Australia Awards Maritime Scholarship launched

Australian High Commission

May 29, 2018

A private sector partnership between the Australian Government, Pacific Towing PNG, Steamships Trading Company Ltd, and China Navigation Company has resulted in 10 women being selected to undertake a three-year maritime cadetship program meunder the Australia Awards Maritime Scholarship. 

 Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davies  (second from right, back row) Australian High Commission second secretary - tertiary education  Fuchsia Hepworth (far left second row) Steamships managing-director Peter Langslow (back row) and Pacific Towing general-manager Neil Papenfus with maritime female awardees and  representatives from the shipping companies.

The Australia Awards Maritime Scholarship, launched on Monday, May 28 in Madang will see these 10 women undergo extensive training in either Officer of the Watch Deck or Officer of the Engine Room positions.

Their training will involve a combination of study at the PNG Maritime College and 18 months working at sea on an international cargo ship belonging to China Navigation. 

Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis who officiated the launch congratulated the awardees and encouraged them to see their role as a contribution to positive growth both in the industry and Papua New Guinea.

“You are set to promote the great value that women mariners can contribute to the global maritime industry, and to Papua New Guinea’s own seafaring sector," he said.

"With your training, you can achieve great things, not just for yourselves but also for Papua New Guinea.” 

Davis also stressed the value of bringing more women into the maritime industry which has traditionally employed men.

“Including women in a workforce brings so much to an industry: new perspectives, improved productivity and enhanced workforce culture," he said.

"The maritime sector can begin to realise this value thanks to the contributions our partners are making through this partnership.”

Pacific Towing PNG general-manager Neil Papenfus said his company was happy to support an initiative that will help enhance Papua New Guinea’s maritime workforce. 

“As the social and cultural obstacles to women seafarers fall away and the industry looks to recruit more from this valuable group, I am glad to see the educational barriers are also being broken down so the demand for skilled female mariners can be met," he said.

The maritime scholarships are a new addition to the Australia Awards in-PNG program. 

The launch included the signing of the Steamships-Australia Awards partnership agreement between the Australian Government and Steamships Trading Ltd to work together to improve the availability of qualified PNG mariners in the country.

The Australian Government is delighted to bring Steamships into the Australia Awards program as a new private sector partner, especially in the 100th year of operations.

Young Popondetta people seize opportunity for a better life

Australian High Commission
May 29, 2018                           

More than 70 young women and men in Northern (Oro) Province have surrendered homemade guns, knives, ammunition, drugs and home brewing equipment to the police following a community-driven crime prevention initiative.

The surrender of weapons at Marimari Settlement, Popondetta Urban.

People at risk of becoming involved in crimes including armed robbery, drug trafficking, burglary and petty theft were among the 72 who handed in 25 weapons including homemade guns as well as knives, significant quantities of drugs and home brewing gear in aseries of surrender ceremonies within Popondetta recently. 

The weapons, drugs and equipment were collected by police for disposal and destruction.

The community-initiated surrender ceremonies were held at the Simbu, Niugini, and Marimari Street settlements in Popondetta and the Soputa Settlement in Oro Bay.  

The ceremonies followed work to promote drug and alcohol awareness and strengthen partnerships and networks within the local law and justice sector and in the broader community.

Pastor Silas Eriba, a volunteer juvenile justice worker involved in the ceremonies, said the ceremonies were a sign of the success of local initiatives to combat crime and promote safer communities.

“Since we began raising awareness on law and justice issues with the support of the JSS4D [Justice Services and Stability for Development] we are seeing changes within the communities,” Pastor Eriba commented.

This initiative was supported by the Australian government through the Justice Services and Stability for Development Program.  

UN Women and Ginigoada launch another MeriSeif bus

UN Women

Port Moresby, May 28, 2018 – Another bus was added to the fleet of MeriSeif buses bringing the total to four.

The  new Meri Seif  bus,  was handed over in a small  ceremony at Saraga Market, 6-Mile
This bus will serve 4-Mile TST,5-Mile, 6-Mile, Saraga, New Taurama Road, Vada Vada, Manu, Mahuru village, Sabama, Joyce Bay, Kaugere, Badili, 2-Mile, Murray Barracks and back to 4-Mile.
The Meri Seif buses not   only provide safe transport but also serve as a platform for awareness raising and networking among women about the issues such as livelihood opportunities and violence against women.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of Ginigoada Foundation NCDC Governors office, 6-Mile community leaders, UN Women and members of the public.
Speaking at the occasion, Adekemi Ndieli said: “Women’s safety and mobility is linked with their economic and social empowerment as well as prosperous cities. "I am very glad to see that the safe buses are benefitting women and children.
" UN Women will continue to work make cities of Papua New Guinea safer and free of violence against women.”
Chairman of Ginigoada Foundation and CEO of Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce David Conn challenged the Saraga community to take good care of the bus which will assist their women and girls travel safely.
UN Women, in partnership with Ginigoada, is implementing the Safe Public Transport Programme with funding support from the Australian Government.
This service  is aimed at  providing  reliable and affordable public transport that enables women and children to move freely and safely around Port Moresby.
Since the launch of the programme, over 230,000 bus trips were made by women and girls via the three Meri Seif Buses. | 

'Unrecognised crisis': 160km from Australia, women in serious danger

By Matt Wade
Sydney Morning Herald
29 May 2018

Australia’s near-neighbour Papua New Guinea is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a mother and there are signs the country’s health crisis is getting worse, a report has found.
Women in PNG are 35 times more likely to die during pregnancy than women in Australia, according to an evaluation of maternal health by the aid agency ChildFund Australia.

Women wait to have their children vaccinated at the Waima sub-health centre in Papua New Guinea. Photo: Courtesy ChildFund

Despite laws and programs to encourage supervised births, only 40 per cent of women in PNG gave birth at a health facility with a specialised birth attendant in 2016 down from 44 per cent in 2012. In some regions the share was just 21 per cent.
And when women do manage to reach a rural clinic for the birth of a child they often find these facilities unstaffed or without electricity, running water, or essential medication and equipment.
The report also draws attention to the threat of gender-based violence in PNG - surveys have shown a high proportion of women there have been beaten during pregnancy.
“PNG is a dangerous place for pregnant women and their newborns, not only because of widespread poverty but because of the extremely high incidence of domestic violence,” it said.
A separate government review of PNG’s national health plan published last year found the health sector had an “overall decline in performance over the last five years”.
Nigel Spence, the chief executive of ChildFund Australia, said it is disturbing that some indicators suggest the health challenges facing women in PNG are getting worse.
"It remains an unrecognised crisis that maternal health in PNG is at such a low point," he said.
"No woman should die giving birth. Yet in a country just 160 kilometres north of Australia, women are losing their lives every day during childbirth due to unsafe conditions and causes that are completely preventable."
Mr Spence said greater support needs to reach the local and village level, where most women in PNG give birth.
"The loss of life is at an appalling level," he said.
ChildFund's report, called National Health Crisis: Maternal Deaths in Papua New Guinea, says the lifetime risk of dying during childbirth is 1 in 120 in PNG compared to 1 in 8700 in Australia. Also, a newborn in PNG is 10 times more likely to die in the first month of life than an Australian newborn.

Judy almost lost her life giving birth to daughter Joylyn.Photo: Courtesy ChildFund

PNG is the largest recipient of Australian overseas aid and improving the health system has been a key aim of that support.
Even though this month’s federal budget revealed a $141 million cut to the overseas aid budget over the next four years, Australia’s contribution to PNG will increase from $541 million this financial year to $572 million in 2018-19.
Mr Spence said past aid spending by both governments and non-government organisations in PNG had "not always had the achieved the desired results".
But he said Australia has the means and the technology to do much more.
"This is our nearest neighbour and by any measure it’s an injustice that women not far from our shores are experiencing such risk when they are giving birth."

Matt is a senior writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Book publishing seminar on June 9

Well-known writer, book publisher and speaker Tiri Kuimbakul is organising the Book Publishing Seminar,  which was deferred from last year. 

It will be held on Saturday, June 9,  at the IEPNG/PNGHRI Building at Gordons.

Click image to enlarge

Everyone, including aspiring writers, are welcome to attend.

Preparations well underway in Papua New Guinea for APEC conference: official

xinhuanet.com

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Preparations are well underway in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, according to an official with the APEC PNG authority.

Christopher Hawkins, chief executive officer of the APEC PNG authority, told Xinhua recently that all buildings are well and truly on track, and "We will take possession of APEC House next month, that's where the leaders will be meeting."

"Other hotels or the convention centre are already established, but we are awaiting refurbishment at one or two more venues, but we will take possession of those ready for APEC in just a couple of months."

According to Hawkins, he and his team have also come up with some creative strategies to accommodate the travelling delegates and make sure the event runs smoothly.

"We do have a shortage of hotel rooms," he said.

"So what we have done is hire three cruise ships which are essentially floating hotels, to make up the shortfall."

Hawkins said they are now more determined than ever to showcase the spirit and resolve of the proud South Pacific nation.

"There is no doubt that PNG are a very resilient people and the recent tragedy has demonstrated that," he said, referring to the devastating 7.5 magnitude tremor back in February, along with a relentless series of aftershocks that followed, which have reportedly killed over 150 people in the mountainous central region.

With PNG riding a wave of economic success in recent years, Hawkins believes that APEC is the perfect platform to let the rest of the world learn more about the nation and its rich cultural history.

"There are a lot of people who don't know much at all about PNG," he explained.

"But there has been dramatic change taking place here and it has been 15 years of positive economic growth, despite the global financial crisis and the massive downfall in commodity prices."

The 2018 APEC summit will be held in November. The 2018 summit will be the first to be hosted by PNG.

NCDC pays K40 million for Sir Hubert Murray Stadium construction

National Capital District Commission

National Capital District Commision City Manager Bernard Kipit has confirmed financing arrangement for the construction of the K40 million Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.

Artist’s impression of the completed stadium

This is through part sale of the Sea Park land for K35 million, while the shortfall of K5 million will be met through Bank South Pacific financing.
Kipit said: "We have to be innovative in delivering much-needed infrastructure for the city, and particularly the incomplete stadium at the city centre.
"NCDC took over the incomplete Stadium and the contract with Curtain Bros, and executed new terms to resume the stadium construction at the cost of K40 million.

The current stadium.-Picture by ROCKY ROE

"This will see the completion of the stadium with the fully fitted western grand stand, car parking, fencing and other ancillary works to enable the stadium to be fully operational."
The buyer of the Sea Park land, Sea Park Development Ltd, owned by an Australian-based Chinese businessman Wilson Xue, will be required to invest at least K500 million under a covenant to transform the area.
This is required to protect the investment around Ela Beach and APEC Haus to convert the area as APEC Legacy precinct.  Pipit confirmed that the buyer had already made a deposit of K7 million to seal the deal in addition to paying stamp duty of K1.75 million.
Kipit said: "The second part of the sea park land that houses APEC Haus will remain owned by NCDC.
"Although we lost 4.19ha of the land for the stadium, NCDC is getting compensated with ownership of a new land in the water front known as Portion 2848, and in the process of securing ownership of another two parcels of land on the water front that will see NCDC’s stake increasing by about eightfold.
"NCDC will soon unveil the plan for the second phase of Ela beach and how it intends to deliver the plan.
"We will announce it when the title is received.
"Stadium will be delivered fully completed before APEC."
Pipit assured city residents: "Ela Beach precinct will be the master piece of infrastructure in our thrust of modernising the Port Moresby, and will be a hub for recreational and social activities and create true city vibe, day and night.