Access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities (WaSH) in Western Province’s South Fly District continues to be strengthened under the South Fly Resilience Plan (SFRP). The SFRP, supported by the Australian Government through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership, aims to strengthen government and community mechanisms to improve WaSH standards and food security in the South Fly region. Australia is also building upon its existing investments supporting improvements to health and infrastructure needs in South Fly and working to address the harsh impacts of climate change, long dry seasons and flooding, which results in contaminated water, unreliable cropping systems and infectious disease outbreaks. Under the SFRP – refurbishment works have started on community health centres, water tanks have been provided to communities, regular COVID-19 awareness have been conducted, vaccinations have been rolled out and WaSH surveys have been done across South Fly. The South Fly Resilience Plan involves collaboration from World Vision, Community Ranger Program and the South Fly District Administration. On a recent visit to South Fly, Australian High Commission representative Paul Lehmann spent time in communities with the World Vision survey teams and Community Rangers. Mr Lehmann commended the World Vision and Ranger teams for the long days and distances travelled throughout South Fly, the effective engagement with community and local-government, and their commitment to improving living standards in communities.

Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta and his Provincial Executive Council (PEC) has welcomed PNG Football Association president John Kapi Natto and his Member Association Manager Stanley Khanna to its provincial capital to find ways to re-admit Kerema Soccer Association back into the football family. Mr Kapi Natto was on a familiarization visit last Thursday to support Mr Khanna to ensure Kerema Soccer Association returns to the fold as an affiliate member before he steps out of football. The trip to Kerema township was to ensure KSA meet all the guidelines and requirement to elect new office bearers to work together to get KSA back as an affiliate to PNG Football Association. Governor Haiveta had to suspend his PEC meeting to host Mr Kapi Natto and his team stating that as a passionate sport lover, he wanted to see football also find its feet in Kerema Town and also in Gulf province as a whole. “I have known Mr Kapi Natto for a long time on a business front as board member of Petroleum Resources Kutubu (PRK) and have been following him to get once fragmented football body back to one united football family,” Mr Haiveta said Gulf people are renowned for rugby league but they are also good in other sports such as basketball, volleyball and soccer too. “Late Joe Turia and his brother, Toru were products of Kerema Soccer Association through their adopted family, the former Gulf District Administrator Late Don Sigamata. “He comes here at the only Kerema Main Oval early in the morning and return home in the dark. On Sunday, everyone in Kerema Town goes to church, Late Don Sigamata goes to soccer field trying to convert church goers to follow football,” he said. Gulf Governor said people around Kerema Bay are good in soccer including from the highlands of the province, the people of Kaintiba who were converted into football by Lutheran Missionaries coming from Morobe province. “In fact, Kaintiba has a soccer field with rocks in the middle of the field but players negotiated their way around the rocks to play their favourite game and this is true passion of sport of football,” he said. Mr Kapi Natto thanked Mr Haiveta and his PEC to suspend their PEC meeting to chat with him and his team. “I am very privilege to set foot in Kerema Township. I have been flying in-and-out of Kerema Airport but never had a chance to visit the small colonial township which administer Western and Southern Highlands during colonial era, and now I am glad to visit the township as football administrator,” he said. Mr Kapi Natto said his visit is to familiarize and set up network with Gulf Provincial Government through its Sports Office and the football fraternity in Gulf province to get Kerema Soccer Association back into PNG football family.

The JPG Waghi Tumbe rugby league team from Jiwaka Province have created history by winning the preliminary finals with a 31-16 win over a seasoned PRK Mendi Muruks side thus booking the last spot and their first ever Digicel Cup Grand Final with a thrilling performance at the Oil Search National Football Stadium in Port Moresby. The boys from Jiwaka took to the field with a hunger and determination for a Grand Final spot and their efforts have proved that they are Grand Final ready come next weekend. In a display of tremendous footy from the Joe Frank led side, the Waghi Tumbe came on top with an 18 points lead to Muruks 10 points at half time. In the second half, the boys from Mendi put up a fight with Leon Undupia leading his boys from the left wing however could not withstand a determined Tumbe side who raked in two more tries and a field goal to push the lead further to 31 points over Muruks 16 points on the 78th minute. First time coach Mr Baundo Abba who was overjoyed at the win said that he is proud of his boys for delivering such a strong performance and securing their first ever grand final appearance in the Digicel Cup since the club re-entered the semi-professional rugby league competition in 2014. “As a young and inexperienced coach, it’s a history for me and also for Jiwaka Waghi Tumbe for us to make it into the grand finals and so I’m very happy and pleased with my boys.” “I am also very happy with Joe Frank for not letting us down and leading the boys well into the grand finals.” “As a captain, he did not let us down and as a leader he had to fight hard and now we’ve won this game and so I am very happy with his performance today,” Abba said. The former Waghi Tumber player who has debuted this year as a coach for his team said that there are however a lot of areas that they need to improve on before taking on the Lae Snax Tigers in the Grand Final Match this weekend. Man of the Match and Captain of the JPG Waghi Tumbe Joe Frank also nicknamed the Six Cylinder by fans said that they will go back to Jiwaka and continue to work hard before they can face the Tigers. The captain also expressed his thanks and gratitude to coach Baundo for his efforts in getting the boys game ready for this season of Digicel Cup and also the Jiwaka Provincial Government for continuing to support them all throughout the season. “I take this time to thank our coach Baundo Abba, although inexperienced, he has led us well with the support of Kupun Wisil right behind him.” “I also want to thank the Jiwaka Provincial Government as well as the few business houses in Jiwaka for their support throughout this season,” Frank said. The JPG Waghi Tumbes will now take on competition leaders the Lae Snax Tigers in the Digicel Cup Grand Final on Sunday 12th September 2021.

Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (Kumul Petroleum) welcomes the government’s decision to award a fourth Petroleum Retention License (PRL) to the national oil and gas company (NOC). This decision comes less than five months after the awarding of three licences. The Minister for Petroleum, Hon. Kerenga Kua, in officially announcing the award, described the occasion as momentous for Kumul Petroleum as Papua New Guinea’s NOC. “In April of this year, I announced the Marape-Basil Government’s support of the decision of the Petroleum Advisory Board (PAB) to grant PRL 48, PRL 49 and PRL 50 covering the Kimu, Barikewa and Uramu gas fields to Kumul Petroleum. Today’s announcement brings the total amount of PRLs awarded to Kumul Petroleum to four”. Minister Kua said the award empowers Papua New Guinea’s own NOC to take a “significant step forward in its mandate” and thereby also fulfils the Marape-Basil Government’s greater vision of ‘Take Back PNG’. He said he as Minister for Petroleum is pleased that our own NOC has technically and financially prepared itself to take on some of the licenses as their terms expire, and also be able to support the Papua LNG, Pasca and other developments like P'nyang when they happen. He expressed confidence in the technical capabilities of the nationals employed by KPHL and urged the NOC to swiftly progress development plans to commercialise these fields and proceed to developing them as soon as possible”. Upon receiving the award of the Pandora License, the Managing Director of Kumul Petroleum, Mr Wapu Sonk thanked the PAB and the Minister for Petroleum for having confidence in the NOC’s capabilities and for recognising the NOC as an important partner in the Government’s ‘Take Back PNG’ vision. The Pandora license is the fourth PRL that Kumul Petroleum has secured this year, and presents for the NOC the opportunity to put to test aggregation and development concepts which the company has been developing. He said Kumul Petroleum will now be able consolidate these asset and move toward commercialising fields which were previously held by different owners and were otherwise considered stranded, isolated and economically challenging. Kumul Petroleum’s commercialisation plans will include further to drilling of delineation and development wells and project capital investments. Hence to mitigate Kumul Petroleum’s associated risk exposures, the company will look to invite joint venture partners and technical service providers with the requisite technical and financial capabilities who will assume critical roles in the development of these gas fields. Mr Sonk stated that “Kumul Petroleum will commit itself to work with the Department of Petroleum in carrying out the licence conditions. We will also look at the best way possible to commercialise this licence so that it benefits our people who have entrusted us to hold this licence”.

HEALTH authorities in West Sepik are seeking help to manage the COVID-19 pandemic as the number of cases rise. They are also advocating for provincial lock-down or a partial lockdown to prevent a possible second surge of COVID-19 cases. It had a lock-down early this year when it had its first surge. Director for WSP Public Health and Incident Manager Dr Trevor Kelebi said in a situation report submitted to the National Coordination Centre that the six-bed isolation ward at the Sandaun Provincial Hospital was full throughout the month of August and is managed by one health extension officer and junior nursing staff and need added clinical manpower support. “We are advocating for a provincial lock-down during Provincial Control Centre (PCC) or a partial lockdown with strict compliance to Niupela Pasin, vaccination and mandatory swabbing,’’ said Dr Kelebi. He said West Sepik has so far confirmed a total of 594 positive cases of which seven died, including two in the month of August, and they are expecting a surge in the coming weeks. It is also difficult to know the real situation in the province now due to low testing, especially with swabbing hesitancy which poses a challenge to effective contact tracing. The other big challenges facing West Sepik’s response to COVID-19 lies in high hesitancy towards vaccination and lack of adherence to Niupela Pasin. “A total of 490 vials (10 doses per vial) of AstraZeneca vaccines were received on 22 April 2021 which expired on the 29th of July, 2021 and additional 200 were received in early August which will expire on 30 September, 2021,’’ he said. Furthermore, he said all health facilities and business houses’ attempts to strengthen the ‘no mask, no entry’ policy at all entry points remains a challenge due to so many social media critics having a big influence on the public. Together with the Sandaun Provincial Inter-Agencies, the Provincial Health Authority has submitted the West Sepik Surge Plan on August 4, 2021 to NCC and relevant government agencies. With its close proximity to the border with Indonesia and the threat of current or future outbreaks of epidemics or pandemics, the WS PHA is also seeking a new isolation and quarantine site to be constructed on state land. Currently, they are renting a private property for quarantine and isolation for COVID-19 asymptomatic or mild cases with their contacts which the WSPHA says is not sustainable. In response to the WS PHA request, the Deputy Controller for the National Pandemic Response, Dr Daoni Esorom, has confirmed receiving the WS PHA report at the National Coordination Centre and will be providing support to the PHA. Dr Daoni confirmed that an Emergency Medical Team is now being put together with the clinical management and the Emergency Medical Team clusters at the NCC that will consist of an emergency specialist doctor, four clinical nurses and an Infection Prevention Control (IPC) nurse to support the PHA team respond to the surge. He also confirmed that WHO has three staff already on the ground in Vanimo to support the PHA. “We will support the WS PHA team to respond to the current surge. Some of the positive samples have been sent to Melbourne for genome sequencing which will confirm whether they are delta variant cases. “I strongly urge all the PHAs to be prepared for any surges in the delta cases. This is the time that all PHAs must be preparing themselves for surges in the delta variant cases. I urge all the PHAs to increase the surveillance, testing, IPC and to have in place enough ICU beds to respond to any delta variant cases. All hospitals must have enough oxygen in the ICU and hospitals to respond to any increase in the number of cases,’’ Dr Daoni said.

SP PNG Hunters proved the lessons learned in their challenging Intrust Super Cup season as they held off a Central Queensland Capras fightback for a treasured 22-20 win in Rockhampton tonight. The Capras scored twice in the final minutes, including from a crossfield kick after the siren that bounced and fell for a try for the home team. That left them with a conversion from about 10 metres in from the sideline which swerved to the left, delivering a deserved victory to the Hunters. The visitors made it difficult for themselves at times with intercept passes, three sin-bins and dropped balls over the tryline but they scrambled all night, none more important than the bone-rattling tackle by Benji Kot as the Capras threatened to score close to the posts in the final minute. It was a dramatic end to a match that the Hunters controlled early when they jumped out with three tries in the opening 14 minutes before the Capras began a fightback that threatened to derail the game for the visitors. The Hunters have conceded handy leads previously this season to the likes of the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Mackay Cutters but tonight they showed the benefits of those experiences to win the match. “That was a pleasing result because we are showing the benefits of this season together,” Hunters coach Matt Church said. “We stuck together when the Capras kept coming at us but we knew that they weren’t going to go away easily tonight. “I was proud of the way that the players’ hard work paid off tonight. They have been working towards a win like this and, while we did make it tough at times, we were good enough to scramble when it mattered. “We’ve got plenty of young players in our squad and a win like that is a very good experience for them.” One of the decisive moments in the match came before halftime when the Hunters followed two successive Capras’ tries with a stirring movement that went the length of the field for a memorable try. Emmanuel Waine’s storming run ended with an offload to Judah Rimbu, whose pass sparked a slick backline movement that ended with Solo Wane’s second try. It was tough to pick the best of Wane’s tries. He finished off a superb moment in the 14th minute when milestone man Ase Boas placed a clearing kick that was set to roll over the sideline for a 40-20 ruling. Capras’ fullback Cooper Marshall desperately batted the ball back into the field of play only to find Wane, who toed ahead and regathered in the in-goal area for a classic Hunters try that sparked plenty of noise from the PNG fans at Browne Park. The Hunters led 18-12 at halftime, converting only one of their four tries to enable the Capras to remain closer than the momentum of the game suggested. The Hunters threatened to break the game open early in the second half with Waine proving extremely difficult for the Capras to handle. He made another barrelling run down the field which almost led to a try, only for his pass to find the Capras’ hands and end with a penalty. That led the Capras on a movement downfield which led to minutes of sustained assaults on the Hunters’ line. But the vistors’ defence was up to the task, overcoming some late sixagain calls that favoured the Capras to prevent any points. Their reward came in the 64th minute when Charlie Simon’s show-and-go found a short ball for Judah Rimbu to dive over for a deserved try. The Capras kept coming at the Hunters throughout the match, bubbling along with PNG players Nixon Putt, McKenzie Yei and Jedidiah Simbiken aiming up against their countrymen. Simbiken scored in the 19th and 32nd minutes as the Capras overcame the Hunters’ early dominance to bring the margin back to two points. SP PNG HUNTERS 22 (Solo Wane 2, Junior Rau, Edwin Ipape, Judah Rimbu tries, Charlie Simon goal) bt CENTRAL QUEENSLAND CAPRAS 20 (Jedidiah Simbiken 2 tries, Lachlan Hubner, Caleb Tull tries, Trey Browne, Tull goals) at Browne Park.

As part of their efforts to kick start their Community Service program, the boys from the Stagajah Band took the initiative to donate 3 acoustic guitars and K500 cash from the proceeds of their recent concert to the Cheshire Disability Services PNG in Port Moresby on Wednesday this week. Stagajah Band Songwriter and Rapper Gaiix said this initiative came about when the group decided to come together to give back to the community. He said the group has been in the music industry for over seven years now and it was only fitting that they did some donations for a worthy cause. “Our donations will not necessarily be cash but we will also be donating food, basic goods and instruments like guitars,” Gaiix said. Gaiix added on that their recent donation to Cheshire Disability Services PNG is the start to many more donations to come from the band and they are hoping for the next donations to be bigger and better. “We would like to thank our major sponsor Dataco and our loyal and faithful fans who bought tickets to our recent concert show which made this donation possible,” said Gaiix. “We are looking at the Children’s Ward, the Orphanage Centers and probably Churches to target for our next donations,” Gaiix added. The Stagajah Band is looking at doing more donations in future and will have to confirm their shows before they carry on in the community service program as it will also help them to decide on which charity organization they will be donating to next.

Port Moresby Nature Park wraps up its special schools education program, ‘Culture Connects’ this week, educating over 5000 students throughout the 3-week duration of the program. The Culture Connects program is the third of a series of four special themed education programs run annually at the Port Moresby Nature Park through its education department since September 2016. Since the inception of this special schools education program, the Park’s Education team has had many successful highlights. One successful highlight to date is the working partnership with Teaching Colleges such as the Sacred Teachers College in Bomana where trainee teachers support the Park during the Culture Connects program on a voluntary basis as part of their practical assessment. In turn, once becoming teachers, they bring their students back to the Park to be part of its Education Program. Port Moresby Nature Park’s Education Manager, Ms Shirley Mogi is especially thrilled about this year’s batch of students who participated in the program, as their participation in this year’s ‘Culture Connects’ program has enabled the Education team reach their year’s target of educating 24,000 students in the third quarter of the year without yet commencing fourth quarter. “We have yet to enter the final quarter of the year and already we’ve reached our goal and it’s all thanks to the dedication of our teachers and students as well as the wonderful support of our good sponsors Sir Brian Bell Foundation, British High Commission and the support of NCDC Transport Division”, said Ms Mogi. “It’s been a successful three weeks with students from elementary through to secondary schools joining us here at the Park and we’re now looking forward to an even more exciting themed program in Term 4, fully aware that we are now exceeding our target figures for the year and educating even more students out here at the Park through our Mission in Education”, added Ms Mogi. The Port Moresby Nature Park wishes to thank all the schools, Foundations, NGO Groups, Church Groups, Youths, etc from around Port Moresby and Central province that have participated in the Culture Connects Program this year. Everyone’s participation in the program signifies how much school administrations, teachers, parents and students valued culture in our society today. Tremendous thanks goes to the continuous support from the Park’s valued sponsors Sir Brian Bell Foundation and British High Commission, whose sponsorship has allowed more students to be educated at the Park through its educational programs. Similar thanks is extended to the hard-working team from the NCDC Transport Division whose support has enabled the Park to witness large numbers of students being transported safely to and from the Park daily to attend its Culture Connects sessions. Port Moresby Nature Park through its Education Program educates students and the local community on the importance of the natural environment in order to enhance the cultural integrity of local people, giving them more reasons to protect and conserve their natural environment.

Grade nine students of Kopkop College impressed judges at the Moresby Arts Theatre after their performances, drawing attention to the real issues affecting young people, through story-telling and drama. The plays were scripted and directed by the students on topics such as homosexuality and suicide, police brutality and gambling which were put together over six weeks and took place amongst several high schools in NCD. Andrew Kuliniasi, who started off as a script-writer and producer at the age of 15, and is now the drama director at the Moresby Arts Theatre, described the student’s written scripts and acting skills as the most “detailed and touching.” “Kopkop College in particular has shown me some of the most amazing acting. I have been doing the Youth Arts Program since 2016, and the level of acting they’re doing is impressive amongst some of the most experienced actors we have here. “Their story has really moved all of us. We ask all of our kids to tell stories that are truthful but they’ve also taken our theme Dystopia and they’ve made it so real and so raw.” Mr Kuliniasi added that drama and media are some of the most important tools that can help change mindsets through story-telling and that it is important for those going into high schools specially to participate. Mr Kuliniasi’s dream is to grow young talents and see students take creative arts as an actual career option for them, an area he’s successfully earned a living from. “Every time I work with students and every time I see how hard they work I cry. I cried so much during the judging process because they moved me and I feel like the theatre and the mentors have done a great job in planting that seed.” The Secondary School music teacher Joshua Rumbino says hearing the creative arts expert praise Kopkop College, has made him proud, and as an educator he believes that it is very important to allow kids the space to express themselves. “The students took the lead in all the performances they directed, did the script-writing, the props, and the acting. “As an educator I think it’s very important for teachers to allow student-centered learning so that students can learn amongst themselves which then boosts their ability, knowledge and skills.” The school won the best actress and stage manager awards at the 2019 Youth Arts Program, and Mr Kuliniasi says Kopkop College remains a contender for this year’s YAP, with the winners expected to be announced this week. The year nine students have thanked Mr Rumbino for believing in them, saying they felt the program gave them an opportunity to be creative and be more open to social issues. Sixteen-year-old Ruth Pini said: “We chose these topics because they are real situations that are happening and are affecting youth because most times people have their own opinions and put a lot of expectations on youth. Adriana Mulavo aged 16 said: “These topics are something that needs to be talked about and so with these programs, it gave us the chance to talk about the things that we see happening every day. In a way it helped us to express ourselves. Because most of the time we are not allowed to do that in an academic setting.” Antonio Endose, aged 15 said: “One thing I’ve learnt is that this helped me to feel more open about these issues. In the end its all about Identifying what’s negative and what you can change, forgiving, finding out who you are and reaching out to the right people for help.”

PNG Air has officially announced that is has come on board to support Season Six of Digicel Foundation’s Men of Honour Awards as the Official Airline Partner. The Men of Honour Awards aims at creating a network of men around the Papua New Guinea, who can collectively advocate against violence. The Men of Honour Awards was launched on the 27th of August 2021 to allow members of the public to nominate ordinary men who are doing extraordinary things to build peace in their community. As an airline connecting people all across Papua New Guinea, PNG Air understands that for communities to thrive and be healthy, support must be given to citizens who are at the forefront of bringing positive change to their communities. PNG Air is pleased to support the Men of Honour Campaign by providing return flights to ports the team requires to travel, for interviews with nominees and quality checks. PNG Air will also be providing return flights to Port Moresby for each nominee for the awards night, and free return tickets for two to each nominee to assist in furthering the great work these men do in their communities. Digicel PNG Foundation CEO, Serena Sasingian, has stated that this is the first time a major airline has approached us to come on board as a sponsor. “PNG Air has recognized the importance of our campaign and has been proactive in wanting to assist with covering all travel related costs of the Men of Honour campaign. This assistance is going a long way to make sure we are recognizing good men in our community who are advocating against violence”, Serena Sasingian. The nomination period will end on 10th of October where judges will award one Men of Honour from each Region in PNG. The judges for Men of Honour for season 6 are Dr. Kwa the Attorney General of Papua New Guinea, Dr. Fiona Hukula a Senior Research Fellow and Building Safer Communities Program Leader, Eddie Aila founder and Head Trainer for Warrior Culture and Ruth Kissam, the Director of Development at Tribal Foundation.

Trukai Industries Limited has renewed its sponsorship to support the Mt Hagen Show. For this year’s show, the company maintained its support in terms of 150 bags of Roots 10kg rice, as well as an added bonus of K10,000 to help organisers carry out the show. Today in Hagen Trukai representatives met with show organisers to hand over the rice as well as officially mark our sponsorship. Trukai Industries Marketing Manager, Maryanne Tom said that usually the company would assist with kind in terms of the rice to feed singsing groups and merchandisers, however this year Trukai has come on board with cash as well. “The company has taken into account the financial challenges faced by organizers hence we have increased our support to the show with the cash sponsorship. She added that this sponsorship is part of the company’s effort in supporting great causes that help celebrate and maintain PNG’s rich cultural heritage. “The Mount Hagen show is more than just traditional dances and displays, it is a celebration of the unique culture that make up our community. “Trukai is community focused, hence why we look forward to supporting such shows." The Mount Hagen Show is set to take place this weekend, September 4th through to the 5th.

Not only was he a musical legend in Papua New Guinea but was a legend to me. If it wasn’t for Buruka Tau, I wouldn’t be playing bass today and Sheppard probably wouldn’t be a band. He taught all three of us throughout our childhood at Murray International School and also private piano lessons before we moved to Australia. When I finished school I had the option to learn bass and join my brother and sister on stage, I knew I had to learn from this man. I flew to Papua New Guinea at the end of 2011 and had 3 weeks of intense bass lessons. 3 weeks later I played my first show with Sheppard and haven’t looked back. Obviously, he was a brilliant teacher and the most patient and kind person. I’ve had numerous teachers and there was no one quite like Buruka. He never made me feel like I couldn’t achieve it. We spent countless of hours together learning bass, learning how to sing and he even taught me how to play mandolin. Buruka was one of my biggest supporters, he was always encouraging and never gave up on me and for that I will be forever grateful. Last night after we got off stage we got the news that our friend and mentor Buruka Tau passed away. It was a weird moment coming off stage and being so buzzed and then finding out the news and being so crushed at the same time. I hope that Buruka was there with us watching over our show and I hope we made him proud. My heart is truly broken and a piece of me on stage will always be missing. PNG has lost a musical legend. He will be missed by a lot of people. Sending my love and condolences to the Tau family. Buruka’s legacy will always live on through Sheppard. Image courtesy: Greg Sheppard