Papua Province donates to PNG earthquake victims

People of Indonesia’s Papua Province on Monday last week handed over five tonnes of food and clothing assistance to earthquake victims in neighbouring Papua New Guinea.

PNG consul-general Geoffrey Wiri  and Samuel Tabuni with soldiers at the border.

The Papua Language Institute (PLI) handed over the items which were collected from Papuans since March.
They included rice, noodles, tea, coffee, canned fish, sugar, milk, water, clothing, toys and balls.

The donated items being loaded onto a truck.

Institute director Samuel Tabuni said the aid was handed over to the PNG Government in the neutral zone of Republic of Indonesia-PNG in Skouw, Jayapura City, on Monday.
The aid was received by PNG consul-general Geoffrey Wiri accompanied by PNG border officer Ashley Wayne.

Samuel Tabuni presents the items to  PNG consul-general Geoffrey Wiri

Tabuni said the Indonesian military provided the vehicle provided the vehicle to transport the aid to the border.
He asked that the items be transported across the border to the needy people.
He said late delivery of aid to PNG was due to limited transportation facilities, considering the location of the earthquake in Hela and Southern Highlands provinces.
“Three months ago, we became sadly aware of the tragedy that struck the Southern Highland and Hela provinces of Papua New Guinea,” he said.
 “Even the people in Jayapura could feel this heavy quake.
“After checking what went on, we found out that our brothers and sisters at the other side of the border were hit by the natural disaster.
“Because of the close connection between the Papua Language Institute and the Papua New Guinea Government developing an international education programme, we feel obliged to help and support the victims of this tragedy as much as possible.
“Due to help of many Indonesian people of the Papua Province, we were able to collect a serious amount of commodities for disaster relief.”
“We hope our help will be received as a gift from our heart.
“Whenever we are confronted by difficulties, we need to stand together and help each other.
“Although we know that our support is far from enough, we want to express our feelings of concern for all the people who had to suffer from this earthquake.
“All of them are in our hearts and prayers.
"Hopefully, the assistance provided can ease the earthquake-affected PNG." 

Papua New Guinea receive significant investment through ICC Cricket World Cup community facility fund

icc-cricket.com | May 31, 2018

The International Cricket Council (ICC), Cricket Australia (CA), and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) in partnership with the Australian Government have made a significant investment into cricket in Papua New Guinea through the ICC Cricket World Cup Community Facility Fund where 48 community cricket facilities will be built in eleven provinces.

The Cricket World Cup Community Facility Fund is a joint legacy project by the ICC, CA, and NZC following the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to help address the need for more facilities and significantly boost participation rates in cricket.

A total of $400,000 was put into the Fund by CA ($200,000), NZC ($100,000) and the ICC ($100,000) which will result in $800,000 of investment into facilities in the East Asia-Pacific region through fund matching for all projects. To date more than $80,000 has been invested in community facility projects across the region to aid the development of cricket with yesterday marking the roll out of the biggest project yet.

The ‘Cricket Facilities Enhancement Project’ is a collaborative project that will see 48 community cricket facilities built in eleven provinces across Papua New Guinea over the next two years.

The ICC’s General Manager – Development, William Glenwright believes that facilities are crucial in the growth of cricket and that it will provide a significant base for new participants to play the game and that projects like these highlight the power of successful partnerships.

 “I am delighted to see the significant investment into one of our High Performing Members. This joint project between two Full Members, the ICC and the Australian Government shows the commitment across the cricket fraternity to grow the game.

“It also shows the importance of ICC events and their role in the development of the game across all 104 Members of the ICC,” said Glenwright.

Cricket Australia’s Chief Executive James Sutherland is proud to support the project in PNG because it demonstrates the positive legacy of hosting major ICC events in Australia. “This project complements Cricket Australia’s strong support for the Australian Government’s Sports Diplomacy Strategy and sport for development initiatives in the Pacific


“We are committed to supporting the long-term growth of cricket in as many countries as possible, as shown by our strong support for this region over the last 15 years,” said Sutherland.

New Zealand Cricket’s Chief Executive David White was delighted to see such a significant legacy project from the jointly hosted ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 paying such rich dividends.

“NZC supports wholeheartedly the philosophy of growing the world game, and connecting countries and regions through the spirit of cricket. This initiative should go a long way towards boosting cricket in PNG – in terms of both participation and resourcing.

Currently Cricket PNG has over 190,000 boys and girls, men and women involved in cricket programs around the country with a vision to make cricket PNG’s favourite family sport. While the sport is proving immensely popular among school children, the lack of dedicated cricket facilities has made access to cricket competitions difficult in many areas.

For Joe Arua, a 14-year-old school student from Central District province there is potential, passion and love for cricket in the school and community. “One thing that prevents us from playing more cricket is an oval without a cricket pitch. It would be great if we had a cricket pitch in our school to be used by the community as well,” said Arua.

Cricket PNG hopes the project will result in more than 20,000 Papua New Guineans participating in regular cricket competitions.

Cricket PNG Chairperson Helen Macindoe believes this is arguably the biggest infrastructure project that Cricket PNG have been involved in since Cricket PNG was formed in 1973. “Last year we were able to upgrade the Amini Park facilities but this project will help with the development of cricket nationwide, in line with our vision to be PNG’s favourite family sport,” Macindoe concluded.

Construction on the ‘Cricket Facilities Enhancement Project’ will begin immediately in the National Capital District with the first pitches expected to be ready for communities in the second half of the year.

Port Moresby: The City of Buai Stains

By REUBEN AOPI
Citizen Journalist

Port Moresby is gearing up to host its biggest international event - the APEC Leaders' Summit 2018.

Betelnut spit and rubbish is a feature of Port Mores by.-Picture by REUBEN AOPI

It expects both Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US president Donald Trump to be among the thousands of delegates.
The filth that buai (betelnut) is causing will be a visible sight our visitors will not miss. Irresponsible citizens,  high on the drug,  continue to spit and dispose of the husk in a manner in which only people without a brain would operate.
Betelnut stains can be seen on footpaths, walls of shopping centres, car parks, roads and on the very own teeth of chewers themselves.
With the rising prices of food and commodities in the country, it is not unusual for local folks to chew betelnut during the day to curtail hunger and then eat one big dinner meal at home to save money. 
Aside from controlling hunger, local folks also feel a sense of euphoria throughout the day after they chew. 
In addition, most folks will say that betelnut is PNG’s version of coffee in the morning- an instant eye-opener to start the work day.  Some chew one betel nut at a time intermittently throughout the day, while some chew more than one at a time. 
On average, locals will chew between eight to 10 betel nuts in one day.
Papua New Guineans rely on the sale of betelnut for their livelihoods.
A native cash crop, betel nut is referred to as "green gold".
It is completely untaxed.
Markets often have an area dedicated solely to betel nut vendors.
Prices for one betel nut and mustard stick vary between 50t to K1 dependent upon the location, season and recent growing conditions.
The habit, which is virtually a national pastime, involves chewing the small palm tree nut, which is mixed with lime powder and mustard, before spitting out red-tinged spittle to the floor.
The mixture produces a mild stimulant likened to the rush from cigarettes.
The streets of the capital, Port Moresby, are littered with the red spills and husks.
The spitting of pathogenic saliva increases the spread of disease.
In a country with one of the highest infection rates of tuberculosis in the world, this habit poses huge contamination risks.

About the author

Reuben Aopi was born in Daru Island on Oct 8,  1988.

His father Pala Aopi was a painter, and his mother Sibaio was a retired nurse.

Both have gone to be with our Lord.

China, Papua New Guinea co-build agricultural industrial park

by Hu Pingchao, app.silkroad.news.cn
May 31, 2018

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China Railway International Group (CRIG) has recently signed an agreement with Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s authorities about the land-use right transfer to support construction of an agricultural industrial park under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Photo: A valley in Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

Under the agreement, the Chinese company will own the use right of the lands in the Eastern Highlands Province and the Western Highlands Province in PNG for 99 years. The lands cover an area of more than 6,000 mu (15 mu equal one hectare).

The lands are located in the core area of the China-PNG agriculture industrial park under the Belt and Road Initiative, co-built by China Railway Group (CRG), parent company of CRIG, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, and provinces of PNG.

World Environment Day 2018: Governor Parkop and NCDC call for action

NCDC

Preparations for the upcoming World Environment Day on June 5 are underway by the National Capital District Commissions and the office of NCD Governor.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop has called on city residents to come out of their comfort zones this Saturday to clean the city as part of a commitment to World Environment Day and the city of Port Moresby.
As part of this commitment, the employees of NCDC will be doing a major clean up from Boroko to Gordons on Saturday.
NCDC is committed to transforming Port Moresby to a more liveable, peaceful, and healthy environment as part of a global movement to protect the earth’s natural environments.
Governor Parkop also made a call to the National Government to declare June 5 a National Day of Action to Protect the Environment – making it a public holiday where people can do public clean-ups, beautify the environment and plant trees.
This year World Environment Day falls on June 5 which is next Tuesday, so NCDC has opted to celebrate the day early with Saturday’s cleanathon from Boroko to Gordons. 
This is also part of NCDC’s strong commitment to the environment.
Earlier this month, NCDC committed K150,000 to support the government’s ban on plastic bags and other plastic products through the Ministry of Environment and Conservation under its cleaner city campaign.
With the theme for this year’s World Environment Day being ‘Beating Plastic Pollution’ it is a clear statement on how committed NCDC is towards protecting and saving our environment.
City Manager Bernard Kipit said NCDC is right behind the concept and is excited to be doing the major cleanathon this Saturday to mark the special day.
“We have to keep reminding ourselves as city residents to do all we can in keeping our city clean, healthy and safe and beautiful,’ Kipit said.
Governor Parkop appealed to city residents to join him and NCDC by cleaning their suburbs, villages and settlements - to make them clean and beautiful places to live; and to show our commitment to protect our natural God-given environment.
This Sunday’s Walk for Life will also be themed to promote World Environment Day.
Walk for Life commences each week at 5.30am at Murray Barracks and all Port Moresby residents and visitors are invited to attend, it is a great way to promote a healthy lifestyle at the same time supporting an important cause.
An open invitation has been extended to staff and the Board of National Forestry Authority, CEPA, Department of Mining and Energy to also join the cleanathon on June 2 and Walk For Life on June 3 - as these are State agencies who can multiply NCDC’s efforts to protect our national environment.
Other Government Departments and agencies, private sector, churches, NGOs and all other stakeholders are also invited to join NCDC in the noble cause of protecting and saving our natural environment.

NEC appoints heads of missions to China and India

Prime Ministers Office
May 30, 2018
 
The National Executive Council has endorsed the appointments of Papua New Guinea’s heads of missions to China and India respectively.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the two new heads of
Missions are retired judge, Don Sawong,  as PNG’s new ambassador to China and Secretary to the Department of Communication and Information, Paulias Korni,  as high commissioner to India.
“NEC has endorsed the appointment of Mr Sawong and Mr Korni as the new PNG heads of mission to the Republic of China and India respectively.
“Therefore, NEC has further advised the Head of State to appoint Mr Sawong as the ambassador to the People’s Republic of China for a period of four years effective on and from the date of the publication of the instrument in the National Gazette.
“Cabinet has also appointed Mr Korni as the high commissioner to India for a period of four years effective on and from the date of.publication of the instrument in the National Gazette.
“The Acting Secretary for the Department of Personnel Management has been directed to prepare the contracts of employment for the two new heads of mission in consultation with the Secretary for the Department
of Foreign Affairs for execution by the Head of State."
O'Neill said NEC had also directed the Minister for Public Service to facilitate an acting appointment of the Secretary for the Department of Communication and Information in consultation with the Minister for Communication Information Technology and Energy.
“In the same NEC decision,  the First Legislative Counsel has been directed to prepare the instruments of appointment for execution by the Head of State and the Chairman of the NEC respectively and for
gazettal,” O'Neill said.

Thailand, Papua New Guinea strike deal on fisheries cooperation

news.thaivisa.com | May 30, 2018

BANGKOK, 30th May 2018 (NNT) – Thailand’s Department of Fisheries has forged cooperation with Papua New Guinea on fisheries development, with workshops and research projects to be undertaken jointly.

Director-General of the Fisheries Department Adisorn Promthep was joined by Mr John Edward Kasu, Managing Director of the National Fisheries Authority of Papua New Guinea, during a ceremony to sign a memorandum of understanding on fisheries cooperation between the two agencies.

Under the agreement, a joint working group will be set up to develop both countries’ management of fisheries in line with their governments’ fisheries reform policies. There will be exchanges of fisheries knowledge through joint training activities and research, which will be aimed at enhancing the capabilities of related officials, aquaculturists and fishermen.

Mr Adisorn underscored the significance of this cooperation between Thailand and Papua New Guinea, saying it will help ensure that marine animals imported from the latter have been caught in compliance with standard procedures and laws and that no smuggling is involved.

Moreover, the MOU could mean that Thai operators will have a chance to resume fishing activities in Papua New Guinean waters after the country stopped giving out licenses due to the need to overhaul its fisheries management.