An elderly man from Amu Village in Abau District who works at the new Golden Birch Resources, a Platinum Prospecting Site on the Owen Stanley Range is alleged to have gone missing for over 6 weeks now. Mr Oabo Oabo Moses, in his 50s and a father of three (3) children had been missing for over 6 weeks now after attempting to return to his workplace by foot on November 12, 2020, but never arrived at his destination.   Reports have it that he was flown home on a company chopper on 8th November for a 4-day break at his Amau Village in the Cloudy Bay LLG, in Abau District, Central Province and after his break, decided to return to work by foot on 12th November.   Senior Constable Russel Penunu of Moreguina Police Station in Central Province said colleagues of Mr Moses who returned to their workplace after their two-week break confirmed that Mr Moses never returned to work and notified the Golden Birch Resources Platinum Prospecting Company and a missing person search was carried. They also notified the family and a combined search was carried out by relatives and his work colleagues for another four (4) weeks but to no avail. It wasn’t until last Friday that the family decided to file a missing person’s report with Moreguina Police Station but by then it was already the 6th week of him going missing. “Ol ples lain blong em ino bin tingting long come putim report long first place,” said Snr Constable Penunu. “If a missing person report was filed earlier, we would have notified the District Authorities, the Disaster and Emergency and the Search and Rescue team to carry out the search,” he stated. Snr Constable Penunu said right now even the Provincial Police Authorities are not aware of this report, but they still had hopes to find the missing person. The search for missing person, Mr Oabo Oabo Moses started this week, on 18th January 2021 and will end on the 18th of February 2021. Moreguina police have joined the family in the missing person’s search which started yesterday with all logistics support provided by the company he worked for, Golden Birch Resources Platinum Prospecting. “We do not know if the missing person is still alive but we will search until we find him.” Picture source:  Wikimedia Commons

18 selected primary schools in the four districts in the most rural parts of East New Britain Province will be lucky recipients of reading books under the University of Papua New Guinea East New Britain Students Association Book Drive. The University of Papua New Guinea's East New Britain Students Association is now ready to roll out the Book Drive in East New Britain. UPNG ENB Students Association Presidents Mr Tiolam Wawaga said the container of reading books which came in from South Pacific School Aid Australia and the PNG National Library and Archives as donations had already arrived in Rabaul and preparations are underway for distribution of books to schools in ENB. The distribution of the reading books under the Book Drive project will kick start on 25th January and finish on 5th February 2021. “The Book Drive will take exactly two weeks, because we will be distributing to 18 selected primary schools in the 4 districts of East New Britain Province,” said Mr Wawaga. “In this Book Drive we are targeting the schools in the rural are remotest parts of the districts,” he added. He further stated that out of the 4 local MP’s, the member for Kokopo, Emil Tammur was the only local MP who was very supportive and helped them all throughout and is the main man behind, pushing the project forward. Mr Wawaga also wants to thank the ENB Provincial Administrator Mr Wilson Matau for the tremendous logistic support and funding for sea transports as well as the land transports. “Above all I want thank all those who have supported our fundraising drives in Port Moresby”. 2020 was a very challenging year because of Covid-19, but thanks to all those who have showed support in big and small ways, because you cared to show support for the school children. "The East New Britain students in the rural areas will now have the chance to access reading materials," said Mr Wawaga.

A mystery disease carrying similar symptoms to Covid-19 has already claimed three lives and is affecting more people of Bona and Olabia in the Muluma District in Mt Bosavi area. Communities within Mt Bosavi have complained of experiencing flu-like symptoms, coupled with headaches, joint pains and shortness of breath but with the lack of health services in the area, a remedy to the unknown disease remains unlikely. A local community leader Andrew Awabi said a family in Bona village was experiencing flu-like symptoms and soon after, the disease had spread to everyone in the village. “The same is happening in Olabia village and has since spread to people in the whole of Muluma District in Mt Bosavi area causing everyone to become to ill.”   The lack of health services in the area means, that they may not be able to identify what the disease is, posing a greater risk to the communities at large. “The covid-like disease or virus is spreading, from kids to adults every day and until proper health checks and tests are done, we will not be able to know if coronavirus is actually here.”   “The scariest part is that we already have 3 deaths from this sickness, “said Mr Awabi. “We do not know what we are experiencing, if it is just flu and cough or actually the coronavirus.” Mr Awabi said a team from the Covid-19 Response Centre needs to be deployed to Muluma District as soon as possible to carry out testings and identify what the people are experiencing because there is hardly any health services, no Covid-19 awareness carried out in the area and no Covid-19 testing sites on ground.

No teachers want to come to Mt Bosavi and teach because it is so isolated and there are no basic services on the ground. The children at the heart of Mt Bosavi have being missing out on the much needed education service. Mt Bosavi region is the 3rd largest Rainforest area in the world and share borders with 4 different provinces, the Western Province, Gulf Province, Southern Highlands and Hela Province. Because of the vegetation and isolation, there are no basic services in the area; there is no road access thus no basic services and development have reached the people of Mt Bosavi. Mr Andrew Awabi who is the Chairman of the Mt Bosavi Sustainable Agriculture Development Initiative said few schools were built back in the 60's and 70's when missionaries came to Mt Bosavi and these old run down classrooms still stand today. There are also few schools built out of traditional materials but at the moment most schools are closed because there are no teachers. Students are willing to learn but there are no teachers. Even villages closer to Hela and Southern Highlands are only accessible by third level airline, under MAF, Strickland Bosavi Foundation, and walking can take up to 3 days. These villages with schools have only few teachers but those villages further inland do not have the same luxury of having few teachers. “No qualified teachers are willing to come and teach here because there are no basic services on the ground and there is no road access too, “said Mr Awabi “Villagers who are at least literate are becoming volunteers so that they can teach the young ones basics.” “These volunteers from the villages spend their own time, out of good heart to teach the youngsters basic, inside those rundown buildings built in the 60s and 70s by the missionaries and the traditional makeshifts.” Sadly most of these kids cannot further their studies into proper primary and high school and it seems like the government, the education system and the four surrounding provincial governments have forgotten about the children of Mt Bosavi, he said. Mr Awabi is now making a bold call to the National Government to make road links into the Mt Bosavi area so that schools can be built and Education and other basic services can be accessible for the children of Mt Bosavi.

The Right Honourable Late Sir Mekere Morauta was laid to rest on Independence Hill on Friday afternoon 08th January 2021, following his state funeral at the Reverend Sioni Kami Memorial Church at Boroko. The Right Honourable Late Sir Mekere Morauta was born in 1946 in Kukipi, a coastal village east of Kerema in the Gulf Province and died at the age of 74 on December 19, 2020 in Brisbane Australia. Late Sir Mekere Morauta was a politician and an economist. He entered the national parliament in July 1997 as the member for Moresby North-West. From 1998 to 1999 he served as the Minister for Fisheries in the government of Bill Skate, at that time the country was having a depressed economy and an uncontrollable legislature, he then went on the journey to create fundamental reforms of the country's economy and political system. In July 1999 he was elected the 7th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea in a vote of No Confidence and served from 1999 to 2002, he served 3 years as the country’s Prime Minister. Sir Mekere went on to serve a total of 15 years in politics before he retired from politics and decided not to stand again for elections in 2012 election. After 5 years off the grid, Sir Mekere contested the Moresby North West seat again in the 2017 national election and won the election, until his passing while while been the sitting member for Moresby North West. For many who knew his work and history in Politics, described the Late Sir Mekere as a reformist whose intelligence in the work has brought about many reformations in the country. During his funeral service on Friday, the current Prime Minister James Marape paid his last tribute saying Late Sir Mekere has given his life to give service for the country, and he served with higher distinction right from the formative years of the country in the 1970s right up to this time. He said Late Mekere served in the private sector, the public sector and in politics and reformed and strengthened key institutions of the state and at the same time fighting graft and corruption. “Fighting and removing corruption was again the reason he returned to politics in 2017”. “He died doing what he loved, serving his country”, said Prime Minister Marape. Prime Minister Marape further stated, “We PNG are forever grateful to his towering icon of good leadership in our country’s short 45 years.” Prime Minister Marape concluded his tribute int saying that despite Late Sir Mekere having served as a Prime Minister for only 3 years; his impact transcends time and is intergenerational, making him a true Reformist. To the family of Late Sir Mekere “I thank you for lending this great Lauri to the rest of us PNG!” He made a promise to Late Sir Mekere to do his best for the rest of the country and for the people of Kukipi and Huritai who have now conferred the name Lauri to him. “Your counsels and advices will forever ring in our minds to guide us to make our own contribution to develop PNG,” said Prime Minister. “Farewell and we hope to see you on that Golden Morning. Rest in Peace Sir Mek”.

The last leg of the 8-day State Funeral program is underway with the State Funeral Service at the Sioni Kami Memorial United Church at Gordons, Port Moresby. Thousands of city residents, dignitaries, families and friends of the late Statesman turned up to witness the Funeral Service at Rev. Sioni Kami Memorial Church. The casket arrived from funeral home and escorted into the Church by PNGDF. PM James Marape, Opposition Leader Belden Namah, Grand Chief Michael Somare, Governor General Sir Bob Dadae are some of the many other dignitaries present at the State Funeral. The casket leaves for Independence Hill after the Funeral Service for burial. Keep following this page as we send you updates on the final day of the State Funeral.

Friday 8th January has been set aside as a nation-wide public holiday for the country to pay respect to the late Sir Mekere Morauta as he will be laid to rest on that day. The announcement was made today by Housing Minister and Chairman of the Organizing Committee responsible for the State Funeral Justin Tkatchenko on behalf of the Marape/Basil government. Minister TKatchenko said this has been sanctioned by the PM James Marape and it is being gazetted so that the whole country can mourn and pay their last respect wherever they are for Late Sir Mekere Morauta. This is now setting a precedence and a template for future State Funerals going forward into the future.  “This is about setting the new protocols for us to go by for future events such as this,” said Minister Tkatchenko. A State Funeral Service will be held at the Late Reverend Sioni Kami Memorial United Church on Friday 8th January 2021 from 10am in the morning to 12pm. Late Sir Mekere Morauta was a United Church attendee, so his family wants to respect his wish and have his funeral service at a United Church. Straight after the funeral service, the casket including his family will be escorted by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force back to Independence Hill at the parliament house where his body will be laid to rest next to Late Sir William Skate. “The funeral service will be a closed casket”, said Minister Tkatchenko. “This is to respect the family’s wish to keep the casket closed.” At the funeral Prime Minister James Marape will pay tribute to Late Sir Mekere Morauta and Sir Rabbie Nameliu who is a very close friend to Late Morauta will be doing the eulogy at the State Funeral on Friday. However the full outline of the funeral and burial program will be out by tomorrow. He also mentioned that Late Morauta’s family are still in quarantine at this time but Thursday is when the family comes out of quarantine. “They will be cleared by the Pandemic Controller Commissioner David Manning on Thursday after their 7 days in quarantine,” he said. “That is why the funeral will be happening on Friday so that the whole family can also be part of it.” Minister Tkatchenko also clarified that the state funeral which will have invited guests, all members of the parliament, close associates, family and friends attending, is still open also to the general public who wish to be part of the funeral service to pay their last respect to Late Sir Mekere Morauta. Housing Minister and Chairman of the State Funeral Organizing Committee Justine Tkatchenko

For the first time since Independence the people of Cloudy Bay Area in Abau District, Central Province now have an operating health centre. The health centre which was built by the Cloudy Bay Timber Products Ltd more than a decade ago was never opened and used until just recently. Moreguina Health Centre OIC Ravu Kapa said he had being making trips by foot to and from Moreguina and Cloudy Bay serving the sick people during bad weather and on fine days people of Cloudy Bay walk miles to excess health service at Moreguina Health Centre, thus this had pushed him to have talks with the Cloudy Bay Timber Products Ltd for months to allow him to use the already built health facility. “This will be the third week, we opened just before Christmas and started giving health services to the people of Cloudy Bay”, said OIC Kapa. “After receiving the ok from Cloudy Bay Timbers, I did not waste time but kick started the health service.” Mr Kapa said he had done up a roster already whereby nursing officers from Moreguina are divided to work in Cloudy Bay when rostered. He said the people of Cloudy Bay were overwhelmed that they now have a health centre within their LLG and would not have to walk miles to excess basic health services. “This is a dream coming true and the people of Cloudy Bay must take ownership of this great service and also look after the health workers from Moreguina working there to serve them”, he further stated. OIC Kapa further stated “Just one week into operation and we have delivered 4 Christmas babies in Cloudy Bay Health Centre on Christmas Day with the heaviest being a baby boy weighing 4kg.” “We were hoping we would deliver some babies on New Year but unfortunately no babies were born on the New Year’s Day.” The health centre is fully functioning now with the help from the health workers from Moreguina Heath Centre and 28 students from Asia Pacific College who are currently doing their nursing training.

The much anticipated NCD Governors Cup semi final that was scheduled to be played today is now being deferred to Tuesday. Final wash out game between QPR Colts and Boarder Storms on Sunday at Kaugere Sir William Skate Oval was a show that went down to the wire when the QPR Colts beat Boarder Storm 8-6 points. QPR Colts have secured a semi final berth and advances to take on the Garden Hills Mapex Eagles. However all semi- final games scheduled to go down today had to be deferred to Tuesday (tomorrow) by tournament officials in respect of the late Moresby North-West MP and former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta with public viewing of the casket at the National Parliament today. NCD Governors Cup Tournament Director, Mr Simon Nuabo said the finals are moved forward in respect of late Sir Mekere Morauta. "Teams who are now advancing into the semi finals on Tuesday are GH Mapex Eagles, SS Brothers Toks Mafukas and QPR Colts," Picture sourced: NCD Governors Cup FB page

Six (6) mothers at Port Moresby Maternity Ward were all smiles today when they each received double gifts in the form of their New Year's babies born today and Huggies gift hampers from Huggies PNG this morning. These 6 mothers were the ones who gave birth to 6 New Year babies, two (2) girls and four (4) boys. Huggies PNG Marketing Executive Ms Meta –Lynne Murphy said the gift hampers consists of a Huggies baby wipes, huggies new born diaper, Kotex maternity pads, a baby suit and a dish. Ms Murphy added that the first 6 hampers were given to the New Year babies and the remaining hampers are to be distributed to the other mothers in the maternity wing. A total of 40 hampers were given to 40 lucky babies and mothers this morning. “We have given 40 hampers of the same kind on Christmas this year and this New Year day we are giving another 40 so a total of 80 hampers were given out.” “We normally do this every year, not here at Port Moresby General Hospital only but also in Angau Memorial Hospital.” She further said, this is done as part of their promotion on their merchandise so that every mother can get a chance to try out their Huggies and kotex products, and there is no better time to do this than on Christmas and New Year's Day.

A two- week refresher training is currently on in Milne Bay Province to prepare police personnel for the festive operations.   Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Superintendent Peter Barkie, said this training will prepare officers to better carry out the Christmas and New Year Operations.   “This training is to refresh themselves on basic policing, like weapon handling, patrolling tactics and all other basic trainings to get the police ready for the operations,” said the PPC.   Straight after the training ends the Festive Season Operations will commence with police personals to be divided into two teams.   One of police team will be deployed to Esala District and will patrol from there all through to Kiriwina Good enough. The other team will patrol Alotau, all the way to Samarai- Murua.  “Milne Bay being one of the largest Maritime Provinces in the country with 2052 square kilometre of waters will definitely need policing on the waters too.”   Also, due to recent reports of sea piracy, police will be deployed on to the waters of Milne Bay.   Superintendent Barkie further stated that all operations will start on the 18th of December 2020 and will end on the 02nd of January 2021.  

The Kickboxing Championship that is due to go down this month in Kimbe, West New Britain Province is now being deferred to February 2021. President for the PNG Kickboxing Federation Mr Stanley Nandex said on behalf of the PNG Kickboxing Federation and the WKF Oceania, the host Committee for the Kick Boxing Championships has decided that the Kickboxing Championships that was supposed to be held on the 28th -29th of November this year is now being deferred to next year February 27th -28th. Mr Nandex said the Kickboxing event was organised by the West New Britain Provincial Administration, the West New Britain Governor Hon. Francis Manake and the former SOE Minister Sasindra Muthuvel. “They were actually supposed to take the lead; however with the current unstable government event this does very much affect the preparations and the delivery of the Kickboxing showdown”. He sincerely apologises to the sponsors and partners, especially SP Brewery the Major Sponsor and also the participants and the organisations that have been preparing for this event. Furthermore, Mr Nandex stated that the Kimbe event is the lead-up event to two (2) major Kickboxing events that will take place in 2021, the PNG Games 2021 in Southern Highlands Province and the World Kickboxing Championships that will be happening in Cairo, Egypt in October 2021. “Despite the deferral, I urge all athletes and participants to continue to train”, said Mr Nandex. “All fighters must still train to stay fit and focus”, he said. “Participants must use this deferral time to sharpen your skills and get ready not only for the Kimbe event but also for the 2 major events coming up in 2021 as well”.