Change in executive management at Telefomin District

District Administrator assumes role at provincial headquarters

“It is a promotional transfer. In your life as a public servant you have to move up and make progress.”

These were the final words by the Minister for Works and Highways and Member for Telefomin Hon. Solan Mirisim when bidding farewell to the outgoing District Administrator Nemsin Kibisep and Deputy DA  Anselem Mani.

Mr. Kibisep served Telefomin District for 11 years as the District Administrator prior to his promotional transfer to Vanimo.

Mr Mani also serves Telefomin District for 9 years as the Deputy DA and 2 years as the Acting DA before his promotion.

Minister Mirisim in bidding his farewell thanked the two senior officials for their outstanding service to the people of Telefomin despite the many challenges. 

“When I took office in 2012 as Member elect for Telefomin you both stood with me. I was the political head giving direction. You were the implementers. The many changes in the district since 2012 is because of the working relationship we foster together over the years.

“On behalf of the 82 council wards, four LLGs and 50,000 plus people of Telefomin District I take my hats off to you both for your distinguished public service and wish you both the best of luck in you promotional transfer to Vanimo.

I know the people will miss your leadership but this is life and we need to move on and move up. If and when the district will require any of your service you are just a phone call away.”

Mirisim said this is also the first time to see a smooth transition of the DA & Deputy DA post without any hiccups. 

He further stated that Telefomin will always have a special place for Mr. Kibisep and Mr. Mani.

He urged the public servants to continue to function during the transition period and allow due process to take place. 

He appealed to his people to understand the process and embrace this change.

Outgoing DA  Kibisep thanked the people of Telefomin,  public servants and the Minister Mirisim for the last 11 years serving them. 

He said during his 36 years serving as a DA in various Districts, Telefomin is the most challenging district to manage.

He urged the public servants to remain committed to serving the people and work together with the MP to help develop the district. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Anselem Mani will act as the District Administrator while a permanent appointment is made and Mr. Joe Yoboi will act as the Deputy DA.

Tabubil to Telefomin road to connect by Christmas 2023

The Tabubil-Telefomin road completion will impact businesses in 2024. 

Will it be different in Telefomin after the road is delivered in December 25 2023, yes or no?

BY KEVIN BONG

Minister Solan Mirisim has bravely calendared the Prime Minister James Marape to overnight in Telefomin on the 25th of December 2023. The entourage is expected to drive from Kiunga to Telefomin by road for the first time. As promised James Marape will deliver the Tabubil-Telefomin road to the people of Telefomin. This emancipation is the brave focus of these leaders many months ahead of their busy schedule. This clearly indicates their determination and seriousness to liberate their people through accessibility. As this access road creeps closer to Telefomin I am beginning to retract my feeling away from just the road and connectivity and think about Mirisim-Marape connectivity as a package. Thus, we should have an underlying reason for us to receive this road from James Marape then to just ‘receive the road’. 

The construction of this new road into remote area of Telefomin will trigger significant impacts on the local community and environment. The local leaders, Telefomin DDA and the government must be looking ahead to promote socio economic viability with its people to celebrate with their road. Here are some basic things that the Telefomin people can do to prepare for the new road with the help of their leaders and government.:

Elias Nanau with dancers from Telefomin during the swearing in of TDDC members in 2020

What I am listing are simple and basic but has a lot of weight.

1. Plan for increased traffic: With the construction of the new road into Telefomin, there will likely be an increase in traffic to the area. The current roads are muddy, bumpy and substandard. This could impact the local economy as well as the environment. The community and leaders can prepare for this by developing plans for managing traffic flow and ensuring that roads and infrastructure are in good condition. Develop better town roads with better and sizable pebbles from a quarry. 

2. Develop emergency response plans: The new road could also bring new risks, such as accidents and natural disasters. The community and leaders should develop emergency response plans to ensure that they are prepared to deal with any emergencies that may arise. This will require a detail and systematic support from appropriate governments.

3. Protect the environment: The construction of the road could also have an impact on the local environment, such as deforestation and soil erosion. The community and leaders should work to protect the environment by implementing sustainable practices and protecting important habitats and species. Not only that but the boundaries and corridors of this road must be carefully demarcated and protected. 

4. Plan for economic opportunities: The new road will bring economic opportunities to the area, such as increased tourism and trade. The community and leaders should plan for these opportunities by developing businesses and infrastructure to support them. The government’s vision of SME spread must truly flourish here.

5. Engage with the government and contractors: The government and contractors responsible for the construction of the road should be engaged in discussions with the community to ensure that their concerns and needs are being heard and addressed. This will help to ensure that the road is built in a way that is beneficial to the community and minimizes negative impacts.

The mastermind of this road is Solan Mirisim, no doubt. The administration of DDA and LLG must propagate and offer the current MP the support to think about economic viability and road sustainability.

The earlier cry of Telefomin, “ Give me the road and leave me alone” can not become a reality if the above are not addressed.

Whilst the leaders are summoned to deliver this road with its impact, the people must show course towards this new infrastructure and the leaders’ effort.

Telefomin people must be willing to embrace this road with care and make good use.

Yes PNG can end Tuberculosis

Yes, We Can End TB 

In Papua New Guinea, World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is an important reminder of the urgent need to address the country's TB situation. 

TB is caused by bacteria known as Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and predominantly affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when a person with lung TB coughs, sneezes, or spits. Just a few germs are enough to infect someone. So living and working in overcrowded conditions is an important social risk factor for the easy spread of TB. 

Individuals infected with TB bacteria have a 5-10% risk of contracting the disease in their lifetime. However, the risk is higher among those with weakened immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnourishment, diabetes, or cigarette smokers.

Despite being preventable and treatable, TB remains the world's top infectious killer, with 10 million people worldwide falling ill with TB each year. 

In Papua New Guinea, the disease is a critical public health problem, with the country reporting 30,000 new cases each year.

An important challenge in TB management is that many people often turn to local witch doctors or sorcerers first for treatment and present late for medical attention. 

Symptoms of TB include cough for more than 2 weeks associated with bloody sputum, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. 

TB is curable, and treatment is free. Standard TB treatment is a course of 4 TB medications daily for 6 months.  The treatment cures the disease, reduces transmission, prevents drug resistance, relapse and death. 

Picture by World Bank

Poor compliance with treatment remains a challenge due to the long duration of treatment. An important program that we all can be a part of in our families and communities where we have TB is to partner with TB patients and help them take their medications via the Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) Program.  

By raising awareness, empowering communities, and offering support, Papua New Guinea can unite in the fight against TB - Yes, We Can End TB!

#TBDay #PNG #tuberculosis

Grapes grown and bearing fruits at Tokarara, Port Moresby

Words and pictures by Bonny Bonnsella

If Menyamya and Teptep in Morobe can grow apples, Tokarara suburb in hot Port Moresby grow and bear grapes.

This evidence with pictures below disproves the notion  that grapes cannot grow in Port Moresby.  

The Eastern Highlands has reported grapes being harvested.

Well at Tokarara in Port Moresby, Augustine Irakau from Kuluguma village on Manam Island, Bogia Distrct of  Madang Province has  grape plants bearing the juicy fruits

Augustine and his dear wife Anna Irakau bought the cuttings from a friend at Garden Hills in 2019, and the couple were advised that it will take three years to grow.

True to the words, the grapes flowered last year but due to bad weather pollination and successful bearing of the fruit did not turn out. 

In March of 2023, the Irakau couple witnessed something strange, -the vine was bearing healthy grapes from the spine to the branches.

If Irakau family can prove otherwise, PNG is truly a land blessed with so much potential when foreign countries exporting and protecting their own produce undermine our potential to grow and export our own organic produce.

Just simply ask Augustine and his wife Anna.

My bubu, 20 year old Anthonia Kwan  has posed with the grapes that her grannies grew in 2019.

The agriculture department officers can call in and do some research about the potential of this fruit to be grown in hot Port Moresby.

Porebada villagers appeal for relief assistance

BY PAUL MAIMA

NINE homes in Porebada village, Hiri LLG of Central Province were completely ravaged by strong winds  last Thursday.

It is a week now, but disaster relief assistance from both the provincial and national disaster offices have not responded in any form yet.

The nine homes houses 200 families who are now seeking temporary shelters with other family members in the village. 

They are like internally displaced refugees.

The strong monsoon winds partially destroyed 40 other homes and a four in one classroom at Porebada Primary School.

The school is currently under suspension taking an early Easter Holiday break.

The destroyed homes were built on stilt mangrove  posts on sea that can last up to more than twenty years before being  replaced.

Through a press statement on Monday( Post Courier page 3) Member for Hiri- Koiari, Keith Iduhu said he had already assigned a technical team from his office to work with the Central Provincial disaster office to assess the situation and compile a report for immediate relief assistance.

Those who are affected have mobilized themselves and are now seeking for assistance from the government, NGO, corporate companies and International donors.

The cost of repairing the total damage are estimated to be more than a million kina.

Those living along the Papuan coast including Porebada village are now in confrontation with the reality of climate change.

Strong winds are literary sinking the homes onto the rising seas triggered by climate change.

This could be the tip of the ice berg of more natural disasters prone to happen as a result of the Climate Change impacts in the future.

Storm water floods Port Moresby streets

It's simply dangerous driving around Port Moresby when there is heavy tropical rain or even just continuous showers.

Why is it dangerous?

The streets over flood and can overflow to parks and homes- your low cars can have water reaching into the engines or the cabin of your car.

Worst your car can be damaged.

So as things are it is not advisable to drive around Port Moresby when there is rain or heavy tropical downpour.

We share with you pictures below taken around the round about near the Boroko Foodworld area at Gordon's.

This is the aftermath of flood on April 01, 2023.

The flood has overflown from the road to the park for about 20 metres.

The waste exposed being deposited there is evidence of the extent of the flood.

Many vehicles driving to Erima and beyond 8 mile had to detour using the back road from Parliament to Erima.

The monkey bars at the park opposite Kundu Club have banana stumps, leaves and other trash washed up by flood stuck against them.

Water bottles, empty can drinks,  soil sedimentation, diapers for children and other trash can be seen lying around the park.

The flooded roads and trash washed up are not limited to the Gordons and Erima area.

It appears to be a city wide concern.

The huge Gordon's roundabout near Courts, SP Brewery and Boroko Foodworld has thick sedimentation  washed onto street pavement

It's as high just above the ankle of an average adult person and if you're driving past unaware, you can experience an unexpected dangerous bump. 

So seriously we need a road system where storm water input and output is drained property to a major outlet and our roads and just wet during heavy rains.

Waste management is another concern that we must address now.

The trash exposed already hints a deeper and bigger issue that must be acted on.

But first the citizens must be responsible and dispose your trash at the right place.

Don't just sit in a public transport and throw your empty can drink onto the road.

Don't drive past in your car and throw your food scraps in a plastic bag on the road.

Don't throw the plastic bag with your betel nut spittle onto the road from your car.

Take it home and put in your trash bin.

May be we need tough laws to protect our environment against littering.

It's already a huge concern, very exposed under our noses. 

But I must reiterate we can help alleviate storm water swelling from the drains by not disposing the non biodegrable rubbish in the drains that simply clog the drainage.

 

Here is a video of the trash deposited at the public park opposite Boroko Foodworld, Gordons 

 

Sir Rabble Namaliu passes on

Papua New Guinea's fourth Prime Minister Sir Rabble Namaliu ,75,  has died. 

He was Prime Minister from 1987 to 1992 and represented the people of Kokopo,  East New Britain in Parliament. 

Reports about his death indicated he had a severe lung  infection which prompted his immediate medivac to Port Moresby but he unfortunately  died at Tokua airport in Kokopo on 31 March 2023.

Sir Rabble entered politics in the early 1980s and bowed out in 2007.

He held several senior ministerial portfolios being the Finance and Foreign Ministers apart from being Prime Minister when he was leader of the Pangu Pati.

Among his esteemed achievements outside of politics  he will be rememberd as one of the gang of four public servants who steered the public service during the country's formative years.

They put together policies and set out how the public administration was to be run.

The other members of the gang of four are Charles Lepani who is still living and those who have passed on are Sir Mekere Morauta and Sir Anthony Siaguru.

Sir Rabble was educated at the University of Papua New Guinea and the University of Victoria in Canada.