Australia has announced it will fund the construction of a new urban health clinic in the heart of Port Moresby. Delivered in partnership with the Motu Koita Assembly, NCD Provincial Health Authority, the National Capital District Commission and the local United Church, the new clinic will improve access to healthcare services for the Motu Koita community through the construction of a new health centre. The health clinic will be constructed in Hanuabada, National Capital District (NCD) on land allocated by the local United Church. Today, Australian High Commissioner, HE Jon Philp, joined representatives from the Motu Koita Assembly, United Church, NCD Provincial Health Authority and NCD Commission to break ground for the historic new project. “Australia is proud to build on our history of health care support to the people living in Motu Koita villages,” said the High Commissioner at the launch. “This partnership will deliver more accessible health services to more than 40,000 people in the local area, and particular improve maternal and child health with the construction of a new birthing suite.” Through this partnership, Australia is committing PGK25 million for the construction. Other partners will provide supporting staffing, equipment and resourcing for the new clinic. “As part of Australia’s COVID-19 emergency response, we recognise it is critical to strengthen health systems and capacity, and improve health facilities across the nation,” the High Commissioner concluded. The clinic will reduce villagers’ travel times to access health services. The new facilities will include comprehensive maternal and women’s health services, such as health screening, and will have tuberculosis treatment facilities, pathology, dental services, a pharmacy and staff accommodation on site. The National Department of Health and NCD Provincial Health Authority have been crucial in developing the new health centre’s scope and services to meet the needs of local communities. “The new clinic will enhance health care services within the local area and will help to alleviate overcapacity issues at nearby healthcare facilities, including the Lawes Road Clinic and Port Moresby General Hospital,” said the Minister for Health, the Hon Jelta Wong, MP. “Today, we thank the Australian Government for coming back to assist an old friend. We are rekindling a relationship that goes back more than 100 years,” said Hon Dadi Toka MBE, Deputy Governor the National Capital District and Chairman of the Motu Koita Assembly. “We also thank our key partners, the United Church and the National Capital District Provincial Health Authority for supporting this landmark health facility for the indigenous people of this city,” he continued. Construction for the clinic will commence in 2022 and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2023. Australia’s long standing health partnership with PNG is committed to supporting improved primary health care, through stronger health systems, and more efficient service delivery.

PNG Football Association Executive Committee has now officially announced the cancellation of the remainder of the 2021 Kumul Petroleum Men’s National Soccer League season. In a statement to all teams and stakeholders including sponsors, the PNGFA Competition Director Roosje Suwae said the resolution was reached and endorsed by 14 franchises clubs to cancel this year’s competition and thereafter approved and endorsed by the PNGFA Executive Committee. Considering the surge in the current Covid-19 Pandemic, PNGFA Exco unanimously voted in support of the resolution to cancel the Games for the reasons mentioned below; • Increase in current Covid-19 surges in the country; • The two Provinces which play host to the Conference League are both categorized as High Risk Provinces and are under restriction whereby all sports are suspended indefinitely; • Deputy Controller will only allow competition to return if all players and officials are vaccinated; • Majority of the players and officials refuse to get vaccinated; • Clubs raised concern that the costs of the Covid-19 Rapid Diagnostic Test was too expensive if this will be an option of returning to the competition; and • Clubs not being able to keep players if competition was to be deferred indefinitely as it is costly keeping players in a camp. The Executive Committee recommend also that the Competitions Department recognize and declare Lae City FC in the Northern Conference and Hekari United FC in the Southern Conference as equal winners in the respective conferences as these two clubs currently sit on the top of the point table in the respective conferences The Executive Committee recommends that the nomination for representation shall be done in close consultation with the Office of the General Secretary, the Competitions Director and Oceania Football Confederation Competitions Department. It would mean that the winner of these two teams will be eligible for the one spot available for PNG at the 2022 OFC Champions League.

The Kids for Conservation Program will be held at the Port Moresby Nature Park from December 13th –16th this year. Registration Fee is only K40 per participant between the ages of 6 – 13 years old and includes a healthy snack for brunch with lots of fun outdoor learning. An award certificate will be presented to participants upon completion of the program. Due to Covid-19 measures observed by the Nature Park, class sizes are reduced to 20 students per session where 80 students are expected to participate over the 4 days program. The Port Moresby Nature Park thanks its valued members and parents who continue to support the Park’s Mission by having their children attend the Kids for Conservation program at every school holiday. With continuous environmental issues affecting many societies today, the work of Port Moresby Nature Park will be even more important as we advocate, protect and conserve PNG’s Wildlife and the Environment through education for our future generations. Port Moresby Nature Park is a charity organisation that relies on grants and donor funding to operate. By visiting the Park and joining our Membership, you help support the Park’s efforts in preserving PNG’s unique natural environment for future generations, including the Park’s 350 resident animals, majority of which have been surrendered to the Park for care.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed there is community transmission of the Omicron coronavirus variant in multiple regions of England. He told MPs the variant was continuing to spread in the UK and around the world and there were now cases in the UK with no links to international travel. BBC News reports there have been 336 confirmed cases of the highly-mutated variant across the UK. Of the confirmed Omicron cases, 261 were in England, 71 in Scotland and four in Wales while Northern Ireland is yet to have a confirmed case. It has been stressed by experts that evidence on Omicron variant’s impact on the transmissibility of the virus, severity of disease, and effect of prior immunity (from vaccination or infection) is still in the very early stages so conclusions cannot be made yet. [Source: BBC]

The Electoral Commission Appointments Committee (ECAC) has recently approved the appointment of Mr. Simon Sinai as the new Electoral Commissioner. Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, MP and the Chairman of the Committee said the ECAC has approved to advise the Head of State to appoint Mr Sinai as the Electoral Commissioner for a maximum of four (4) years or until he reaches 60 years of age, whichever occurs first, effective from 1st December 2021 and directed the First Legislative Counsel to prepare the necessary instruments of revocation and appointment of Mr. Simon Sinai as Electoral Commissioner for gazettal. The Prime Minister said Mr. Sinai was appointed after a thorough screening and vetting process. The Electoral Commission Appointments Committee deliberated on a shortlist taking into consideration provisions of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections. Following much deliberation, a majority consensus was reached that Mr. Sinai stood out as the most preferred candidate. He said Mr. Sinai was the successful candidate because he comes with 30 years of experience working with the Electoral Commission. "During his time with the Electoral Commission, Mr. Sinai was able to identify the most common problems faced in elections and initiated administrative changes to the structure of the Commission and the election process and management," Prime Minister Marape said. "Mr. Sinai also used his experience and demonstrated strong management and leadership skills amidst a difficult budgetary environment that has been compounded with the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, and  conducted and delivered a satisfactory Menyamya Open By-Election, Goroka Open By-Election, Autonomous Region of Bougainville Regional Elections, the court-ordered Kandep Open recount as well as the Moresby Northwest By-Election. "Also, under Mr. Sinai's leadership, the Commission successfully trialled the first biometric voting verification system in the Kupiano LLG By-Election." [caption id="attachment_17430" align="aligncenter" width="572"] PNGEC successfully trialled the first biometric voting verification system in the Kupiano LLG By-Election last year. Picture by Emmanuel MAIPE[/caption] The Prime Minister further added that Mr. Sinai has been Acting on the position for the last 15 months and the successful By-Elections mentioned in this statement show that he has adjusted well to the challenges of the role, making him the ideal candidate for the position. Additionally, the Prime Minister said that to have another shortlisted candidate appointed would be disruptive to the progress made under Mr. Sinai’s leadership on preparations for the 2022 National General Elections such as the common roll update, further testing into biometric voter registration, and finalizing other key proposed electoral reforms before 2022.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong has confirmed the two travellers from Africa currently in quarantine are confirmed positive for the Omicron variant. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services announced last week that travellers who had arrived from an African state and were undergoing quarantine in a border quarantine facility had tested positive for COVID-19. Their samples had been sent to the reference laboratory in Australia for urgent genomic sequencing. Doctor Fong says the two travellers are Fijian citizens who had travelled back into Fiji from Nigeria, arriving on Fiji Airways flight FJ1392 from Hong Kong on November 25th – the day the discovery of the Omicron variant was announced internationally. Both travellers tested negative for COVID-19 before departure and before they left Nigeria. Doctor Fong says they entered a government-designated border quarantine facility immediately upon arrival into Fiji, tested positive while in quarantine, currently have no symptoms, and were fully vaccinated. With the exception of four passengers, all those on the flight were from non-travel partner countries, and therefore entered a border quarantine facility upon arrival to undergo the full quarantine protocol of 10 days. Doctor Fong says that has since been extended to 14 days. The four passengers on the flight who were from a travel partner country have tested negative. The Fiji Airways crew and accompanying passengers from FJ 1392 have tested negative at least twice. Doctor Fong says the indications are that we have averted community transmission at this time, and the measures they had put in place to prevent, or at least delay, community transmission through the importation of cases from red zone countries have worked well so far. He says Fiji’s red zone designated countries are countries that we consider at high risk of proliferating variants. These are countries with low vaccination rates, poor testing data, and an ongoing outbreak. Doctor Fong says as previously highlighted, the protocols in place for the red zone countries were to isolate for 5 days and test negative twice before we approve their re-entry. In Fiji, they undergo 14 days of strict quarantine and testing in a government-designated border quarantine facility. Doctor Fong says the evidence on Omicron variant’s impact on the transmissibility of the virus, severity of disease, and effect of prior immunity (from vaccination or infection) is still in the very early stages so conclusions cannot be made yet. However, he says the preliminary evidence is that this variant may be more transmissible than the Delta variant; it may cause reinfection in people who have been previously infected with another variant; and it has been seen to infect people who are fully vaccinated – although, so far, the fully vaccinated cases have been generally mild or with no symptoms. The Permanent Secretary says it must be re-emphasized that, if a variant is transmissible enough, stringent border and community measures will only delay the inevitable entry and spread of current and future variants of the COVID-19 virus, especially as the Omicron variant is also spreading into some of our travel partner countries. He says to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our country, we must all get vaccinated when it is our turn, and even with our high vaccination levels, we must maintain COVID safe habits: mask wisely by carrying a well-fitted mask when you leave your home and wear the mask properly in public indoor spaces, public service vehicles, and outdoor crowded spaces; open windows to improve ventilation; avoid poorly ventilated or crowded spaces; 2-metre physical distancing and ensure you are wearing a mask if you cannot maintain distance; cough or sneeze into a bent elbow or tissue, wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. SOURCE: FIJI VILLAGE

With more than K10,000 in cash prizes to win, plus opportunities for the winners to retail their products in local shops, a new micro-SME business competition launched by Lily Magazine today aims to discover homemade PNG goods that stand out from the crowd. Called ‘HOMEMADE’, the product search is the biggest competition yet run by PNG’s top-selling women’s magazine and will include four categories: Edible, Wearable, Useful and Artistic. “We want to recognise and reward innovation wherever we find it,” Lily editor Margo Nugent said. “I keep hearing about small local businesses that are creating really different products, from the guy making paper bags from Mekeo banana trees to a woman weaving dried Gulf river reeds into beautiful hoop earrings and the little girl using the wax from her family’s Goroka honeybees to make scented lip balm. “Our judging panel will be looking for products that are distinctly original, preferably made from PNG materials, with extra credit going to those who have invented something to fix a particular problem or to meet a particular need that nobody else has met.” All the winning products, along with a selection of the finalists, will be showcased in the next January 2022 issue of Lily to give a promotional platform to the businesses and provide a handy shopping guide for readers. ‘Homemade’ will incorporate four categories: 1. EDIBLE From farm to table: eg. crops, fish and livestock through to condiments and baked goods 2. WEARABLE eg. clothes, shoes, jewellery, hats 3. USEFUL eg. toys, kitchen gadgets, tools, machines, camping items, furniture, furnishings, recyclables, skin care lines (soap, perfume, oils etc) 4. ARTISTIC Decorative pieces from any medium: eg. metal, timber, ceramics, stone, fibre The most innovative product chosen from these four category winners will win the grand prize of K6000 cash from sponsor partners Kina Bank, BSP and the PNG-Aus Partnership, along with an assistance package worth about K2000 from PNG-owned online SME consultancy agency Vai Virtual, including business name and trademark registration, and TIN lodgement. The runner-up will receive K2500 cash and the two other category winners will receive K1000 cash each from the PNG-Aus Partnership. All four category winners will receive a K250 gift voucher from Brian Bell Homecentres, while SME fashion and accessories label Maku Gifts/Lavagirl will assist with bringing the winning products of the wearable, useful and artistic categories to market through its gift stores, and CPL/Stop & Shop will assist with bringing the winning edible product to market in its supermarkets. Entries open today, Monday, December 6, 2021, and close on Friday, December 31, 2021. To enter, inbox the Lily PNG Facebook page, website www.lilymagazinepng.com or email lily@moore.com.pg A judging panel including Lily editor Margo Nugent and Maku Gifts owner Annette Sete, along with other sponsor partners, will decide on the winners to be announced in January 2022 upon release of the new Lily issue 25.

Ten young PNG women graduated as ‘Officers of the Watch’ last week. The women, who were all cadets at Pacific Towing (PacTow), represented the first intake of scholarship awardees in the trailblazing ‘Women in Maritime’ program. The training program is a partnership between PacTow, the Australian Government, Swire Shipping, and Consort Express Lines. The Women in Maritime program commenced in 2018. To date, 26 women have been awarded a scholarship as either a Deck or Engine cadet. A further four women will commence the program in 2022. The ten newly graduated Officers of the Watch are listed below. They are now fully qualified to take on full watch keeping duties in their capacity as either a Mate3 or Engineer 3. As such, they are poised to make vital contributions to growing and further professionalising PNG’s shipping and marine services sector. • Eddesha Aigil • Glenda Amu • Jamie-Lee Baim • Kimberly Kipla • Lylella Kunai • Venessah Philipai • Mary Roroipe • Irima Rua • Salomie Tomwarie Wole • Amy-Lee Turia PacTow General Manager Neil Papenfus, describes the Women in Maritime program as “a trailblazing initiative that is helping train PNG’s next generation of seafaring professionals.” He says that “the skills and knowledge gained by the ten new Officers of the Watch will benefit PNG for decades to come.” Scholarship holders in the Women in Maritime program receive both classroom and practical training. The practical training comprises an onshore component, as well as vital sea time. The women’s PNG sea time is on PacTow vessels as well as on sister company Consort Express Lines’ vessels. Significantly, Swire Shipping provides the cadets with international sea time. [caption id="attachment_17422" align="aligncenter" width="653"] Pacific Towing General Manager Neil Papenfus[/caption] During their cadetships, the recent graduates visited ports in Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Thailand on Swire Shipping vessels. The international sea time exposed the cadets to much bigger, more sophisticated, and diverse vessels, than those that typically enter PNG waters. The graduation ceremony took place last Friday evening on Steamships’ pleasure cruiser ‘Moresby Chief’ during an evening cruise on Fairfax Harbour. In addition to the graduates, the ceremony was attended by several VIP guests including the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Research, Technology & Science, Dr Francis Hualupmomi, the Deputy High Commissioner of the Australian High Commission, Paul Lehmann, the First Secretary Education & Leadership of the Australian High Commission, Shaun Liew, the Country Manager of Swire Shipping, Alistair Skingley, and the Managing Director of Steamships, Rupert Bray. Although the officers will be able to accept employment elsewhere, Steamships’ businesses such as PacTow will be making several offers. It is almost certain that some of the female officers employed, will help PacTow achieve its goal of having an all-female operated tugboat operating from its Port Moresby headquarters in 2023. To learn more about Pacific Towing, including its commitment to gender equality and training initiatives: www.pacifictowingmarineservices.com

The Solomon Islands prime minister has come in for searing criticism as he faced a confidence vote in parliament today. A motion of no confidence against Manasseh Sogavare is being debated amid tight security in Honiara, where hundreds of regional security forces have deployed following major political unrest less than two weeks ago. About 250 defence force and police personnel from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Zealand are on high alert in anticipation of potential unrest around the outcome of the vote. Local media reported that numerous local families departed from Honiara aboard interisland ferries to return to home villages to avoid potential unrest in the capital, where many shops and schools have also closed. The motion was tabled by the Opposition leader, Matthew Wale, who has accused Sogavare of allowing corruption to fester, and of treating the people of Malaita province with contempt. Malaitans played a central role in the late November protest that sparked the unrest, which left extensive destruction in Honiara, prompting Sogavare's request for regional security help. Malaita's provincial premier Daniel Suidani, whose administration has fallen out with the national government, especially over the country's move to switch diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China, has denied claims by the coalition that he instigated the unrest. Wale told parliament that the actions of the rioters should not obscure the real issue behind the unrest. "We must condemn all the criminality in the strongest terms, but it pales, Mr Speaker, in comparison to the looting happening at the top," he said. Speaking in favour of the motion, former prime minister Rick Hounipwela described Sogavare as the ultimate opportunist whose accession to prime minister over four stints "has always been under abnormal circumstances". Blaming the prime minister for negligent management of the country's finances, Hounipwela said the country's corruption problem had deepened under Sogavare's rule. "We've experienced huge tax exemptions worth millions of dollars given to the people who least needed it, usually the loggers and mining operators." [caption id="attachment_17416" align="aligncenter" width="902"] Manasseh Sogavare speaks on the steps of Solomon Islands National Parliament. Photo: Forum Solomon Islands International[/caption] In today's debate on the motion, Sogavare said the motion had been filed against the backdrop of an illegal attempted coup. "When we are under attack from forces of evil, we must stand up for what is right, we must stand up to this tyranny. We cannot entertain violence being used to tear down a democratically elected government." Sogavare rejected the opposition's accusation of corruption against him. Hounipwela, the MP for Small Malaita, accused the prime minister of using the pandemic State of Emergency to give himself authoritarian powers. He also claimed Sogavare has used police to repress public criticism of his leadership, and of directing foreign embassies and high commissions in the country to notify the government of their moves around the provinces. "To vote against [the motion], members would be aiding and abetting his zeal for power and to rule this country with an iron fist. That's what we see as a track record." Seating arrangements in parliament today suggest Sogavare will win the confidence vote. SOURCE: RNZ NEWS

Graduates of Christian Leaders Training College in Banz, Jiwaka Province, yesterday were privileged to have had the country’s Prime Minister, witness and address their graduation ceremony. Prime Minister James Marape who flew into Mount Hagen yesterday morning and was ferried by Heli Solutions Chief Pilot, Captain James Pima, into Paglum Adventist Secondary School to attend his Sabbath Service. After a quiet service in his former school, the Prime Minister was taken to Banz where he attended the 54th graduation ceremony of CLTC. Witnessed by community members, families of graduates, dignitaries, members of parliament and church representatives, Prime Minister Marape, commended the graduates for responding to the greater calling of serving the Lord. Marape said during this time of challenges, his government is working towards steering the country to the right direction. He commended the CLTC in Banz for including agriculture in its Christian curriculum as it encourages people to tend to the land as stated in the book of Genesis. Vice Chancellor of University of Technology, Professor Ora Renagi   who delivered the key note speech touched on the challenges that lie ahead for Christian leaders in the country but encouraged them to be visionary and strong in carrying out changes into the communities they’re responsible to. Jiwaka Governor, Dr William Tongamp, commended the locals for keeping the college to its standards and briefly highlighted plans to expand the campus in the new future. CLTC every year, graduates church leaders and its’ spouses from different denominations and even accepts students from the neighbouring Pacific Islands such as Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji. Spouses of student leaders undertaking graduate to post graduate courses are required to take up certificate of Bible and Ministry courses in Tok Pisin in order for a spouse to support his husband or wife in the ministry work he or she is undertaking at the college.

National Capital District Commission has partnered with Unity Mall at Waigani to provide free vending space for over 200 SME owners who are now selling their products and goods. Sponsored by Unity Mall & Supermarket, SME Service Centre, National Capital District Commission, Ox & Palm, E-Products Limited, Supreme Industries Limited, Pacific International Hospital, SESAG, Paradise Foods, Fathima Limited, and Tourism Promotion Authority, the SME Fair was officially launched by Prime Minister James Marape and NCD Governor Powes Parkop on Friday (December 3, 2021) at the mall. The occasion was witnessed by state ministers, members of Parliament, business leaders, NCDC senior officials and others including the SME owners. The National Government has made its commitment to reach a target of 500,000 successful SMEs operating in the country by 2030. PM Marape, in his keynote speech, stated: ’Getting your hands dirty, doing business and generating income is where you can help your country moving forward." He encouraged Papua New Guineans to embrace SME strongly and stop being dependent on free handouts. The Unity Mall is a concept that has come into existence by the PNG Christian Professionals Network to support business-minded individuals especially women to operate and be successful in the SME space. “I am here to give our government’s support to you all because the concept is right in terms of embracing women and those who need to be in the SME space,” said PM Marape. To support the national governments SME policy, Governor Powes has initiated the SME Service Centre to support SMEs in both training and funding. Governor Parkop challenged SMEs in NCD to make use of the privilege in making the difference now to be successful not only for the city but the entire country. “The time is now to participate in our economy and benefit from the wealth of our nation,” Governor Parkop said. Governor Parkop stated that when in SME, it all depends on hard work, investing, time, resources, and setting goals and focusing on those goals without allowing any other issues to affect the goals set. Deputy City Manager for Corporate Affairs, Ms Patricia Mesa Solon also highlighted NCDC’s vision for a productive, livable, sustainable city of Port Moresby. “Through our leaders’ wisdom, they have seen the need to support the development of SMEs with collaborative effort with the private sector. NCDC will give its support to complement the National Government’s SME policy,” Ms Solon said. Speaking at the occassion, City Pharmacy Limited's Executive Director Sir Mahesh Patel said the focus now should be developing SMEs in the country. “For too long PNG has been relying on extractive industries. We must now see the importance of SMEs because it is the backbone of this nation,” Sir Patel said. Unity Mall Board Chairman, Eric Haiara said they have not only accommodated SMEs at the mall but have been giving all the technical support they needed to help them to be successful. "With our bigger plan to operate as a customer owned supermarket, we believe the timing is right with the government’s intervention to support us. Speaking on behalf of SME owners, Jenny Mulungu thanked the Unity Mall management and NCDC for the opportunity that has been given despite the challenges and struggles they face in the SME space. “The presence of Prime Minster Marape and Governor Parkop shows their commitment to SMEs and that we are grateful and will continue to do business to be successful,” said Mulungu. "Visit the Mega SME Fair from December 3rd to the 16th if you’re interested in clothing, floriculture, beauty products or cooked food, most are made locally," she said.

One of the biggest questions ahead of next season has been answered. There’s several players hoping to land Adam Reynolds’ vacant No.7 jersey — and Rabbitohs assistant coach Ben Hornby has revealed there’s a frontrunner in the race. Hornby has revealed young gun Lachlan Ilias will likely get the first opportunity to partner Cody Walker in the halves next season. Also chasing the halfback role is Dean Hawkins, Blake Taaffe and new recruit Anthony Milford — however Milford’s contract won’t be registered until court proceedings relating to assault charges are complete. “I think Lachie will probably get first crack with Deano,” Hornby told Rabbitohs Radio. “I think Taaffe is more suited to the fullback type role, or maybe a running five-eighth role. “But whoever comes into that role is going to be so lucky. We’ve got a lot of experience around those guys, Cody Walker, Latrell (Mitchell) at the back, Damien Cook, Cam Murray... they’re just not going to let these guys down. They’re going to make it as easy and as seamless as it can be.” “He’s got a great opportunity in front of him now... he’s just a great kid, he works really hard, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone fitter. “He’s got a great temperament to play in the halves as well, which I think is really important, so I’m looking forward to getting him out on the park and getting a few more reps into him.” The 21-year-old made his NRL debut in the final round of the regular season this year and scored a try in the sixth minute. It’s his only first grade game to date, but he’s impressed enough in the junior grade — and at training — to convince South Sydney’s coaching staff that he’s ready.