Preparations are coming along well for students attending Wesley Secondary School in the Esa'ala District in the Milne Bay Province. School Principal Mr. Davanai Robia said, out of the 80, 015 grade 10 students nationwide, a total of 214 grd10 students from Wesley Secondary School are confirmed to sit for the National Written Expression Examination on Thursday 6th June 2024. He said, all through this term, their teachers have been conducting remedial classes with the students. “Our teachers have been doing remedial with our grade 10 students and I believe our students will do well.” “Everything is in order, and we are just waiting for the day to come.” He added, they have seen positive results, and he is confident that the students will do well in the exam. Meanwhile, the exam will be conducted in their newly built mass hall which is big enough to cater for the number of students who will sit for the exam. “Our new Mass Hall is more than enough to cater for our students with good installation of lighting, fan and good ventilation done.” “So, this is another boost for our students at this time.”

Prime Minister James Marape says one of his government’s priorities over the last five years has been health, resulting in the sector achieving some major milestones. Among these achievements is the development of new health infrastructure such as the rebuilding of Wewak’s Boram Hospital, a state-of-the-art facility funded by the Government at a cost of K200 million. The government also completed the new Enga Provincial Hospital in Wabag, Enga Province, as well as the Angau Memorial Hospital Redevelopment with the help of the Australian Government. The Prime Minister noted these achievements in a five-year anniversary report of his government’s accomplishments during last week’s Parliament session. Other new infrastructure includes the 41 health facilities supported by the Asian Development Bank, such as community health posts (CHPs), district hospitals, and health centres. These facilities include 10 new CHPs in places like Bulolo, Watut, Mumeng, Umba in Menyamya, Mutzing in Markham, West Taraka Poly Clinic, Tent City in Lae, Gaulim in East New Britain, and Bitakora in East New Britain. Two district hospitals have been built in Ambunti in East Sepik and Pomio in East New Britain, with Madang’s Bogia under construction and Bougainville’s Buin District Hospital set to commence soon, funded by a US$21.6 million grant from the Australian Government. Completed health centres include those in Gloucester in West New Britain, Agevairu in Central Province, and Koroba in Lake Kopiago, with construction set to begin at Maramuni in Enga. The Prime Minister also highlighted his government’s aim to establish tertiary health care services in the country, with the Cancer Centre at Port Moresby General Hospital scheduled to be completed and opened next year. Additionally, Angau Memorial Hospital has renovated its existing Cobalt 60 Source Centre facility and upgraded its security in anticipation of new cobalt radioactive isotopes arriving in 2024 “Investing in new health infrastructure has been a top priority for our government over the past five years." "Our goal is to ensure that every Papua New Guinean can access a health centre within an hour by any mode of transport, as outlined in the Medium-Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV),” said Prime Minister Marape. The other major areas of concern in health that the Prime Minister says his government has prioritised include health workforce and medical supplies reform. Currently, there are only 18,929 health workers serving throughout the country, with a total of 13,135 vacancies that have persisted for several years. He says his government is addressing this serious health sector capacity issue with plans to recruit 7,130 health workers this year in different cadres of health work, including doctors, allied health workers, and nurses. The balance of 7,388 will be prioritised in the coming years. The medical supply procurement and distribution remain a huge challenge for the country, and the reforms being implemented as per the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee and Special Audits Report are already addressing some key issues, coordinated by a newly formed Steering Committee and Secretariat. Key milestone achievements so far include improvements at warehousing facilities and stock management at the central, provincial, and hospital levels. The rehabilitation of the four Regional Area Medical Stores was completed in 2022, with ongoing upgrades of Provincial Transit Medical Stores, with 12 fully rehabilitated and in operation. Prime Minister Marape also noted that the Inventory Management Software (mSupply) has been installed at all Area Medical Stores and is in progress to roll out to all public hospitals. This will provide data to inform procurement and pipeline management.

Unfortunately for Papua New Guinea, overseas news speculations regarding PNG to become the 18th NRL team are false. PNG NRL BID Chief Executive Officer Andrew Hill in an interview with PNG HAUSBUNG today clarified that they have not received any word or confirmation from the Australian Government to be the 18th NRL team and the media speculations that came from overseas during the week were premature. “We have not received confirmation yet, but I can say is that we are working really close with both the Australian and PNG Government and the NRL nearly on a daily basis on all the details that would be required to make a finals submission to the NRL.” “Those conversations are going very positively and there’s lots of general agreement, but we haven’t got the word that we are the 18th team yet.” Hill also confirmed that there’s still several months away from the NRL making the final decision and both governments will play a key role in making sure the financials for the club are taken care of. “Ultimately, it’s the NRL that gets to make that decision.” “They’ve certainly indicated that they want to expand, they want an 18th team and that they will be ready to make that decision, hopefully before Christmas.” “We are still some months away but certainly before the end of the year, I’m confident that the NRL will announce the 18th team.” Hill expressed much excitement and anticipation for the announcement of the 18th NRL team by the end of this as this would be a wonderful opportunity for PNG to participate in the world’s best rugby league competition on a weekly basis against the very best athletes across Australia and New Zealand. “We are getting closer to be the 18th team but we’re not there yet.” “I’m very confident that the final submission and discussion with the NRL will see that if they agree on the merit of us becoming the 18th team and they will have the confidence that over a period of time, we will start to develop lots of players and lots of staff.” Hill further stated that, if PNG is confirmed to be the 18th team once the decision is made, there will be a great amount of work for the team to do to prepare for the 2028 NRL season.

Prime Minister James Marape is confident after the first week of parliament sitting with a secured number of 77 parliament members. PM Marape said the country witnessed the stability of the government by passing the bill to restructure the Judiciary and came in today and presented the government’s 5-year achievement report on the floor of Parliament. Marape urged citizens not to get caught up in the political play even as the opposition has the right to contest, the public, businesses and the people of PNG must continue to carry on with their normal operations. “Don’t get caught up in this political play by leaders.” “If they are in the most serious business in controlling a government that has secured mandate from the people from the National General Elections, they should be seriously applying the due process correctly.” Marape reaffirmed to the people that the government is intact and confident with results of the recent bill to restructure the Judiciary and presentation of the government’s 5-year achievement report today in parliament. He further urged the Business Committee in PNG and those watching abroad to stay confident in the government especially all investors, big and small. PM Marape also acknowledged the latest inclusion of Belden Namah and PNG Party that has moved from the Opposition to Government. Meanwhile, Parliament has now been adjourned to next Tuesday, 4th June 2024 at 10am.

Through the PNG Defence department and the Disaster office, Prime Minister James Marape mentioned in Parliament that they have sent out K250, 000 for food and relief supplies. Both the departments are currently on ground with the PNGDF, the Australian Defence Force and the New Zealand DF to carry out assessment reports from the Enga Provincial Administration and recovery efforts in Yambali village in the Mulitaka LLG of Enga Province. “The food and relief supplies are being distributed as I speak. And there’s a complete cut off of the road that leads into the Pogera mine that’s been in production.” “We are also working closely with the company, The New Pogera Limited to see how best we can mobilize support to reopen the road at the very earliest.” Marape also stated that, the government has received written condolence messages and sympathies from various countries including the Buckingham Palace from the King himself, Australia, New Zealand, The White House, China, the France President, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Philippines and our Pacific Island nations. “The Australian DF and the New Zealand DF have mobilized to assist and work with our Defence force in fullest relief restoration and reconstruction to the loss that has taken place in Yambali.” Marape said, this disaster has not only affected and claimed the 2000 lives but affected over 10, 000 people in the immediate area. “There’s nothing much we can do in the face of disaster, but the best response is our love, care and assistance and restoration to those who are facing these problems.”

Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa has called on the Government today during parliament session to immediately release K250, 000 to help assist the people in the Mulitaka LLG in the Enga Province. He said, disaster is everyone’s responsibility and of the house of Parliament. He said, K250, 000 is not enough and has urged both sides of the house to put money aside to help the people of this great nation when disaster strikes. He also stated that, the people of Kiriwina Goodenough who were hit by a recent drought are still waiting on supplies of medical drugs to be airlifted to the islands in the Milne Bay province. Meanwhile, West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel has suggested to the Prime Minister and Government to declare a three-day public holiday as a mourning period for the victims of the recent landslide in Mulitaka, Enga Province. He also suggested using K110 million from government funds to help the affected communities quickly. Muthuvel urged everyone to support each other and asked those blocking relief efforts to let aid reach the victims. He further admitted that Parliament was slow to respond and said this should not happen again.

Prime Minister James Marape thanked the majority of Pangu Pati and coalition partners in the United Resources Party, Social Democratic Party, People’s First Party, People’s Party, National Alliance, People’s Movement for Change, Melanesia Alliance, and Melanesian Liberal Front for attending a government retreat amid the movement of a no-confidence motion. He said, 6 of the 18 MPs who were in the Opposition camp at Sanctuary Hotel returned to the coalition government in the afternoon on Monday 27th May. “They are our colleagues and if they want to come back, we will have time and space for them.” “Updating on numbers: We had a very big coalition of 93 MPs, which has gone down to just over 70.” Marape said, “They all came in to announce their support for the Pangu Government and expressed that now is not the time for instability but reconstruction under the present Government for better service delivery to the country.” “We will take these two weeks to review our work in all sectors and improve where we need to for our people and country.” He said, policies are for the people and good for the country of Papua New Guinea, but sometimes delivery has been impeded by many factors, including politics. For the next 2 weeks, they will not just consolidate the Government but review work programmes in the face of disasters, economy, census, LLG elections, Bougainville, decentralisation, foreign relations, and so on. “In the face of a vote-of-no-confidence, we welcome the Section 145 process where a majority of MPs affirms government.” “At the moment, the majority threshold is 56 MPs, and Pangu and our Coalition partners now are not threatened by a minority.” “God knows what is best for PNG. All Christians are asked to pray that God’s will for PNG prevails at all times.”

The Don Bosco Technical School (DBTS) Administration has decided to suspend classes starting today, 28th May 2024, until further notice due to recent unsanctioned school fights in the Capital. In a statement released on social media on Monday, DBTS principal Mr. Martin Dai and DBTS Rector & BOG Chairman Fr. Pedro Sachitula stated that for 2 weeks now, there has been a circulation of posts on social media instigating ill feelings between DBTS and De La Selle Secondary School. Both schools are currently working together to resolve this matter and DBTS administration are urging all parents to monitor their children’s whereabouts and activities, especially on social media. They have taken this temporary suspension of classes in order for the school to conduct proper investigation to keep their students safe. Meanwhile, when PNG HAUSBUNG reached out to the School Principal for further clarification on how this suspension would affect DBTS’ Grade 10 students who are expected to sit for the National Written Expression Examination on Thursday, 6th June 2024, our attempts were unsuccessful as the principal maintains he would not comment further on the matter.

Prime Minister James Marape has decommissioned Finance Minister Rainbo Paita from his Cabinet position following his leading a defection to the Opposition. Prime Minister Marape stated that Finschhafen MP Rainbo Paita displayed a lack of respect for Cabinet decorum by not submitting his resignation before leading the defection to the Opposition. Marape said, “It certainly gives me no pleasure in decommissioning Rainbo Paita, who has got caught up in this political play and betrayed the trust bestowed upon him, by being the ring leader of Pangu Pati and Government MPs joining ranks with the Opposition." "Cabinet solidarity has been breached by the defection of Paita.” “While I respect Paita’s right to form new allegiances, the fact that he has shown open revolt and chosen to associate with the Opposition and led other Pangu and Government MPs to the other side, leaves me with no choice but to decommission him immediately." “I know other Ministers are currently in the Opposition camp, by choice or being forced to, and we are reaching out to them.” Prime Minister Marape recalled that in 2019, when he resigned from the Peter O’Neill government, he didn’t move out with a crowd of MPs and Ministers as Paita had done. “Paita, by his act of dissent, has shown no respect for Cabinet decorum by jumping ship without writing to me as Prime Minister and indicating his areas of dissatisfaction,” he said. “He has to indicate where I have gone wrong and why he has decided to move away from my Cabinet.”

Queensland Origin star Dane Gagai will remain at the Newcastle Knights for at least two more years after signing a contract extension with the club. The new deal keeps the centre in Newcastle for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with a mutual option for 2027. Knights Director of Football Peter Parr is confident the 33-year-old will continue to make an impact on and off the field. “Dane is one of the best outside backs in the NRL and is playing as well as ever,” Parr said. “When you combine his on-field performance, experience and leadership, Dane is a highly valued member of our club. “We believe this re-signing will not only benefit the current playing group but will assist educate and elevate future Newcastle Knights NRL players." Gagai's new deal comes a day after Origin and Test star David Fifita has advised the Titans he will be leaving the club at the end of the season. Source: NRL.Com

A three-try blitz in five minutes in the first half carried the Dolphins to a 30-24 win over an injury-hit Sea Eagles outfit at Suncorp Stadium. The Sea Eagles lost superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic to a hamstring injury and winger Jason Saab (shoulder) on a night in which they again gave up a 12-point lead to fall to successive losses. Among a host of stars for the home side, dynamic fullback Trai Fuller was a standout with 155 run metres and a freakish solo try from a chip and chase. The Sea Eagles struck first in the 10th minute when Daly Cherry-Evans opted to run the ball on the last play and found Ben Trbojevic who put Tommy Talau over in the corner for a 4-0 lead. The Dolphins hit back four minutes later when Euan Aitken picked off a Cherry-Evans pass and raced 50 metres to lock the scores up at 4-4. A blow for Manly in the 17th minute when Saab landed awkwardly as he dived for a try but was denied by a great cover tackle by Fuller, whose defensive game was every bit as impressive as his attack. The Sea Eagles had a second try in the 23rd minute when Tom Trbojevic put a well weighted kick into the in goal for Corey Waddell to follow through and score. Reuben Garrick's conversion made it 10-4. With intercepts proving the order of the night it was Luke Brooks who swooped on a Max Plath pass and ran 40 metres before delivering the ball to Tolu Kolua for Manly's third four-pointer. The Dolphins closed the gap six minutes before the break when Kodi Nikorima drifted across field and turned Connelly Lemuelu inside for a clear run to the line. Jamayne Isaako added the conversion to make it 16-10. On the next set it was Fuller in just his fifth game in the NRL producing a slashing solo try when he exploded into space, chipped over Tom Trbojevic and regathered to score before Mark Nicholls grabbed a rare four-pointer and the Dolphins had piled on three tries in five minutes to lead 20-16 at the break. A mistake by Isaako from the kick-off handed Manly a golden opportunity to hit back but Cherry-Evans made a simple error in the play the ball and the Dolphins came away. Ten minutes into the second half it was Tom and Jake Trbojevic combining from close range to lock things up at 20-20 after Jake's late offload put Tom over for the 95th try of his career. Garrick converted for a 22-20 lead. An offside penalty against the Sea Eagles in the 56th minute handed Isaako an easy shot and the sharpshooter did the job to lock it up again at 22-22. The Sea Eagles edged back in front in the 65th minute after Felise Kaufusi was penalised for a late tackle and Garrick slotted the kick to make it 24-22 to the visitors. The contest took another twist in the 67th minute when the Dolphins marched down field on the back of a penalty and Jack Bostock finished off slick lead-up work by Isaiya Katoa and Herbie Farnworth to score. Isaako converted from wide out for a 28-24 Dolphins lead. The Dolphins extended the lead to 30-24 after Ethan Bullemor was penalised for a dangerous tackle and from there the home side were able to close out their sixth win of the season. Source: NRL.com

A great comeback from the SP PNG Hunters, with a thrilling 52-16 victory in Round 8 of the QRL Hostplus Cup over the Townsville Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon at Townsville, Australia. The crowd at Jack Manski Oval could not have anticipated such a dominant performance from the visitors who came into Round 8’s fixture on the back of three straight losses. To put all those learnings together into a complete 80-minute performance on Sunday afternoon is a big win for Head Coach Paul Aiton and his players, moving forward. The Blackhawks struck first in this one through Jaelen Feeney but as they’ve done all year to date, the Hunters quickly fought to slow their opponent’s momentum and drag the game down into a grind. Hunter’s backrower Whallan Tau-Loi would then cash in on the Hunters first attacking set courtesy of some nice deception from halfback Jamie Mavoko. Relishing his role as on-field conductor, Mavoko played to a plan right from the opening set on Sunday to drop his players back against the grain. In yardage, that direct plan promoted fatigue into the Blackhawks middle and in good-ball it punished that fatigue to find little chinks in the line for Tau-Loi in this instance to score. The Hunters almost went the length from the ensuing kickoff when five-eighth Joshua Lau capitalised on some ruck speed to slice through himself on the left edge. A heavy grubber back on the inside instead gave Townsville a seven-tackle set and they made the most of it to score next through NRL veteran James Tamou. The shoot-out continued when Tau-Loi bagged his second soon afterwards. With the home side bunching up through the middle in response to PNG’s direct approach with the ball, Tau-Loi exposed them on the edge this time with an impressive show of speed to burn multiple defenders on his way to the try line. The home side made their own luck to fire back one more response, scoring a questionable try through Kalifa Faifai-Loa despite the Blackhawks winger appearing to bounce the ball in the process of scoring. It would matter little by full time though as the Hunters dominated the final 50 minutes to score seven unanswered tries, equalling the club’s biggest ever win on Australian soil. Judah Rimbu kicked off the action in the 35th minute, identifying a quick play-the-ball close to the line and darting over between two exhausted Blackhawks middles to give PNG an 18-16 lead following the successful Mavoko conversion. Rimbu’s influence around the ruck then triggered PNG’s next points when rookie centre Alex Max crossed just before halftime. Playing to the plan through the middle, Rimbu bamboozled the markers to send Koso Bandi back behind the ruck and fold the Blackhawks line in towards the ball. Having created the space out wide, Rimbu then combined with his five-eighth to pass Max into that space and execute a very well-worked try. Another clutch conversion from Mavoko – this time from the left touchline – gave the SP PNG Hunters a deserving 24-16 lead at the break. An attacking raid threatened to give Townsville a sniff early in the second half, but PNG’s systems held firm before the visitors quickly mounted a counter attack courtesy of a late offload in yardage. With the resulting field position, Rimbu’s class was again the difference as he rolled a delicate grubber into the in-goal to force an error from the home side. Hunters centre Elijah Roltinga was the beneficiary on this occasion, diving on the loose ball to score an opportunistic four pointer. Townsville impressed in moments as they tried to kickstart a miracle comeback but PNG’s defensive systems – particularly on the edges – simply refused to give up cheap points. The Hunters efforts without the ball continued to force errors from the home side and subsequently earn more opportunities for PNG to attack themselves. Hunters’ fullback Sanny Wabo was next to put himself in the box seat, using a burst of speed to create a space in the defensive line back on the inside. It was no coincidence that Max scored his second of the afternoon by cutting back against the grain and targeting the Blackhawks tiring middle defenders: Sure enough, Max would complete his first QRL Hostplus Cup hattrick just nine minutes later by playing towards similar principles in attack. In what would have been a pleasing sight for Head Coach Aiton, three of the Hunters key spine players – Rimbu, Mavoko and Lau – combined smartly to stretch the Blackhawks middle defence with wide passes before turning the ball back underneath towards the spaces: Lau’s ability to change the tempo of his run as he shapes to different options around him here is key. The young five-eighth is only 12 games into his Hostplus Cup career but is ballplaying beyond his years to execute some effective and repeatable attacking actions for the Hunters this season. With the result well and truly decided, the Hunters defence was impressing even more than their expansive attack. They repelled a desperate Blackhawks attack on multiple occasions in the final quarter, forcing errors and pushed passes with their line speed or movements on the edges. Having suffocated the home side with defensive pressure for the best part of 80 minutes, PNG finally celebrated with two late bonus tries through Finley Glare and Wabo. Glare pounced on a late offload close to the line to bag his first of the year before Wabo iced a slick left-edge movement that highlighted all of the Hunters improvements in attack this season. Getting to the right areas on the field and identifying when to fire a shot, Rimbu and Lau again combined smartly to shift from a midfield quick play-the-ball here: Falling into that familiar double-unders shape, Lau sat Townsville’s edge defenders on their heels here before dropping Benjamin Kelly back against the grain. The beauty of PNG’s game plan became evident when Blackhawks half Bourke – expecting the change of direction – turned in to check the Kelly tackle and subsequently opened up a space to his outside. Punishing Bourke’s movement in the line, Kelly bounced off his right foot and passed back to Lau into the space created. Soft hands from the Hunters five-eighth sent Wabo into the backfield from there, where the elusive fullback had too much speed for the cover defence to handle. A spectacular night off the tee for Jamie Mavoko complemented what was one of PNG’s best offensive performances in the Hostplus Cup. The Hunters halfback slotted eight from nine attempts to equal the club’s record for most goals scored in a QRL game and help the Hunters register their fourth biggest winning margin (38) in history. The SP PNG Hunters will now look to bring their winning form back to the Santos National Football Stadium this Saturday, 11th May when they host the competition leading Northern Pride in Round 9 of the QRL Hostplus Cup.