Kerebi DAVID

The NSW Blues have saved face in front of their home fans with a 24-10 victory in Origin III at Accor Stadium. After losing the first two matches, the new-look NSW side dug deep to salvage some pride in front of 75,342 fans on Wednesday night. Blues coach Brad Fittler made a number of changes after losing the series in Game Two but they were vindicated as Cody Walker shone in his return to the Origin arena and 21-year-old debutant Bradman Best stole the show with two tries on debut. Just three minutes into the contest Best looked to open the scoring but he was denied with the bunker ruling the centre offside. While the Blues appeared to have all the momentum in the opening 10 minutes, the Maroons were quick to capitalise on their first set in enemy territory. It was Tabuai-Fidow who tapped down a pinpoint Cameron Munster kick into the hands of David Fifita, and the Blues didn't have a chance of stopping the charging Titans enforcer, who crashed over the line to open the scoreboard. But the Blues hit back just two minutes later with debutant Keaon Koloamatangi putting his mark on the match, producing a perfectly placed tap-pass to open up space for Brian To'o to cross on the right edge. Come the 20th minute and Cody Walker made his presence felt, with some quick hands, unlocking Best who tipped on to Addo Carr before the Australian winger broke down the left edge with a perfectly executed kick and chase putting the Blues in front 10-6. With the Blues mounting pressure and the Maroons coming up with some crucial errors, Walker orchestrated another left-side shift and this time Best capitalised, crashing over for a try on debut. Taking note of Addo-Carr's previous heroics, Tabuai-Fidow got in on the action in the 35th minute, sweeping outside Blues defenders before punting the ball through the line and regathering the ball just over the stripe to reduce the deficit 16-10. A penalty against Harry Grant for crowding the ruck handed Stephen Crichton his second penalty goal of the half, stretching the Blues lead 18-10 right on the halftime buzzer. The second stanza played out in a fairly even contest with both teams trading sets and while the Blues looked to break the deadlock in the 62nd minute through Isaah Yeo, however the forward was ruled offside. Eight points was still the difference. After breaking tackles all night, Blues skipper James Tedesco finally found some space, streaking down the left edge before finding Best in support who made it a double on debut. Crighton's conversion made it 24-10. Source‏‍: NRL. com

Central Province Governor Rufina Peter presented a cheque worth of K20, 000 to the Manumanu United Church in the Hiri-Koiari district of the Central Province early this week. The money was presented to support the church to host their thirty second (32nd) annual church council meet for the West Red Scar Circuit, which started yesterday Tuesday 11th July and will end on the 15th of July. About 96 delegates travelled in from Papa, Bogi, Lealea and other surrounding villages to be part of the 5days church council meet. Chairman of the West Red Scar Circuit Bisia Lahui in welcoming the delegates stated that despite the difficult times the circuit has managed to survive through the blessing of God with whatever little they had. Mr Lahui added that he is grateful with open arms for the kind gesture shown by the Governor of Central Province, because the church is also struggling to keep peace and harmony both in the church in all the surrounding communities. Governor Peter who was the guest at the opening of the church council meet, said that she was happy to be part of a program and the congregation. She added that the occasion reminded her of the passion of early Christian missionaries that brought the Good News to Papua New Guinea. "As I was coming here to Manumanu, I was thinking about the missionaries who first landed on the shores here in Manumanu and in PNG generally”. Governor Rufina said that at that time the country was not advanced, the world was not advanced in technology, and these missionaries they did not have ships that had automated piloting and all the state of the art technology to even fly a plane. “They (missionaries) came on vessels that perhaps had to use both the sails and the understanding of knowledge, how to use the stars and moon to determine the weather how it would be and whatever else they had in that boat or vessel to bring them to our shores the shores of Papua New Guinea to bring the good news to the people of Papua New Guinea.” “And so reflecting on that to me it just shows the missionary zeal that the early missionaries had, they were God focused and centred, they did not look at the weather and let that diminish their faith, they decided the land in the Southern Hemisphere called Papua New Guinea and was focused to bring the Good News the Sivarai Namona to this place and they landed here.” The Central Governor than challenged the delegates as leaders of the Church to check themselves if they have that missionary zeal. “We need it in this time when you see the changes happening around you, some things you feel you can’t do with your own human strength the forces that are much greater than you and I, and so your help, our help comes from him our Lord who is our rock our strength our tower of hope that we ran to in our time of need." “So for me it’s in the physical development sense, as you all its in the spiritual sense, spiritual leadership so just as I feel the pressure as Governor for Central Province looking after the affairs of five hundred thousand (500, 000) people together with the Open members." "I am sure you are feeling the pressure as spiritual leaders to guide the people of God that you and I are serving in different spaces of leadership.” Governor Peter further encouraged the church leaders that they play a much more important role than the political leaders because the foundation that must be set for a nation is through the word of God on which political leaders can join on and build on.

A man from Western Province has voluntarily built 21 houses for people living with disabilities, widows and young people in his community. Mr Kila Garum, 50 years old is a community leader in the remote village of Drimskai in the Kiunga rural local level government (LLG) of the North Fly District in Western Province, has given up his role as the ward councillor and has instead led villagers in Drimskai in a community development project that aims to build 49 homes to accommodate everyone in his village. “These first 21 homes built were prioritized for the people with disabilities, widows, married and young people in the community,” he said. “My dream is to see that everyone in the community owns a permanent house with solar lights and a drinking water tank.” Garum, is also supervisor to five (5) volunteers under the National Volunteer Services (NVS) who are currently attending a three-week Southern Region Batch 19 volunteers Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) program at the Goldie River Training Depot (GRTD) which ran from the 19th of June to the 9th of July recently. The Pre-Service Orientation is basically an induction program that is aimed to equip volunteers with the necessary information that they would need to successfully complete their +projects with the guidance of NVS supervisors. “I resigned from occupying the position of Ward councillor in the 2018 LLG election after realizing that the community needs that had been identified were not being prioritized.” Garum said he resigned after realizing that his efforts to seek assistance from the office of the District and Provincial members had fallen on deaf ears so he had to take action instead of waiting on the Government. Since then, he has managed to build 21 out of the 49 proposed houses that were to be built in the ward with the help of the local villagers and later a support funding of K136, 000 as the first quarter funding from the District Service Improvement Program Funds (DSIP). “Helping my community build the 21 houses has given me a sense of accomplishment in serving my purpose as a member of this community,” he said. Garum added that in 2022 the current local member of North Fly District Hon James Donald supported the project by offering a saw mill which greatly assisted them. He is also a part of the volunteer counselling committee for fifteen years from 1992 to 2007 and expressed that serving others through volunteering has given him satisfaction especially in seeing that he has made an impact in people’s lives. Garum has also proposed another project to venture into after the Southern Region PSO, which is a plan for a Land Use Project. “Drimskai was scoped as the central location for Economical and Business House Station for both the Government and Private sector for the people of North Fly and Western as a whole,” he said. “It is a first of its kind to the people of Western and the good news to the Drimskai people of North Fly to turn this central location to a House Station." He added that often times basic services were decentralized and remote people are in need of basic services and felt that this project will greatly help them. In the meantime, scoping and surveying has already been done so far for the remaining houses and they are waiting for the Government to intervene and assist with funding for the other projects to start. Garum said that the Drimskai was scoped and surveyed to be developed into a station with a Primary and secondary school, an Agriculture College, a Health Centre, Aid-post, a mini-Hydro plant and the sealing of streets. He further stated that he is looking forward to working with the other volunteers on the project after the PSO and is grateful to the opportunity from NVS to meet other likeminded individuals who had a passion to bring about positive change in their communities.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed recently between the chiefs and councillors of West Mekeo and the Central Province Governor Hon. Ruffina Peter in West Mekeo over the weekend to see the start of a brand new Mekeo Veifa Road. Central Governor who was there over the weekend on Saturday thanked the people of Mekeo and Kairuku for allowing the new Mekeo Veifa Road to commence. Governor Ruffina said that there is a great task ahead for Central Province, and all must work together because times and the environment around are changing and people living along the roadside can see the changes happening. “The Connect PNG Program will change the way you seat, settle and do your daily business,” she said. “Development is about working together, you doing your bit and together we progress and prosper and I thank the chiefs for giving your land, 20 metre or 40 metre for road development.” The Central Governor stated that this road will be developed to address law and order, because so many times the people of Aipiana, Veifa, Kenga and other villages in land often face harassment by the youths from Inaui village, and this road will create a route around Inaui village so that travelling passengers do not have to face harassment anymore. “This is a priority road, and it will benefit about 19-20,000 population, so I am happy to say the functional grants are well spent.” Ruffina added that the Provincial Government was allocated K8milion through the department of Works and with what she has on hand she had to move and start projects, especially road projects in the Central Province. “This year 2023, I have spoken with the Provincial Administrator, Mr Koava that the functional grants, works functional grants that come to the province must all be dedicated to building roads and bridges.” “My focus is road and bridges, not schools or any other projects yet because if we do not have access, nothing else will move in the district.” “With the MOU signed and Road Project launched, my job now is to knock on the door of Works Minister Solon Mirisen and tell him that work has started on West Mekeo Road and Moina Highways so please release funds to complete this road.” Rufina added also that there are 9 provincial roads that she will focus on to get them fixed. “I have started in Goilala, this Bereina Veifa to West Mekeo Road, I still have Rigo, Abau, Koiari and Kairuku ring road down from Isiu and others that I will look into and all districts’ roads belong to the open members so the local members must do their part also.” She also added that Transport Infrastructure is her number one priority which she has tapped into now, Law and Order, Integral Human Development, Income earning areas (SME) and Internal Revenue for the Province are other Priority areas that she and her provincial government will prioritise on. “I ask the Provincial Administrator that any funding that comes from the National Government to the Provincial works must all be made available to push and complete all the provincial roads.” In appreciation of the launching of the new Veifa West Mekeo Road, Chief Iso Aimo, expressed gratitude towards Governor Ruffina stating that this their cried been heard. “On many occasions, I have apologised to the Chiefs and the people of Aipiana, Veifa and Kenge village for the actions of my village people especially the youths for their misconducts and harassment towards the other village.” “Because of this Law-and-Order problem in Inaui village, I met with chiefs from the other villages, law and order Chairman for Central Province including policemen and police hierarchy last November and we made a commitment, and a petition was handed over to Governor to find a solution to this ongoing Law and order problem caused by the Inaui youths,” “Today I am happy man, although a private citizen now, our petition was granted,” said Mr Aimo. Governor Rufina acknowledges Mr Aimos enthusiasm and thanked all the people of West Mekeo for giving portion of their land for the road work to commence and he urged the youth of Inaui to change because better things are coming to change Central Province, and no one must be left behind in tangible development and progresses.

The Marshall Islands was called to honor on Saturday night that it has become only the second country in the world to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of "clean water for all." An all-volunteer women's organization in the Marshall Islands was credited for spearheading a five-year project to provide simple water filtration systems for home use to every family in this watery nation of low-lying coral islands. The Marshall Islands is the second, behind Liberia, to deliver on the UN's Sustainable Development Goal number six to provide clean water to every resident, said Darrel Larson, director of Sawyer International. It is the maker of the portable filtration systems and partnered with the Kora In Okrane (KIO) Club in support of the water project. KIO Club hosted a dinner Saturday night in Majuro to celebrate completing the nationwide programme of delivering the home water filtration systems to over 8000 households in the Marshall Islands, as well as training Islanders in their use and maintenance. KIO Club president Angeline Heine-Reimers said the success of the programme was the partnership with multiple government ministries, other NGOs and the private sector. She said it was a difficult task given the logistics of ocean travel to remote and sparsely populated islands. "The benefit of this project to provide clean water was brought home to me on Lae Atoll," she said. Atolls depend nearly 100 percent on rainfall for fresh water as they have limited ground water, which is often brackish and salty. Heine-Reimers said Lae experienced a drought after receiving the filtration systems. While droughts often cause outbreaks of disease on atolls lacking clean water, "people on Lae said they had no problem with getting clean water" during the dry period as a result of using the newly provided water filtration systems, she said. The systems combine Sawyer International water filters with the tubing and accessories needed to convert a five-gallon bucket into a low-cost and long-lasting gravity water filtration system. "The Marshall Islands is one of only two nations to achieve UN SDG six," Larson said. He added the Marshall Islands has much to offer the world with this achievement. "The Marshall Islands can serve as a model of government, non-profit and private sector coming together to solve a major problem: The need for clean water." Larson said there were many countries that were making progress in delivering clean water to their populations. "But there is no place like the Marshall Islands," he said. "Here, the government supported an NGO to roll out the programme. I cannot say enough about the KIO Club." Delivery of the water filtration systems to every corner of this dispersed nation, which covers an ocean area the size of the US state of Texas and is dotted by over 1200 small coral islands, was made possible by cooperation, said Larson. He also praised KIO for its policy of prioritizing rural, hard-to-reach islanders and leaving the urban centres to last. "You started with the most vulnerable people first," he said. Larson and other speakers commented on the fact that KIO Club is an all-volunteer women's group that "got the project to the finish line". KIO Club's Marshallese name, Kora In Okrane, translates as women who get things accomplished. Representatives of UNICEF and the World Health Organization, which supported the five-year project, sent taped messages of congratulations that were played during the recognition dinner. Source: Radio NZ

The United Nations' nuclear watchdog is travelling to New Zealand and Rarotonga to present their report on the Safety Review of the Advanced Liquid Processing System or ALPS-treated water at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Japan's discharge of more than one-million tonnes of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean is expected to start imminently, following the release of the report. "As stewards of the Pacific Ocean, it is incumbent upon us to leave no stones unturned in our collective effort to leave behind for our future generations a healthy and resilient ocean," Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said. The visit comes after backlash from anti-nuclear activists across the region and uncertainty from some Pacific leaders. The 18 members of the PIF have differing views on the issue. Brown said the Troika, so past, present and future chairs have met and agreed on the need for decisions on the future of the Pacific Ocean to be informed by independent and verifiable scientific assessments. "We have continued to uphold our commitments under the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone Treaty (the Rarotonga Treaty), including the prevention of nuclear contamination, whether by direct means or through transboundary impact," Brown said. The Forum has commissioned an independent panel of experts who have called out the Agency, even going as far as to say their latest report is egregious. Dumping: 'worst option' A Pacific Island Forum Panellist has said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a lot of explaining to do in its upcoming trip. Institute for Energy and Environmental Research president Dr Arjun Makhijani, who has more than half a century of expertise, said the panel has raised some very difficult questions for the IAEA. "I think it's [releasing wastewater] one of the worst ways to deal with it. We have to stop, dilution is the solution to pollution," Makhijani said. First, he found it "very interesting" how eager the IAEA had been to say this was going to have a "negligible impact" and it would all be fine. Makhijani said the IAEA overstated well-known facts about tritium back in June and silently corrected its statement in its latest report. "That's how egregious this process has been, in terms of the IAEA's eagerness to bless this issue," he said. Furthermore, he is outraged that the IAEA and Japan have so far "ignored" the Expert Panel's proposal that the water could be treated and turned into concrete and then used at the Fukushima site. "Tritium emits only relatively low energy beta particles, which will be almost completely blocked by the concrete," he said. The IAEA has ruled this out as not being within its scope, but Makhijani said a comparison of alternatives was normal in assessing compliance. These are just two examples of issues and frustrations raised by the experts who all have differing views of their own. Some disagree with Makhijani's frustrations and trust Japan and believe releasing the treated wastewater into the ocean is indeed the safest option. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi is expected to be in Auckland on Monday and then Rarotonga the following day. Source: RNZ

Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, this week opened PNG’s first Climate Proofing Provincial Wharf in Alotau, Milne Bay Province. This state-of-the-art infrastructure is a pilot project built in partnership with the Milne Bay Provincial Government, Climate Change Development Authority and the Asian Development Bank at a cost of K36 million. During the opening, DPM Rosso said it was an honor to open this great infrastructure for the people of Milne Bay. “We have stressed both in-country as well ad abroad about less rhetoric (inap lo toktok planti tumas) however we have not done enough about climate change." “This opening here today is an auspicious testimony of what the Government is doing to address climate change throughout the country,” DPM Rosso said. He said climate change is affecting everyone and I commend the Minister for Environment Conservation and Climate Change, Hon. Simo Kilepa, for really taking the task to hand in addressing climate change. "This climate proofing wharf is the first of its kind throughout the country and took around 10 months to be built."

A District Development Authority (DDA) Watch website was recently launched by advocacy group Act NOW, for ordinary Papua New Guineans to access information and know what is happening within their respective district authorities. Act NOW Information Coordinator Ms. Cathy Tukne, who was at the forefront of establishing the DDA Watch website, explained that the website is an information hub for the public. Ms. Tukne stated that anyone with a smart phone can go to www.ddawatch.org and access the website. She said, whoever that goes on that website can type any DDA and all the 93 districts in total, excluding NCD and two Bougainville districts, will appear for them to get information on what is happening in their district. She also highlighted that there is a criteria on the website where one can rank their DDA’s performance. “There is a strict criteria to rank each DDA, based on their availability of key documents such as the 5 years plan, annual budget, acquittal report, inspection report and the audit report.” “These documents makeup 70% of the score and the other 30% is where the public can give their own satisfaction score based on their own judgments on what they observe and the scores are rates as Very Bad, Bad, Ok, Good and Very Good.” Ms. Tukne added that if people are not sure of what the function of a DDA is, then this website is the place where people can go to learn more about DDAs and their functions. “Every year K10million is given to each district and just recently, our government has announced an additional K10million for infrastructure and that is a total of K20million to each district every year.” “Sadly, there is accountability on how these monies are spent, thus this website is an advocacy tool created to provide information for transparency purposes.” She encouraged DDAs to see the platform as a way forward in promoting transparency and accountability with regards to the use of the District Services Improvement Program (DSIP) funds and also a way to keep the district informed. Act NOW Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago highlighted the importance of research and data to substantiate facts regarding any development agenda. Mr. Tanago also emphasises that instead of the local members and their DDAs holding back public information in regards to their work in their district, they should consider this as a positive platform for their own benefit too. “After 5 years, MPs do not need to campaign, they can just tell their people to go on the DDA Watch and see for themselves what he and the DDA have done in the last 5 years,” he said. All DDA’s are encouraged to submit their 5 Year District Plans, Annual Budgets, Acquittal Reports, Inspection Reports and Audit Reports to Act NOW to upload on the website Tanago also encourages the media to work closely with NGOs to put these facts out and hold leaders accountable and encourage transparency at all levels.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is preparing to dump about 1.3 million tonnes of contaminated water into the Pacific over three to four decades, as it decommissions the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, 12 years after it was devastated by a tsunami. Via a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Japan’s approach to discharge treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific is consistent with relevant international safety standards. However, Papua New Guinea Opposition Leader Joseph Lelang is calling on the Prime Minister James Marape to reject a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and oppose Japan’s request to dump nuclear waste in the Pacific Ocean. Mr Lelang said the IAEA released a report on its findings in its latest report covering its independent sampling and analysis to assess the safety relating to Japan’s plan to release the treated nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear waste. He said their report is completely contradictory to the Position Paper released by the Pacific Island Forum and the National Association of Marine Laboratories (NAML) in opposing Japan’s plan to dump. “I am rejecting Japan’s plans to release radioactive waste in the Pacific Ocean outright because it will affect the ocean marine life, it will affect the fishing industry and its markets and the health of our people in Pacific Island countries.” Opposition Leader, Joseph Lelang said the Opposition’s position is clear and they acknowledge the NAML, an organization made up of 100 member laboratories that are now calling on the government of Japan and IAEA scientists to more fully and adequately consider the options recommended by the Pacific Islands Forum experts’ panel. “NAML have made their position clear and that they are concerned about the absence of critical data on the radionuclide contents of each tank and the underlying rationale of dilution ignores the reality of biological processes of organic binding bioaccumulation and bio-concentration as well as accumulation in local sea food sediments.” The Opposition Leader said it is right on the government to commit to the Treaty of Rarotonga and Treaty of Waigani of which Papua New Guinea is signatory to both and is binding by law. “The Treaty of Rarotonga on the Nuclear Free Zone opened for signature on 6th of August 1985 and entered into force on 11th December 1986, of which, PNG is a current state membership. “The Treaty of Waigani is the Convention to Ban the importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to control the transboundary Movement of Hazardous wastes with in Pacific Region.” Lelang further reminded the Government that once a treaty has been signed and rectified by parliament, it takes the force of domestic law, so when we are talking to Japan to dump nuclear waste into any part of pacific it breaches domestic law. “The Treaty was signed in Waigani, in PNG in 1995 and was entered into force in 2001.” “Other Members to the Treaty are; Australia, Cook Island, Fiji, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, New Zealand Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.”

Australian Government has given its support to the SME sector through a partnership with the Women’s Micro Bank (Mama Bank). A K3.5million Revolving Fund from the Australian Government to the Women’s Micro Bank to support export crops in PNG was recently launched. These funds will enable exporters to finance SMEs to purchase quality raw materials for exports and the facility will be available to exporters and SMEs dealing with coffee, cocoa, copra, and vanilla. The Australian Government supports PNG’s overall economic growth and recognizes that the agriculture sector is a key component of national progress and prosperity. Mr Nic Jonsson, Counsellor (Economics) at the Australian High Commission to Papua New Guinea, said that the Australian Government is proud to support Women’s Micro Bank (Mama Bank) in setting up a revolving fund that provides affordable credit to SMEs. “Australia supports the development of PNG’s agriculture sector by collaborating with public and private sectors to enhance PNG Agri-value chains that is crucial for high-value agricultural exports. “ He further added that limited access to affordable financing poses a challenge to the growth of this value chain therefore it is important to support financial service providers to offer affordable credit to SMEs and smallholders, which can later be used to improve their production. “The financial tool will enhance financial inclusion for women-owned SMEs and facilitate the export of quality coffee, cocoa, vanilla, copra, and other cash crops”. Mama Bank Board’s Chairman, Mr Noel Norikgu, described the partnership as a milestone for SMEs in agriculture. According to him, the fund will economically empower SMEs by enabling them to access credit and ease the liquidity crunch during the commodity buying season. The Revolving Fund will allow exporters to finance SMEs to purchase raw materials from smallholder farmers multiple times a year. The fund has two components: • Financing SMEs suppliers and processors to source quality raw materials. • Priority financing for women-owned SMEs to source quality raw materials and acquire equipment for value addition. The Revolving Fund is a new addition to the Mama Bank’s portfolio. Mr Norikgu stated that the bank has introduced innovative products that provide affordable finance to both growers and women owned MSMEs, thus empowering them economically. Most of the banks' products include microloans for smallholders. “Through the Revolving Fund, Mama Bank will provide loans to small and medium [1] sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them overcome the liquidity issues that Agri-SMEs encounter when purchasing raw materials.”

PNG professional boxer Junior Kauko Raka is now in his final stages of training for this month’s fight against Vietnam’s Van Thao Tran. Raka fights in the super featherweight (59kg) category and has accepted the July 15 invitation from VSP Promotions at Ho Tram Resort and Casino in Vung Tau, Vietnam. The non-title fight depicts opportunities that Raka needs for increased ring time on the wider pro boxing space so that his profile gets more exposure than at present. Working this at the local level would be a cheaper option; however the lack of credible opponents is a continuous challenge for Junior Raka to gain the experience that he needs. Pro-box Media PNG promotion’s Martin Liri has thrown support behind Raka for this fight and others being sourced so that PNG professional boxers like Raka are provided increased opportunities than at present. Liri stated that Raka is a tough boxer, quite experienced despite his lack of fights in pro boxing arena and can develop into a better boxer with more fights against quality opposition. “Raka needs more opportunities like this where he can showcase his boxing talent on a more exposed space which at the same time fly the PNG flag on the world stage." “With the internet technology progressing at an unimaginable rate and various social media platforms picking up what’s happening throughout the world, one good show in the ring can get noticed elsewhere and PNG as a country can benefit by marketing our upcoming boxers through Raka." Liri further stated that Raka works hard, training young boxers, administering his local club Team Raka Boxing and at the same time manages his pro boxing career and is looking for sponsorship support. “He came through on a proper pathway program, off a commendable amateur career representing PNG and winning a South Pacific Games gold medal in New Caledonia in 2011 and now we need to support him to realize his full potential at the pro level.” The Vietnam promoter is covering Raka’s in-country costs and offered a decent purse by PNG standards but airfares for him and coaching team is being sourced through fund raising. “The momentum has picked up in Vietnam as well as they promote the Van Thao Tran-Raka fight and at present it is one of the fights on the program but if it becomes the main bout – that will mean we are getting better exposure.” Liri added that the plan is to spend some time in Philippines where Raka can get quality competition sparring against high class boxers from his weight division before Vietnam. “At present the best Raka can get in terms of competition sparring is against top PNG amateurs John Ume, Neville Warupi, Allan Oaike, Wani Palme – boxers who are preparing for the November Pacific Games.” “I have watched Raka against these heavier boxers who Keto swaps in terms of opponent and it is the best available preparation he can get under the circumstances." "He holds up pretty well which shows his toughness." Liri further extended thanks to PNG Boxing Union and Coach Mark Keto for the support.

A six weeks long online Dedicated Mentoring Program (DMP) which started in April ended today, which saw nineteen officials from government and non-government organizations (NGOs) receive certificates today for active participation. The DMP aimed was to train government officials across different sectors on the development of project concept notes and funding proposals to access international climate finance through the Green Climate Fund Mechanism to fund Papua New Guinea’s climate actions. The participants also participated in a five weeklong Green Growth Fellowship Program (GGFP) from within the same period of time from April up to the end of June. The GGFP was aimed at providing support to Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) and relevant national and provincial government staff in providing green growth policy advisory support, including low-carbon growth and sustainable development advice. CCDA Acting Managing Director William Lakain congratulated the participants and described both programs as critical for broadening their knowledge and skills in developing climate finance projects, and green growth policy interventions towards a low carbon growth in Papua New Guinea. “These two programs are very important and should be supported into the future.” “These programs will greatly improve the knowledge and skills of government officials on key areas such as developing project concept notes and providing policy advisory support on low carbon growth and sustainable development.” Mr Lakain further acknowledged the support of GGGI and thanked the Australian High Commission for accommodating the program through funding support under the PNGAus Climate Change Partnership. He also acknowledged the University of Papua New Guinea, University of Technology and the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE)for running these important programs. “The participants were also the first to receive their certificates under a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Climate Change and Development Authority.” DFAT Australia was represented at the ceremony by Mr Nic Jonsson, the Counsellor Economics at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby. “Australia was very proud to fund the DMP and GGFP knowing the value add it will make to build the capacity of the Government of PNG and NGOs to access international climate finance and render quality climate change policy advice.” He thanked GGGI for its role as the delivery partner in collaboration with UPNG. Meanwhile the participants expressed gratitude for receiving these two trainings. Ms. Priscilla Pep, one of the participants expressed that these two programs are very important because currently, workplaces are becoming more competitive as new ideas or skills are being introduced. “These programs have helped us upscale our knowledge in building and managing projects at different scales whether it is in the private or public sectors.”