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Samoa Airways jet operation back to normal schedule

January 14, 2019, 11:08 pm
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Samoa Airways says its international jet schedule will return to normal from today, Tuesday 15 January.

The airline’s international flights during 6-14 January were rescheduled, after its Boeing 737-800 aircraft made an unplanned overnight stopover in Sydney on 05 January due to unsuitable weather conditions and the Sydney Airport curfew.

As part of efforts to clear the back-log of affected customers, Samoa Airways chartered a Qantas 737-800 aircraft on Thursday 10 January to operate its Sydney/Apia/Sydney flights while its aircraft operated on the busy Apia/Auckland/Apia route.

The disruption took place during an extraordinarily busy week for the airline, with supplementary flights which had been scheduled in 2018 and its impact was exacerbated by the limited availability of spare aircraft for charters due to the busy Festive Season.   

As it prepares to return to schedule, Samoa Airways reminds its customers that check-in for flights between Apia, Auckland, Sydney and Brisbane opens 3-hours before departure and closes 60-minutes prior.   

The unfortunate recent turbulences undermining the national carrier did not deter true Samoan patriots from raising their hands up to be part of the solution and not the problem.

Samoa professions in the airline industry have come out in force to work for their national flag carrier.

Among them includes Samoan pilots Patrick Moore and Andrew Roebeck to name a few who have left their comfort zones and sacrificed lucrative salaries overseas to be part of the growing Samoa Airways family.

While Cabin Services, you will find the return of some familiar and friendly Samoans who have decades of first-hand and priceless experience to share with their full Samoan Cabin crews.

Ropati Eves is back in the fold joined by Mary Pavitt Chang and of course who could forget Leataataoletaeao Blakelock; all renowned prominent Samoan cabin crew pioneers who have served their industry with distinctions.

“It’s all about Samoan pride for us,” says Blakelock. “To serve our people and our national flag carrier in this challenging industry is an indescribable privilege.

“We are proud Samoans and this is how we show our pride to the world.” And their presences is providing a massive dose of confidence for rookies such as Lumaava Tuna Papalii.

Simply put, “Samoa Airways is here to stay,” reaffirms Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi.

Calling the return of Samoa Airways to the international circuit long overdue, Prime Minister Tuilaepa said.

“Samoa can no longer rely on others to determine our destiny in terms of air travel, we can no longer sit back and let others dictate to us what’s best for our people and this country.

“Having our own airline ensures that we will be able to determine our destiny.

“Having our own airline will create jobs and will contribute to the economic growth of our country through increase exports and also contribute to increasing tourist to our country. Something that was not done under past arrangements.”

He said the decision to set up Samoa Airways was “based on sound and well researched studies.

“No one else will look after our country’s needs but us,” he said. “If we do not do it now, it will never be done.”

“If you look around our region, from Vanuatu to the Solomon’s, Nauru to Kiribati and Tahiti to Fiji, our neighbours have their own national airlines and they have maintained their airlines successfully and profitably.....read more on : Pacific Travel Advisor

SOURCE: GOVT PRESS SECRETARIAT/PACNEWS
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Marawaka forgotten no more

January 15, 2019, 6:11 pm
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Marawaka in Eastern Highlands Province is a very isolated and remote place. It is 1809 meters above sea level with an estimated population of 30,000 plus people. Marawaka is located in the Obura-wonenara District, Yelia LLG. It shares boarders with Gulf Province towards the west and Morobe Province in the East. Marawaka is surrounded with lofty mountains, deep cliffs and entrenched valleys covered under the umbrella of thick clouds. It certainly is one of most difficult places in Eastern Highlands to reach. Network communications mediums are inaccessible. The only reliable means to bring basic government service to Marawaka is by air transport- either single engine airplane or helicopter at an appropriate weather condition. Any flight to Marawaka at a bad weather condition surely will result in a fatal accident with no chance of survival.
Yesterday, Governor for Eastern Highlands Peter Numu had his first visit of the year 2019 to the Marawaka Station to announce projects for the people of Marawaka budgeted for in 2019. And to deliver rewards for completed community projects in the area. Governor Numu was accompanied by his wife Rosiela Tess Numu, First Secretary Solomon Tato, Director for Planning Peter Gare, and Chairman for Pastor’s Fraternal Pastor Simon Nime.

The Governor announced the following projects which will be funded by the provincial government this year for the people of Marawaka to 10,000 plus people gathered at Marawaka Station: Marawaka Station Hydro- K500,000, Miniyema-Marawaka Road- K500,000, District Road Improvement Program (DRIP)- K50,000, Tokena-wanenara Road- K1million kina, Rural Airstrip maintenance- K500,000, Marawaka Day High School- K240,000, Teachers deployment to remote schools in Marawaka- K150,000.00, School fee subsidy- K3 million kina for all EHP students attending tertiary, colleges, technical schools including Marawaka students, Pilot training sponsorship for one student from Marawaka by the EHPG, SME support for registered companies in Marawaka by EHPG, newly established EHPG Coffee Company to buy coffee directly from locals including Marawaka people at a reasonable price at the LLG level, and the outstanding payment of K200,000 for Village Court Magistrates’ allowances. In addition, First Secretary Solomon Tato made cash presentations for work done to Marawaka Airstrip maintenance- K10,000, Miniyema-Marawaka road maintenance- K10,000, and SME support for fish pond projects- K600, respectively.
Numu further told the people of Marawaka that the political and the administrative arm of the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government is now being stablished after undergoing 8 long years of impasse. He stated that the Province for the first time after a long battle for permanent provincial administrator has now has a permanent provincial administrator, Mr. John Gimiseve.
He further stated that Eastern Highlands was the first province in the country to launch its 5 year development plan last year. Unlike the past where projects were being discharged without proper monitoring and evaluation and most work undone, and contractors stole millions of kina. Under this current government with the 5 year development blueprint in place, there will proper monitoring and evaluation after every 3 months and project contractors will held accountable if money goes missing. The administration and the political arm of the government is now in order, hence the people Marawaka were informed to make ready themselves for government service delivery.
Community rep, Stanley said the visit by the Governor and the team was first of its kind since 1975. After 45 years of successive leadership transitions, a light of hope has come upon the people of Marawaka.
Although the flight to Marawaka with a peak height of 11899 feet altitude indeed was scary and risky for the Governor and the team. The focus of the leader of the province was the people and their welfare. God’s leading was indeed evident throughout the entire 50 minutes flight. And the Governor and team made a historic and a successful trip to Marawaka.

Public Relations
EASTERN HIGHLANDS PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
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No security treaty yet, says Vanuatu Foreign Minister

January 16, 2019, 1:20 am
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When it became known that Prime Minister Scott Morrison would be visiting Vanuatu, few expected he would merely cut a few ribbons and move on. A historic visit such as this almost demands historic results.

But what exactly is PM Morrison going to announce?

The Daily Post has learned that Australian officials explicitly asked for a security treaty with Vanuatu during Charlot Salwai’s official visit to Canberra last year. But according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Ralph Regenvanu, “we haven’t responded positively yet.”

If the two countries were to sign some sort of agreement, what form would it take? One thing seems certain: anything affecting this country’s neutrality would be a hard sell.

Asked if he thought there was any prospect in a change in Vanuatu’s Non-Aligned status, Regenvanu simply said, “No.”

The foreign minister later clarified that this stance was not aimed specifically at Australia. “We’re not interested in an exclusive security treaty with any one country.”

There seems to be very little space for negotiation where an alliance or a defence pact are concerned. Asked if a defence agreement would necessarily affect Vanuatu’s Non-Aligned status, the minister was clear. “Yeah, it would,” he said.

But that doesn’t rule out an agreement dealing with internal security, law and order, or humanitarian deployments. Regenvanu made it clear that there were many areas that the two countries could improve cooperation, coordination and understanding.

Some of this is already underway, he said. “We are having greater cooperation on police matters, as you can see from his visit.”

PM Morrison is expected to cut the ribbon on an Australian-funded Police training college facility during his two-day stay. Australia is also contributing funds and resources to Vanuatu’s new national security task force, and backstopping the government’s cybercrime legislation drafting process.

“But in terms of a treaty with Australia,” Regenvanu concluded, “probably not.”

Australia and Vanuatu have both signed the Boe Declaration, which states that climate change is the greatest security threat facing the region. The Daily Post asked Minister Regenvanu if there is any prospect that Vanuatu will be able to leverage that agreement to get concessions from Australia not just in terms of adapting to climate change, but in actually reducing its emissions, which are among the highest in the world, per capita.

The Morrison government, he said, have “their stated view multilaterally, but bilaterally definitely I think we can leverage a lot of stuff with them.”

Ralph Regenvanu said the government of Vanuatu was “delighted” at the prospect of PM Morrison’s visit.

On the sidelines of last year’s APEC meeting—the first bilateral for Vanuatu in decades, PM Salwai issued a formal invitation to the Australian PM to visit Vanuatu.

There have been other visits by Australian Prime Ministers to Vanuatu, but this is the first official bilateral visit. It is only the second formal visit for a head of government in nearly thirty years.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST/PACNEWS

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Scott Morrison wants to be friends with Pacific, and Pacific has a shopping list

January 16, 2019, 1:23 am
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By Stephen Howes, Financial Review

A visit by an Australian prime minister to a Pacific Island country is a rare event. Such a visit, other than to attend a regional meeting or to Papua New Guinea (regarding offshore detention) is almost unheard of.


Scott Morrison's visit to Vanuatu and Fiji starting on Wednesday is a sign of just how much has changed in Australia's official thinking with regards to the Pacific, and how much more priority the region now receives in official thinking.

Australia's "step up", as it is called, has been gathering pace for a while, but the shift in momentum even in the last few months is tangible. The annual Pacific Islands Forum was held in September, just after Morrison replaced Turnbull, and the new PM withdrew his attendance. But since then, Morrison has announced a "new chapter" in Australia's relations with the region, met with all the Pacific leaders on the sidelines of APEC in PNG, and now is embarking on an historic visit. It's an impressive performance over a short period of time.

The step up is principally being driven by the perceived need to respond to China's growing influence in the region. It is easy to forget that six Pacific Island countries (Solomon Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Palau, Kiribati) still recognise Taiwan, and so have nothing at all to do with China at the official level. But for the other eight independent Pacific Island countries (Fiji, Vanuatu, PNG, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, FSM and Niue), China is certainly becoming a more important partner.

Bigger lender

Fiji has had an explicit "look north" policy over the last decade, driven in part by Australia's opposition to its 2006 coup. Vanuatu has less aggressively courted China (rumours of a military base notwithstanding), but China is now a bigger lender to both countries than the World Bank and Asian Development Bank combined. Vanuatu is heavily exposed – almost 40 per cent of Vanuatu's government debt is owed to China.

There will inevitably be announceables – most likely relating to aid and/or security – but what issues are likely to dominate during this week's visit?

On the Pacific side, expect calls for Australia to do more on climate change. It's a perennial issue and one where Canberra's efforts are compared unfavourably with China.

Also expect requests to dip into Australia's newly announced $2 billion Pacific infrastructure facility. Vanuatu in particular is sore that it wasn't included in the PNG-Solomon Islands underwater cable initiative.

In Fiji, Australian-born terrorist Neil Prakash will loom large, at least in private discussions. We stripped him of his Australian citizenship on the basis that he was Fijian, but without consulting the Fijian government, who deny that he has a claim. Hardly the way to treat a country Morrison says we think of as family.

Then there is labour mobility – one of the few things that the Pacific wants that Australia can offer and China cannot. Under Howard and Downer, the Coalition was staunchly against providing any special labour market access to the Pacific. That started to change under Labor And the shift in policy was accelerated by Julie Bishop.

 Vanuatu now has access to both the well-established Seasonal Worker Program (SWP, for short-term agricultural work) and the new Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS, for longer-term work of any sort outside the capital cities). But Fiji has access only to the SWP, and that only recently, owing to the long after-effects of the 2006 coup.

 It has so far been excluded from the PLS, which until late last year was restricted to those Pacific countries that had signed up to the Australia-Pacific trade agreement, Pacer Plus.

 Democratic process

 That precondition was recently removed, so expect Fiji to press for PLS inclusion. And expect both countries to complain about the reforms announced late last year to the backpacker scheme (which excludes the Pacific) which Australian farmers use to get hold of three-year agricultural workers.

 What are the issues that Australia should raise? We will probably push for Fiji to join Pacer Plus, but I hope Morrison doesn't spend too much time on this. The Pacific already has duty-free access to the Australian market.

 If I was advising Morrison, I'd ask him to deliver two messages, one for each of the countries he is visiting.

 Vanuatu has recently become the largest supplier to the SWP, overtaking Tonga. In 2017-18, it sent 3350 workers to Australia. But Vanuatu's management of labour mobility leaves a lot to be desired. If the country is to continue to succeed, especially against Asian and Western backpackers, it needs to do a much better job of managing and monitoring its overseas workforce.

 On Fiji, despite the country's post-coup democratic progress, with elections in 2014 and 2018, Freedom House, a democracy watchdog, rates the country as only "partly free", commenting that "the ruling party frequently interferes with opposition activities, the judiciary is subject to political influence, and military and police brutality is a significant problem."

 You wouldn't expect such concerns to be raised directly in public, but Morrison will be delivering a lecture at the University of South Pacific, and he could use it to underline Australia's commitment to democracy and free speech.

 Port Vila, Vanuatu. On the Pacific side, expect calls for Australia to do more on climate change. It's a perennial issue and one where Canberra's efforts are compared unfavourably with China. Supplied

 The Pacific expects Australia to speak out in favour of good governance. Whether Morrison does so on this visit will be a test of whether we look at the Pacific now only through a China lens or whether we still care about our values and about the welfare of our neighbourhood.

 Professor Stephen Howes is director of the Development Policy Centre, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University.

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Jubilee Secondary School refuses to enrol extra students

January 16, 2019, 1:33 am
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More than 30 parents with their children who were given acceptance letters to do grade 9 at Jubilee Secondary School in Port Moresby were turned away by the school when they went to register.

Deputy Principal Mrs Barbara Miles explained to parents that the school only selected 275 students which the school can only cater for and the rest of the students that received acceptance letter from the Education Department were not part of that selection. 
“If your child is not in the list of 275 students, then those are the extra students that the Department of Education sent to us but have not told us where they will sit for their lessons”

Mrs Miles told parents that the school had only 17 classrooms and five of those classrooms are for the 275 grade 9 students. 

She said the Department is aware that the school can only cater for 275 grade 9 students and yet they had to send extra numbers while ignoring the fact that the school cannot cater for them.

“If you are going to push me to take on the extra students,where will I keep those students? How can I deliver quality education if the classrooms are overcrowded?”

“You as parents also need to be proactive about this issue, go and demand answers from the Department that continues to make policies that are not practical.”   

Meanwhile a parent Roselyn Tegi expressed her disappointment at the way the selection was made. 

“This is frustrating as I have already bought my daughters school uniform for Jubilee Secondary school and when I turned up today to register her, I am told that her name is not on list” 

“How is this even possible? She received an acceptance letter from the Department. And these are our children’s lives we are talking about,”said the parent.

The school principal has been having meetings with the Archdiocese and the Education Department to find options available for the issue at the hand.

Parents of those affected students have been asked to meet with the school principal by this week Friday between 9am-10am. Legend FM News
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ABG President Momis on Public Services Referendum preparation

January 16, 2019, 1:37 am
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ABG President Momis
“We are about to embark and write the history of this island. The eyes of the world and the region are trained on us as we prepare for a historical and political exercise that will be our legacy to the next generation,” Momis told the public servants last week

“Gearing for the referendum in June of this year is not only preparing the people but more significantly preparing the very structure that will hold the outcome of the referendum—public service,”Momis added.

“The past months we hankered to speed up awareness campaign. Precious funds have been spent and long man hours have been sacrificed,” he said.

“And so from the north to the south, from Buka to Buin, from the Atolls to Suir our people, many with little learnings but with tremendous love for Bougainville did their part to make sure their villages are weapons free,” he said.

Overall Momis said the general consensus is the most of the public servants have displayed courage and sincerity to pave the way for a better future for Bougainville.

The President despite the signs of prosperity and progress there were still points of regression in the Bougainville Public Service that must be eradicated.

Corruption has seeped through the corridors of the Bougainville Public Service in recent years with nepotism and under the table deals becoming rampant.

President Momis said that it was embarrassing that Bougainville Administration has had to submit to the scrutiny of the Anti-Fraud Division because it fell short of the expectation to exercise and embrace accountability and responsibility.

“Now is the time to stand together serving our people who have been neglected for many years because of our failure to act and behave like true and real public servants,” Momis stated.

It is not too late to bring back the glory days of Bougainville envied by the other provinces in Papua New Guinea,” he said.

“The window of opportunity for us to show to the world what we are made of is closing on us. Let us not allow this to slip from our grip. It can be done if we all want it badly enough,” Momis said.
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New Affordable Chocolate brand launched in PNG

January 16, 2019, 1:43 am
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Many may say quality chocolates sold in stores seem quite costly but Queen Emma Chocolate Company’s newly introduced chocolate is affordable for all.     

Queen Emma’s Chocolate Company under PNG Paradise Food Limited launched the new brand “Kina Bar” this morning in Port Moresby.

PNG Paradise Foods Limited Chief Executive Officer Michael Shields said the product is named according to its target price of K1.00 with an aim at increasing people's awareness of eating chocolate.
“We are confident in this new range being launched today as PNG's very own chocolate, and we will continue to delight you with more new and exciting flavors in the near future,”

“The company’s vision is to become a world class producer which has forced them to critically review their processes and invest time and resources into understanding their consumers and suppliers, “Mr. Shields said.  Legend FM News
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Tongan passengers transiting in Fiji warned about new travel requirements

January 16, 2019, 4:29 pm
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Passengers from Tonga traveling to Australia or the US via Fiji are being urged to pack their Tongan kava in their check-in bag and not carry-on bags.

Tonga Chief Executive Officer Agriculture, Dr Viliami Manu said Fiji is implementing an international policy that will prohibit powder items that exceed 350 grams per passenger including Tongan kava.

Manu said many passengers traveling via Fiji have been disappointed because the Tongan kava they had packed was destroyed as the packages exceeded the permitted amount.

International policies include the restricted number of liquid items allowed per passenger.

   

LoopTonga photo file. Caption:Tongan kava 

Source:
TBC
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Samoa Airways signs MOU with Air Lease Corporation for new Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft

January 16, 2019, 4:33 pm
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Samoa Airways and Air Lease Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding in Apia, for the lease placement of one new Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft.

Scheduled for delivery in late March, the aircraft, which will be delivered direct from Boeing in Seattle Washington, will replace the National Carrier’s existing 737-800.

The MOU was signed by the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Samoa Airways Chairman Feesago Siaosi Fepuleai and ALC Executive Chairman Steven Hazy.

The partnership represents the continuation of the relationship between Boeing, Mr Hazy and the National Carrier. Hazy was previously the CEO of the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), which leased Boeing aircraft to the National Airline in the past.

The 737 MAX airplanes bring the latest technology to the most popular jet aircraft of all time, the 737. It offers incredible range and flexibility and is designed to provide passengers with a comfortable flying experience.

The airplane will feature the new Boeing Sky Interior, highlighted by modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger overhead stowage bins.

The MAX’s technological advances plus its powerful LEAP-1B engines are redefining the future of efficient and environmentally friendly air travel.

Samoa Airways is set to become the first airline in the South Pacific Region including New Zealand and Australia to operate the new Boeing 737 MAX 9.

The new aircraft will be configured with 16 Business Class seats and 173 seats in Economy Class, and will operate between Apia, Auckland, Sydney and Brisbane.....read more on : Pacific Travel Advisor
   

Photo supplied

Source: Press Release
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Madang MP Kramer Calls for review on Madang 4 year Liquor ban

January 17, 2019, 12:35 am
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Madang MP Bryan Kramer wants the  4 year ban on liquor in Madang Province to be reviewed.  He stated  via social media that as a Member of the Madang Open and given the ramifications of imposing 4 year liquor ban in the province, he should have been consulted on such issues.   On 21st December 2018, four days before Christmas, Governor of Madang Peter Yama announced that the Madang Provincial Executive passed a resolution to impose a four year liquor ban in the Province from 25th December 2018 until 2022.

The decision included cancelling all liquor licences and banning all liquor outlets from selling alcohol.

It was reported the Governor saying the reason behind the decision was to address widespread social problems associated with alcohol consumption.

According to Kramer, Provincial Executive Council is made up of 9 Local Level Government Presidents, appointed by the Governor, who chairs the PEC. The committee is the executive arm of the Provincial Assembly and are made up of 19 LLG Presidents from the Province including Open Members of Parliament who are not Ministers.

"I have spent 20 years of my life being involved with community in both Urban, semi-urban and rural communities tackling social issues, including time as Police Reservists, so I can confirm that Liquor Bans achieve nothing but give rise to greater social problems.

90% of the cases involving alcohol problems in Madang relate to home brew. So imposing liquor ban on commercial outlets only gives rise to black market liquor sales and increase in production and consumption of home brew.

The effect of which results in working class citizens ending up associating with those running illegal liquor operations and petty criminals selling home brew as a means to access alcohol.

If Governor is serious about addressing social problems then the best approach would be to provide sufficient funding to improving Policing in the Province.

Governor is reported saying Provincial Government makes K1.2 million a year in tax from SP Brewery but the amount of social issues affecting the whole of Madang was immense and outweighed the revenue earned.

It's my view K1.2 million could be best spent on better equipping Police operations in Madang as well as Police Housing rather than forgo the revenue to the benefit of those who own hotels and bars.

I intend to take the issue up with the Governor as well as the Members of PEC to reconsider their decision. If no response is forth coming I will then raise it on the floor of Assembly, or as a last resort take it to Court". he said. 
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359,690 voters registered for Solomon Islands election

January 17, 2019, 5:59 pm
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More than 359,000 people have registered to vote in this year’s national election in Solomon Islands.

That’s according to chief electoral officer Mose Saitala, while releasing the final voter list on Wednesday.

“Overall the list of electors has increased from 287,567 voters in 2014 to 359,690 in 2019,” Saitala told reporters.

“That is an increase of 72,123 voters in the four and half years between the first time the list was created in 2014 and the final list we now have in 2019,” he added.

“Based on the data, two of the three Honiara constituencies have the highest number of voters on the final list, with Central Honiara on 15,987, and East Honiara with 15,446.”

Saitala said eight constituencies have 10,000 or more registered voters.

He added the highest increase from 2014 to 2019 is West Honiara, with 85.58 per cent, increasing by 4,908, from 5,735 to 10,643.

“Two constituencies have decreased in numbers.

South New Georgia/Rendova decreased by 376 voters (-8.09%), while Small Malaita by 472 voters (-5.54%).

“These decreases are due to population shifts and cross border registrations,” Saitala explained.

He said in terms of gender registrants, 174,587 registered voters are female (48.54%); while 185,103 are male (51.46%).

Saitala said the final list will be published across the country in coming days, as well as uploaded on the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission’s website (www.siec.gov.sb).

“By way of pursuant to Section 50 of the Electoral Act, it may also allow political parties and candidates to have access to an ‘Extract Copy’ of the Voters’ List upon payment of a fee as prescribed by Regulation,” Saitala added.

He said the Biometric Voter Registration process has been long and onerous and being able to get to this point of the process on time, despite the many challenges along the way, is a testament to the hard work and perseverance of all electoral officials in the field and at the Electoral Office.

SOURCE: SOLOMON STAR/PACNEWS
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Smoking in public places illegal, says PNG Health Minister Sir Puka

January 17, 2019, 6:01 pm
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Smoking in public places in Papua New Guinea is illegal and offenders can be fined up to K500, according to Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS Sir Puka Temu.

He said the Tobacco Control Act 2016 outlawed smoking in public places, with offenders facing fines not exceeding K500 (approx US$153).

Sir Puka said passive or second-hand smoking (the involuntary inhaling of smoke by non-smokers) could cause lung cancer.

“All public places are smoke-free by law including Parliament,” he said.

“The law is enforceable by police and agencies such as the Transport Department and the National Capital District Commission. The management of public places must cooperate with police.”

Sir Puka said public vehicle drivers and their crew must ensure everybody obeyed the law.

“In that way we will maintain, control and prevent illnesses,” Sir Puka said.

An anti-tobacco campaign and an awareness on the health risk posed by smoking will be conducted this year.

A 2017 World Health Organisation report on the tobacco epidemic in PNG says compliance to smoke-free zones is poor. They include public places, Government facilities, offices and workplaces, education facilities, universities, restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars.

The worst offenders are people using public transport.

There are supposed to be designated places in workplaces, restaurants and offices for people who smoke.

SOURCE: THE NATIONAL/PACNEWS
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Australian PM Scott Morrison relaxes kava import rule during Vanuatu visit

January 17, 2019, 6:03 pm
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Scott Morrison went to Vanuatu to open highway upgrades and a police college but in a show of true friendship he announced Australia would allow the importation of traditional island brew, kava.

A ban on importing the drink derived from a plant root into Australia had been a sore point in Vanuatu and PM Morrison was lobbied by Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas.

“This is important to Vanuatu. It’s been raised for many years,” Morrison said.

“We have to be careful about how we proceed on this, because what we don’t want to see is the importation of kava into Australia create other challenges, particularly in Australian indigenous communities.”

Import restrictions currently allow only 2kg of dried kava root to be brought into Australia but under the trial the drink would be permitted for personal use.

Morrison took his wife, Jenny, for the one-day charm offensive and the first visit by an Australian prime minister to the Pacific island country since 1990.

It was Morrison’s second visit to Vanuatu after going on a family cruise holiday as a child.

“The first time I came here was off a cruise ship with my parents, I was under 10. It was pre-independence and it is a great thrill to see what has happened here in Vanuatu under independence,” Morrison said.

He opened the Lini Highway and the upgraded Vanuatu Police College, both achieved with Australian backing, and lauded a $39 million Australian-supported revamp of Port Vila’s road and drainage systems..

Photo: Hilaire Bule

SOURCE: THE AUSTRALIAN/PACNEWS
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PNG , Australia partnership for Aviation medical examiners training

January 17, 2019, 9:45 pm
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Australia and Papua New Guinea are working in close partnership to make aviation safer and more reliable in the country.

From December 10-14, last year, PNG’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) hosted a week-long aviation medical examiners training for doctors who work in the field of aviation medicine. Their Australian counterpart (CASA Australia) also took part in the training.

The purpose of the training was to ensure aviation doctors meet international standards to conduct medical checks on pilots and air traffic controllers.

The training covered altitude, environmental and fatigue issues specific to aviation and was conducted by a trainer from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

CASA PNG’s managing director Wilson Sagati said hosting the training in-country was a step forward for the aviation industry.

“Previously we sent our medical officers overseas for training, but thanks to our partnership with Australia, we were able to bring this training to Papua New Guinea. Aviation medical examination is a specialised area and it is vital that there are sufficient, well-trained aviation doctors in Papua New Guinea,” he said.

“The aviation sector connects business and communities and it is important that aviation medical personnel are up to par because the aviation industry also plays a role in helping to save lives when it comes to medical evacuations.”

Australian High Commission Counsellor James Passmore said the training was a further example of the strong relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia in the transport sector.

“Australia is proud to continue our deep and enduring partnership with CASA PNG. The aviation medical examiners’ course is important to ensure aviation in PNG is safe and reliable. I congratulate CASA PNG on its continuous safety and security improvements; a strong regulator is at the heart of safer skies,” Mr Passmore said.

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Former MP Labi Amaiu implicated in illegal land title fraud

January 18, 2019, 3:26 am
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The Waigani Committal Court has ruled that there is sufficient evidence and a reasonable prima facie case to commit the former Moresby North East MP to the National Court to be tried.

Senior Magistrate, Cosmas Bidar, made the ruling this morning (Friday 18.01.19) after considering evidence before him.

Labi Amaiu is facing fraud-related charges, for illegally transferring over 301 titles belonging to the National Housing Corporation.

Amaiu from Kompiam-Ambum in Enga Province was arrested and charged last year with 7 counts of conspiracy to defraud the State, and another 7 counts of misappropriation.

The charges relate to the transfer of 301 titles on portion 528 at the Duran Farm Housing Estate at 8 Mile.

Its alleged that the titles were transferred to PNG Resources Corporation Limited.

Its also alleged that the transfer of the titles, valued over K24m was acquired without following proper processes.

Its alleged that there is no evidence that any actual money was paid, and it appeared that the NHC and the State was defrauded of more than K24m.

Magistrate Bidar ruled that Duran Farm Housing project is a Government approved and funded project which is alleged to have gone terribly wrong in the sense that established processes and requirements of various legislation's were not not been complied with.

The case is adjourned to February for Amaiu to provide his statement to the court.

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O'Neill govt should admit PNG Health system in crisis : Sir Mekere

January 18, 2019, 3:34 am
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The Moresby North West MP, Sir Mekere Morauta, says the prime minister and Health Minister, should start listening to doctors, and patients, and admit that the country's health system is in crisis.

In a statement this afternoon, Sir Mekere highlighted recent statements by President of the PNG Doctors' Association, Doctor James Naipao and Professor Glen Mola from the Medical School, that the government is refusing to acknowledge and deal with urgent and serious issues affecting the health sector.

Doctor Naipao had said doctors were unhappy with “the way the Health Department bureaucrats and the Health Minister were painting a pretty picture of health-related issues when the reality was completely different.

Doctor Mola estimates that up to 5000 babies have died or been disabled since the end of 2016 when the country ran out of syphilis test kits.

He also confirms that the country has run out of HIV test kits and paediatric HIV drugs to prevent babies from contracting HIV from their mothers.

According to Doctor Mola, this will not only lead to about 2500 unnecessary infant HIV deaths each year, but it also puts the whole population at risk” and makes the management and treatment of TB harder, given the high rate of TB/HIV co-infection.

According to doctors, more than 100 lines of essential drugs and supplies are currently out of stock, including antibiotics, surgical gloves, sutures, fluids, and that very soon there will be a stock-out of HIV drugs as well.

Doctor Mola had warned the government not to be surprised if health workers just stop work because of these issues.

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Madang Teachers to boycott 2019 Academic year

January 18, 2019, 3:47 am
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All primary, secondary and vocational school teachers in Madang have resolved NOT to resume the 2019 academic year on Monday, January 28, if their outstanding leave fares for 2017 is not met by the Provincial Government and Administration.

The teachers reached this consensus in a meeting with executives of the PNG Teachers Association Madang Branch at the James Marape Hall at Tusbab Secondary School today.

Branch President, Remsey Ossy, told the teachers it is important they stand together on this issue so the government can act quickly on it when it sees how serious they are about the issue.

About 700 teachers in the province who were due for their biannual leave in 2017 have not been paid their leave fares.

Revelations are that they have only been paid K259.00 each.

Mr Ossy says the teachers have had it and they do not have room for any more negotiations for part payments.

They are demanding that they be paid in full before they can resume classes.

They have also agreed that they will all fill in their resumption forms next week; however, will not resume active duties until they are paid their full outstanding leave fares.

Teachers who were due for their recreational leave last year are also facing the same problem with some being paid only K500.00, while others were paid K1000.00 each.

The teachers are demanding the Provincial Administration to tell them the truth about the whereabouts of their leave fares.

NBC News understands that both the Governor, Peter Yama and Acting Provincial Administrator, John Bivi are out of the province and could not be reached for comments on this matter.

Teachers nationwide resume duties on Monday January 21, while students resume classes on Monday January 28.

Meanwhile, the teachers have also called for an audit into the use of leave fare funding for the province.

They say the Teaching Services Commission always pays money to the provinces every year for teachers leave fares, therefore the Madang Provincial Administration cannot give excuses about funding shortage for this purpose.

Remsey Ossy says the Provincial Education is aware of today’s meeting and their intention for a sit- in protest.

Education Director, Moses Sariki when contacted this afternoon for his response says, he will reserve his comments until tomorrow after he has been briefed on the discussions and deliberations of today’s meeting by the President of the Madang Branch of the PNGTA.

Sariki says he has briefly spoken with the national president of the PNGTA and he is well aware of what is happening in Madang......read more on : PNG Education News site 

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Fiji PM Bainimarama commends Australian counterpart for historic visit

January 18, 2019, 4:00 pm
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Fiji Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has commended Scott Morrison for becoming the first Australian Prime Minister to visit Fiji.

While officially hosting his Australian counterpart to dinner in Suva last night, Bainimarama says he is not the only one who is surprised that it has taken this long to welcome an Australian leader for a visit of this nature.

He says in the past four years, Fiji has welcomed leaders from around the world to Suva, including the heads of government from China, India and New Zealand.

“So, it is high time we’ve played host to Australian leadership, and, Prime Minister, you deserve credit for taking a step forward in our bilateral relationship –– a step that your predecessors hesitated to take themselves. And while it was only a short flight to Suva, your presence here has already taken our relationship a very long way indeed.”

Bainimarama says Morrison’s presence sends a clear message that he is taking the two countries partnership extremely seriously.

SOURCE: FBC NEWS/PACNEWS
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Stage set for referendum on Bougainville's future

January 18, 2019, 4:03 pm
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Bougainvilleans are to vote in June this year to decide whether to remain part of Papua New Guinean or to be independent.

The national government has tasked the Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC) to formulate and finalise the questions that will be on the ballot paper and the tentative dates for the referendum.

On the ground in Bougainville, there has been a lot of preparatory work including public awareness programmes and activities to help people understand what exact to do.

Elected leaders in PNG’s three-tier government system on Bougainville have worked tirelessly with many others to have all the three electorates, (North, Central and South Bougainville) referendum-ready.

Many groups and communities from all over Bougainville have come out publicly declaring themselves referendum-ready.

Indicative of this fact have been widely reported in the mainstream print and electronic media as well as via social media platforms.

However, despite the government declaring Bougainville referendum a major agenda for 2019, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill claimed that “there may be interference from outside”.

Intrusion from where and who would be responsible, PM O’Neill failed to specify, but said “it would likely entail misinformation which he warned Bougainvilleans to be wary of”.

He said communications are essential for everyone on Bougainville and rest of PNG to be aware of issues at hand and the important process ahead.

O’Neill warned of misinformation by vested interests to gain at the expense of the people.

Former prime minister of Ireland, Bertie Ahern has been appointed by the Joint Supervisory Body as chair of the BRC.

During his term as prime minister, Ahern was involved in negotiations between parties to bring about peace in Northern Ireland.

He has since been involved in facilitating peace in areas including Ukraine, Nigeria, Iran, Turkey and Basque Country.

Ballot Paper

The preamble of the 2019 Bougainville referendum ballot paper states that: “The outcome of the referendum on the future political status of Bougainville, will be discussed by both governments (GoPNG and ABG), and will be presented to the National Parliament for final decision making in accordance with the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the National Constitution.”

On the ballot paper, there are only two (02) questions in English and in brackets Tok Pisin for voters to mark with an X:

Greater Autonomy (Bikpela pawa long Autonomi); and

Independence (Indipendens)

Tentative dates

The BRC has set the tentative dates for the 2019 Bougainville Referendum and are as follows;

Issue of writs: 4pm Monday April 15, 2019;

Start campaign: Tuesday April 16, 2019;

End campaign: Midnight Friday June 14, 2019;

First day of polling: Saturday June 15, 2019;

Last day of polling: Friday June 28, 2019;

Start count of vote: 6pm Friday June 28, 2019; and

Return of writs: On or before Friday July 19, 2019.

Calculation of days

Campaign period: 61 days, April 16 – June 14, 2019;

Polling period: 14 days, June 15 – June 28, 2019; and

Counting period: 21 days, June 28 – July 19, 2019.

After the vote, the PNG national government and Autonomous Bougainville Government will discuss and report to the National Parliament.

Need stressing is that the final decision on the future political status of Bougainville rests with and will be decided by PNG National Parliament.

This means the PNG National Parliament will have final say on whether Bougainville:

Remains integral part of PNG under an autonomous arrangement with added administrative and legislative powers; or

Let go Bougainville to be an independent nation.

SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS

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Policeman arrested for assault on pregnant wife

January 19, 2019, 4:36 am
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A POLICEMAN who assaulted his heavily pregnant wife with a 9 millimetre pistol was arrested and charged by the Policing the Police Task Force Team at the Gordons Police Barracks on January 17, 2019.
The policeman, 36 year old First Constable Evara Kivovia allegedly went home drunk at around 10pm and assaulted his wife. He also allegedly took out a pistol and discharged the weapon.
The matter was reported and the officer was disarmed and taken into custody. He was arrested and charged for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of firearm whilst drunk, discharging firearm and assault.
Kivovia of Ihu, Kikori, Gulf province is attached to the Waigani police station. Police Media
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