PNG investments to impact Pacific

Report by: Mika Loga

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation

Investors in Papua New Guinea are taking the country’s business sector by storm, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into the economy.
Their investments are significant in the Bank of South Pacific, Credit Corporation, Mineral Resources Development Corporation which own the Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour, Naswan joint venture with the Fiji National Provident Fund and Lamana Development Company which are re-developing the old GPH site.
NASFUND Papua New Guinea Chairman Mel Tagolo says, they’d like to see their investment have a significant impact in the Pacific region.
“I like to see our investment in the pacific this is the region where we are and if we put in more investment in this region then that means we’d be providing employment, training, skills transfer and all that that can remain in this region and those sought of skills attract investment come to our region.”
Investors are injecting much of their cash in the financial and tourism sectors creating thousands of jobs for our locals.

PNG to boost ties wth Fiji

By Ana Madigibuli

Fiji Times

Monday, October 22, 2012

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter ONeill at the launch at the Pearl Hotel in Pacific Harbour. Picture: ATU RASEA

PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says PNG is looking to further strengthen its current trade arrangements, including areas of labour mobility.

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said commercial investments by Fijian companies have also increased, likewise by PNG companies in Fiji. This, he said, continued to strengthen the economies of both countries.
Mr O'Neill also commended Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama for the progress made in the rewriting of the constitution and preparation for the election in 2014.
He said when he met Commodore Bainimarama in September last year, he had made it clear that issues confronting the people of Fiji are best left to the Fijian themselves to resolve.
"I am pleased with the progress made so far and I have assured the Prime Minister that the Papua New Guinea government stands ready to support in whatever capacity in this regard," Mr O'Neill said.
"Our two countries established formal diplomatic ties 37 years ago, but religious and people-to-people links were established long before that. Today, our relation has been enhanced further in the areas of commerce, trade and technical cooperation."
He said the two countries co-operate at the regional level and global front on issues such as climate change, food security, poverty alleviation, gender equality and education.

Officials reject PNG killer tuberculosis is a threat

Herald Sun

NO CURE: Catherina Abraham, from Papua New Guinea, has contracted a deadly variant of tuberculosis and is quarantined in Cairns Base Hospital for probably the next two years. Source: The Cairns Post

HEALTH officials have been accused of not doing enough to prevent an outbreak of a mutant strain of the killer lung disease tuberculosis spreading into north Queensland.

But health authorities claim there is little to worry about.
The Courier-Mail last Friday revealed one of Australia's first cases of mutated XDR-TB (Extensively Drug-Resistant TB) in a Papua New Guinean, Catherine Abraham, 20, being treated in isolation at Cairns Base Hospital.
Experts warn she is the first in a wave before the highly contagious, incurable, untreatable form of TB spreads.
But Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young last Friday played down the immediate threat.

"Queensland is not at risk but certainly PNG is at risk, if we don't assist them as much as possible," she said.

Queensland taxpayers footed a $32 million bill for the treatment for tuberculosis of about 100 Papua New Guineans over the past two years, with 92 patients handed back by Queensland Health in June - 65 of them fully treated.
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg's office said that despite being an international matter, the Commonwealth did not fully fund health services to PNG nationals.
The disagreement means Queensland must accept a project agreement by June or risk losing $8.1 million in Commonwealth funding.
Senate Estimates heard on Thursday that of AusAID's $104 million allocation to the PNG health sector, only $5.8 million was for programs relating to tuberculosis, of which PNG has the world's highest infection rate.
Opposition Parliamentary Secretary Teresa Gambaro said: "PNG is our nearest neighbour we need to be doing more."

Tuberculosis management in Western province

AusAID

AusAID support to the Government of PNG to manage TB in the Western Province of PNG is leading to better detection, treatment and management of TB. With AusAID’s assistance TB mortality rates have been dramatically reduced in Western Province—from 25 per cent to just 5 per cent in the past year.

AusAID has upgraded the X-Ray unit at Daru Hospital, which enables patients with TB to be detected and treated more quickly.

 

The challenge

PNG has the highest TB burden in the Pacific region with over 14,531 new cases diagnosed a year and a total rate of 434 per 100,000 people. Since 2011, 63 cases of drug resistant TB have been diagnosed in Western Province. With AusAID’s support, the Government of PNG is putting in place a comprehensive, best practice approach to detection and treatment of TB in Western Province.

What Australia is doing to support PNG manage TB Western Province

AusAID has committed an initial $11 million over four years to help support the Government of PNG to strengthen control of TB in Western Province—AusAID has spent $3.5 million in 2011–12 and will spend $5.3 million 2012–13. Our support includes provision of TB specialist staff, training for community health workers and volunteer treatment supporters, medical equipment, drugs, a sea ambulance, and funding for high level laboratory diagnosis in Australia of drug resistant TB. AusAID is supporting the Government of PNG to improve Daru Hospital’s TB infrastructure and will commit further funds for health refurbishment in Western Province over the longer-term. Work has begun on a new TB isolation ward and AusAID has committed further funds for the redevelopment of Daru Hospital. In addition, AusAID supports the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which is investing USD19 million in supporting the Government of PNG manage TB nationally.

AusAID’s support is delivering results

AusAID support has helped PNG authorities to establish better surveillance, detection, diagnosis and treatment for TB. This provides a real and sustainable alternative to seeking treatment in Australia. Daru Hospital is now successfully identifying and treating more cases. In the South Fly district in August 2012, 34 new TB cases were detected and commenced treatment; compared with 48 patients in the last quarter of 2011. TB mortality rates have been dramatically reduced in Western Province—from 25 per cent to just 5 per cent in the past year.

We’re making a difference to the lives of Papua New Guineans with TB

This assistance is already making a difference to Papua New Guineans, such as Duba Sedrick, who is the first paediatric patient and the youngest ever to be treated at Daru General Hospital for multi-drug resistant TB. It also means that people in Western Province can now access TB treatment in their communities.

A comprehensive, best practice approach

The World Health Organization (WHO)—the global authority on TB—has endorsed PNG’s approach to managing TB. This is being implemented with AusAID assistance. Ensuring that patients take the full course of TB drugs at the right time over the full duration of treatment is recommended as the most effective way to treat TB and prevent the development of drug resistance. The Commonwealth Government’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Baggoley, has also stated that the approach being taken in Western Province will improve outcomes for communities in Daru and South Fly and will also better manage risks to Torres Strait communities. Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeanette Young, says that Queensland is not at risk of drug-resistant TB spreading from PNG nationals who come to the state's far north for treatment.

PNG team arrives for PM challenge

By Josefa Makaba 

Fiji Times Online

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Team Papua New Guinea golfers check-in at Nausori Airport for the Pearl Prime Minister Golf Challenge. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOB

 A very strong Papua New Guinea team arrived into the country yesterday ready for today's Pearl Prime Minister Golf Challenge at Pacific Harbour.

Tournament co-ordinator Iliesa Labaibure said the PNG team looked well prepared and ready for the one-day tournament.
Labaibure said the PNG team would give the locals a very good test when competition starts at the Pearl Resort Golf Club this morning.
PNG has registered 40 teams for the tournament while Fiji has also registered the same number of teams.
Labaibure said the Fiji teams would need to lift their performance if they wanted to claim the title.
"We expect a very good clash especially as we have some top players from both countries taking part," Labaibure said.
"Fiji will be led by the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and I expect a very strong performance from the local players."
PNG PM Peter O'Neill will be leading his side.
Other prominent locals who will take part include former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, Minister for Sport Viliame Naupoto, Sir Jim Ah Koy, Ratu Isoa Gavidi, Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto and Sir Timoci Tuivaga.
Labaibure said the tournament starts at 10am with PNG PM O'Neill the first to tee-off.
"We expect to round off competition by 5pm and the PNG PM will be the chief guest at presentation of prizes."

Fiji to hold bilateral talks with PNG prime minister

FijiVillage.com

Bilateral discussions will be taking place between Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O'Neill this afternoon.

Peter O'Neill

O'Neill is arriving in the country today for a four-day visit and is being accompanied by more than 100 high level officials.
He will be received by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola at the Nausori Airport.
Earlier this month, Fiji's products listed on Papua New Guinea's negative list were removed with the exception of sugar, mackerel and salt.
The removal meant that more than 400 items on the negative list now became duty free to Papua New Guinea.
Fiji's annual exports to PNG are valued at about $7.6million

Bulldogs bound for Papua New Guinea

From http://www.bulldogs.com.au

In what is a first for the Club, a number of Bulldogs players and staff will tomorrow embark on a week-long trip to picturesque Kavieng in Papua New Guinea, where they’ll take part in rebuilding local infrastructure, and facilitate health, education and sports clinics.
A selection of first grade players including Mitch Brown, Martin Taupau, Shane Pumipi and Brett Lane, as well as up and coming players Moses Mbye, Paul Carter, Leilani Latu and Gerard McCallum, will be joined by club staff and members who will assist on projects in three main areas: education, health and rugby league development.
The trip is being hosted by the Kavieng Hotel with a number of partners including Canterbury League Club, ACPE and Australian Business Apprenticeship Centres offering financial and logistical support.
The work will include providing maintenance at local village schools, educating communities on important health issues such as HIV as well as running footy clinics for the sports mad kids of the region.
Bulldogs player Mitch Brown who has played 81 NRL games is looking forward to the experience.
“I’m excited to be a part of this project, said Mitch. “Travelling to an exotic location and seeing young rugby league mad kids will be a real buzz.
“Bulldogs in the Community is such an important part of our Club and our role as rugby league players. The opportunity to travel to Kavieng and help with construction work at health clinics and conduct coaching clinics was on opportunity to good to refuse. I think it will be a very rewarding experience, it will help the New Ireland community and give everyone from the Bulldogs a perspective of life in a totally different country”.
This week’s trip is extending the great work the Bulldogs do in the Community internationally, benefitting thousands of New Ireland school children who would not have had this opportunity otherwise.
Martin Taupau who spent time as a teacher’s aide before joining the Bulldogs squad fulltime is very excited to be part of the trip.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the locals and exploring the islands, said Martin. I have always wanted to visit PNG so this trip is a once in a life time opportunity. I can’t wait to be there, visit the schools and see the best of what PNG has to offer.”
PNG TPA’s Australia and New Zealand representative Michael Woods said the high profile of the Bulldogs, together with the incredible passion Papua New Guineans have for rugby league makes this a particularly exciting trip that has the potential to show PNG in a new light.
“New Ireland province is a very beautiful part of PNG and this trip is a great way to showcase to Australians the sort of coastal holiday they can have there while also having a positive impact on the local community who not only need the assistance being offered but who will really appreciate a visit from such a prominent league team.”
The Bulldogs would like to extend a very big thank you to Papua New Guinea Tourism for their guidance and assistance in planning this community initiative, along with Canterbury League Club, ACPE and Australian Business Apprenticeship Centres for their assistance with this very important and worthwhile community project!
Keep an eye out for updates throughout the week and a full wrap up when the group returns on Monday, October 29!