US Pacific Partnership provides medical support and training in Wewak and Vanimo

More than 50 members of the U.S. Navy joined Australian and Japanese naval personnel in Vanimo on June 25 for Pacific Partnership 2013 (PP13) in Papua New Guinea.
A U.S.-sponsored annual humanitarian and civic assistance mission aimed at strengthening international relationships with partner and host nations in the Asia-Pacific, Pacific Partnership arrived in Vanimo from Wewak, where the exercise was based for the last 10 days.
“This is an awesome mission that has two big benefits: It directly helps improve health and education services in communities and it fosters two way learning between civil and military professionals from across the Pacific,” said Carlos Williams, U.S. Health Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby. “This exercise is a true partnership, bringing together the PNG Defense Force, the Department of Health, provincial government leaders, disaster relief agencies, hospitals, NGOs, and schools.”
“Pacific Partnership is an excellent program,” said Elias Kapavore, CEO of the Vanimo Provincial Hospital.
"We will support this program enthusiastically."
The Australian ship, the HMAS Tobruk, is anchored prominently just off the Vanimo coast, and will be joined tomorrow by the Japanese destroyer, the JDS Yamagiri. More than 100 medical professionals from Papua New Guinea, Japan, Australia, and the U.S. are providing surgical, diagnostic, and medical expertise.
Pacific Partnership cooperates with regional governments and military to improve response during disaster relief operations while providing humanitarian, medical, dental, and engineering assistance. This year, the Australian Defense Force has taken the lead for the operation in East and West Sepik.
Supporting Inclusive, Sustainable, and Transparent Economic Growth in Melanesia
"More than 4000 people attended medical training workshops and attended health fairs," said Regina Chinsio-Kwong, a US Navy physician, who participated in the Wewak exercise.
At health fairs in Wewak, local community groups promoted preventative health care, disaster preparedness, and provided information to stop sexually transmitted diseases and Gender Based Violence.
The Wewak Disaster Management Task Force was also launched during the Pacific Partnership.
"One of the greatest legacies of Pacific Partnership is the countless number of friendships that are forged with all Papua New Guineans," said Lori Christensen of the U.S. Navy. "We're ultimately here to learn from and support each other."

Australian Navy Medical Officer in Charge, Captain Greg, East Sepik Deputy Provincial Administrator Elizabeth Kaprangi, officials from the Provincial Health Department and the U.S. Navy’s Lori Christensen at the official opening of the Pacific Partnership Mission’s Health Expo in Wewak, East Sepik Province on June 15, 2013.

In addition to health programs, Pacific Partnership is contributing to engineering projects.
 "The response from the schools was overwhelmingly positive," said Australian Army Lieutenant David Bellas, overseeing engineering projects at two schools and a health clinic in Wewak.
"Students are still texting us thank you notes for refurbishing their classrooms."
 He is now leading four construction projects in Vanimo.
"We're privileged to have the Pacific Partnership in Vanimo," said Ashley Wayne of the PNG Defense Force.
 "Our medics look forward to joining you in the hospital, and we look forward to joining the construction effort."
Taking advantage of professional Rugby talent on the HMAS Tubruk, the Australian Navy will also conduct a three-day rugby clinic at Don Bosco School in Vanimo.
The last Pacific Partnership exercise in Papua New Guinea was in 2011, led by the U.S. Navy, working with local and regional partners to provide humanitarian assistance in Madang and Lae. Pacific Partnership formed following the massive 2004 Asian tsunami in which more than 230,000 in 14 nations died.
Since 2006, Pacific Partnership has visited 15 countries, treated more than 300,000 patients and built over 130 engineering projects.

Travel Air helps needy

 LOCAL airline Travel Air, owned by East New Britain businessman Eremas Wartoto, is stepping up to help needy air travellers with free tickets.

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up,” Wartoto.

Lucy Elphis, an elderly mother of four from Southern Highlands, was so grateful that Wartoto was at the right place at the right time to aid her.

Elphis had encountered problems with airfares for her return trip from Port Moresby to Mt Hagen.

Founder and chairman of the newly established domestic airline dubbed as Mangi Lo Peles, Wartoto gave away a free ticket to the young mother as part of the new programme called the Mangi Lo Peles Halivim Fare.

Ready to board…From left are First officer Suhaimi Ibrahim, cabin crew Carol Kilik, Mrs Elphis, Mr Wartoto, Capt Adrian Joseph , cabin crew Georgina Mariwanjik , and Hagen Port Manager Mr James Kops

Elphis was the first recipient of the free ticket under this new programme.

The programme will help ordinary citizens who, because of unfortunate situations cannot afford their own fares to destinations of their preferences.

“The Mangi Lo Peles Halivim Fare will be prearranged for those in the category that has been seen for such assistance to change their lives for the better, providing hope where there seems to be no other way to,” Wartoto said.

“The underprivileged individuals must present their case with evidence to port managers on each domestic hub and they will only be considered eligible after their problems are wisely assessed.

“Travel Air management, upon evaluating their problem, will offer assistance to those individuals with criteria that will be fitting for that cause.

“A year has passed and Travel Air is generating remarkable favours with the ordinary citizens of this country.”

Four Chinese killed in PNG stabbings

Global Times | 2013-6-27 0:23:01 By Wang Fei

A view of a bakery where four Chinese expatriates were murdered in Port Moresby on Wednesday. Four Chinese nationals have been hacked to death in Port Moresby, with one reportedly beheaded in an attack condemned as "brutal and cowardly" by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Photo: AFP

 Four Chinese expats were stabbed to death in a store on Monday in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea (PNG), and one of them was beheaded, embassy officials confirmed to the Global Times.

Cao Junjun, a diplomat with the Chinese embassy in PNG, told the Global Times that three men and one woman, all in their 50s, were killed at about 9 pm local time on Monday. The four victims came from Shanghai and had been living in PNG for over a decade.

The store owners, Wang Chuanhai, male, and Jiang Qin, female, were both killed, while one of the store employees, whose identity is still unknown, was beheaded, said Cao.

China has urged PNG to take strong measures to protect the lives and property of the Chinese, and bring the criminals to justice as soon as possible, said Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the foreign ministry in a press conference Wednesday.

The store is a small supermarket and bakery located in the center of the capital. It was closed and eight Papua New Guinean employees were baking bread on the first floor when the attackers broke in.

A total of five Chinese staff members were on the second floor when they heard the noise.

Two went downstairs but didn't return, and the other three went down only to find the others had been killed.

The owner's young brother, Wang Chuanjiang, rushed back upstairs and shut the door. He was the only Chinese survivor.

Wang Chuanjiang saw one masked suspect, while the local employees, who all escaped unharmed, said they saw more than one. Only some of the cash in the store went missing, said Cao, adding that Wang Chuanjiang remains in good health.

Cao rushed to the scene one hour after the attack. All eight local employees had gone before he arrived.

They have now been located and are being watched by the police. An investigation is underway, said Cao.

Some relatives of the deceased flew to the city the next day, and more are applying for visas. The bodies are being kept in a local funeral home, Cao said.

PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill Wednesday condemned the killing in a statement, saying "I want to assure the government of China and relatives of those killed that police will get all the help necessary to track down and bring the perpetrators to justice."

Li Baohui, a staff member with the Economic and Commercial Counselor's Office of the Chinese embassy, told the Global Times that the office has informed all Chinese expats and the staff of Chinese enterprises and China-aid projects to try not to go out for the time being.

The incident has shocked Chinese residents in PNG. However, their business dealings are proceeding as normal at the moment, said Li.

ADB President Nakao meets PNG Prime Minister, officials and business leaders

Asian Development Bank

 

PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao yesterday wrapped up a two-day trip to Papua New Guinea (PNG) where he met with top government officials and business leaders and visited two key ADB projects. On Monday, President Nakao met with PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, PNG Treasurer and ADB Governor Don Polye, PNG Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Charles Abel, and other senior government officials and development partners to discuss the development outlook for PNG and ADB’s activities in the country.
Since joining ADB in 1971, PNG has received 75 loans worth US$1.5 billion, as well as one Asian Development Fund grant worth US$15 million, and 148 technical assistance projects worth US$62.8 million. PNG is ADB's largest partner in the Pacific in terms of loans for public and private sector development.
Earlier yesterday, President Nakao addressed the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce where he stressed that PNG must be more than an exporter of raw materials and must embrace innovation and new technologies such as mobile telecommunications that will open up new business opportunities and can help deliver health, education and other social services more effectively.
“To achieve sustainable growth, PNG must become more inclusive, more integrated and more innovative,” he said. “The government must use revenues effectively to restore and upgrade the national infrastructure network. It must ensure that different parts of the PNG economy are well connected and that the benefits of economic growth are shared equitably.”
He emphasised the importance of continued reforms of state-owned enterprises and improving transparency of resource revenue management. PNG also needs to work toward creating a financial system that supports small- and mid-sized firms, which have been a key source of innovation and job creation across the Asia and Pacific region.
During his visit, the President also visited the Rouna Power Station, which will be rehabilitated under ADB’s recently signed Port Moresby Power Grid Development Project, and Jackson’s Airport, one of the sites being upgraded under the Civil Aviation Development Investment Program.

Costigan up for big final farewell

By BRETT KEEBLE of Newcastle Herald

June 25, 2013, 10:43 p.m.

RECALLED: Neville Costigan at Knights training yesterday.

KNIGHTS forward Neville Costigan wants to win a premiership with Newcastle before continuing his career elsewhere next year.
The 28-year-old Papua New Guinea international and former Queensland Origin representative has confirmed speculation that this will be his final season at the Knights after coach Wayne Bennett told him they would not be offering him a new contract.
Costigan, who after four weeks in the NSW Cup has been recalled to the NRL squad to play the Titans at Hunter Stadium on Sunday, said there had been some interest from other NRL clubs but finishing his career with an English Super League club was the most likely scenario.
One of four Knights who won the 2010 premiership under Bennett at St George Illawarra, Costigan harbours no ill feelings towards the man who has coached him at three clubs.
"I have had a few offers elsewhere, and a couple overseas as well. I still feel like I've got plenty to give, I'm just lacking a bit of confidence at the moment, so I just need a fresh start to get myself back on track," Costigan told the Newcastle Herald after training yesterday.
"I turned 28 this year and hopefully I can play for another couple of years and repay someone for giving me another chance if I go somewhere else.
"Wayne sort of said they're going another way and they're looking at younger fellows like Simsy [Korbin Sims] and Alex McKinnon, and that's fair enough.
"I've had my time, and I'm happy to move on somewhere else and play some footy.
"I haven't spoken to my manager for a couple of weeks. Last time he said he'd had a few nibbles, but I just told him I want to concentrate on playing some good footy first . . . and just try to get back to the NRL."
Not interested in a mid-season release before Sunday's transfer deadline, Costigan said he hoped to achieve something special with the Knights before leaving at the end of the year.
"Definitely, if I do go overseas and if this is my last year in the NRL, I'm looking to make it a good one, so I want to get back into first grade and try to cement a spot for the last 10 games and hopefully more and try to make the semis," he said.
"All I can do is play some good footy for Wayne and the boys. This is a good bunch of blokes, we're all good mates, and I just want to play good for them and show I can still play some good footy.
"This is my third year here now and I want to play it out. I'm not a believer in moving mid-year."
● NSW Cup utility back Will Smith has become the latest Knights player to join Penrith.
The Newcastle-born 20-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Panthers, starting next season.

O'Neill condemns 'cowardly' murders

News

AAP

THE murder of four Chinese nationals in Port Moresby was a "brutal and cowardly" act, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said.

The four, understood to be three men and a woman, were stabbed to death about 7pm on Monday at a bakery they ran near the popular Koki market, just under 3km from the central business district.
Mr O'Neill was briefed on the murders by police commissioner Tom Kulunga on Tuesday.
"I condemn this brutal and cowardly attack on the four Chinese nationals," he said in a statement.
"I have been assured by the Police Commissioner that no resource will be spared to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime be found and brought to face the full force of the law.
"I want to assure the government of China and relatives of those killed that police will get all the help necessary to track down and bring the perpetrators to justice."
Eight employees of the shop were held for questioning, but police say they have no immediate leads.
National Capital District superintendent Andy Bawa said the four victims were each stabbed repeatedly after an unknown number of perpetrators hopped a high fence to get to the shop.
"Knives were used to attack the victims, and there were many knife wounds on their bodies," Mr Bawa told The National newspaper.
"I want to assure the relatives, friends and international community that no stone will be left unturned as police will do its best to bring those responsible to justice."
Mr O'Neill called on the business community, especially those of Chinese and Asian origin, to remain calm and continue business as usual.

Rodney Pora has played last game for Whitehaven RL

News & Star

Rodney Pora has played his last game for Whitehaven. The international prop returned home to Papua New Guinea two weeks ago to be with his son, who was seriously ill in hospital.

Rodney Pora against London Skolars

And with Haven now well over half way through their league programme, the club did not see any prospect of a swift return to the UK.
“Rodney’s son is out of hospital and his condition has improved dramatically,” said chief executive Barry Richardson.
“Obviously we are pleased about that, and Rodney will want to spend some time with him, to make sure he is back on his feet. By that time, we don’t feel it will be practical to bring him back over here. We have only 11 matches left and don’t feel it would be cost-effective at this stage.”
Pora made a slow start to his Haven career after missing out on pre-season at the Recre but showed signs of major improvement after going through a rigorous fitness regime. And he scored his first try for the club in his final outing at London Skolars.
Fellow PNG international Jessie Joe Parker is Haven’s top try scorer this season, and Richardson has not ruled out future signings from that nation.
“We think it’s a good option,” he said. “The beauty of signings players from Papua New Guinea or elsewhere overseas, as long as of the right quality, is that they live in the town.”
PNG coach Adrian Lam expects plenty of British interest in his players after this year’s World Cup.