Accident Investigation Commission probes Air Niugini

By Rocky Issou

The Acting Board Chairman of the PNG Accident Investigation Commission (AIC), Captain Aria Bouraga, has announced that the AIC has commenced an investigation into a serious incident involving a Fokker 70 aircraft that experienced cabin pressurisation event on descent into Jacksons Airport, Port Moresby earlier this week on Monday February 20, 2023 at about 4pm.

The aircraft was reportedly operating a scheduled domestic flight from Jacksons Airport, Port Moresby to Kagamuga Airport, Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province when it conducted an air return back to Port Moresby due to weather conditions not being suitable for a landing in Mt Hagen. During descent into Port Moresby, the aircraft reportedly sustained a pressurization issue.

There were a total of 67 persons on board which included 2 infants. On disembarking the aircraft at Jacksons Airport, a passenger of the occurrence flight alerted Air Niugini Customer Service that a few passengers from the flight were bleeding from the ears and nose. On assessing the injured passengers, Air Niugini Customer Service then activated a response plan and had the injured passengers transported to Pacific International Hospital for further medical assessment.

It was reported that a total of 22 persons were injured; 7 persons had serious injuries and were admitted, 6 persons were under review, and 9 persons were discharged from the hospital.

“We have had 4 occurrences in this month alone and the AIC has been working around the clock to ensure that all accident site investigations are conducted fully and best practices for appropriate safety lessons are learned. I urge all operators to take proper precautions and ensure that appropriate safety standards are maintained.” Captain Bouraga said.

Captain Bouraga has stated that the AIC has maintained its compliance with its mandate and Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation for the conduct of investigations and will do its best to maintain

these standards and quality, considering the significant budget constraints for its operations.

Hon Keith Iduhu

This is a video of Hon Keith Iduhu speaking in Parliament

Gambling in Papua New Guinea

 This is what you see with higher roller machines

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

 How my son sings 

Lihir Investment Trust Fund

 

BY RICHARD MARU

PNG Minister for International Trade

For the first time in over 24 years after approving the Pacific Balance Fund (PBF) and the Pacific Property Trust as Unit Trust Schemes, the Securities Commission of Papua New Guinea (SCPNG) today approved the Lihirian Investment Fund Unit Trust as a new Unit Trust Scheme in the local securities industry. The wholly owned subsidiary of Mineral Resources Lihir (MLR) Capital Limited, the MRL Funds Management Limited made history by being granted two Capital Licenses by SCPNG. As the Minister for International Trade and Investment, I made the presentation of the two licenses- a Trustee Mangers License and Funds Management License to MLR Funds Management Limited today.

I want to congratulate the Board and Management of MRL Capital Limited for achieving this very significant milestone. The Lihirian Investment Fund Unit Trust was granted the two licenses based on their performance and on their record where they managed the fund from the initial value of K60 million in 2015 to K700 million today. This represents an annual growth rate of an average of 10 per cent of this fund which is a very impressive record of performance. I am also happy that MLR Capital Limited out of their annual profit of K100 million to K200 million uses 25% to support community projects in Lihir especially in health, education and infrastructure.

On behalf of the Marape-Rosso Government, I encouraged Lihirian Investment Fund Unit Trust to also look at managing funds from other individuals and companies around the country apart from Lihir. The people, especially our mothers and fathers and our SMEs are looking for low-risk and high yielding investment opportunities and the Lihirian Investment Fund Unit Trust presents a very good investment vehicle for them.

I also encouraged Lihirian Investment Fund Unit Trust to partner the Marape-Rosso Government to invest in low-risk investment opportunities in the Special Economic Zones that will be announced in May this year. One of the reasons why I am excited about today is if the Lihirian Investment Fund Unit Trust can grow these funds, they can take up investments in high yielding low-risk agriculture investments. I would really like to encourage the Lihirian Investment Fund Unit Trust to seriously look at long-term agriculture investments in Papua New Guinea. Our country needs billions of Kina in new investments to grow the economy so supporting high performing funds managed by competent fund managers is a key policy agenda of the Marape-Rosso Government to support economic growth.

I want to also encourage other landowners in areas with resource projects to follow the successful path of the MLR Capital Limited.

Drunk public servant crashes vehicle

 

Port Moresby police have reported that a man inebriated by liquor crashed his government issued vehicle into a property along Lawes Road, Port Moresby early today.

The grey double cabin utility was speeding down hill when it veered off the road and crashed into a residental yard at around 2.45am today.

The lone driver was injured upon impact and was taken to the hospital according to NCD Police Traffic investigators.

The mangled vehicle is still inside the residental yard and the driver will be questioned and charged when he is discharged from the hospital.

Public have decried the incident very concerned that public funds were being wasted and how have such persons been recruited to the public service.

One said government vehicles should be parked as of 4.06pm after every working day

By Arthur Smedley. An account by Kiap George Oakes

 Starting a DC-3 at Palmalmal, New Britain, Papua New Guinea.  About 1961.  

Courtesy of George Oakes.  Here is George's story of what happened.

In about 1961, when I was the Patrol Officer at Pomio, on the south coast of New Britain, we would go over to Palmalmal to meet the DC3 on its flight from Lae to Rabaul every fortnight. On one occasion the plane landed and had over 20 passengers on board. After the pilot had organised people getting off and on and unloading cargo for us they all boarded the plane to go to Rabaul. The pilot went to start the motor: nothing happened. The battery was flat.

The pilot got out and asked if we had a long rope which the plantation manager at Palmalmal soon found. The pilot then twisted the end of the rope around one of the propellers like starting a top then got back in the plane and when he gave the signal about a dozen of us pulled hard on the rope: nothing happened.

We then attached the end of the rope to the tractor and the tractor driver waited for the signal from the pilot and then drove as fast as possible away from the plane: the engine started to everyone's relief. Once the pilot got one engine going it was no problem to start the second. He was then able to take off for Rabaul.

The pilot told us he had a party in Lae he wanted to attend. We people on the ground heaved a mighty sigh of relief as we did not know how we could look after over 20 passengers for the night if the pilot had to wait for another battery to be delivered.

The pilot said no photos please, however, several months later I was sent some photos of what had happened. I had not realised a DC3 could be started this way.