Papua New Guinea and the United Arab Emirates reached an understanding to strengthening and deepening relations during the bilateral meeting between the Minister for Forests Hon. Walter Schnaubelt and the UAE Minister for State for International Cooperation and Director General of World Expo2020 Her Excellency Reem Ephraim Al Hashimy in Dubai on 11 October 2021. The two Ministers met at the end of the thematic week on climate and biodiversity and before the departure of Minister Schnaubelt. Minister Schnaubelt had a successful week of connecting with stakeholders on investment opportunities in Papua New Guinea as well as outlining the country’s desire to live in balance with its rainforest and investing in conservation and renewable energy options. The two leaders noted that the impact of climate change is seen and felt around the World and unless the international communities assist each other to implement the Paris Agreement through their respective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the world would be heading towards self-destruction. Minister Schnaubelt said Papua New Guinea has set very ambitious greenhouse emission reduction and forest management plans and need partners to assist in delivering on these objectives in the collective interest of the global community. He said these targets includes the management and conservation of our forest, including planting of 800,000 hectares of trees through afforestation and reforestation as well as power production of 78%, using renewable energy sources. “These are ambitious targets and are conditional on the financial and technical support of international partners. Accordingly, we are looking at bilateral partnerships with like-minded emerging economies like the UAE to assist us in a long-term partnership arrangement to achieve these objectives in a mutually beneficial way”, Minister Schaubelt said. He said they exchanged views on working together by forging a long term relationship in not only forest and conservation management issues but also on institutional capacity building, research, digital infrastructure and data base management and the use of forestry resources for the production of green or hydrogen gas (carbon dioxide and hydrogen capture) Caption: Forest Minister Hon. Walter Schnaubelt (left) meeting with UAE Minister for State for International Cooperation and Director General of World Expo2020 Her Excellency Reem Ephraim Al Hashimy. Photo: Courtesy of PNG Expo2020 Media.  

The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with ExxonMobil PNG, the Motu Koita Assembly, and the National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCD PHA) launched a second mobile vaccination clinic in Port Moresby on October 15 to support rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. This second mobile vaccination clinic joins the recognizable “big yellow bus” operated by the Motu Koita Assembly to take COVID-19 vaccines directly to the residents of the National Capital District (NCD), targeting small villages and hard-to-reach settlements that may not otherwise have access to vaccines. The bus will maintain a steady supply of COVID-19 vaccines donated through the COVAX Facility. The United States remains the largest contributor to COVAX, providing $4 billion to support the global effort to provide safe and effective vaccines for 92 countries, including Papua New Guinea. PNG has already received 580,400 vaccine doses from the COVAX Facility, including 302,400 Johnson & Johnson vaccines donated by the U.S. government. U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, Erin McKee, was joined by Australia’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Jon Philp, the Honorable Dadi Toka, Chairman of the Motu Koita Assembly and Deputy Governor of the NCD, Managing Director Peter Larden from ExxonMobil, and Chief of Party Dr. Ignatius Mogaba from USAID’s implementing partner FHI 360 to celebrate the rollout of the new mobile vaccine clinics. “The U.S. Government stands unwavering in our support to the Government of PNG to vaccinate as many Papua New Guineans as possible. The addition of this mobile clinic provides another, more convenient avenue for residents of the NCD to get vaccinated,” Ambassador McKee said. “We urge all residents of Port Moresby to be on the lookout for these ‘big yellow buses’ in your community and get the vaccine to protect yourselves, your families, and your Wantok.” To date the U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided more than $11.7 million to address COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea. This assistance is part of a global campaign by the United States to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic and support equitable access to vaccines for the world’s most vulnerable.      

Staff from provincial courts in the country will be receiving more training in the coming years in order to upskill them to face latest developments and challenges and continue promoting access to justice. PNG Centre for Judicial Excellence Executive Director Dr. John Carey says there will be more training over the next few years that will assist them to improve their quality of life and upskill their performance to further provide access to justice. Speaking during a recent training in Lae, Dr Carey told staff from both the District and National Courts that PNGCJE is now reaching out to the provinces with training modules and would be delivering more trainings to provincial courts in the coming years. A total of 36 court staff, from both the National Judicial Staff Services (NJSS) and the Magisterial Services attended the training with high hopes of further professional training in other areas as well. Lead Facilitator Mr. Gitu Lago conducted the training which was aimed at developing efficient management skills and legal investment ideas to promote financial stability at home so that employees are focused on their jobs in administering justice on time without financial stress. “I have and will teach how to develop ideas to make money, and how to let your money work for itself and increase your income without you having to skip a day at work,” Mr. Lago said. “Most of you are crippled with loans. There’s a way to manage your income, repay your loans, start something small, register a business, and become an investor as well. And once you are up there, your money will work for you. This is what I’m teaching.” The training was a first of its kind for the Lae court staff and most of the participants found it to be of great value.

Nambawan Super Limited (NSL) announced no agreement has been reached with the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) regarding land that would resolve the issue of squatters living on NSL’s 9-mile landholdings. It is a disappointing outcome for all parties following months of negotiations. NSL is currently seeking an alternative site and is hopeful that an orderly relocation of squatters can still be achieved, however, if no such site can be found, the Trustee of Nambawan Super will enforce their court-ordered rights to take vacant possession. NSL has observed that some squatters are still openly building on the land and advises that to do so is reckless. Squatters should cease any building and prepare to remove personal property. NSL will not compensate for any improvements made on its land by squatters. Social mapping was completed some months ago confirming site occupants and housing quality. In September the Project Team moved into a permanent site office and are working on the project plan that will see the site cleared of squatters and securely fenced. The Project Team are the only trusted source of information available to squatters and continues to deliver awareness sessions to keep squatters informed of progress. Squatters can visit the site office from Monday – Friday, 8am to 4pm, and Sunday from 1pm – 4pm. Occupants of dwellings on the site boundary have received notice to move any encroachments onto NSL’s land to enable the project team to commence boundary fencing. NSL has leases for P2156, P2157, and P2159 and has been progressing through the necessary steps to secure Vacant Possession, which was directed by Court Ruling in late 2020. NSL sympathises with the squatters that will be affected, but we must act to protect a valuable asset that is owned in trust for the more than 200,000 Teachers, Nurses, Police Officers, and other everyday workers who are members of the Fund.

Claims of patients being turned away by Port Moresby General Hospital has come as a surprise to the management and staff. Chief executive officer Dr. Paki Molumi said the hospital learnt of the issue when it was raised on the floor of parliament this week by Member for Abau Hon. Sir Puka Temu. “We were surprised to hear that PMGH has turned away Central Province patients who are seeking treatment for COVID at Port Moresby General Hospital,” says Dr. Molumi. He said after learning of the issue, he immediately contacted the CEO of Central PHA Dr. James Amini to seek assistance from PMGH. Dr. Molumi added that an investigation has been initiated to find out whether any security personnel or staff member has rejected any patients seeking treatment at Port Moresby General Hospital. “We should not refuse anyone at all for that matter. If someone has been rejected, you can call Port Moresby General Hospital on 324 8100 so that we can know who has been rejected and we can assist where necessary,” Dr. Molumi said. Dr. Molumi said moving forward, a COVID Clinical Management Working Committee consisting of Port Moresby General Hospital, NCDPHA, St. John’s Ambulance, Central PHA, Gulf PHA and also the private hospitals has been established and this will be headed by Dr. Michael Dokup, chair of the PMGH Clinical Governance Committee. “This Committee is set up so that we can work together in our fight against COVID-19 by sharing all the resources available to assist one another so that all patients coming in for treatment are not rejected at any of the hospitals including the private clinics,” Dr. Molumi asserted.

Mr Cogan Toru, Chairman of the Toea Festival on Mailu Island in the Abau District of Central Province says preparations for the inaugural festival are underway and they are anticipating a good attendance with a full 2-day program come November. The festival which was first initiated in 2016 by Mr Toru’s late father was revived again last year after being dormant since 2017. At the second Toea Festival hosted in 2020, a new committee was appointed to carry on the duties of managing the festival as part of the district’s continued efforts towards promoting tourism and culture within the province. The festival which derives its’ name from the famous toea arm shells that were used as a form of money during the Kula & Hiri Trades along the Papuan coastline, is an opportunity whereby the people of Central Province especially from the surrounding districts, can come together to pay homage to their rich cultural heritage which is fast diminishing in today’s ever-changing world. “The Toea Festival has a historical and cultural significance because in today’s world, our cultures are deteriorating and rites of passage are not being observed as they were before due to more and more Western influence coming in.” “Through such events like the Toea Festival, it gives an opportunity for us to come together to revive, promote and preserve our culture for many more generations to come,” Mr Toru said. Mr Toru said so far, the Central Provincial Government in partnership with the Tourism Promotion Authority have been very supportive of the festival and they are hoping that more sponsors can come on board to support this inaugural event. The Toea Festival will be hosted from the 26th to 27th of November on Mailu Island which is located 260km east of Port Moresby with participation expected from the surrounding districts. “This year, we have extended our reach to communities in Cloudy Bay, Amazon Bay as well as a few villages from Aroma who will be taking part in the 2-day festival.” “We are currently in the process of securing sponsors to enable us to deliver a bigger and better festival this year as we plan on attracting a good number of people to attend this inaugural event.” “Apart from trying to secure sponsors, we are also being vigilant and on the lookout for latest developments surrounding the Covid19 situation in the country and we hope that the situation will improve so that we can be able to proceed with our event as well,” Mr Toru said. Mr Toru further advised that preparations for the event are ongoing however, they have organised to split up into smaller groups to finalise their practices for the upcoming event and also mentioned that more information will be disseminated over the coming weeks.

One might think that being an animal carer at a Zoo or Animal Sanctuary is just a matter of handling animals and feeding them. That isn’t so – there is more to it! At the Port Moresby Nature Park, wildlife carers go through some serious training and learning sessions through its annual internship program in order to earn their place as a wildlife carer. This quarter, the Park has selected another three interns from various tertiary institutions to be part of its wildlife internship program. An all female team, Daniella Kapi, Esther Hulum and Christobeth Audubo are three interns who will undergo the internship program for 12 weeks under the guidance of Wildlife Manager, Ishimu Bebe. “We are happy to have another group of interns join us as we advocate for more young leaders to take up roles that would help protect our endemic wildlife”, said Ishimu Bebe, Port Moresby Nature Park’s Wildlife Manager. “These three interns will be placed in three rounds where they care for mammals, birds and assist in food preparations for the animals. Internship programs are one of the best ways to experience what it is like to be a wildlife carer and it’s always fully supported by the entire wildlife team so it is a great learning experience for the interns,” added Mr. Bebe. Christobeth Audubo who is one of the interns from the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE) said, “Finally I am happy to be an intern at the Nature Park as I get to apply the skills that I have learnt in the field that I graduated from. I am looking forward to learning as much as I can during my internship as the Port Moresby Nature Park”. There are many challenges accompanied with having the opportunity of working as a wildlife intern at a welfare accredited zoo such as Port Moresby Nature Park. Some of these are:- Preparing the food for the animals, who all have different dietary requirements; - Learning how to care and observe the animals, so all their welfare requirements are met; - Managing tasks when there are hundreds of animals to care for daily; And, - Knowing the various species of animals. However, it is due to the perseverance and passion that wildlife carers have for animals that some of these interns have come out successful in the internship program, earning themselves full-time jobs as Wildlife Carers at the Port Moresby Nature Park. The Port Moresby Nature Park is dedicated to inspiring in others the guardianship of PNG’s unique natural environment and wildlife whilst continuing to develop and enhance the skills of the wildlife team in line with international animal welfare standards.

Hilton has proudly come on board as the venue sponsors for the Digicel Foundation’s Men of Honour Awards Night on the 10th of December, 2021. The Agreement between the Hilton Port Moresby and Digicel Foundation was signed on October 12, at Hilton Port Moresby. Commercial Director of Hilton Port Moresby, Robbie Turner, said, “We’re very happy and excited to support this worthwhile cause”. The Men of Honour Campaign is Digicel Foundation’s flagship campaign that aims to break the cycle of violence through focusing on positive behaviour for affirmative action. The Awards Night Dinner will coincide with the International Human Rights Day, which is the final event on the calendar for the 20 days of Activism. CEO of Digicel PNG Foundation said Hilton Hotel’s support is greatly appreciated. “The Awards Night Dinner is a flagship event on our calendar and the support given by Hilton Hotel will allow us to make this a successful and meaningful night for the recipients of the Awards.” The Men of Honour Award’s nomination period is open until the end of October. The nomination forms are available on the Digicel PNG Foundation website for downloading www.digicelgroundation.org or you can request via the Men of Honour email address - MenofHonour@digicelgroup.com

Leader of Government business in the New Ireland Legislative Assembly Edwin Maigen is calling for full audits of Kavieng and Namatanai District Development Authorities. He brushed aside accusations by Kavieng Open MP Ian Ling Stuckey who accused the New Ireland Government of lying about funding constraints due to Lihir Royalties diverted to the Districts. “Treasury Minister Ian Stuckey is a liar and greedy politician literally spoon-feeding his voters with rice and foodstuffs in his electioneering campaign but deliberately neglecting the equally deserving people of New Ireland of their wealth, says the Leader of Government Business in the New Ireland Legislative Assembly, Edwin Maingen. Maingen says, “Stuckey depleted the K2 million Covid 19 money released last year on foodstuffs and now he’s drawing Lihir Mining Royalty funds to expend in the same manner, denying New Irelanders of their God-given wealth for his personal election and power-hungry ego.” “We have no Covid pandemic in New Ireland nor do we have a disaster-stricken province but millions of kina of people’s money is locked in to feed NA voters for Ian Stuckey in Kavieng District and the majority of non-supporters get nothing and spectate in this evil agenda of the Lemus Structure.” Maingen says under the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Governments and the DDA Act, he as President of Murat LLG and other colleague Presidents must sit and make decision on the disbursement of District Funds to the electorate. “This is not the case in Kavieng, and must be investigated by the Police Fraud Squad, the Ombudsman Commission and ICAC to establish his give away of public moneys constitute Bribery.  This is the kind of dictatorial leadership that is not right for New Ireland and must be changed.” “Stuckey must now open the books of Kavieng District for full audit of where people’s money have gone and his formula on the sharing of the wealth of New Ireland.  He and Minister Schnaubelt of Namatanai called for the audit of New Ireland accounts; now that the Provincial Government Accounts have been audited, both Kavieng and Namatanai District Accounts must now come under full audit.” Maingen said, “Stuckey owes full explanation to the people of New Ireland where he expended the K64 million under his watch that was surfaced in the Audit Report by the RAMS Business Consultant in 2002 to 2007 as Governor.  His role as Treasurer is compelling reason that he opens the District Accounts for Audit, as well as his past expenditure of K64 million of public funds.

A recent forum by transport sector agencies has highlighted the need for increased women’s participation and capacity building in the maritime sector. The Transport Sector Coordination, Monitoring and Implementation Committee (TSCMIC) Forum headed by Chairman and Transport Secretary, Roy Mumu OBE, discussed the importance of inclusive participation of both men and women to achieve an improved maritime industry, to enable economic growth and social development. TSCMIC is supported by the Australian Government through the Transport Sector Support Program and provides a forum for maritime, aviation and land transport agencies to work alongside donors to provide a safer and more reliable transport network for Papua New Guinea (PNG). The forum coincided with World Maritime Day on Thursday 30 September. This meeting’s theme focused on the invaluable role of seafarers and shone a spotlight on issues in shipping to ensure a sustainable sector. Secretary Mumu highlighted the important role TSCMIC plays in facilitating collaboration between development partners, including Australia, ensuring that support is well targeted and aligns with the priorities of the Government of Papua New Guinea. This includes promoting the principle of gender equality in the Public Service workplace to drive good people management practices and organizational development. The forum further provided the PNG National Maritime Safety Authority, as the Secretariat for Pacific Women in Maritime Association (PacWIMA), the opportunity to discuss the Regional Strategy for Pacific Women in Maritime 2020-2024. This strategy envisions a sustainable maritime community by providing a more inclusive, safe working environment for equal opportunities and fair treatment for all Pacific women in the maritime sector. The PacWIMA was established in 2005 through a partnership between International Maritime Organisation and the Pacific Community. It has national chapters comprising PNG, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu and Samoa.

Tim Masil or better known as ‘DeSiz’ in the Papua New Guinea Rap Music Industry is a 23-year-old lad from a mix parentage of Madang, Simbu and Gulf province who turned to Rap Music to escape from the problems he faced at home whilst growing up. The youngster started writing his own verses and rapping in mid-2010 when he was only 12 years old. “Growing up, music was like an escape for me from all the domestic problems that my parents were going through.” “Rap music in particular had a certain appeal to me because I could relate to the lyrics and different stories that rappers told through their music so it was easy for me to blend into this genre and style,” said Tim. Tim proudly added that Eminem and 2pac were the main influences behind his inspiration in starting to write his own verses. “In that way, I could rap in my songs about my life knowing the fact that someone out there is probably going through the same experience that I have gone through as a child and will be able to relate through listening to my songs,”said Tim. Tim further added that he has been working on an EP (Extened Play) at the Dawgside Records Studio which is based at Gerehu 3B and will be released for his fans soon. “There will be about 8 tracks in this EP and I will also be featuring Sprigga Mek and Gee Smooth in the EP as well which is called “Recognize”, added Tim. Songs in his latest EP will include, Easy, Papua New Guinea (featuring Gee Smooth), POM City Confidential, Money or Life, Recognize (featuring Sprigga Mek), These Streets, My Shoes and Company. In 2019, Tim took part in a local Rap competition at the Cosmopolitan Club here in Port Moresby called ‘Rapture’ and came out as the winner begging the top prize of K5, 000. “I finally took the title as the ‘Rapture King’ after two unsuccessful attempts in 2016 and 2017 but I knew that this was my passion and if I wanted to win that title, I had to push myself to try out again,”added Tim. So far, Tim aka DeSiz has been invited to perform at several concerts here in Port Moresby like the ‘The Naka Nation Concert’ back in 2017 and the ‘Planet Native Concert’ in 2018. “The most recent show which I had the pleasure of performing for alongside other talented local PNG artists was at the ‘Dawgside Records Night’ that was hosted earlier at the Club Regal here in Port Moresby,” said Tim. “So far I have not hosted any music gigs here in Port Moresby since the last pool party that my crew and I ‘Kanaka Outlawz’ threw back in 2017,” said Tim. In terms of music collaboration, DeSiz did collaborate with several local PNG artists including DJ Manzin and Leslie Chan, 3Dise, Sprigga Mek, Tarvin Tounie and just recently this year with Stagajah on an Independence theme song. Tim however, has not released any albums of his own since his entry into the rap music industry.  “Most of the singles I released were mostly underground and honestly, I cannot remember the exact number of singles I did release but my estimated guess is around 50+ songs,” Tim said. Just like any other artist, Tim aka DeSiz hopes to reach a global audience with his music and get paid doing what he loves. “It's all about using the right marketing strategy because in that way I can help other young artists like myself learn how to promote their work and receive royalties for it,” said Tim. Tim has had his fair share of challenges and for sure the main challenge has been COVID19. “COVID has been a major obstacle because most artists in PNG make money from gigs and with all the COVID19 protocols and restrictions in place, it has become quite difficult to continue,” the young rapper said. “But hopefully this will all be over soon and we can all start progressing again,” he added. Tim ended off with a message to all his fans throughout Papua New Guinea who enjoy listening to his music by saying that “you do not have to be a surfer to create waves, you can do anything just as you are with the natural gifts and talents that you possess.”

100 hundred oxygen cylinders have been purchased to support the COVID-19 response in Eastern Highlands Province by the National Eastern Highlands Adventist Students Association (NEHASA). NEHASA President Jarmol Hogi said 50 have been transported to Goroka on October 9 and the other half will be transported over anytime from now. The NEHASA initiated a weeklong fundraising appeal on October 3 to support the Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority (EHPHA) COVID-19 response. “Last week (October 3 to October 10) the NEHASA raised K75, 800,” Mr Hogi said. The fundraising committee after a close consultation with the PHA and request from the general public to extend the appeal date, has extended the appeal date to October 17. “This fundraising is to help the PHA purchase oxygen cylinders and other utilities that are needed.” “Reports will be made available when the appeal closes on October 17.” “If your heart is moved to support this worthy course, we are advising the general public to continue to support in cash by donating to the NEHASA account.” Donations can be made to the association’s banking details below: Account Name: Eastern Highlands Adventist Students Association Account Number: 1000959944 Bank: Bank of South Pacific (BSP) Hogi said the outbreak of Covid-19 and the Delta Variant had affected the province which has led to a lot of deaths in the past weeks.