Gaire's black beach: Your weekend getaway destination

 I have not been to the black beach at Gaire, east of Port Moresby until this weekend.

Just a 30 minutes slow drive.

What a surprise for me.

It's a soft tourism initiative that has actually become famous for city residents outings.

A swim at the black beach, a BBQ on the waterfront and under the shady coconut palm trees and enjoy care free drinks.

Fresh coconuts are also on sale and they are absolutely juicy going for K1.00 and larger ones K2.00.

When I was there, there were several cars and families having an outing.

Well each car that drives in pays K20.

Not a bad cost I'd say.

May be the owners can just set up a good men and women's rest room.

But for alcohol consumers, rest assured the Black Beach Tavern will serve you well.

Indeed the operator, says they have the cheapest price on alcohols.

An SP Green Can goes at K6.50 and a Kundu Can goes at K5.50.

Prices are below Port Moresby's tucker shops or black markets.

Sooner there will be bungalows and nice set up for the Black Beach Tavern so do check it out.

But take your family out there and unwind with a BBQ , swim and chats.

Sogeri pineapple festival launched

BY GAILE KIVALI

A festival to preserve, safeguard  and promote  the culture of Koiari People in Kairuku-Hiri District of Central province was launched on Friday.

The Pineapple Festival was launched under the Destination Sogeri Tourism Association Incorporated by Central Province Governor Robert Agarobe, National Cultural Commission (NCC) Executive Director Steven Enomb Kilanda and Kairuku-Hiri Member Peter Isoaimo.

Governor Agarobe presented K86,300, Isoaimo supported with a K20, 000 and NCC with a K10, 000.

The associations Erigere Singin says the festival is a motivational event to generate income for development in Koiari.

"The association was formed 12 months ago. We register it just recently. But the show of support in such short notice is incredibly humbling and motivating at the same time," she said.

Governor Agarobe said this was in line with the provincial development plan pillars three pillars for economic growth.

"We have Agriculture, Tourism, and Sports as the three pillars to change the province," Agarobe.

He said tourism is a mechanism that will motivate locals such as the Koiari people to change their mindsets, which in turn will bring change in their way of life, which will be a positive factor to drive development.  

The festival  will be held on the 21st to the 22 of November. There will be kayaking at the Sirinomu Dam, Cycling and Running. 

NCC's Steven Enomb Kilanda has  urged the locals to preserve, safeguard and promote their cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, the association consists of less then 10 members, a mixture of males and females.

Australian High Commission Second Secretary (Political) Yasmine Davis was also there to witness the launching. 

"Everywhere, most jobs are male nominated. Here I can see that women are also been included and is such a great sight," Davis said.

 

PNG to get around 65% economic benefit from Pasca Gas project

Prime Minister James Marape, yesterday, announced the outcome of negotiations for the development of Papua New Guinea’s first offshore development project, the PASCA Offshore Petroleum Project. 

 

“Following intensive negotiations between the State Negotiation Team (SNT) and Twinza Oil Limited, in principle agreement has been reached to move forward with developing a new offshore processing site in the Gulf of Papua,” he said. 

The agreed terms are consistent with the Government’s negotiation parameters and will lead to significant long-term economic benefits for the nation. 

 
“The terms agreed reflect the substantial technical work carried out by the Department of Petroleum and Energy, Twinza Oil Limited and the State Negotiating Team, leading to the best possible deal for the people of our nation,” Mr Marape said. 

Under the terms agreed, the State will achieve between 61 and 65 per cent of economic benefits, early revenue, provincial and direct economic benefits through a two per cent Development Levy and royalties of 2 per cent of gross revenue, access to LPG discounted by 30 per cent for national consumption at five per cent, guaranteed, and a commitment to develop a detailed National Content Plan within six to 12 months of the signing of the gas agreement. 

“This is a significant outcome for Papua New Guinea.  It reflects the Marape-Steven Government’s commitment to deliver a better and fairer share for the people of our country.  
“The project will deliver immediate economic benefits on production, downstream processing capability and domestic market access, and real local content to benefit and empower local Papua New Guinean workers,” he said. 

Key features of the negotiated terms also include fixed revenue to the State through agreed taxation arrangements, back-in-rights at 25 per cent at the time the fixed investment decision (FID) is made, or earlier if agreed, third party access as required by law to facilitate future discoveries, aggregation by the operator if new fields are discovered, which will enjoy the same fiscal terms under the terms of the Gas Agreement, and incentives for the operator to conduct more drilling within the licenced Pasca A area.  

“This outcome demonstrates the value of firm negotiations and partnership in seeking to deliver the best deal for both the State and the operator,” Mr Marape said. 

Source: Post Courier

Prime Minister James Marape delivers his second Independence address

 

BY ELIAS NANAU

Patriotic Papua New Guineans defied the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and turned up in hordes at the Independence Hill this morning in Port Moresby witnessing the 45^th occasion of the flag raising ceremony commemorating Independence.

 

Prime Minister James Marape in his second Independence address wore a similar kind of knitted woolen pullover his shirt and tie like he did last year.

The pullover is in PNG signature colours- designs of the southern cross stars and bird of paradise were gallantly stood out in the early morning ceremony.

His 20 minutes address was about challenging citizens to do better for the country collaboratively, and he promised children of Papua New Guinea that his government would do better as far as development is concerned and that they live happily.

“That is why as Prime Minister I have commenced the work of restoring good governance, empowering our people, and shifting the balance back to national interest, rather than the interest of a small few,” he said.

Marape has acknowledged the first Prime Minister Michael Somare and his colleague politicians Sir Julius Chan who are both today celebrating Independence in Kavieng.

“We have the hindsight of the last 45 years to guide us into the next 45 years and I am confident the future is bright,” Marape said.

 

He was four years old in 1975 when he witnessed the flag being raised at remote Nomad, Western Province when his dad was a Seventh Day Adventist pastor there.

In a space of time, he was elected as the eight Prime Minister and privileged to be delivering a speech at Independence Hill.

He said nothing was impossible and appreciating that, people must be inspired to achieve things acknowledging God as the centre of delivering change.

“In our country, our God Yahweh has blessed us with agriculture, fisheries, forestry, water, cultures, biodiversity, minerals, oil and gas. This is why we can become the richest black Christian nation on earth, where no one person is left behind,” Marape said.

He reflected that this was the vision in 1975.

“But to get to our destination of a well developed nation, each of us must play a role.”

“All of us must commit to building a Papua New Guinea that future Papua New Guineans will be proud of,” he said.

 

He has appealed to young children like his daughter was dressed in the Huli attire and attended the ceremony  that they can contribute to the country’s future by being law abiding students who support their parents, maintaining faith on God and study hard so that they can make a difference to the future of Papua New Guinea.

 

Papua New Guinea family paints Melbourne Storm in front of their canteen

 

The NRL games are played thousands of miles down under but for the mad Papua New Guinea fanatics, it’s religious. They are glued to their TV week in week out watching their teams compete.

 A family who owns this tucker shop at Garden Hills in Port Moresby has gone out their way, bought paints and beautified their shop with the Melbourne Storm colours. They are creating a Storm. Jack Talai says the whole family is Melbourne Storm when it comes to watching and barracking an NRL team and they decided to paint the canteen “Storm”. Well for two things, they are confident the Storm are winning the grand final and this is marketing when all Storm fans around the suburb will flock to their J Motz canteen. Hang out here when the Melbourne Storm are playing, rolling on tries or when Justin Olam is in action and the cheer goes off the roof. Good luck in 2020

Post Courier librarian logs 28 years

Passion and commitment working as a librarian archiving Papua New Guinea’s historical events recorded as news and pictures have made Lydia Veali, 56, from Babaka village in the Central Province a keeper of priceless history.

 

Based at Lawes Rd, Konedobu in Port Moresby and somewhat the beauty and queen of Post Courier, she has registered 28 years of loyal service to the company on August 17, 2020.

In 2017 she lost her husband and is now survived by two adult male children and grandchildren.

Something she is proud of and undoubtedly makes her happy, dressed and sparkled always during her work.

Everyone who has walked in and out of Post Courier surely remembers her face and her glows in the library.

“I see very important things here,” she said.

“We have calls from overseas from members who were here in the 1960’s and 70’s.”

“We have files here. It’s very important to keep these records.”

Out of the thousands of files and events, Veali attested the country’s independence event in 1975 is well kept at Post Courier library.

“We have the history here. We keep it,” she said.

She describes the historical information as a gold mine for the country.

Before she joined Post Courier in 1992 as a 28 year old, she was working at Burns Philip- a cash and carry chain of business and she was featured in a couple of advertisements in the newspaper promoting various electrical products.

Being at a privileged position now, she plucks out from the archives and marvels at her past in the advertisements.

 

Joining Post Courier she started as a receptionist for five years and later moved to being the librarian till now.

She said that’s the love of the job. “Few people come work, they go, they come back.”

She has appealed to young people to have commitment in their career.

Struggling to hide her tears, she removed her glassed and mentioned Aiteli Venudi who recently retired from Post Courier as a forklift driver.

He had clocked 50 years-just as old as Post Courier.

For Veali, she was not only an employee but a promoter of sports and actively gets involved even now at 56 and struggling with her knees.

Last year she led the Post Courier netball team to a grand final as player and coach.

She said: “I was popular in sports.”

“When  I came, I wasn’t new. I wasn’t new to sports reporters.”

She mentioned reporters Martin Liri, Sinclaire Solomon and photographers Auri Eva and William Williando to name a few.

Fifteen years repping PNG in netball, she retired after competing in the Mini South Pacific Games in Vanuatu in 1993, a year after she joined Post Courier.

Her international and local experience had been invaluable to Post Courier netball.

“I was coach and player at the same time,” she said.

Her late husband also took part in Post Courier’s social activities.

“Father was involved in company snooker team,”Veali said.

“He played with Blaise Nangoi.”

Few Papua New Guineans commit to one employer in their lifetime.

For her: “Well the company takes care of me. I like to thank the company for taking care of me.”

“I have been really loyal and committed to the company.”

Aside from working late to find priceless historical picture or news following a query, she is at netball.

Her young colleague Deborah Enaha and her on a daily basis archive news and pictures at the library.

They play a significant role assisting journalists and people querying about past news or photographs.

 

If you would like to seek historical information from Post Courier you best contact is lveali@spp.com.pg or call 3091000.

 

PNG female Elsie Albert to play in Australian league grand final

BY KEVIN TEME

PNG Oil Search Orchids Captain Elsie Albert has set history to be a first Papua New Guinea local woman to crack into the top Women’s rugby league competition in Australia.

 

Apart from Albert, overseas based Amelia Kuk made the lime light playing for the Brisbane Broncos and later played for the Aussie Roos (the Australian Women’s national rugby league team).

For the Pangia lass, her dream of playing overseas came through straight after leading the Orchids 20-16 over English (England) women in November last year and was signed up by the Souths Logan Magpies in the Holcim Cup in Brisbane.

Albert is among four PNG women including Therese Aiton, Amelia Kuk and Yvonne Dela Cruze all current Orchids players signed by Magpies in the season 2020 Holcim Cup.

The other notable PNG Orchid player is Gemma Schnaubelt playing for last year’s champion team, the West Brisbane Panthers.

In an exclusive interview in Brisbane today, Albert confirmed that they were three Australian women’s National Rugby League teams contacting her including New Zealand Warriors, Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra Dragons.

Despite the COVID-19 which nearly shattered Albert’s dream, she was able to extend her visa to complete her season with the Magpies.

Holcim Cup competition being one of the avenue for top NRL scouts, Albert’s performance week in and week out proved a handful and this has paved her way to be scouted by various NRL clubs.

It is certain that the Pangia lass from Southern Highlands will sign up with the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Although it’s not official as yet, sources within her team members confirmed that she has signed with one of the NRL clubs.

This is certainly a dream come true for her given her short One year stint With the Magpies.

Albert when contacted today said she was shocked when she received the phone calls but didn’t want to  break the news as it wasn’t yet official.

She said her visa was another obstacle and could not say much when this paper asked to confirm her signing with the Dragons.

However just today (yesterday), Albert received a call from the Foreign Affairs and Immigration department that her bridging visa was approved.

“ I just want to thank the good Lord almighty for listening to my prayers. I was worried that I will not be given a visa after I over stayed my visa due to Covid-19,” Albert said.

Despite battling to get her visa sorted out, Albert stood out in every game for the Magpies scoring tries in every game she played.

Her devastating form as well as a blistering form from her PNG play mates including Aiton, Kuk and Cruze made it also possible for the Magpies to go into the grand final this Saturday (tomorrow). Bears has won two of the three outing against the Magpies and will be out in full force to keep their dominance over the Magpies who proved all critics wrong to make the grand final this year.

For Albert, it’s a icing on the cake for her career given the fact she had never played a normal rugby league competition back in PNG.

Her call up to the Dragons is a boost also for her as she prepares to lead the Magpies into the grand final tomorrow.