disrupt the counting of provincial results. Source: RNZ. Com

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the southern coast of East New Britain (ENB) province this morning at around 6:57am. As per report from the Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory (PMGO) of the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management, the earthquake occurred as a result of interaction between the Solomon Sea and South Bismarck micro plates, in the vicinity of Pomio District, approximately 200 km southwest of Kokopo, East New Britain Province and about 588 kilometres northeast of Port Moresby city. Acting Assistant Director for PMGO, Mr Matthew Moihoi told PNG HAUSBUNG that the depth of the earth quake is 81 kilometre and its location on the scale is 5.88 degrees S, 151.02 degrees, at the deeper part of the subducting Solomon Sea Plate at an area of known seismic zone. “The people of Pomio felt the most effect and at the same time the earthquake may have been felt in Kimbe and other parts on New Britain Island,” he said. “At the meantime, there has not been any report of any damages from this earthquake received by PMGO in the affected areas.” Mr. Moihoi further clarified that the earthquake occurred in land and therefore, no tsunami warning has been issued.

Settlers in Moresby North East in Ward 12 on Land Portion 884 have been promised settlement upgrade to suburb. Member for Moresby North East John Kaupa revealed to the settlers recently that the Governments plans for Settlement upgrade to Suburb Program will be captured in his 9 Mile Saivara Satellite Township Project. The Satellite Township on its own will cater and benefit 450,000 plus population in his Electorate and the Settlement upgrade to Suburb Program will benefit about 3000 plus families in that Land Portion who are currently residing around and at the back of the 9-mile Cemetery area. By June 2024 this program should come into effect depending on the funding allocations that will come from the National Government as well as the Moresby North East District Development Authority. “From the household survey that was done, everyone has been captured and no one will miss out on this development program.” “We will do desktop cuts for allotment and sections, and we will be giving out 300square meters to 600square meters of land to each family.” Kaupa highlighted that once each family are allocated land, they will also be given land titles so that means these pieces of land will be owned by them for generations. However, Kaupa also added that each family has to come forward with their building plans for their homes so that it meets that required standard of housing structure before they build. “This is a Settlement to Suburb upgrade program therefore all houses must be of permanent structure.” “I have already talked with the Lands Minister John Rosso regarding this program, and he has given his blessing and his willing to work in partnership with the office of Moresby North East for this project.” Kaupa further stated that once the Settlement to Suburb program comes into effect, the excess road now used by the settlers around the cemetery area will be closed off. “We will stop and close off the cemetery road and give the road back to the dead and cemetery users, because a new road will also be built.” “We will also include a recreational area and a sporting field for the residents to enjoy and this will all be part of the main 9 Mile Saivara Satellite Township Project on an area of approximately 35.44 hectares.”

3 High schools in Sol- Nomane Karimui (SNK) District in Simbu Province are facing shortage of food supplies for their boarding students. A community leader, Mr Andrew Ya-MacCarthey stated that the three High Schools Doliba High School, Nomane High School and Karamui High School are all without food rations to sustain the school. Mr Ya-MacCarthey added also that Doliba High School Principle highlighted the problem and said the school had to send students home to bring in garden food to stock up their mess, however that was not enough because most gardens have been spoilt after continuous rain. “Doliba High school also clarified that the K50, 000 TFF given to the school was not enough to run the school and the school is also out of stationaries.” A call has been made to the relevant authorities to step in and provide food supplies and stationary assistance. “The District Development Authority has heeded calls; however, the problem now is how to transport the supplies into the schools because of numerous major landslides along Gumine and Sinesine Yongomulg District as well as multiple landslides in Sol-Nomane Karimui.” “1 high school out of the 3 schools, Nomane High school has received its share of food supplies however Doliba High School and Karimui High school are still waiting for their rations, hoping the food rations and school stationary supplies arrive before Term two starts.” “DDA, our good MP Francis Alua, our Governor Noah Kool and Prime Minister have all made commitments and allocations for disaster relief effort thus this covers these schools too but sadly clearance work and relief efforts are slow because funds have been promised but not released yet.” “We hope the schools will receive their school supplies so that when term 2 resumes students can start off on a good note.”

Around 12:15pm on Wednesday, a small earthquake was felt in parts of the Nation’s capital, areas such as Waigani, Gordons, Down town Port Moresby; however, this earthquake was not recorded by the Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory (PMGO) of the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management (DMPGM). Acting Assistant Director for PMGO Mr Matthew Moihoi told PNG HAUSBUNG an earthquake was not even recorded by other seismic stations operated by the Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory (PMGO) of the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management (DMPGM), as well as other regional seismic stations. “We did not receive any recording of the earthquake because earthquake was small, and no earthquake magnitude was assigned we were not able to get any recording.” “With rumours going around of another potentially large earthquake to happen, this is not true.” “PMGO would like to advise the general public that the information is not true, and that the public should continue to conduct their business as normal.” Mr Moihoi further added that it is not possible to predict an earthquake with current monitoring technology available. “We can never predict if a major or minor earthquake will happen or not, but we can record its magnitude.”

A meeting was held recently by the National Census Steering Committee to progress discussion and evaluate what has been done so far, as the nation prepares for the Census in June 2024. The committee members comprising 27 State agencies heads, with the Department of National Planning and Monitoring Secretary Mr. Korney Samuel as the chairman to the committee and the Deputy Chair, National Statistician John Igitoi. In the last two National Census Steering Committee meetings, it was co-chaired by Deputy Secretary for National Planning Michael Kumun and the National Statistician, John Igitoi. The National Census Steering Committee provides the technical advisory roles and provides directives and guidance to the National Statistical Office (NSO) on the Census and how the state agencies can participate in this national event. The Census also has seven sub-committees that deals with specific areas of the Census preparations such as publicity & awareness, security, coordination, finance and logistics, procurement, and the user advisory committee at the technical level where they provide technical inputs and advisory the steering committee on the next course of action. It consists of the technical staff from the members of the Census Steering Committee. Deputy Secretary for National Planning Mr. Kumun has urged those present to give their utmost support in whatever capacity they can to ensure this year’s census is delivered. He said this year’s national population census is a national government sanctioned event that was officially launched by Prime Minister James Marape who highlighted that all State agencies must work in partnership and collaboration with NSO and the Provincial Government to ensure the Census is delivered as scheduled. “A lot of progress has already been made in terms of procurement, logistics and publicity with the actual preparation of trainers to train enumerators.” “The recruitment drive for the census enumerators has already started”. Kumun added that Post PNG will assist in logistics; Information Communication Technology Department will help in ICT related matters, while the Police, Correctional Service and Defence department will do a comprehensive security assessment to provide security for census officials in areas that is needed or necessary. “The office of the Chief Secretary, the Prime Minister’s Department and Department of Personal Management is expected to issue a joint statement for the participation of all Public Servants in Papua New Guinea in this year’s Census.” The committee will meet again in the next two weeks.

All public servants from Waigani all the way to the Ward level including school leavers are urged to join the National Census team become enumerators this 2024 National Census. This call was made by Prime Minister James Marape at the recent launching of the National Census 2024. PM Marape called on the National Census Chief Secretary and the Secretary for The Department of Prime Minister to issue circular instruction out to every public servant from Waigani all the way to the Ward level to take an active part in the 2024 National Census. “All Public servants, you are not to ask for any allowance to do this job from the 17th -31st of June, you are to be at work for the national head counts.” Marape said National Statistical Office (NSO) must use all the public servants for the count. He further recommended to the National Statistical Office also that all school leavers must also be taken on board, all Grade 12 leavers, or tertiary graduates or students who are either not continuing their studies or not employed to join the Census team as enumerators. “All grade 12 graduates in the country and all tertiary students doing nothing, report to your district administrators and provincial administrators where ever you are.” “Give your name, present yourself, you will be the enumerators used by the national statistics office.” National Statistical Office must make use these cluster of people doing nothing to come on board and help. Marape added also that those who make decisions at the national cabinet, provincial cabinet, and Districts, at LLGs and at the ward they all must be influence by population data and not by politics and personal interest. A prosperous and inclusive PNG will only happen when Government at all levels, when decision makers at all levels know exactly how many people we are dealing. Census does not only include the citizens, but also includes all human beings that live inside our country, he said. “Those who live in our country, those who come in as business men, women, tourist, you work in the NGOs, those in public service or in the private sector or anyone who is passing through you must be counted also on the days of the country’s National Census.” Marape stated that it is important that everyone participates in this count, because being counted will make it easier for those in key responsible methods of decision making to factor everyone into their consideration for development. PMJM also urged Minister for Administrative Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Constitutional Matters, Richard Masere and the NSO to make this National Census less costly but more effective census, stating that there is not any event greater in the country that this 2024 National Census. “This is because the National Planning, National Government, Provincial Government, District Development Authorities, Local Level Government and everyone need correct population data to make the right decision for everyone.”

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