Sir Mekere supports national stop-work

The Member for Moresby North-West, Sir Mekere Morauta, supports a call for a nation-wide strike in protest at continuing corruption by and within the O’Neill Government.

“Astonishing revelations in the last couple of days about the crooked contract to buy luxury Maserati cars for APEC, and then secretly sell them to private sector cronies, is the last straw,” he said.

“People are right to be disgusted by the information that is now coming to light, and they are fully entitled to express their opposition to this blatant fraud.”

Sir Mekere also called for an independent inquiry into the Maserati fraud, concocted by the APEC Authority and the O’Neill Government.

This latest episode in the O’Neill Government’s corruption, waste and mismanagement needs to be investigated and the facts put before all Papua New Guineans, he said.

He said Papua New Guineans, and politicians with a conscience, should join with respected MPs Bryan Kramer, Gary Juffa and Allan Bird to express their disgust by staying home from work on Thursday and Friday.

"It is not good enough for the Prime Minister, Mr Peter O’Neill, and the APEC Minister, Mr Justin Tkatchenko, to make statements in social media that are clearly incorrect, contradictory and designed to mask the smell of corruption and wrong-doing.

“The APEC Authority has broken its own laws with the purchase of the Maseratis and the Prime Minister’s proposed sale of them.

“The Prime Minister and Minister Tkatchenko have connived with the authority and are trying desperately to hide the truth.

“But we are not fools.

 “This is just another chapter in the monumental abuse of APEC contracts, which I and others have exposed.

"Look at all the over-priced and unnecessary roads and buildings constructed by PNC cronies to glorify the Prime Minister.

“These projects, and the multi-million-kina Maserati scam, have proceeded at the expense of the health system, the education system, rural infrastructure, law and order, Government finances and the economy, and employment.

“Why are we importing luxury cars for Mr O’Neill and his wantoks to ride around in when children are dying of polio, tuberculosis and other preventable diseases?

“There is no medicine in hospitals and clinics.

" Schools are closing all over the nation, and teachers are being robbed of their pay by this Government.”

Sir Mekere said the O’Neill Government’s corruption, waste and mismanagement had brought international shame on Papua New Guinea.

"The whole world is looking on and asking why Mr O’Neill, Mr Tkatchenko and others are spending this money when Papua New Guinea cannot look after its own children.

"We have become an international laughing stock.

“Corruption’s time is up.”

Oldest building in Lae turns 85

St Andrew's Lutheran Church at Ampo in Lae turns 85 this month.

The church in May 2018.~Malum Nalu

The church, built in its present form in 1933 (until renovated in 2005), is the only pre-war building in Lae and the timberwork used to bear many bullet scars (until renovated).

During the war, it served as a Japanese hospital when its custodians from Butibam village fled into the foothills on the far side of the Busu River.

A bush material chapel was built at Ampo in 1912 by pioneer German missionary, Gottfried Schmutterer, and the first baptism took place on October 20, 1912.

Timber from Bukawa was put on the ship Bavaria and brought to Lae on Feb 11, 1933.

They started building the church on March 4, 1933, with dedication being on Oct 8, 1933.

Refurbished National Museum and Art Gallery reopens to all

Australian High Commission


Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Emil Tammur and Australian Foreign Minister Senator Marise Payne reopened the refurbished National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG) in Port Moresby on Friday.

Dignitaries attending the National Museum and Art Gallery reopening including Museum Director Dr Andrew Moutu, Former Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Emil Tammur, and National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop

Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Emil Tammur opening the newly refurbished National Museum and Art Gallery

Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Dr Moutu, director of the National Museum and Art Gallery during tour of the museum.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne with Former Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare watching traditional performers from Sepik

Foreign Minister Marise Payne with High Commissioner Bruce Davis during the National Museum and Art Gallery tour

Foreign Minister Marise Payne looking at pieces on display at the National Museum and Art Gallery with Dr Andrew Moutu, director of the National Museum and Gallery.

The project involved the extensive refurbishment of the museum’s gallery spaces and external entrance area.

The upgrade was supported by the Papua New Guinea - Australia partnership in close cooperation with the NMAG Board of Trustees and senior management.


“With limited work done to the museum since it first opened in 1977, we are pleased to see the building brought into the modern era with Australian support,” said Dr Andrew Moutu, director of NMAG.


“The refurbishment will ensure NMAG remains a source of national pride for Papua New Guineans as the country’s leading cultural institution, preserving and protecting our nation’s rich culture and heritage.”


Curators selected 450 items of significance for display from more than 30,000 artworks and artefacts in the museum’s archives.

All 22 provinces across Papua New Guinea are represented, with items chosen from the anthropological, archaeological, natural history, war relics and contemporary art collections.

The five galleries have been renamed to Tumbuna, Susan Karike, Bernard Narokobi, Ian Saem Majnep and Be Jijimo in honour of the original vision for the museum as an authentically indigenous institution.

A large mural artwork on the pavilion entrance of the museum has also been repainted by local artists.

Payne acknowledged the importance of communicating cultural knowledge and educating the public.

“The National Museum and Art.Gallery is a breathtaking monument to Papua New Guinea’s rich cultural heritage, and importantly, it improves considerably the PNG public’s access to this stunning collection of artefacts,” she said.

Disability access was a key part of the upgrade, with ramps and accessible amenities installed inside and outside the building.

Collections are also being made accessible for the first time using new technology. The Voices from the War exhibition was developed in collaboration with NMAG, local universities, and Australia’s Deakin University, and allows visitors to hear Papua New Guinean stories from the Second World War.

Completed ahead of Apec Leaders' Week in November, the refurbished museum will become a must-see attraction for local and international visitors, and a major asset of Papua New Guinea’s growing tourism industry.

The museum opens to the public on Monday Oct 15 2018.

 It will be open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 3.00pm, and on Sundays from 1pm to 3pm.

On weekends, adults will pay a small entry fee.

The year of living dangerously in Apec City, Port Moresby

by MALUM NALU

 I had a 9.30am meeting on Saturday Oct 13 2018 at Islander Village.

I call my faithful City Loop cabbie Albert Wangua (video below) to pick me up.

Near the Islander Village, I get a text saying 10am, so I get off at the service station, walk into the  Bank South Pacific ATM, withdraw K100, and walk into the fried chicken outlet.

Albert, who is parked outside BSP,  suddenly runs in, warning me to take care, as he'd seen some dangerous characters watching my every movement.

As I cross the road, unaware, this gang is following me.

Albert, now with another passenger, speeds towards Hohola, makes a u-turn, and shouts at me to jump on.

He points out the gang following me.

We go drop off the passenger at Boroko and Albert drives me back to Islander Village.

We pass the men who would have robbed me, perhaps killed me, waiting for another unsuspecting prey.

Albert, a committed Christian, says this is Divine Intervention.

That's a snapshot of living in Apec City.

Times are hard.

People are desperate.

Apec City is a very dangerous place to live and work in.

PS: Albert is the hero and a credit to City Loop. It pays to have a trusted cabbie, who in my case, may have saved my life.

Australia gives another A$6 million for polio in PNG

By Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Australia 

 The Australian Government will provide a further $6 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to support the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to respond to the current polio outbreak.

In June 2018, the PNG Government declared a national public health emergency in response to confirmed cases of polio virus.

The PNG Government, along with key partners including GPEI, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have developed an outbreak response plan that includes mass vaccination rounds.

Australia’s contribution to GPEI will support the delivery of PNG’s polio response plan.

PNG is our closest neighbor, and a strong response is needed to protect both PNG’s and Australia’s health security.

Routine immunisation remains the most effective prevention for highly infectious diseases including polio.

The Australian Government is committed to the vital work of global polio eradication and has contributed $104 million to support the work of GPEI since 2011.

Australian support for sexual and reproductive health in communities across PNG

Australian High Commission

Health clinics run by faith-based organisations across Papua New Guinea are integrating services, facilities and resources to better serve the primary health care needs of communities.

A blood sample is taken from a young woman at Anglicare’s Begabari Clinic

In partnership with the National Department of Health, Australia is supporting Catholic Church Health Services (CCHS) and Anglicare to widen the health services offered at standalone sexual and reproductive health clinics across 18 provinces.

Sr Julie Bamban stands in front of antiretroviral medication at the CCHS-run St Joseph Freinademetz clinic in Port Moresby

This is a true partnership, with Australia funding staff salaries and operations of facilities, PNG Government paying for medicines, and the Catholic Church Health Services providing facilities.

Graham Apian is the project manager at CCHS who is overseeing the integration process at the organisation’s 22 health clinics across Papua New Guinea.

Community Health Worker, Johnson Tipora, consults a patient at Anglicare’s Begabari Clinic

“Integration involves combining HIV clinics with primary health care clinics, so that people just visit one place, and no longer need to visit separate clinics for health care.

For example, a pregnant woman with HIV should only need to go to one clinic, not two, for her needs,” said Apian.

The Begabari Clinic in Port Moresby is one of two health facilities run by Anglicare that is expanding its focus to provide a broader suite of services.

The busy clinic serves the National Capital District and neighbouring Central Province, and treats around 1100 people living with HIV, with over 200 new patients each year.

While the clinic will continue to offer HIV and STI testing and treatment, it will also offer a range of other health services, such as antenatal care, child immunisation, family planning, and tuberculosis and malaria testing.

Sr Josepha Tametalong is the clinical specialist at Begabari and is pleased the clinic will be providing integrated health care.

“Mothers and children especially, and the general population, will now have a government recognised and accredited primary health care service, as this clinic will be upgraded to a Grade 3 clinic,” said Sr Josepha.

Many church and non-governmental organisations set-up sexual and reproductive health clinics in Papua New Guinea in response to the country’s HIV and AIDS crisis.

The Director of Anglicare PNG, Heni Meke, says it is time these specialist clinics provided a more integrated service to patients.

“Our clinics and health centres want to offer a ‘one stop shop’ service,” said Meke.

“These clinics are on the frontline of community health needs, where nurses and community health workers assess patients before they are referred to larger health facilities and hospitals.”

Integrating health services is expected to be more convenient for communities, and also provide improved health care and value-for-money for Provincial Health Authorities and the National Department of Health.

Anglicare’s Begabari clinic in Port Moresby and Newtown clinic in Mt Hagen are both currently being assessed to become government-accredited primary health care providers.

“We are looking forward to meeting government regulations, as this is very important to get proper access to other government services and sustainable funding,” explained Meke from Anglicare.

“We also need our own facility code so that we can be able to get our medical supplies from the national area medical store.”

In addition to providing more holistic services to patients, integration will also provide more comprehensive health data to the government in order to better target services to community needs.

“Previously we only fed HIV/AIDS and other STI statistics to the National Health Information System, but with the integration of other services, we are able to send health data on other diseases and infections that our nurses and community health workers attend to,” said Meke.

In preparation for the delivery of integrated primary health care, organisations have begun training clinic health workers.

Mentor training is being rolled out to build up a cadre of Papua New Guinean health workers who can not only deliver high quality services, but also mentor colleagues to improve their STI, HIV and sexual and reproductive health skills.

Sr Julie Bamban is a senior nurse at the CCHS-run St Joseph Freinademetz clinic in Port Moresby and participated in mentor training in 2017.

The training covered integrated health clinic processes and procedures, and how to monitor the progress of health professionals delivering integrated health care.

“It may take a bit more time for those processes and procedures to reach the clinics here in PNG, but realising that such innovations exist is a motivation,” said Sr Julie.

“The training really helped me understand in detail why I continue to do what I am doing.”

Since the training, Sr Julie has been holding mentoring sessions once a week with other nurses at the St Joseph Freinademetz clinic.

“I think there is a lot of progress for me as an individual and I am happy my other colleagues are grateful and adhering to the support I am offering.”

Future lawyers receive training in commercial law

Australian High Commission

Access to commercial law expertise in Papua New Guinea is set to improve after close to 80 aspiring lawyers received training in modern commercial litigation practise from a team of judges and lawyers recently.

Trainee lawyer Sharon Peri makes a point of law during a discussion at the Commercial Litigation and Advocacy Workshop at the LTI

Seventy-eight students, including 34 women, from the Legal Training Institute (LTI) were given instruction in key areas of commercial law during the four-day workshop, including how to apply for court injunctions and how to prepare for trial and mediate on commercial law cases.


The workshop was developed and led by a team of 11 judges and lawyers from the Queensland Bar Association in consultation with LTI staff.


This is the sixth workshop of its kind after its initiation by Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and Justice Logan in 2013, to help meet PNG’s rapidly growing need for skilled commercial lawyers.


Speaking at the workshop’s closing, the Chief Justice encouraged the students to consider practising commercial law, and praised Justice Logan and the Queensland Bar team for volunteering their time and expertise.


Similar sentiments were shared by Queen's Counsel, Mal Varitimos who said he saw “great potential” in those attending the workshop, and urged them to seize the opportunity to “make a positive contribution to the administration of justice, the rule of law and the people of Papua New Guinea”.

He said about 600 PNG law students had received instruction in commercial law advocacy since the workshop’s inception five years ago– more than half the number of lawyers currently certified for practise in PNG.

Representing the Australian High Commission, Law and Justice Counsellor, Gina Wilson said it was particularly pleasing that an increasing number of women were embarking on a career in law.


Sharon Peri was one of the students who successfully completed the course, and found the practical nature of the sessions to be very useful, complementing other training she received at the LTI.

The workshop was supported by the Australian Government through the Justice Services and Stability for Development Program.