Social media blamed for misinforming people about 'mandatory' vaccination

 

Papua New Guinea Pandemic Controller David Manning has issued  a statement on Friday that a purported peaceful march set for November 1 against mandatory vaccination has not been approved.

Manning stressed vaccination is not mandatory but voluntary.

This has been voiced by the Prime Minister James Marape as well but apparently businesses and government departments are placing rules that otherwise impute vaccination to be mandatory for entering a work place or building.

Manning said: "We are in a pandemic that is affecting the globe. PNG is no exception," 

He has blamed social media for  misinforming people.

" Vaccination is not mandatory and remains a personal choice," Manning said.

 

He said whoever is caught spreading this false information causing pubic tension will be arrested and dealt with accordingly.

 

"Under the National Pandemic Act 2020, I as Controller, have issued a number of measures aimed at mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus. One such measure includes the ban of gatherings of more than 20 persons. This planned protest march is therefore not approved and against the efforts of the PNG government in stopping the spread of the virus."

Manning said the decision to decide specific measures for provinces rests in the provincial administration apparatus set up to tackle the pandemic.

The NCD Provincial Health Authority, the NCD City Manager and the Office of the NCD Metropolitan Superintendent as a body is entrusted with deciding measures specific to the NCD and this includes whether to have a lock-down or not. This body, together with the National Control Centre, also approves events and activities within the city. Accordingly, this body, nor the NCC  have approved this planned protest march for Monday.

Manning said the protest if staged would be illegal.

" Organizers of this march will be identified and dealt with. NCD police have been directed to stop any gathering of more than 20 people around the city," he said.

Help donate to Jenny from Enga

 Almost a week ago Jenny Wato from Enga suffered tremendous loss of property and personal belongings when they were set ablaze by a violent group of people.

She was innocent.

She was caught in between violence by two groups and just because her properties were within the violent zone-she copped it.

Jenny and her partner could not defend their property.

The community could not.

The state could not protect her neither.

The trauma and suffering were enormous.

She cried when she spoke to a television camera.

She lived at Garden Hills for nearly 30 years and off course she was popular.

Today the Garden Hills Estate community went for a donation drive appealing to residents to donate what they can to help Jenny bounce back.

This is comforting.

This is the true gesture of our Melanesian culture.

We hope anyone who reads this and want to donate can contact the person whose detail is on the poster.

Your little help goes a long way to help a fellow Melanesian.

Who protects Papua New Guinea citizens from being attacked?

 A woman from Enga. Jenny Wato lost a property worth about K 3 million following a violent incident that gripped the Garden Hills Estate in Port Moresby on Saturday, 23rd October, 2021.

The front of her shop leased to a Pakistani national

The violence lasted for six hours without any intervention from police.

The violence stemmed from a confrontation between youths from the Garden Hills settlement and the estate over hold up and thievery of a portable bluetooth speaker by settlement youths.

In the ensuing days and moments as things got heated up, each group attacked each other and two men from the settlement were killed, allegedly by a police officer who lives at the estate.

His nephew was the victim of the holdup and theft of a bluetooth speaker on Friday.

Port Moresby police are investigating all circumstantial facts surrounding the incidents.

It is unfortunate two lives have been lost.

For Jenny, an innocent citizen who lived at the estate for 30 years, she has practically been reduced to zero as far as her assets and bank account is concerned.

She has lost a store, and a fully furnished three bedroom upstairs home with a bottom split two bedroom units.

She told the media the property earns her around K12,000 a month

The stand off lasted for six hours and calls were made to police but for the six hours, there was no response to the scene.

Papua New Guineans should be asking whether the government can protect its citizens from any harm.

This is a red flag. 

Reports of women being sexually abused during the six hour violence have not come out but that happened.

The government had surely failed its citizens.

Governor for New Ireland happy with road progress

 

Returning from his weekend of custom at Nokon, New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan departed Huris in the morning on Monday but detoured to Lossuk, Lavolai, Bagatere, to Kaut road. Sir J  was thrilled that the entire trip took only six hours from Huris to Lossuk to Lovolai and Bagatere and Kaut and  onwards to Kavieng town.  “Just a decade ago, this would have been impossible by car.  It was only a walking track, and would have taken days at least to complete, if you could do it at all,” Sir J said.

 

The progress he saw was beyond his expectations because of very steep hills. The late Wally Lussick  as Regional member 50 years ago made numerous calls in the House of Assembly to link Bagatere on the west coast to the East coast of Tikana. “ As I drove through the labyrinth of junctions I can hear Wally’s voice. I know Wally is smiling from above to see this virgin rainforest now opened up for the people of Tikana. And Obed Boas who succeeded Wally would support this project as he was the MP who started NAKMAI Company which I launched 50 years ago.” said Sir J.

 

 

The road was originally called Chan road but will be renamed Bokap crossing after former Kavieng Open  member Daniel Bokap. 

 

In memory of these great leaders Sir J said he would  do everything to ensure the speedy completion of the project. Not only because this vital project links to the long forgotten people but will be a legacy project for the Deputy Governor and President of  Tikana . “For a long time I have been expressing my disappointment at the slow pace of the contractor MAYNIPS. But today I am amazed and more than satisfied at the current state and progress of the road works. Many could never  have imagined that a road of this quality could finally be built, and I commend local contractor MAYNIPS for taking on this difficult and challenging job,” said Sir J.

 

He gave his word that his Government would do everything to ensure the speedy completion of the project. “One thing I will not tolerate is the Gor Gor blocking of this important project for my people. Some people just don’t appreciate how difficult it is to fast track projects. We must work together to ensure it is completed for the benefit of all.”

 

Sir J also received the report of the road from contractor Greg Tobareng before making his way to Kavieng. Sir J is content that the work will be a legacy project.  He concluded by saying “This road is another example of the basic commitment of my Government to all the People of New Ireland.  I have said it many times before: The further you are, the more we care. I mean it. We stand proud that Bagatere is completed on time.”

 

Just like Kaut, Tome, Lokono and Panapai roads without the People’s Progress Party Government’s deliberate support these roads would still be village tracks.

 

New Ireland Governor’s School of Excellence Program to be Gradually Phased Out

 

A total of 27 students will be severely affected by the discontinuation of the New Ireland Government’s Governor’s School of Excellence Program.

 

This comes after Lihir Royalties that is the major source of funding have been transferred to the Namatanai and Kavieng District Authorities.

 

The implications for the students include their parents not being able to afford the International Standard Education School fees, Securing spaces in other NIP schools will be difficult as they are already full, safe and timely transfer of students academic record remains a risk, unless it is managed well by higher Authorities such as the head of the Department of Education and Provincial Education Board.

 

To help remedy the foreseeable implications the New Ireland Government during its Provincial Executive Council meeting on Tuesday moved to financially support the current batch of Scholarship students until they complete their Education at the OLSH International School.

 

The Governor’s School of Excellence was established in 2019. The program is part of the seven components of the New Ireland Government’s Free and Subsidized Education Policy. This program has two key components School of Excellence and Teacher Excellence Program.

 

The goal of the program is to increase the level of student’s academic performance  and teacher performance in the province. Which has been successfully achieved and ideally this Government wishes to continue these scholarships  but funds used for Education subsidies and other projects were transferred illegally over to the two District Development Authorities making it impossible to sustain budgeted projects and programs.

 

The Scholarships are offered to the top performing primary and secondary school students from the outer and more rural parts of the province to undertake the excellence program implemented or run in an international standard learning environment.

 

Updating the Provincial Executive Council, CEO for Government Subsidy Mactil Bais said “Since 2019 the New Ireland Government has gone way beyond its target by issuing 94 scholarships, almost 100% more.”

 

In 2020 nine pioneer scholars graduated with a grade 12 certificate. “ They all performed exceptionally well and secured placements in various Tertiary Institutions across the country.

 

New Ireland is now ranked one of the top five performing provinces with its grade 10’s ranked 3^rd  in the country and grade 12’s ranked 5th in the country.

 

This is a big improvement from its ranking of second last in the country 10 years ago.

 

NIP Media Unit

 

Picture Caption: Governor Sir J with Students from the OLSH Governors school of Excellence during a recent meeting at the New Ireland Assembly.

 

 

 

New Ireland Council of Elders Conference Venue Change

 

The annual Council of Elders Conference planned to be held for the first time at Boliu Secondary School in the Murat LLG from the 21^st and 22^nd of this month has now been changed to Kavieng.

 

The PEC, at its special meeting on 8^th October 2021, made decision to change Boliu as the venue due to the sudden change in the Covid 19 Protocols which has also affected the school examinations and other works necessary to hold this annual event.

 

The last Council of Elders Conference held at Lambom last year was very exciting and everyone was looking forward to holding the next meeting at Murat on Boliu Secondary school.

 

The Chairman of the Elders Council and Legislative Assembly Rep, Hon. Linson Aaron, regretted the sudden unexpected circumstances leading to the change of venue to Kavieng. 

Papua New Guinea pioneer aviator dies

Captain David Inau from Sapuain village in the East Sepik Province has died.

He had a colorful career in aviation.

He was inspired by Bishop Leo Arkfeld who and joined the military and went for aviation training at Point Cook in Victoria, Australia.

Inau made history flying solo on a military aircraft from Melbourne to Papua New Guinea.

When the military suspended him after a landing incident in Western Province he became a commercial pilot.

He used to fly the Caravan for Vanair owned by Garamut in Vanimo.

Once he landed in Green River along the hinterland from Vanimo.

There was a passenger in Moses Inau the late Inau was puzzled how they shared the same surname.

He then told Moses to just get on the plane.

Captain Inau was the lead on establishing the police Air Transport Wing and he flew the helicopter.

Some of his recent work were with the Accidents Investigations Commission as CEO and helping out with the Catholic Diocese in Vanimo.

Many aviators and everyone else who knew him are offering their consolences.

Rest In Peace Captain David Inau