Kairuku Hiri MP raise concerns about deteriorating road

 

The badly deteriorated Bereina to Malalaua highway finally got a mention in Parliament yesterday.

 

Kairuku Hiri MP Peter Isoaimo raised the issue in a series of questions directed to Works Minister Michael Nali eliciting a response that would anger most travelling Keremas and Mekeos who use the road.

Minister Nali said bureaucratic red tape has resulted in the World Bank knocking back the Work's Department's initial submission and another adjusted submission has been made.

The road, which connects Mr Isoaimo's Kairuku Hiri district with Kerema district, is the major road link for the people of Gulf travelling in and out of Port Moresby to Kerema and back.

Built by the Chan Haiveta government in the 1980s, Bereina to Malalaua was the first phase of a mooted national highway from link Port Moresby to Lae in Morobe via Malalaua.

However, the much talked trans island highway has been on the back burner while the initial sections have deteriorated badly especially between Bereina and Harisu.

"Are we going to have some funds allocated for the upkeep of this road for use by my people as well as Gulf as well as the developers who run along this road," he asked.

Mr Nali said that the road was to be upgraded under the second phase of a World Bank funded road rehabilitation project which covers the Vanapa Brown River section in Central and the Bereina Malalaua section.

"What has happened is that Department of Works, NPC, tender evaluation committee sat down and made a recommendation to the World Bank, the World Bank objected to the recommendation.

"So it was brought back again, re-evaluated and when the submission was made, something happened in between, and the very company that was recommended was somehow put off the list.

"We have identified the problem and it will re-submitted and hopefully world bank will agree that we proceed with the work, as soon as we get clearance, the work will start."

Where to find Victoria Bitter in Port Moresby

Melbourne's renowned beer VB is in Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby.

But not all pubs and hotel have it in stacks and in their coolers.

 

Just five minutes drive from Jackson's Airport in Port Moresby to the ever popular, but quite run down Granville Motel, you'd be surprised its popularity is more than the local SP.

And yes in slabs.

The Granville Motel welcomes you to an oasis in a desert in the heart of six mile.

Nice garden, with crotons, an open space and an ATM, you are in peace with the environment and can sip your VB.

 

A can of VB here is K8 and a six pack is K48.

When you're next in town and wants to quench your thirst with an Australian and Victorian best VB, check the Granville Motel

Covid-19 cases continue to increase in Papua New Guinea

 

PAPUA New Guinea has recorded another 52 new cases of COVID-19 since Thursday last week, with the total number of cases now at 323.

 

Out of these cases, 38 are from Western Province and 15 from the National Capital District.

 

 

“The new cases are linked to community transmission in NCD and a cluster of cases at the Ok Tedi mine,” said the National Pandemic Response Controller Mr David Manning.

 

Of the total cases, 221 are from NCD, 85 from Western Province, 5 from Morobe, 1 from West Sepik, 1 from Southern Highlands, 1 from New Ireland, 5 from Central, 2 from East New Britain, 1 from Eastern Highlands and 1 from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

 

“On Saturday, laboratories in Port Moresby and Brisbane completed 403 tests.

“Of those 52 have returned positive, so that brings the total numbers of test completed to date to 13, 361,” said Mr Manning.

 

The Brisbane laboratory is currently testing samples from Western Province, an arrangement funded by the Ok Tedi Mining Limited.

 

“It is the intention of the office of the Controller to be continually reviewing and improving our response through this Pandemic.

 

6.4 km Panapai Road upgrade launched in New Ireland

 “The Prime Minister of  Papua New Guinea said “ We will Take Back Papua New Guinea.” But here in New Ireland “ We have already taken back New Ireland.” These words by Governor Sir Julius Chan were met with rousing applause from the listening public at Panapai during the launching of the 6.4 km road opening on Friday 14^th August. 

The newly upgraded road took approximately 3 months to complete. Giving the people of Panapai a new outlook on life.

Witnessing the milestone occasion alongside the sparsely populated roads skirts were officials from the New Ireland Government, the National Department of Works, Binen construction representatives, 60 delegates from the Central LLG taking part in the New Ireland Governments community awareness program and the local community.

With perfect sunshine brimming through the surrounding evergreen forest Sir J declared “New Ireland is currently undergoing an unprecedented infrastructure revolution, with major road works and bridges occurring all over the Province. The last 10 years, have been the New Ireland Revolution. All these infrastructure projects taking shape is setting the stage for the future, for a self-reliant, Autonomous Region of Papua New Guinea, where New Irelanders will make decisions and have control over their own resources.”

He told the small population of Panapai that his Government does not discriminate when it comes to implementing policies and development projects. “The population at Panapai is small but that did not stop us from building this K800,000 road for you. Use it to better your lives. This government will always reach out to those in need as enshrined in our Malagan Declaration forward and the New Ireland Declaration, the further you are the more we care.”

Works Manager Solomon Pela said the condition of the road was a night mare when he first conducted his engineering scope of works so he understood the hardships of the people, walking long distances just to make it to the main Highway. “Gone are the days of Mother’s carrying their garden produce for long distances just to sell at the market. Gone are the days Transport owners endure the pain of paying high maintenance costs for their trucks and vehicles. Gone are the days of not being able to get to the hospital on time. Gone are the days of not going to school and gone are the days of Poverty. You are blessed to have visionary leadership leading your Province. I tell you other provinces are finding it difficult to deliver these type of projects because they don’t have the funding and clear infrastructure policy to do so. Planti long ol displa project em money bilong yupla yet insait long Province I kamapim,” said Pela.

A local woman speaking on behalf of all the women and children described the hardships they faced, “ Me laik tok Thank you, Thank you long yupla, Nau mipla lukim planti car gen run long wanpla day. Long wanem kain speed ol laik speed long em. Nau em easy long karim garden Kaikai bilong yumi long market.”

While a representative from construction company Binen engineering praised the locals for their cooperation, stating the company was fortunate not to have any compensation claims unlike other parts of the country.

Deputy Governor, Chairman of Infrastructure and Natural resources and President of Tikana LLG Hon. Sammy Missen relayed that K4.3 million has been invested in Tikana alone with the start of one of the biggest impact projects on the West Coast set to revolutionize travel within New Ireland. “The widening and sealing of the Fangalawa and Lamusmus Highway. West Coast Highway in the making.”

Hundreds of millions of kina has already been invested in improving the transport system in the province over the past 10 years. This year the New Ireland Government has invested K42 million on infrastructure in Kavieng District and K61.2 million on infrastructure in Namatanai District as per its 2020 Provincial budget.

Covid-19 statistics from Papua New Guinea

 

Correct statistics for Covid-19 cases as of yesterday Aug 12:  Over 11,920 persons tested for COVID-19. 269 have returned positive. Includes 78 persons who have fully recovered and 191 active cases.

The National Pandemic Response Control Centre has announced 55 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country yesterday, bringing the total to 269.

The cases being the single highest recorded in a day, include 18 from the National Capital District and 37 from Western Province.

The 18 cases from the city’s suburbs of Badili, Erima, Hohola, Tokarara, Kaugere, ATS, Sabama, Wanigela (Koki), June Valley and Boroko were recently tested at the Taurama Aquatic Drive through clinic and other urban clinics.

The Western Province samples were tested in Brisbane through an arrangement by the Ok Tedi Mining Limited.

More details about contact tracing and isolation of the contacts will be available today.

Controller of the National Pandemic Response Mr David Manning said, “As is our usual protocol we are continuing to trace close and casual contacts of those persons and test them for COVID-19. This has included household contacts of the cases.

“All close contacts of the 55 cases will remain in self-isolation for 14 days, regardless of their test result, and all will remain in self-isolation until they have the results of their test.

“As of today, we have confirmed Covid-19 cases in ten PNG provinces, including 206 in NCD, 5 in Central, 47 in Western, 4 in Morobe, 2 in East New Britain and 1 each in West Sepik, New Ireland, Southern Highlands, Eastern Highlands, and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Robbery on the Sepik Highway-K20,000 cash and vanilla bean bags stolen

 

Mothers, young females, and men were stripped naked and all their belongings like mobile phones were taken by armed gang at Wara Pipe, an area between Yawatong and Nana-ah villages in the Ambunti Drekikir District, East Sepik.

First secretary to West Sepik Governor Adam Wangu reported yesterday on social media the victims were his relatives.

“The incident took place at 5pm Monday 10th August when 5 gunmen with guns and the rest with one metre bush knives held up passengers from Mansuku, Nuku Station, Yiliwombuk, Sibilanga of Nuku District, West Sepik Province,” he said.

The passengers were on their way to Maprik to sell their vanilla and do shopping in Maprik than return back to Nuku”.

“The armed gang fired bullets at the crew but luckily (by Gods Grace) missed the driver and the crew. Knives were also used during the attack causing wounds and bruises to the passengers.,” Wangu added.

 “They gang members were about to rape the woman folk but a vehicle intervened.”

 K20,000 in cash and 120 kilograms of vanilla beans were stolen.

 He said the matter was reported to Maprik Police and two of the gang members were now in the police cell block.

Wangu said the last message he received from his son in law at 1.26pm yesterday was: “We are going back to Nuku on the same PMV empty handed and hungry”.

 “I read this text and had tears in my eyes,” an emotional Wangu wrote.

 “I am so angry when such happen to my people from Nuku including Yangkok and Lumi. They had sweated their guts to make ends meet and yet get robbed off for what they had worked hard for by our so called brothers from East Sepik.”

 

“As the First Secretary to the Governor of West Sepik Province I have been pushing for West Sepik to take an active role in the Agriculture Master Plan for the Greater Sepik. “

 

“I am arranging for the presentation for what has been done in East Sepik to be presented before the Governor of West Sepik and Provincial Administration coming Friday 14th August.

 

“This to be followed by Scoping Study for West Sepik Province. How can we have a Greater Sepik when such things happen to my people from Nuku,” he expressed his concern.

 

“I am making a special appeal on behalf of my people from Nuku to you our brothers from East Sepik along the Sepik Highway,” Wangu a former national goal keeper and a geologist said.

 

 

 

 

Papua New Guinea Police Minister Bryan Kramer updates about investigation into drug bust in Port Moresby

BY BRYAN KRAMER Police Minister

After a debriefing with the Commissioner for Police David Manning the Prime Minister James Marape issued a press statement to respond to the many misleading and baseless allegations being posted on social media in relation to the PNG's largest drug bust on 26th July 2020.

In his press statement Prime Minister provided the following facts. There is an ongoing investigation into the suspected importation of border controlled, dugs, (suspected to be cocaine) from Papua New Guinea to North Queensland Australia, by a Melbourne based organized crime syndicate utilizing a light aircraft VH-TSI.

The group allegedly facilitated a flight on a light aircraft to PNG on the morning of 26 July 2020, where a member of the group (a pilot) attempted to collect the illicit cargo.

Intelligence reports indicated the consignment of drugs arrived by sea sometime back in March 2020 for shipment to Australia.

On Sunday 26th July 2020, between 1pm and 2:30pm the aircraft crashed while attempting to take-off from a remote airstrip at Papa Lea Lea, north of Port Moresby.

About 11:45am on 28 July 2020, the pilot an Australian National David Cutmore, 52 years of age presented himself to the Australian High Commission in PNG.

On the afternoon of 28 July 2020 Cutmore was arrested by RPNGC under Section 16(1)(a) of the Migration Act and remains in Immigration Custody, accommodated at the Bomana Immigration Detention Centre undertaking 14 days in quarantine.

On the afternoon of 30 July 2020, a search warrant was executed at Sunset Village Resort Papa Lea Lea Village, An item linked to the Melbourne based syndicate was located at the Sunset Village Resort. Following the search a PNG National Shane Dikana was arrested.

On 31st July 2020, the Pilot, Cutmore appeared before District Court on the charge illegal entry in PNG. He pleaded guilty and the Court issued a fine of K3,000.00.

On 4th August 2020 RPNGC arrested an Italian citizen, a captain of a yacht, MV Badu who arrived in PNG on 24 March 2020. It is alleged he shipped the drug consignment into PNG and been in contact with a member of the Melbourne Syndicate two years earlier.

RPNGC searched the yacht, discovering a small amount of cocaine which he claimed was for personal use.

On 6th August 2020 RPNGC executed search warrants for a premises linked to one of the arrested PNG Nationals - they uncovered three bags similar to the bags that were used to transport the cocaine. This discover indicated that may be upto 100 blocks/kilograms (20 per bag) of cocaine unaccounted for.

Today 10th August 2020 Police laid further charges against the pilot, Cutmore under Section 47(1)(a) of Pandemic Act - failing to comply with international travel order. He was also charged under Section 151(2)(a) of Customs Act - offences in relation Narcotic Drugs - where the penalty is K50,000 or upto 10 years imprisonment or both.

Police also laid smuggling charges against the captain and Italian citizen - an offence under Section 49 of Customs Act. An offence that also attracts a penalty is K50,000 or upto 10 years imprisonment or both.

Similar charges were also laid against the three PNG Nationals who were arrested for their part in aiding and abetting in illegal import and smuggling of drugs into PNG.

AFP have arrested five members of Melbourne based criminal syndicate - with alleged links to Italian organized crime for conspiring to import over 500kg of cocaine form PNG into Australia. If convicted all five men are facing life imprisonment.

The Queensland Joint Organized Crime Task Force, working closely with the Victoria Police and RPNGC will allege the group traveled from Melbourne and Sydney to Atherton between 19th & 25th July 2020 with the plan of carrying out the importation and collection of cocaine from PNG, estimated to be valued at more than $80 million.

This is an excellent example of co-operation between the RPNGC and AFP.

"Stop speculation and rumors as the investigations are on-going. All involved in the any form in the illicit drug trade will be investigated and arrested if found to be involved or have benefited in any way." Prime Minister said.

He went onto to say Marape Steven Government will vigorously defend our borders from transnational crimes, especially the illicit drug trades.

ReplyForward

Masks and sanitizers supplied to Papua New Guinea Defence Force

 

The Controller of the COVID-19 National Pandemic Response and Police Commissioner David Manning yesterday issued 4,000 boxes (consisting of 200,000 face masks) and hand sanitizers to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel today at the National Control Centre in Port Moresby.

 

Mr Manning said that it was very important that the members of the Joint Agency Task Force, especially the PNG Defence Force, Police and the Correctional Services who provide the security overlay for the National COVID-19 Pandemic Response are given all the protection required to keep themselves safe whilst they assist the health authorities fight the virus.

 

“Already we have seen an increase in the frontline health workers. We provide the next level of support in this fight and if we are not protected then we could also add to the COVID-19 statistics.

 

“So far I have arranged for masks and hand sanitisers for the National Control Centre, the National Police Headquarters, the Bomana Police College and the NCD police as well as for the PNG Correctional Services nationwide.

 

“I intend to secure the necessary PPEs for policemen and women throughout the country in the coming days,” Mr Manning said.

 

Deputy Director Special Services Division Chief Inspector Luvi Florian when presenting the supplies on behalf of Controller David Manning to Major Jack Aria said it is important to protect the frontline officers who are protecting the borders and assisting the frontline health workers in fighting COVID-19.

 

Chief Inspector Florian said, “The PNG Defence Force provides vital assistance in the effort to contain COVID-19 and continue to be in the frontline manning the borders. Thus, the Controller has seen it necessary to equip all officers including those in the PNG Defence Force, the Police Force and the Correctional Services to be self-protected before assisting the health workers in this pandemic operation.”

 

Major Jack Aria thanked the Controller on behalf of the PNG Defence Force for the timely assistance.

“On behalf of the PNGDF Commander, I acknowledge this assistance that will surely boost the troops in our operations. We are committed and will continue to stand united as we face this enemy. Together we will win this battle,” Major Aria said.

 

A total of 4,000 mask and hand sanitizers were delivered to the PNGDF and will be distributed among its members.