“America was built on courage, on imagination, and on an unbeatable determination.” “When the 56 delegates of the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, they put in motion the American Dream by asserting the right to a government by and for the people.” These were the words attributed by the USA Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Ann Marie Yastishock on Thursday 11th July as esteemed guests, colleagues, friends, teammates and dignitaries gathered together to celebrate the United States of America’s 248 years of Independence held at the US Embassy residence in the Nation’s capital. While acknowledging the presence of those in attendance, Ambassador Yastishock gave a warm welcome to former Olympic Swimmer and PNG’s Chief De Mission for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Ryan Pini as their MVP. “In the spirit of the upcoming Olympic games, the theme of the day is Team U.S.A.” “What better embodiment of diplomacy could there be than sports?” “It is through a shared passion for sports, and friendly competition, like through the Olympics, that countries can transcend political differences and cultural barriers to build bridges and cultivate relationships”, said Ambassador Yastishock. She said the concept of the American dream is still one of the most uniquely “American” ideals – the ultimate idea that any individual can pursue their dreams and build the life they strive for if they put in the hard work. “It is our unique strengths, interests, and backgrounds that come together to form a diverse and impactful society.” “And 248 years ago, our founding fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their honor to forge this new path—one guided by liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness.” USA will see its Presidential elections in the month of November of this year that will highlight all aspects of democracy on the world stage. “I don’t know who will make it to the finish line, but I am proud to be a part of a nation that allows for freedom of speech, including the opinions I support- and even and those I don’t”. Meanwhile, 4-time Olympian Ryan Pini, wished USA on its 248 years of independence and gave a brief history of his sporting code and the achievements he accomplished so far. He said, sports transcend beyond the playing field, impacting areas of socio-economic development and fostering discipline, teamwork and perseverance that are essential to personal and community development. “We are a small but mighty team.” “We are a team of 6 athletes. We have 1 from athletics, 2 from taekwondo, 2 from swimming and 1 from weightlifting.” Pini added that, they are not competing for medals, but instead, they are competing for pride, for honour and for PNG. “Let’s get ready to cheer on all the athletes around the world and celebrating what brings people together from different background.” “And here on Team PNG, we will cheer on Team USA and Happy Independence”, said Pini. In her closing remarks Ambassador Yastishock said; “As we celebrate this Fourth of July, let us embrace the values that define the American Dream the world of sports, and democracies alike: teamwork, fair play, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.” “Let us cherish the freedoms and opportunities that make our dreams possible, regardless of background, to achieve our own versions of the American Dream.”

Students attending Yanga Elementary School in Lae, Morobe province will now enjoy the comfort of a new learning environment, all thanks to the Steamships and John Swire & Sons who recently announced the successful completion and official opening and hand over of the classroom in Lae. The brand-new classroom was formally presented to the school community in a small ceremony at the school grounds attended by students, parents, teachers, and project partners of Yanga Elementary School. Addressing the audience, Steamships Finance Director & Company Secretary, Alessandro Mistroni highlighted the importance of education. "Education forms the foundation upon which successful societies are built.” “It empowers and transforms communities, paving the way for a brighter future.” “Today, we celebrate not only the physical transformation of a school but also the promise of quality education for the children at Yanga Elementary." The overall investment in this project amounts to approximately PGK 200,000, covering a steel classroom kit complete with students and teachers’ desks and chairs, shelves, blackboards, pinboards, and building contractor costs. Mr. Mistroni also thanked the project partners, and team at Consort Express Lines, who without their support, the execution of the project would not have been possible. The completion of this redevelopment project not only provides essential infrastructure but also instils a sense of pride and enthusiasm among the students, educators, and community members involved in its construction. The upgraded facilities are expected to enhance attendance and foster greater engagement, enriching the educational experience for all and contributing to the achievement of national education goals. The Swire Philanthropic Fund and Steamships remain dedicated to the ongoing success of this initiative and eagerly anticipate the transformative impact it will have on the Yanga Elementary School and its community.

Some of the best young talent in the country will be on display at the NRL Bid Academy Tournament taking place in Goroka over the weekend of the 20th to 21st July. The tournament will be an opportunity for Academy players to compete over 2 days and showcase their skills to the world. Players to watch out for include: Goroka Hercules Kondo (Men’s U19, Fullback) A local player from Asaro, which is home to the renowned Goroka Mudmen, Hercules has impressed all judges with his power and speed. Possessing an excellent rugby league IQ, his height makes him exceptional under the high ball. Ukere Sabumei (Women’s U18, Fullback) Ukere, was brought up around the game of rugby league, with her father being the first indigenous coach of the PNG Kumuls. She is an outstanding defender who has shown the ability to create opportunities for others through her all-round vision and game management. Mt. Hagen Steven Hiwi (Men’s U19, Dummy Half/Hooker) Hailing from Tari in the Hela Province, Steven is one of the brightest prospects in the game, despite the fact that he is only in Year 11 at school. Steven has already shown outstanding leadership qualities which has resulted in him being named as the current captain of the PNG under 19 team. He will look to lead from the front at this tournament. McKelly Dencil (Women’s U18, Outside Back) A student at Hagen Park Secondary School, McKelly has speed to burn and has continually shown the ability to break tackles through her explosive running. McKelly, looks to inspire her team-mates through her actions on the field and will be looking to continue her good form throughout this tournament. Port Moresby (NCD) Lydia David (Women’s U18, Fullback) One of the youngest players in the tournament at the age of 15, Lydia attends Tokarara Secondary School, where she recently competed in a Grand Final. With electric speed and agility, Lydia will be one to watch if she is given any space to find a gap during the tournament. Jeffrey Philip (Men’s U19, Utility - Halves and Hooker) An 18-year-old utility who can play at hooker or in the halves, Jeffrey represents the Waigani Christian Academy. Known for his excellent organisational skills and kicking game, Jeffrey will bring leadership and experience to the Port Moresby team during the tournament. New Guinea Islands Paul Uriso (Men’s U19, Prop and 2nd Row) A very strong defender and powerful ball runner, Paul will look to dominate through making good yardage gains. Known as a leader within the team, Paul is already on the radar of the NGI Guria first-team selectors. Attalia Joseph (Women’s U18, Halfback) An excellent defender, possessing a superb passing game over short and long distances, Attalia will look to be an on-field organiser for her team throughout the tournament. Possessing an ability to read the game, Attalia has already shown the qualities that would allow her to step up to Representative level. Port Moresby, Central Region Paulina Talin (Women’s U18, Lock) Seen by many as a potential future Junior Orchids player, Paulina has already made a name for herself in the National Capital District’s schools’ competition. Known for her aggressive defence, Paulina is also a strong ball runner who can make important carries when her team most needs them. NRL Bid Academy Head Coach, Joe Grima, was excited about rugby league followers getting the chance to see the depth of talent at junior level within the country. “I think the tournament in Goroka will be a great opportunity for our best young players to showcase their talent to not only the people of PNG, but also the rest of the rugby league world.” “There is no doubt that there is enormous natural talent amongst our emerging stars and through the work of the Academy, we are now seeing starting to see some real progress in our player development.” “I encourage everyone to watch as much of the tournament as they can as I believe they will be thrilled with what they see from the next generation of players.”

A team of senior education officials from Papua New Guinea’s National Department of Education (NDoE), Provincial Education Divisions (PDoE) and Bougainville Department of Education (BDoE) travelled to Queensland, Australia recently for a learning exchange visit with Good to Great Schools Australia (GGSA). The learning exchange was facilitated by the Australian Government’s Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE) program with the goal of generating innovative ideas and approaches to tackling challenges that impact teaching and learning in rural remote schools in PNG and Australia alike. GGSA is an Indigenous-owned non-profit organization, founded by the esteemed Indigenous leader Noel Pearson. GGSA collaborates with schools in the Cape York peninsula to enhance student learning outcomes. The PNG delegation visited 2 schools in the Cape, Hopevale Primary and Coen Primary. They observed classrooms where teachers used direct instruction to engage students in reading, writing, spelling, and mathematics. They also had the chance to observe students participating in various Indigenous cultural and musical activities. The team learned how these schools use data to monitor teaching and learning progress, with attendance being a key component of their weekly tracking system. BDoE acting Secretary Dorothy Kenneth said, “We were impressed by the consistent strategies teachers employed to engage students, and by how quickly the schools had improved their results.” Kenneth said every teacher was mentored by an instructional coach, usually the School Principal or Deputy, who regularly conducts teacher professional development, observes lessons, and helped teachers master the appropriate teaching strategies. Some of the key takeaways for the PNG delegation were that the schools used consistent teaching practices, along with the modelling and reinforcement of high expectations. This leads to improved student engagement and high interest in learning. This approach helps students gain confidence in their mastery of literacy and mathematics foundations. This month, representatives from Good to Great Schools Australia will travel to PNG to understand the challenges encountered by remote schools in the country and to investigate how their strategies can be tailored to fit these schools.

In response to the petition from the health workers of Modilon General Hospital, Health Minister Dr. Lino Tom said he received the petition from the doctors and nurses who have raised significant concerns in regard to the Madang Provincial Health Authority (PHA). “I take all reports of misgovernance extremely seriously”, said Dr. Tom. He said, PHAs were established to decentralize the management and delivery of healthcare services to the provincial and district level, and aimed at improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of healthcare delivery. PHAs are governed by a board of directors appointed by the Provincial Government, with representation across different sectors, as mandated by law. “Sound governance is essential for a functional PHA; and transparency and accountability are core values. And these apply to both the establishment and operations of a PHA Board.” Upon received the petition, Dr. Tom had asked his Department to investigate the main areas highlighted in the petition, and they have provided the following advice: 1. The Madang PHA Board has not demonstrated that a transparent, merit-based appointment process was used to recruit its current CEO. 2. The nominations for PHA Board Members submitted to date have not met the requirements for fit and proper persons from respective sectors, as stipulated in the PHA Act 2007. As these legal requirements were not met, two Cabinet Submissions for the Madang PHA Board have been rejected. “I am committed to addressing these serious issues related to health service delivery in Madang. PHAs have a responsibility to ensure that our health workers can provide quality care in a safe environment that is fit for purpose.” “This has an impact on the health outcomes of our patients too.” “It is imperative that we have strong governance in place to support effective health service delivery at the Provincial and District levels.” “As leaders, we have a responsibility to ensure that Board appointments are merit-based and comply with the law.” He added that, a new Madang PHA Board submission will be considered by Cabinet shortly. As soon as the Board members have been commissioned, their responsibility will be to review the performance of the Madang PHA CEO and senior executive team and take action accordingly. “I also strongly encourage the Madang PHA Board and other PHA Boards across the country, to conduct an external audit into your operations over the past five years.” “This is crucial for accountability and quality assurance.” “I would like to assure the health workers at Modilon General Hospital that I have heard your concerns around the sub-optimal health facility standards and environment to safely provide essential health services, and that I will continue to follow-up on this at the highest levels, until the outstanding Madang PHA Board and governance issues have been addressed.”

Papua New Guinea’s bid to join the National Rugby League will take another step forward with the best young players in the country on display later this month. The tournament, which will take place over the weekend of 20/21 July in Goroka, will see the eyes of the PNG Rugby League world focused on some outstanding emerging talent exhibiting their skills on the field. The tournament will also showcase the important work being done by the NRL Bid Academy. The Academy, supported through the PNGAus partnership, and led by the highly experienced coach, Joe Grima, has placed a focus on equipping the best U15/17/19 boys and U18 girls with the skills to succeed on and off the field. The 16-week program, the first of its kind in PNG, is uncovering talent throughout the country that can compete against the best young players in Australia and New Zealand. This will be an important building block to becoming an NRL club. PNG NRL Bid Chief Executive, Andrew Hill, understood the importance of this tournament. “We are creating a solid structure for the game in this country and one that will put us in the best possible situation to succeed,” said Hill. “The development of the Academy under Joe Grima and a great group of coaches, has been incredibly important.” “This tournament is the next step towards preparing our young talent for the future. It will see the best players compete over two days and showcase the fact that in the coming years we have the depth and skill level required to compete against the best young talent from the NRL.” “I look forward to what will be a great event for the game here in PNG.”

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) teamed up with the Port Moresby General Hospital and the Angau Hospital to host a successful blood drive at two office locations in honour of World Blood Donors Day recently on the 14 June, 2024. The Port Moresby General Hospital Health Team said, “Only 1 in 30 people give blood, but 1 in 3 people will need blood in their lifetime.” Valdo Pongiura, CCEP’s Talent Management Executive said, “donating blood is about making a direct and positive difference in people’s lives and CCEP is pleased to support this cause.” Representatives from the blood bank units from both hospitals, Sir Brian Bell Centre for Transfusion and Angau Blood Bank, appreciated CCEP's support, noting the donations will go a long way in saving lives. Aside from giving blood, our staff received valuable information on the health benefits of donation. “Some benefits of donating blood include, mini examination, balanced iron levels, calorie burning, reduced cancer risk, enhanced cardiovascular health, and improved blood flow for repeat donors”. CCEP is dedicated to supporting initiatives that improve employee health and wellbeing and community health.

Vodafone PNG is excited to announce its silver sponsorship of the renowned National Mask & Warwagira Festival, taking place from the 10th - 13th July at Queen’s Park in Rabaul, East New Britain Province. This year’s festival promises to be a spectacular event, showcasing traditional performances, rituals and crafts from in and around the East New Britain province. “Vodafone is delighted to support this festival and contribute to the celebration of our diverse cultural heritage." This is from Vodafone’s PR Manager Charmaine to Robert. “We believe in the power of connectivity to bring people together and this festival is a wonderful opportunity to support and engage with our community.” Festival goers can expect all this and more from the Vodafone Stall - FREE Sim Registration – With every new Vodafone SIM registered, customers can enjoy 200 mins talk-time. SUPA AFFORDABLE Phones – Exclusive to the Mask Festival, there will be touch screen phones going from as low as K129! FREE Show Bags – Visit the Vodafone Stall and see how you can score yourself a free show bag with Vodafone branded goodies inside. FREE Face Painting – Get sighted in the crowd with the Vodafone logo painted on your face and you could win some exciting prizes. Keep an eye on Vodafone’s social media pages for more information and make sure to visit the Vodafone Stall at the National Mask & Warwagira Festival to take advantage of the specials!

Thousands of city residents including NCD Governor, Powes Parkop participated in the 2024 Trukai Fun Run to support Team PNG’s Olympic Dream in Port Moresby on Sunday 7th July, morning. Amongst the participants was Governor Parkop’s special guest from Vanuatu, Lord Mayor of the City of Port Vila, Steve Kiel and four of his councillors. They have been in the city for a week to learn and appreciate what is being done to transform Port Moresby as a livable city. The delegates who return this week were happy to join the governor to support this worthy cause. The annual Trukai Fun Run was successfully hosted at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium along Champion Parade. Newly appointed president of PNG Olympic Committee (PNGOC) Emma Waiwai, French Ambassador, Guillaume Lemoine; executive management of Trukai Industries Limited and representatives of major sponsors including the National Capital District Commission Director for Community and Social Services Janet Haua also joined the Governor in the fun run. Governor Parkop thanked the corporate sponsors and everyone for turning up in big numbers to support the fun run as well as to walk for their health, fitness and wellness. “On behalf of all of us, I want to thank Trukai Industries for always being here for PNG Olympic Committee, for our sports men and women, going to different competition, regionally and internationally,” said the Governor. He presented a cheque of K13, 000 to Mrs Waiwai on behalf of NCDC as its extra contribution apart from the payment of fun run t-shirts to support our athletes to the Paris Olympics. Governor Parkop also used the opportunity to appeal to everyone to take personal responsibility for their own health, fitness and wellness, reminding them that 62 percent of all deaths in the country now is caused by non-communicable diseases (NCD) or lifestyle diseases. “It’s a major killer now.” “We have to therefore balance between preventive health care and curative health care,” he stressed. The Governor also congratulated and welcomed the appointment of Mrs Waiwai for her appointment as the President of the PNG Olympic Committee noting that it was first time for a woman to be appointed to this prestigious position. He also thanked outgoing president, Sir John Dawanincura for his long and distinguished service to sports in the country. Mrs Waiwai said this year’s fun run, supported by generous participants in purchasing t-shirts in solidarity with team PNG marked another significant step towards achieving their goal. She announced that funds raised from this year’s Trukai Fun Run will be crucial in supporting our athletes’ preparation to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Stanley Hondina recently announced the vacancy in the PNG LNG Kumuls Head Coach position. Hondina confirmed that he was notified by Justin Holbrook of his unavailability to be head coach of the PNG LNG Kumuls for the end of this year’s internationals. The announcement comes after Holbrook, who steered the PNG LNG Kumuls to its 2023 Pacific Bowl victory and who is currently an Assistant Coach at the Sydney Roosters, gave notice that he would be moving on from PNG’s national men’s team in 2024. “It is with mixed emotions that I have stepped down as Head Coach of the Kumuls. I thoroughly enjoyed coaching the team and winning the Pacific Bowl Championships last year in PNG. To witness the passion for rugby league from all the players, staff and everyone in their country was unbelievable,” Holbrook said. “I have taken up a role as the Australian Assistant Coach for the Pacific Championships under Mal Meninga for this year's series against New Zealand and Tonga. Both series run at the same time so unfortunately, I cannot continue as Kumuls Coach.” Holbrook added, “I want to thank the PNGRFL for the opportunity to be Head Coach. It was an experience I loved. The PNG people were so welcoming of me to their country. The love that they have for their team, and opposition teams, shows how much Rugby League means to the people of PNG.” Mr. Hondina said, “We respect Coach Justin’s decision and are grateful for the time that he has served our national side in 2023, which saw the first invitational and international test series, to be held on our home ground since COVID 19. We wish him well in his future endeavours and as he takes up this new role with the Australian Kangaroos.” “The PNGRFL will be releasing a formal advertisement for the vacancy of the PNG LNG Head Coach role in the coming days.” Meanwhile, dates for the 2024 Prime Minister’s XIII and the Pacific Championships are yet to be released and announced.

The Opposition is calling on the Government to distribute funds equally to all members of the National Parliament. Abau MP, Sir Puka Temu said, in the recent distribution of infrastructure funds at a sum of K5 million, only 4 members on the Opposition were given the privilege of that allocation. He said, “The rest of us who represent 30% of the population close to 3million people have been denied.” He urged the Government to not weaponize the “Budget” to disadvantage those in the Opposition. Sir Temu stressed his worries on the matter that these issues are not resolved. “Because while you are penalizing those who disagree with you, you have to remember that you are penalizing the constituents that we represent." "And that’s the issue." "The people continue to suffer when you hold back budgeted funds.” Sir Temu said, this is basically breaking the law and he is calling on the Prime Minister to be fair. “The 3million people that we represent are also your people.” He stated, going into the future they will find a solution for this once they defeat the VoNC that’s coming and form the new Government. “We will make sure that the funds that are allocated to the budget are protected for every constituent which is the people.” And as a senior Member of Parliament, Sir Temu is looking at moving the service improvement funds whether it’s LLG, provincial or district to constitutional grant guaranteed so that no prime minister of the day has the power to manage the politics of it.

The lack of TB medications in various health centers, which continues to see a lot of TB patients not being fully treated, indicates a very serious issue faced in the country in terms of procuring these lifesaving medical drugs. Ms. Karen Yaman, the Morobe Provincial TB Leprosy Coordinator said that due to this situation their TB patients are currently receiving antibiotic treatment, which is a supplementary medicine for patients to take to suppress the infection while waiting for the TB drugs. At present, they only have the Pediatrics ‘Initial Phase’ and not the ‘Continuation Phase’ of the treatment. “We only have the initial phase and not the continuation phase of the treatment and if patients don’t get their treatments, they develop complications. The chances of developing drug resistance TB are also high.” Ms. Yaman said operating at the provincial level they have more than 60 patients registered and always tend to turn-away patients upon diagnosis due to no TB drugs. She added that they were instructed to raising a kit-box for a patient (which is a slandered practice) but due to the recurrent shortage of TB drugs, they are advising health officers to give out antibiotics while waiting for TB drugs to arrive. She further stated that the issue of no TB drugs and all other medical drugs across the board needs to be seriously investigated and addressed. “The national government needs to look into these issues and help us with adequate money to purchase TB drugs as well as other medical supplies to the health facilities. This is an ongoing issue.”