PostCourier_2026.05.01_U

Hospital to bolster district health

Pomio ready to transform rural health care delivery

BY GRACE AUKA-SALMANG

THE Pomio District Hospital in Palmalmal, East New Britain Province, is completed and discussions on preparations are currently under way for the commissioning on June 25, 2026.

Minister for Health and local Member of Parliament Elias Kapavore this week confirmed that more than 90 health workers have already been recruited and are on payroll, including five medical officers such as a surgeon, obstetrician, rural health specialist, and general practitioners.

“A further 50 positions remain vacant as recruitment continues ahead of commissioning,” he said.

He said the hospital is expected to be officially commissioned by June 2026, marking a major milestone for the district.

“This will be a fully functional Level 4 hospital and a model for rural healthcare delivery in Papua New Guinea,” he said.

Funded by the Asian Development

Bank in partnership with the PNG Government and the Australian Government, the K60 million Level 4 facility at Palmalmal is part of a major effort to strengthen rural health services under the national health infrastructure program led by the Health Department.

According to Mr Kapavore, a further 50 positions remain vacant as recruitment continues ahead of commissioning.

He said the hospital is expected to be officially commissioned, marking a major milestone for the district.

Once completed, the hospital will provide a full range of services including operating theatres, X-ray, laboratory, dental services, and emergency care, bringing modern healthcare closer to communities that previously had to travel long distances -- often by boat -- to access treatment in Kokopo.

“The goal is to eliminate dangerous and costly travel that people in Pomio have faced for basic and emergency healthcare,” he said.

The hospital is now completed

with final touches as well as essential infrastructure such as a dedicated water system and solar power installation to ensure reliable service delivery in the remote location.

Construction began in 2019 and has progressed through multiple phases, with final works now focused on installation of medical equipment and finishing infrastructure.

He described the project as a landmark development, noting it is the first Level 4 hospital funded under the ADB health sector program in PNG.

Once operational, the facility is expected to reduce pressure on provincial hospitals and provide life-saving services closer to home for rural communities across Pomio.

“This hospital means families will no longer need to travel for hours or days to access care. It will change lives,” he said.

The Pomio District Hospital is now being positioned as a benchmark for future rural health developments across the country.

For two years, aid post on remote island has been without medicine

BY MARTHA LOUIS

A COMMUNITY health worker on Bagabag Island says he has been treating patients without medicine for two years, forcing families to make long and costly trips just to get basic health care.

The island lies off the coast of Madang Province and remains difficult to access, with limited health services.

Matu Alaku Junior works in Ward 1 and is based at the Fon aid post in Badiliu. The facility serves the communities of Badiliu and Yau, along with smaller areas including Tohur, Pitai, Fon and Sermak.

“I help mothers and babies. I treat sick children. I also deal with emergencies,” he said.

But for two years, the aid post had no medicine.

Matu said he was forced to only write prescriptions and send patients away.

“I just write a prescription. Patients have to go and buy the medicine in Madang town,” he said.

The journey is costly and difficult.

Patients travel by boat from the island to Kubugam on the mainland along the north coast road in Sumgilbar LLG, then catch a PMV into Madang town before returning the same way.

“Boat fares are high. Transport is hard. Some people cannot go,” he said. He said the situation has put lives at risk, especially mothers and children. Emergency cases are even harder due to lack of reliable transport.

“Sometimes we wait for a boat. Sometimes we ask for help. It is very hard,” he said.

Despite the challenges, he continues to serve his community.

There has now been some relief. Ramsey Pariwa recently supplied medicine to the island, which the aid post is now using to treat patients.

Matu said while the support has helped, more consistent supply is needed.

“We need a proper building. We need regular medicine supply. We need better support,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Sumkar District Development Authority says it has been investing in health services across the district, including Bagabag Island.

Local MP Alexander Suguman Orme said funds were allocated in 2022 for health and education facilities on the island, including repairs to a sea ambulance.

However, he said some of the funds were misused by implementing authorities, leaving several projects incomplete.

The DDA said it continues to prioritise health funding and is now considering allocating money for essential medical supplies. Its health program manager has been tasked to obtain quotations to support a decision on purchasing basic drugs.

The authority also noted that the responsibility for drug supply lies with the Madang Provincial Health Authority.

It said it cannot be solely held responsible for all service gaps but will continue to support health facility upgrades and logistics across the district.

For now, the gap remains, and health workers say the need on the island is still urgent.

Major leak in Rouna pipeline will result in water rationing Friday to Saturday

THERE will be a partial interruption to the water supply in Port Moresby on from late Friday night into Saturday after the major underground pipeline that provides water to the capital sustained a serious rupture and must be repaired.

The CEO of Water PNG, James Young, said the interruption will

result in the rationing of water for a number of hours.

This will be done in way that provides the maximum distribution of water during these hours.

Mr Young said the interruption is frustrating and every measure is being taken to reduce impact on the public, and he reassured

A couple who graduates together, stays together!

BY MARTHA LOUIS

IT WAS a proud moment for a Madang couple in Port Moresby this week.

Senior Constable Eugene Wanai and his wife, Telita Wanai, stood side by side as they graduated from a police prosecution course.

The ceremony was held at the Hilton Hotel Port Moresby on Tuesday. For them, it was not just about getting a certificate. It was about growing in the job they both do every day.

Wanai works as the acting officer in charge of prosecutions in Madang. He also trains other officers and helps with community work in town.

Telita is also a police officer. She knows the long hours and the pressure that comes with the job. Now they share the same training journey.“We want to improve and do our work better,” Wanai said.

A total of 36 police prosecutors

graduated in the program. Twentysix received diplomas, while ten received certificates, including the couple.

The training started in 2019. It is supported by the Australian Federal Police and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

The Prosecution Qualifying Program is run at the Bomana Centre of Excellence.

The course has two parts. The first part is done while officers are still working. The second part is a sixweek training school.

Wanai and his wife have finished the first part. They will attend the next training to complete their diplomas.

For them, this is just the beginning.

They will return to Madang and continue their work — this time with more skills and more confidence.

And they will do it the same way they started. Together.

the public that plans are being implemented to replace aging and unstable infrastructure.

“The Rouna pipeline, from Rouna 4 to Mt Eriama, was built in the year 1962 and still provides around half of the city’s water supply, but is decades beyond the end of its expected working life,” Mr Young confirmed.

“The pipeline is still functional but leaking a large amount of water, and must undergo urgent repairs in order to avoid a critical failure.

“This will mean an anticipated 17 hour period of water rationing as half of the water coming into the Port Moresby grid is shut down so the pipeline to be repaired.

Schools face indefinite suspension following security concerns

THE Morobe Provincial Education Board (PEB) has indefinitely suspended classes in Sambio primary school and Bayune Lutheran secondary following security concerns in the Bayune/ Sambio corridor.

This suspension of classes follows the mass murder of more than ten people on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

The PEB has recognised the drop in students’ attendance, due to safety concerns, thus, reaching this

decision. Although there is police presence on the ground, the situation remains tense and unsuitable for educational operations.

The PEB has resolved to indefinitely suspend all operations in Sambio primary school, its associated feeder elementary and preschools and Bayune Lutheran secondary school, but exempted Bayune Lutheran primary school, which has been permitted to remain open at this time. The board has also

mandated that students and staff at the suspended schools remain away from the school vicinity until the PSC Bulolo and district authorities provide a formal security clearance and have given directives to the principal of Bayune secondary and head teacher of Sambio primary to maintain daily communications with the district education manager regarding the safety of school assets. Reports from the head teacher of Sambio primary school and

Global honour for PNG doctor

FROM PAGE ONE

THE award, presented by The Fred Hollows Foundation, recognises women who are making significant contributions to health equity and leadership. It was announced during the Women Deliver Conference in Melbourne, this week.

Named after Gabi Hollows, the award honours her legacy of promoting accessible healthcare and supporting women in leadership roles.

Dr Garap has been a leading figure in eye care health in PNG since the late 1990s.

She played a key role in establishing and guiding the National Prevention of Blindness Committee, now regarded as an effective eye health coordination body in the region.

Her leadership helped deliver major milestones, including the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness in 2017 and the Global Trachoma Mapping Project completed in 2015. These initiatives provided critical data to guide national eye health strategies. As a result of these efforts, the World Health Organisation validated PNG’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in May 2025.

Dr Garap has also contributed to strengthening eye care services, including advocating for improvements to the Port Moresby General Hospital Eye Clinic and supporting the development of a national ophthalmology training programme at the University of Papua New Guinea.

She has also been involved in plans for the PNG Centre for Eye Health, expected to open later this year.

Speaking after receiving the award, Dr Garap said it highlights the importance of women in leadership roles.

“We need more women in health leadership positions so we can overcome the barriers women and girls face in accessing health services,” she said.

She said improving gender equality is essential to expanding access to eye care across the country and the wider Pacific region.

Gabi Hollows said the award recognises women making a difference in their communities.

principal of Bayune secondary school has confirmed that the conflict has spiralled out of control, emphasising that the school grounds can no longer be guaranteed as a safe haven for the students or staff.

The PEB acknowledges the presence of MS 15 and RPU Police units on the ground, however, the resumption of classes is strictly contingent upon a formal security clearance and the establishment of verified peace treaties.

“When women are supported to lead, we see better outcomes for families and communities,” she said. Dr Audrey Aumua said Dr Garap’s work demonstrates the value of community led healthcare.

“Across the Pacific, women continue to face avoidable vision loss due to barriers such as distance, cost and limited services,” she said.

Globally, women make up about 55 per cent of people living with blindness and vision impairment. The award highlights ongoing efforts to improve access to eye care and strengthen women’s leadership in health systems across the Pacific.

-PENGEE: thedrum@spp.com.pg

POLICE CLEARANCE

Two young nurses went to receive their Police clearance certificates at Gordon. But the cop who greeted them made them feel humiliated. They thought they were going through a Baruni roadblock. The cop tried to kick them out of the gate because they were sitting at his ‘favourite spot’ outside the building. They were told to come back at 1 pm. The officer came and told them to move, or he would cut the ‘fave spot’ seat out of the woodwork.

POLICE V NURSES

There were other unoccupied seats, but the copper got angrier at seeing the young ladies outside the office. The visiting ladies had no idea that the public sitting area became his VIP seat area, and since the guests had come a long way, there was no place to go but patiently wait to get their papers and move out of harm’s way.

GOROKA V UPNG

A man was dragged out of the UPNG graduation venue yesterday. The man arrived at the graduation in a gown that is normally used at the UOG Goroka. But the man’s daughter was graduating from UPNG, and the papa wanted to congratulate her in a photo opportunity. Alas, the siggys threw him out. Case closed.

NRL GAMES FOR MORESBY

Can we also look at the possibility of hosting NRL matches in Port Moresby soon? The last fixture we had in POM was the 2020 NRL Pre-season match between the Sharks and Bulldogs. Let’s see if we can get our game day act together for the big league.

NRL PAISI GABUNA

Sir Hubert Murray is also a contender for hosting NRL matches. The seating capacity might be an issue but we can get the numbers up to at least 15,000 on game day. And can we have tangible stats for crowd attendance? We don’t want to guess how many people came.

NRL 40 20 BUAI PASS

Traffic would be another headache on gameday. We need to see if we can get it under control when the NRL comes to town. Also, the impound yard at the ATS roundabout is filled with all the buses, taxis and privately owned vehicles that were pulled from the road. Well done RTA, you guys got my vote of confidence.

NRL WINDY

Windy season folks. Stay indoors and avoid opening your mouth for nothing in public. Dust and other dangerous particles in the air are sure to get you sneezing and coughing badly. Drink tea and keep warm. And make sure to watch Luai and his PNG buais this weekend. Case closed.

INJECTION ON THE BUTTOCK

Young man was down with flu and was taken to the clinic. The nurse checked him and prescribed an injection of antibiotics. As she walked towards him, the young fella watched her, eyes guled on the needle in her hands. As the needle decended on his buttocks, he yelled and tried to run outside. He was still yelling and shouting as he was held down and given the shot. There is something about injections, many people are scared, even adults too.

POWERFUL INJECTION

This particular nurse has built a reputation over the years for the injections she gives. 1. You will not walk for a while after the injection, and 2. You get well very quickly. Patients who go to that clinic always want to get the injection.

BIRD’S EYE VIEW

EDITORIAL

EDITOR

Peter Korugl

Email: pkorugl@spp.com.pg Ph: 309 1032

CHIEF OF STAFF

Clement Kaupa Ph: 309 1059

Email: ckaupa@spp.com.pg

BUSINESS EDITOR

Marilyn Paul Ph: 309 1173

Email: mpaul@spp.com.pg

SPORTS EDITOR Robinson Leka Ph: 309 1090

Email: rleka@spp.com.pg

YU TOK

Letters to the Editor Ph: 309 1061

Email: yutok@spp.com.pg

BUREAUS

POM: Marcia Negri Ph: 309 1040

Email: mnegri@spp.com.pg

LAE: Frank Rai

Ph/Fax: 472 4166

Email: frai@spp.com.pg

KOKOPO: Peter Korugl

Email: pkorugl@spp.com.pg Ph: 309 1032

MT HAGEN: Mal Taime Ph: 542 2602 Fax: 542 3039

Mobile: 76725260 / 72854454

Email: mtaime@spp.com.pg

BUKA: Steven Busin Ph: 79826750 Email: sbusin@spp.com.pg

GOROKA: Nelson Joe Ph: 76996961 Email: njoe@spp.com.pg

DIGITAL/ONLINE

DIGITAL DIRECTOR

Matthew Vari Email: mvari@spp.com.pg Ph: 309 1054

DIGITAL EDITOR Philemon Kassman Email: pkassman@spp. com.pg Ph: 309 1084

ARCHIVES

LIBRARIAN

Deborah Enaha Email: denaha@spp.com.pg Ph: 309 1092

CIRCULATION

CIRCULATION MANAGER (HQ) Althea Jerewai Ph: 309 1000 Email: ajerewai@spp.com.pg

CIRCULATION MANAGER

(OUTSIDE

Ojung Ure Ph: 309 1000 Email: oure@spp.com.pg

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

DIRECTOR Ryan Morgan Ph: 309 1044 Email: rmorgan@spp.com.pg

SPECIAL PROJECTS

SPECIAL PROJECTS

MANAGER Andrew Beggo Ph: 309 1174 Email: abeggo@spp.com.pg

CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIED MANAGER Catherine Oa Ph: 309 1126 Email: coa@spp.com.pg

Alcohol ban imposed

Restrictions enforced in parts of Morobe and Lae urban

BY VELERIE BULUMARIS

INCREASED criminal activities caused by alcohol consumption has forced the provincial administration to ban alcohol in parts of Morobe and Lae-urban.

Remote districts of Wau-Waria, Finschhafen, Kabwum and parts of Lae Urban Local-level-government areas in Ward 01, 14, 15 and war-16 within Ahi landowners have the alcohol ban imposed.

Morobe’s Liquor Lisencing Board published a gazette last month (March 16th) confirming restriction through office of provincial member, Rainbo Paita allowing authorities to intervene if people are seen being in possession of the substance.

Mr Paita urged under section 27 of Liquor Licensing Act of 2003 and completely restricts all person including adults

and teenagers from buying, selling or entertain alcohol in those areas. He placed the temporary ban for 12 months starting March 16th till 2027 March with warning that anyone found breaking this regulation will be faced with charges and can be imprisoned.

Meanwhile, the alcohol ban in Wau-Waria district time frame is indefinite under a different gazette published a week ago on Friday-April 24th to help decrease violence in communities. Mr Paita indicated that Wau’s restriction can be lifted sooner or extended to later date depending on the district residents’ alignment to its measures.

That includes unwanted fights, nuisances and underage consuming the substance without proper alignment to alcohol regulations subject to underage children.

Deregistered company cannot sue over Mt Hagen land lease, Court rules

BY HELMTRUDE LEWEWETT

A COMPANY that challenged a government decision on a State lease in Mount Hagen had its case thrown out by the National Court because it no longer legally exists.

Justice Lawrence Kangwia dismissed the judicial review application by Rolga Development Corporation Limited on 24 April 2026, ruling that the company lacked standing after it was removed from the Investment Promotion Authority register on 30 June 2024 nearly two years before the hearing.

The case involved a piece of land described as portion 480 in Milinch Mount Hagen, Fourmil Ramu, in Western Highlands Province. The land had originally been granted as a State lease through a direct grant to the Mount Hagen Show Society Inc., the organisation that runs the annual cultural show in the province. However, the Papua New Guinea Land Board, at its meeting No. 1/2018, recommended that the State lease should instead be granted to Rolga Development Corporation Limited, a private company.

Rolga disagreed with how the Minister had handled the matter. It filed for judicial review, seeking to quash both decisions and effectively have the Land Board’s original recommendation restored in its favour. The company claimed the decisions were unlawful, but it did not provide much detail in the material before the court.

During the hearing, the lawyer for the Minister, the departmental secretary, and the State, raised a

preliminary objection. He pointed to an IPA record annexed to the affidavit of the second defendant showing that Rolga Development Corporation Limited had been removed from the Companies Register on 30 June 2024. Under PNG law, a company that is struck off the register ceases to exist as a separate legal person. It cannot hold property, cannot enter contracts, and crucially, it cannot sue or be sued in its own name.

Rolga’s lawyer argued that the competency issue came too late. He said it should have been raised at the leave stage when the court first gave permission for the judicial review to proceed not after the case was already moving forward.

Justice Kangwia rejected that argument. He stated clearly that it is settled law that competency issues can be raised at any stage of the proceedings because they concern jurisdiction.

Even if he had ignored the standing problem, which he did not, Justice Kangwia said the application would still fail.

He noted that Rolga’s statement in support of the document setting out its legal grounds for review contained no evidence of any actual breaches by the decision-makers.

Justice Kangwia also observed that the land had ultimately been awarded to PNG Sports Foundation Inc, which is a public institution. He concluded that: “It would be a futile exercise to challenge a decision that favoured public interest over private interests,” Justice Kangwia said.

The Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector Sampson Siguyaru also highlighted increase crimes in Bulolo that are related to alcohol and has warned residents to refrain from consuming it. He reported such crimes that involves noise pollution, violence, verbal and physical assaults, “People intoxicate themselves with alcohol and become violent, “And the result of their behaviour is always on the wrong side of law,” Insp. Siguyaru implied during a recent press conference in Lae. Other parts of the province are yet to impose alcohol ban according to provincial authorities if crimes increases in those districts. Meanwhile, Lae residents in Tensiti, Bumayong, parts of Igam and East and West Taraka are still challenged with petty crimes related to alcohol.

Court draws line on lecturer’s bid

BY JACOB POK

THE court has set a precedent with regards to the powers of higher education institutions.

The Waigani National Court yesterday dismissed a lawsuit brought by a college lecturer against the Governing Council of Sacred Heart Teachers College and State higher education authorities over her exclusion from a teaching contract.

The lecturer, Laura Mahaut Mantanepoa, sought to challenge two key decisions. The first was the refusal by the Governing Council of Sacred Heart Teachers College and Fr Jan Czuba, then acting Secretary for the Department of Higher Education to appoint her as a transferred lecturer and award her a three-year contract. The second was the endorsement of new staff appointments in which she was excluded.

The defendants in the matter were the Governing Council of Sacred Heart Teachers College as first respondent, Fr Jan Czuba in his official capacity as second respondent, the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology as third respondent, and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea as fourth respondent.

The court heard that the plaintiff was initially appointed to teach at the college in 2019. A transition occurred on 30 May 2021 when the institution was transferred to the

Senior lawyer Moses Murray with Sacred Heart Teachers College Council chairperson Paula Bomai and lawyer Edward Sasingian at the Waigani Court premises yesterday after the court ruling.

Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology under the Higher and Technical Education Reform Act 2020. Transitional provisions governed the status of teaching staff during this period.

On 14 November 2022, the plaintiff’s employment was terminated without disciplinary action. Later, on 14 February 2025,

Guns seized in Milne Bay

POLICE Commissioner David Manning, has announced the seizure of weapons in Milne Bay Province yesterday, as part of ongoing operations around the country to detect and seize illegal weapons, as well as expose those funding violence the guns cause.

Mr Manning said the weapons seized in Milne Bay is another step forward in restoring normalcy in what has historically been a peaceful province.

“Police received intelligence on the location of weapons being used in criminal activities in Milne Bay and moved fast,” he said.

“Homes in Banapa village were searched and four factory-made guns and two home-made guns, along with ammunition were located and confiscated.

“One man has been arrested and investigations are ongoing into others involved and additional searches taking place.

“The people of Milne Bay have had enough of criminals taking up weapons and are right behind police in restoring peace and harmony.”

Mr Manning has warned people who fund illegal guns that they are the target of ongoing law enforcement investigation and they will be brought to justice. “The weapons amnesty is continuing well in the Highlands, particularly in Enga, and we want to see an even greater increase in the number of firearms surrendered through all districts,” he said.

“While the criminals with illegal guns are one part of the problem, it is those who fund the trafficking of guns that are sponsoring bloodshed and a key component of our focus.

“We know that senior community figures, particularly in trouble hotspots, are involved in the purchase and smuggling of firearms, and they are the focus of our criminal and financial investigations.

“Police, together with partner oversight agencies, are actively pursuing those who fund and enable

the illegal weapons trade.

“It does not matter if they are business people, community leaders or elected officials – there is no excuse for the trafficking in illegal weapons.

“I commend the work of our front-line Police Officers for their engagement with communities to recover illegal firearms, whether through amnesty surrenders or through fast moving investigative outcomes.

“Police will keep the pressure on all those involved with illegal weapons and enforce the laws of the country.”

Technical Education Reform Act.

However, the court took into account several key submissions made by lawyer for the defendants, particularly Edward Sasingian, who appeared for the second and third respondents, and Moses Murray, who represented the first respondent.

Mr Sasingian submitted that the plaintiff’s claim misunderstood the legal effect of the transitional provisions under the Higher and Technical Education Reform Act 2020. He argued that Section 10 of the Act clearly provides a 12-month transitional period during which existing staff of transferred institutions may continue in their roles, but this does not create an automatic right to permanent employment or contract renewal beyond that period. According to Sasingian, once the transitional period expired, the Governing Council had full discretion to determine whether or not to offer fresh contracts to staff.

new contracts were endorsed by the second respondent, excluding her from reappointment.

The plaintiff argued that the decision involved an error of law, was unreasonable, breached natural justice, and demonstrated bias. Central to her case was the claim that she was not given the mandatory 90 day written notice required under the Higher and

Sasingian also contended that judicial review was not the appropriate avenue for the plaintiff’s grievances. He argued that the court’s supervisory jurisdiction is limited to reviewing the legality of decisions, not their merits, and that the plaintiff was effectively inviting the court to substitute its own decision for that of the Governing Council.

Moses Murray, appearing for the first respondent, reinforced these submissions by stressing the autonomy of the Governing Council in employment matters. He submitted that the Council acted within its lawful authority in deciding which staff to retain or release after the transition. Murray argued that there was no evidence of bad faith, bias, or procedural unfairness that would justify the intervention of the court. He also submitted that the plaintiff had no legitimate expectation of continued employment beyond the transitional period, and therefore could not claim a breach of natural justice when she was not reappointed.

The court accepted these submissions, particularly the interpretation of Section 10 and the discretionary power of the institution after the transitional period. These arguments formed a central basis for the ruling that the decision to exclude the plaintiff from a new contract was lawful.

He further submitted that the plaintiff’s reliance on the absence of a 90-day notice was misplaced. While the Act refers to notice requirements, Sasingian argued that substantial compliance with the law was sufficient in the circumstances, particularly where the termination occurred after the expiration of the statutory transitional period. He emphasised that the decision not to reappoint the plaintiff was an administrative and contractual matter, not one that required the application of strict procedural fairness or the giving of reasons.

‘PNG is open for business,’ says PM

Marape invites more Chinese investment

PRIME Minister James Marape has declared that Papua New Guinea is open for business and ready for a new era of deeper trade, investment, and strategic partnership with China, telling leading Chinese investors that PNG offers security, opportunity, and long-term growth.

Speaking yesterday at the PNGChina Roundtable in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, Mr Marape praised the long-standing friendship between Papua New Guinea and China, while inviting leading Chinese businesses to expand investment into key sectors of the PNG economy.

Addressing government officials, business leaders, and investors,

Marape said Guangdong Province symbolised economic excellence and represented the very best of China’s commercial strength.

“When I met President Xi Jinping three years ago, he told me he would give Papua New Guinea Guangdong,” the Prime Minister said.

“I later came to understand that he was giving us the very best — a province renowned for innovation, enterprise, and economic leadership.”

Mr Marape said Papua New Guinea highly valued its enduring relationship with China, noting that Chinese communities had contributed to PNG’s national

development since independence in 1975.

He paid tribute to the many Papua New Guineans of Chinese heritage who have played important roles in the country’s history, including the late former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan.

Many of them came even before 1900s, and have call the country home and their generations continue to contribute to the development in business, politics and also in the spiritual development.

“As our nation journeys through its 50th anniversary year, we thank all Chinese investors and partners who have helped build modern Papua New Guinea over the last five decades,” he said.

He said Papua New Guinea welcomes investment across all

levels of the economy — from major resource developments to agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism, real estate, manufacturing, wholesale, and retail. “Papua New Guinea is open for business as we have been in the past, and as we will remain into the future,” he said.

He said the Government was implementing major structural reforms to improve the ease of doing business, including reforms at the Investment Promotion Authority.

These reforms include:

One-stop investor services

Faster company registration and licensing

Online business services available 24/7

Greater regulatory certainty

Improved transparency and streamlined approvals

“We want investors to have confidence, clarity, and certainty when choosing Papua New Guinea,” Mr Marape said.

He said the Government had restored fiscal discipline and was moving steadily towards a balanced national budget. He noted that following the global impacts of COVID-19, PNG had reduced its budget deficit from 8.9 per cent in 2020 to approximately 1.1 per cent this year, with plans to achieve balance next year.

“We are managing our economy responsibly so investors can operate in a healthy and stable environment.”

He said despite global uncertainty, Papua New Guinea remained a predictable and secure destination for investment.

Beon prison hit by funding and vehicle shortages

BY MARTHA LOUIS

BEON jail in Madang is under pressure from limited funding, ageing infrastructure and a shortage of working vehicles.

Despite these challenges, prison authorities say rehabilitation work continues inside the facility.

Beon jail Commander

Superintendent Jackson Gubag said the prison is trying to reform inmates through education and skills training, but resources remain limited.

He said overcrowding is putting pressure on the system, especially in maximum security units.

“We have overcrowding in the maximum security area. It puts pressure on space and management,” Supt Gubag said.

Inmates are moved through a classification system into medium and minimum security, where they take part in programs.

“Inmates are classified from high security to medium and minimum security. Those in minimum security are engaged in programs and work,” he said.

The facility also runs vocational programs such as carpentry, plumbing, piggery and poultry projects. “We have piggery and poultry projects. Inmates also learn carpentry and plumbing skills from

trained officers here,” he said.

However, Supt Gubag said resources are not enough to meet growing demand.

Transport is also a major problem, with only a few vehicles still operational.

“We only have two vehicles that are working. Most are old and break down often,” he said.

This, he said, affects court appearances and daily operations.

Delays in court processes are also adding pressure, with many remandees staying longer in custody.

“Slow court cases create pressure,” Supt Gubag said. “Many remandees are staying longer than they should.” He called for better coordination between police, courts and Correctional Service to ease pressure on the system.

He also urged government and community support, saying rehabilitation cannot be done by Correctional Service alone.

“We cannot do this alone. We need government, churches and the community to help,” he said.

Supt Gubag called for investment in a multi-purpose workshop to strengthen training programs.

“If we build a proper workshop with machines, inmates can learn real skills like furniture making and construction work,” he said.

Two-decade long court battle ends Landowner finally gets justice

BY JACOB POK

A LONG court battle, that span nearly two decades, finally saw the awarding of significant damages to an individual landowner of the Porgera mine, who had missed in the mine benefits since its operation.

The lone plaintiff, Kakale Amena Pingipe, was assisted by lawyer Brian Lakakit of Lakakit and Associate Lawyers all these years.

The proceedings, which began in 2009, were brought by Pingipe against several defendants including Nixon Mangape, acting as trustee of the Wuape sub clan, the Porgera Development Authority, Kupiane Yu Anduane Company Ltd, the Porgera Landowners Association, Jimmy Karap Yuwi, and New Porgera Limited.

The dispute centered on the alleged failure to properly distribute royalties, compensation and other benefits to the plaintiff and members of his Neyape sub sub clan.

According to the judgment, Pingipe claimed that despite being a customary landowner within Zone 7 of the Special Mining Lease area, he and his family missed out on benefits since the commencement of the mine in 1989, apart from limited payments received in 2007.

The exclusion was linked to a longstanding conflict within the Wuape sub clan, which resulted in the first

defendant, Nixon Mangape, acting as trustee and agent responsible for receiving and distributing landowner benefits.

A major turning point in the case came in October 2020 when the court entered summary judgment on liability against Mangape, the Porgera Development Authority, Kupiane Yu Anduane Company Ltd, the Porgera Landowners Association, and Jimmy Karap Yuwi.

This ruling established that the trustee had breached his duties by failing to ensure that the plaintiff and his sub clan received their rightful share of royalties and compensation.

An appeal against that decision was later dismissed by the Supreme Court.

The trial before Justice David was therefore confined to the assessment of damages.

The court emphasised that damages must be strictly based on pleaded claims and supported by credible evidence.

It also reaffirmed that no award can be made for matters not properly pleaded.

In determining the plaintiff’s entitlement, the court relied on findings of the Wabag Local Land Court, which confirmed that Pingipe and Mangape were both descendants within the Tiene

Contempt case against Electoral Commission fails

BY JACOB POK

THE contempt proceeding against the acting Electoral Commissioner Magaret Vagi ceased yesterday after the National Court ruled that it had no jurisdictions or powers to deal with the matter.

The contempt proceeding was filed by former Kundiawa-Gembogl MP and petitioner, William Gol Onglo, against acting Electoral Commissioner Mrs Vagi, citing her failure to promptly conduct the court-ordered recount of the Kundiawa-Gembogl seat in a timely manner.

Onglo also questioned the whereabouts of a K3.65 million that was allocated to the Electoral Commission specifically for conducting the court-ordered recount for the Kundiawa-Gembogl ballots.

However, before the matter could proceed, the issue of jurisdiction was raised on whether the matter could proceed at the National Court or referred to the Supreme Court.

Presiding judge, Justice Joseph Yagi asked the lawyers, Emmanuel Isaac for Onglo, Ray William for Electoral Commission and Justin Wohuinangu for Muguwa Dilu, on whether the National Court had the powers to deal with the contempt application.

Mr William and Mr Wohuinangu argued that the National Court had no jurisdictions to hear the matter since the election petition matter was heard and determined by the Supreme Court recently with the Supreme Court taking charge of the case.

Isaac argued at length that the nature of the issue at hand was not restricted to any court, suggesting that both the National and the Supreme Court had the powers to hear the case.

However, Justice Yagi after considering the submissions, ruled that the National Court had no juridication or powers to deal with the case.

This effectively discontinued the contempt case against the Electoral Commissioner in the National Court.

Wuape clan and equally entitled to benefits. he court also examined evidence showing that royalties paid by the mine operator were first remitted to the State and then distributed through government agencies and clan agents.

The court adopted an equitable approach in calculating damages. It found that total royalties of K53,364,036 paid between 1990 and 2012 should have been shared equally among the four sub sub clans of the Tiene Wuape clan. Based on this approach, Pingipe’s entitlement was assessed at K1,707,649.15. Further awards were made for unpaid occupation fees totaling K496,325.47 and general compensation amounting to K1,333,662.72.

However, the court declined to award damages for alleged constitutional breaches, ruling that the claims were not supported by sufficient evidence.

Claims relating to dividends were also dismissed due to lack of proof.

The court made important findings regarding the roles of various parties.

It held that no damages could be awarded against Jimmy Karap Yuwi and New Porgera Limited because no specific claims had been pleaded against them, despite Yuwi being subject to the earlier summary judgment. The court also noted that New Porgera Limited was joined to facilitate payments and had no established liability.

In its final orders, the court

directed that all awarded sums be paid directly to Pingipe, with any payments he received in 2007 to be deducted.

It also ordered New Porgera Limited to facilitate the distribution of K841,799 in withheld compensation to the Tiene Wuape sub clan for equal sharing among its four sub sub clans. Interest at eight percent per annum will apply to the awarded sums from the commencement of proceedings. The court further ordered that costs be borne by Nixon Mangape, the Porgera Development Authority, Kupiane Yu Anduane Company Ltd, the Porgera Landowners Association, and Jimmy Karap Yuwi.

Highest achievement

BY JOMELEEN PARI

THE University of Papua New Guin-

ea’s School of Business and Public

Policy graduation yesterday saw the highest number of graduates this week.

A total of 596 students graduated, with 515 from the seven undergraduate programs and 81 from the five postgraduate programs. Out of this, 346 were male graduates and 250 female graduates.

Guest speaker Robin Fleming, the former chief executive officer for BSP Bank and a council member for UPNG, said more women representation is a positive change for Papua New Guinea.

“And whilst we go back to our former gender pretensions of 71 years ago, I have no doubt that any underrepresentation of females from those inaugural years has improved significantly over the years, which is an important and positive change for women in Papua New Guinea,” he said.

Mr Fleming also reiterated that a higher female achievement is a fantastic outcome, but much still needs to be done for women in Papua New Guinea.

“While 42 per cent of graduates are female in the undergraduate degree, capacity falls to 31 per cent for postgraduate degrees. Now, there have

been many reasons for this, but you cannot discount the fact that once in the workforce, females will bear a huge proportion of care of supporting each family whilst balancing work commitments and a desire to continue their academic pursuits.

Whilst outside the controlled university of Papua New Guinea, females remain underrepresented in executive roles and senior public roles in Papua New Guinea.

“In Papua New Guinea, however, we need to remain committed to meritocracy that affords women equal opportunities to succeed to their full potential.”

Mr Fleming further told the graduands to always remember that this is no financial sacrifice for their own needs.

“Not only are you celebrating personal success in being awarded a degree in academic achievement, but you are celebrating that success with families who have sacrificed enough to give you a better position to achieve in your chosen walk of life. You are also graduating at a time of global turmoil and in the midst of what may well be deemed by future historians to be another industrial revolution. It may not seem so at the moment, but to live through such times is an opportunity to help shape the future of the nation,” he said.

Hard work pays off in the end for Authur

BY MARCIA NEGRI

STARTING off as a camera operator with the EMTV Newsroom and making his way into the public relations space, Arthur Golu is a testament that hard work does pay off.

Mr Golu graduated with an executive masters in Business Administration yesterday during UPNG’s School of Business and Public Policy graduation. He shared that he started with EMTV with no background in media.

“I joined them as a cameraman in the late 90s. Back in those cameraman days, you were just put on the job. No further training about media, nothing whatsoever. And I was given three months to prove my worth. At the time, I graduated

with a printing certificate from Port Moresby Technical College in 1997.”

Following that he moved to the Health Department and realised there were opportunities in taking up further studies.

“There was a call from JICA for professional people who can go for further training in media in Japan. So I applied. I arrived in Japan to chase after my passion, my coursemates all had degrees and understood everything about media except me.”

Mr Golu said with the little experience he had in media, he went ahead with his studies. He said that was a pathway for him.

“Whatever certification that I got from JICA sort of like gave me a push. So I went in as a professional

student and graduated after two years, that was in 2018. I was already working, I went there as a professional student. After gaining my bachelor's degree, I went back to the Department of Health. I switched over to IRC and was there from 2019 to 2023. While at IRC, I got the acceptance letter to take the executive master of Business Administration program.”

While doing his first-year courses, he moved from IRC to the Auditor General's Office.

He said he decided to switch to business because he realised he needed a change.

Hailing from Manus and Central he is encouraging everyone to try something new if they can, and not stay confined to one particular field.

‘Lead with integrity’

Graduand respondent urges cohort to remain resilient

BY JOMELEEN PARI

THE graduand respondent from the School of Business and Public Policy has urged student cohorts to lead with courage and integrity in the face of responsibility.

Rachel Onopia, who graduated with a bachelor of Accounting, made this statement to fellow graduates in the School of Business and Public Policy during their graduation yesterday.

“As graduates, you carry with you not only your knowledge, but also your responsibility. The responsibility to lead with integrity, to make meaningful contributions, and to create positive change in our communities and beyond,” she said.

“Today marks, not just the end of a tough time, but also the beginning of a new journey. When we begin this journey, many of us walk into the university filled with excitement, curiosity, good dreams, but along the way, reality sets in. We faced challenges that tested us in ways we never expected.

“Now, we stand here, with a mixture of emotions. Relief, pride, gratitude, and even a little antipathy about what comes next. But one thing is certain, and that is knowledge. We need to be stronger, wiser, and more resilient.”

Ms Onopia extended gratitude to the support system that ena-

bled them to come this far in their journey.

“To all our lecturers, thank you for your teaching, guidance, and for calling us to take in your instructions.

“To the administrators, staff, and faculty, thank you for ensuring that our learning environment was successful, supporting your efforts to go to school, and that they

are being appreciated. And to all our families and to all our loved ones, this achievement is just as much as yours as is ours. Thank you for your ongoing support and courage.”

In congratulating the graduates, Ms Onopia asked them to appreciate how far each of them have come and to remain hopeful for what lies ahead.

BY MARTHA LOUIS

TWO primary schools in Wau will soon be fenced to improve safety for students and teachers.

The agreement was signed at 10am at the Consul General Office in Lae. It covers Namie Primary School and Riverside Primary School.

Member for Wau-Waria, Marsh Narewec, said the project is urgently needed.

“Our teachers and students need to feel safe,” he said.

“Right now, anyone can walk into the school grounds. That brings risk.”

He said schools are facing vandalism, abuse and intimidation, with women and girls most exposed. Namie Primary School has about 220 students. Riverside Primary School has around 170 students. Both schools currently have no proper fencing or clear boundary. The fencing project is valued at K100,000 and is funded through the Direct Aid Program.

TMN Foundation led the initiative. Its president, Polum So'on, signed the contract with Australian Consultant General,

Brenton Kanowski. The group submitted several project proposals, with two approved for the school fencing works.

The Wau Waria district will handle transport and materials, while the local community will provide labour.

“This is our project. The community will build it together,” Mr Narewec said.

A similar fencing project has already been completed at Pinetop Primary School. He said fencing is not only about security but also planning for future development.

Police prosecutors improve knowledge through program

BY VELERIE BULUMARIS

FOUR members from Morobe’s police prosecution unit have been certified with prosecutor diplomas after completing a training in PortMoresby.

Sergeants Vincent Suakai, Cathy Odis, Hacas Pero and Koplen Adrian have been undergoing prosecutors training for the last three years while working in their unit under Lae metropolitan command.

They were trained by prosecution training officers on the ground while undergoing their normal daily duties in the span of three years and have graduated on Wednesday April 29.

Before their graduation, the team of four also underwent six-weeks of prosecution’s residential training at Bomana Training College and were certificated.

The ongoing training was established in 2022 by PNG Royal Constabulary and Australian Federal Police for personnel to improve their knowledge of country’s constitution in practice of law in prosecution.

field of work to carry out their task appropriately,” he said.

Insp Genderiso said the prosecution diploma program is similar to that offered at University of PNG, and has been taken up by almost all personnel in his unit.

“This program has improved prosecutors in their daily handling of cases and work ethics in general in their line of duty, they’ve become better prosecutors,” he said.

Fences to bring safety and hope for two Wau Waria schools Rain keeps Northern Highway closed

Officer in charge of persecution, Inspector Hove Genderiso shared gratitude towards the establishment of this program in its help through bettering prosecutors in Morobe.

The program has improved their skills and knowledge in carrying out investigations and prosecution of law breakers following fair and appropriate channels in PNG justice system.

“Investigation and prosecution are the backbone of RPNGC and so police prosecutors’ must be vastly knowledgeable in their

Hence all Lae’s full-time prosecutors consisting of 12 personnel including the four police men and women have finally been graduated under this RPNGC’s prosecution diploma program.

Only two trainees currently working under prosecution will take this program once they complete their training and are confirmed as constables under the unit.

BY MARTHA LOUIS

PEOPLE living along the Northern Highway, Morobe province are cut off, as repair work continues on damaged sections of the road.

The member for Wau-Waria, Marsh Narewec, said the road had become impassable before the difficult decision to close the road was made on March 29, 2026.

Heavy rain since January damaged key sections between Warabung and Wara Kawar.

The worst-hit areas are Double Mountain and Papa Kapul.

Works crew struggled as vehicles kept getting bogged.

“We had to close the road so proper work could be carried out without constant disruption,” Mr Narewec said.

He said the closure is necessary to allow work to continue.

Vehicles were getting stuck in the mud when the road was open, it is now closed to allow proper repairs.

The delay has been made worse by continuing rain and a separate twoweek roadblock at Elauru, following the killing of a young man.

Police have since removed the illegal blockade.

Mr Narewec sent condolences to the family and confirmed that the Elauru situation is not linked to the road closure.

There were also safety concerns. A district dump truck was stoned by youths at Kaisenik, forcing workers

to leave the site.

“I call on all communities to respect and protect our workers and equipment,” he said.

Work is moving slowly. About half of the repairs at Double Mountain are complete. Crews hope to finish that section this week if the weather improves.

The next stretch, between Double Mountain and Papa Kapul, is expected to take another week. Repairs at Papa Kapul could take at least two more weeks due to poor conditions and its distance from gravel sources.

“We are hoping the weather improves so we can finish the work and reopen the road,” Mr Narewec said.

He also moved to correct what he called misinformation about funding.

The Northern Highway is not yet part of the Connect PNG program. It is expected to come under Phase Two, starting in 2028.

Instead, the road is funded through the Sub-National Roads Program.

A K20 million contract was awarded, but only K16 million has been released and spent. Another K4 million is still outstanding.

Mr Narewec said the Wau-Waria District Development Authority has also spent more than K10 million of its own funds on the road network.

In total, more than 147 kilometres of road have been worked on.

He said heavy traffic from the Biaru gold rush and the opening of the Garaina Valley has put pressure on the road.

Court dismisses LNG LO claim

BY HELMTRUDE LEWEWETT

THE National Court has dismissed a judicial review application brought by an incorporated land group seeking to be included as a beneficiary of the Papua LNG Project, ruling that the group failed to satisfy statutory requirements for landowner identification.

Justice Lawrence Kangwia delivered the decision yesterday, finding that the Aumake Nairu Orumako Incorporated Land Group (ANO ILG) was properly excluded from ministerial determinations

made in December 2023 that identified 11 customary clans entitled to royalty and equity benefits from the project.

The Plaintiff claimed it had been wrongly omitted from beneficiary lists for Petroleum Development Licence, Pipeline Licence, and Processing Facility Licences arguing that three clans under its umbrella hold customary title to "Siare Land," which overlaps with the project area PDL 15.

ANO ILG contended that Minister for Petroleum and Energy Kerenga Kua breached natural justice by

Yaho management strengthens internal rules

YAHO management says it has strengthened its internal systems and staff procedures following the 2025 Yaho Supermarket assault incident in Madang, after the case was struck out by the court due to a defective police file.

A company representative said the business has since taken steps to improve staff conduct, customer handling, and internal operations.

He said he played a supporting role during the incident period.

He said the company has now moved to tighten its internal processes to prevent similar incidents.

“We don’t want the same situation to happen again. We have already addressed security concerns and reminded employees about proper conduct when dealing with customers,” he said.

He also confirmed that internal disciplinary action was taken against staff involved.

“We have already dealt with the employees involved and ensured proper internal processes are followed. Our focus now is to prevent any repeat of such incidents,” he said.

On the court decision to strike out the case, he said Yaho management respects the legal system in PNG.

“We are following the law in PNG. Whenever the court informs us to attend, we attend. We respect the process and complied with the legal procedures,” he said.

He said the company continues to work with lawyers and relevant authorities during legal proceedings.

Authority launches environment audit into Porgera mine

THE Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) has officially launched the long-awaited major environmental audit into the Porgera Gold Mine, marking a historic milestone in addressing the perennial environmental legacy issues affecting the people of Porgera and communities along the Strickland and Fly River systems.

The official launching was conducted today by CEPA Managing Director Jude Tukuliya, who reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to ensuring environmental accountability, transparency, and justice for affected communities.

The audit, the first of its kind in more than three decades of mining operations in Porgera, will investigate environmental concerns and complaints associated with the mine’s operations and their impacts on surrounding communities and river systems.

Speaking at the official launch at Porgera today, Mr Tukuliya said CEPA has a legal and moral obligation to investigate and address environmental complaints raised by communities over many years.

“CEPA is mandated to investigate and address environmental issues affecting our people and environment. It has a legal as well as a moral obligation to our people and the country to do such. But it is unfortunate that despite concerns raised over many years, this level of comprehensive environmental audit was never undertaken by previous managements and governments,” he said.

Mr. Tukuliya also acknowledged the cooperation and support from Enga provincial leaders, landowners, community representatives, state agencies, and development partners who have contributed towards making the audit possible.

failing to consider their submissions and correspondence, and by relying solely on social mapping studies conducted by project operator TotalEnergies which allegedly failed to capture all customary interests.

The group further argued that its registration as an ILG over portion 21C land overlapping with the project's Retention Licence area should have been taken into account under section 169(4) of the Oil and Gas Act.

However, the Court accepted submissions from the Defendants, including the Minister, Department

Secretary David Manau, the Department of Petroleum and Energy, and the Independent State – that the Plaintiff lacked standing to bring the proceedings. Justice Kangwia noted there was no evidence that other ILG members had authorised chairman Larryapae Koivi to start the action.

Crucially, the Court found that beneficiary identification was conducted through a comprehensive social mapping and landowner identification study carried out by former project operator Interoil in 2012 – well before ANO ILG

was registered. A subsequent clan vetting exercise in June 2023 at Poroi Number 2 Village in Gulf Province also did not recognise the Plaintiff as a landowner group. Justice Kangwia distinguished between two stages of identification under the Oil and Gas Act. Section 169 governs identification prior to reaching a Petroleum Development Agreement, while section 169A applies after a development lease is granted and production has commenced – allowing the Minister to include groups that should have been identified but were not.

YU TOK

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026

IMPROVED SERVICES ON THE CARDS

THIS week, the National Information and Communications Technology Authority –regulator in the telecommunication industry, handed out key licenses to Starlink, the United States based communication giant.

The licenses were for networks, gateways, applications, and radio spectrum. This is certainly big news for the long-suffering consumers in a country of 10 million people who are now asking how the entry of Starlink will improve communications in PNG.

We are familiar with the poor connectivity, high cost of internet and spotty services in underserved areas of the country. We are informed that these challenges will be addressed with the entry of Starlink, and that competition among service providers in the internet space will lower the rate for internet access.

Our people are also wondering how the entry of Starlink will affect our traditional telecommunications service providers such as Telikom, Digicel, and Vodafone. Is the entry of Starlink a death sentence handed to them, or does this present an opportunity to significantly enhance communication services across PNG, in both rural and urban areas?

For PNG, this is a big gain for people, businesses, and state services in rural parts of our country, where telecommunication infrastructure is limited or unavailable. This is where Starlink comes in to boost internet connectivity.

On the other hand, current service providers such as Telikom, Digicel, and Vodafone operate through established mobile network infrastructure. These include cellular towers that offer a broader range of services, including voice calls, SMS, and mobile data, often with wider accessibility, especially in urban and semi-urban areas.

For a country like PNG with its varying geography and market, all telecommunication service providers can comfortably operate side by side, offering a muchimproved service to the country and its people.

In fact, no single telecommunication service provider is superior, giving customers the freedom to choose, whichever service provider they want to use.

Regaining status under Findlay

PROFESSOR Ian Findlay really is the face of modern UPNG, and anyone who’s walked the Waigani campus recently can see why.

I took a tour a few weeks ago and honestly, I had to double-check I was at the same university. The place doesn’t look or feel like the UPNG I knew years back. The lecture facilities, student spaces, security, cleanliness , even the atmosphere, have all shifted. It’s clear there’s a vision being executed and standards being lifted. For a long time UPNG struggled with its reputation. Years of neglect, funding issues, and low morale chipped away at what was once PNG’s premier university. But right now, you can feel the momentum. The grounds are cared for, infrastructure upgrades are visible, systems are being modernized, and there’s a renewed sense of pride among staff and students. That doesn’t happen by accident.

That’s where Prof Findlay’s leadership comes in. His forward-thinking mindset is exactly what UPNG needed. Tackling fake certificates with high-tech security, pushing for academic quality, driving campus renewal, these are not small moves. They’re the hard, unglamorous decisions that rebuild trust in an institution. He’s not just managing UPNG, he’s repositioning it to compete regionally again.

OBSERVER

Milestone for women in law during UPNG graduation

Advancing universal connectivity

THIS is the kind of bold, forward-thinking policy decision PNG has been waiting for. For too long, geography has dictated opportunity. Our ruaral communities, islands, highland villages, and remote districts have been cut off from reliable internet simply because fibre and towers couldn’t reach them. That isolation has real costs, for education, healthcare, small business, disaster response, and governance.

NICTA’s approval of operating and spectrum licences for Starlink Internet Services PNG Ltd directly tackles that gap. Satellite broadband doesn’t need roads or power grids. It can beam high-speed internet into a health centre in Telefomin, a

school in Kiriwina, or a cocoa cooperative in Bougainville overnight. That’s universal connectivity in practice, not just policy.

This move aligns perfectly with the Government’s digital transformation agenda. “Fast, reliable, and affordable internet” can’t just be for Port Moresby and Lae. If we’re serious about a digital economy, financial inclusion, e-government services, and SME growth, then every district must be online. Starlink gives us the infrastructure to do that years faster than traditional rollouts.

I also appreciate that this was a deliberate public policy intervention, not an afterthought. NICTA and the Ministry for ICT are

showing they understand connectivity is a central pillar of development, not a luxury. Licensing a proven low-earth orbit provider adds competition, drives down prices, and pushes existing ISPs to lift their service quality. That’s a win for consumers.

Of course, implementation matters, spectrum management, pricing models, local partnerships, and digital literacy will decide how much impact we actually see. But the first step is getting the framework right, and that’s exactly what this licensing approval does. And today, PNG just got a lot more connected.

Well done.

MESHACH RURI

Proposed market at Portion 1438 Konedobu at wrong place

A PROPOSED mini market on portion 1438 near the Avait club and the commercially zoned area at Konedobu has been objected by longtime resident in the area.

We, the residents, believe that certain people have made a proposal to establish a mini market on a piece of land reserved for a proposed road infrastructure, situated between Avait club, and the residential area opposite the Post PNG headquarters i Konedobu.

The resident known as DCA compound and businesses are specially designated places, and public facilities like markets should not be built within the same area.

The NCDC had surveyed the area for an alternate road to free up traffic congestion usually experienced in the area, and the proposed mini market would create more problems, and called on the Moresby South Authorities to shelf the idea.

We already have the Lawes Road mini market- located between Sir Hubert Murray Stadium and the Flour meal and the Lawes Road service station, just less than 30 meters away from the proposed mini market, and it does not make any sense to setup another market infront of residences and business houses.

We also have tge Ranaguri mini market and the Hanuabada market within the same area while few kilometers away from Lawes Road is the main Koki market, the Gorobe mini market, and other markets in Moresby South so why another mini market within the same area.

The business house located in the area includes the new Post Courier office, Post PNG head office, Bizprint, former ExxonMobil, Desh Besh, IPA, Ideal hardware, Big Rooster and other small business.

We understand that some people are looking for ways

to make money have proposed to local authorities to fund the market.

This is an example of moneymaking project of significance to the community when we have an existing market already. This proposed market will create alot of problem including littering, noise, traffic jam, overcrowding carpark and many other issues.

We the residents of the area stand united and oppose any proposed development on the reserved land for road infrastructure. We, therefore call on the NCD Physical Planning Board, and the Lands Department to reject the proposed plans as its not necessary but will create more problem for the city’s development

WABUN PALEAO FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS, KONEDOBU

FOR years, we’ve spoken about gender equality and giving women a seat at the table. UPNG just showed us what that actually looks like. These 103 women didn’t only earn LLBs. They earned the mandate to shape policy, argue precedent, draft legislation, defend the vulnerable, and lead institutions. They’re entering the profession that sets the guardrails for our democracy.

President Hubert Namani’s keynote gets to the heart of it. This is the first generation of lawyers graduating in our post-50-year independence era.

The responsibility is heavy. Corruption, grey listing risks, growing lawlessness, these aren’t exam questions. They’re the daily reality for Papua New Guineans. And as Namani said, the Rule of Law isn’t something you read about in textbooks. It’s something you defend, uphold, and live by. That defense starts with graduates who refuse to be silent when justice is at risk. I also respect that he didn’t dodge the hard stuff. AI, data-driven clients, a digital legal landscape, that future is already here.

But tech will never replace ethical judgment or professional integrity. PNG’s legal system needs lawyers who can use new tools without losing the old values. That’s the balance these 103 women are being called to strike.

To the UPNG School of Law: 60 years after being founded to prepare a nation, you’re still doing the job. You’ve produced chief justices, judges, magistrates, policymakers, and quiet nation-builders. Now you’ve delivered the largest cohort of women lawyers this country has seen. That’s nationbuilding in real time.

To the 103 graduates: You are the change we’ve been waiting for. Walk into those firms, courtrooms, NGOs, and government offices and own your space. PNG needs your voice, your discipline, and your courage. The future won’t be built by institutions alone. It will be built by graduates like you. This is what “Reset UPNG at 60: Empowering quality graduates for a stronger PNG” looks like. And it’s happening right now.

Big congratulations, ladies. MESHACH RURI

YU TOK

Rhetoric to real action on women’s development

THE call by women’s advocate Dorothy Tekwie for the creation of a dedicated Women’s Ministry deserves firm national support. It brings to the surface a long-standing governance failure that Papua New Guinea can no longer afford to ignore.

Fifty years after Independence in 1975, under eight Prime Ministers and successive Parliaments of 118 Members, there has been no shortage of speeches, policies, and promises on women’s empowerment. Yet for many women across the country, these commitments have delivered little real change.

The reality remains that women continue to face serious challenges in safety, education, healthcare, and access to economic opportunities.

Women are the backbone of PNG’s social and economic life.

They carry the daily responsibility

of sustaining families and communities, often with limited support and recognition. Despite this, government responses have remained scattered across different agencies, leading to weak coordination and minimal impact at the community level.

A dedicated Women’s Ministry would provide the structure and accountability that has been missing. It would bring together policy direction, funding, and program delivery under one authority, ensuring that national commitments are translated into practical results.

It would also provide the leadership needed to revive and properly support institutions such as the National Council of Women, which has struggled to function effectively since legislative changes in 2013 without adequate resourcing.

However, the creation of a ministry must not be treated as a symbolic gesture or political accommodation. It must be built on strong leadership, professional standards, and strict performance monitoring. Its success must be measured by real improvements in the lives of women and girls, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

At this critical point, the question must extend beyond government: what can good citizens do for our women and for our country? Empowering women is not just a policy issue—it is a shared national responsibility.

After half a century of Independence, the time for talk has passed. The nation must now act decisively. Empower our women, and we will transform our country.

REGINALD RENAGI

QUICK THOUGHTS

PROMOTING TOURISM

SOME months back, Tourism Minister described tourism in PNG as a pot of gold but there is no gold in the pot. Not enough tourist dollars are coming into the country. PNG and what it can offer the tourists ought to be widely publicised especially on the international market. The laid back village resorts of the sandy white beach on New Ireland, the adventures of climbing Mt Whilhelm

EMBRACE FAILURE

FAILURE is often seen as something to fear or avoid, but the truth is, failure is an essential part of every success story. It’s a stepping stone, not a dead end. When you start seeing failure as a natural and necessary part of growth, you open the door to learning, resilience, and ultimate achievement. Every person who has accomplished great things has experienced failure many times. Thomas

as examples are points of interest for overseas tourists among many others that should be promoted wholesomely. The Tourism Authority must think outside the box and be more innovative. Engage more local feature writers to do this job. Stick these articles in Air Niugini’s Paradise In flight magazines and update that every so often. A case in point is a family from France with their children under 14 years old experiencing Mt Wilhelm. That story is a beauty on its

Edison famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” That mindset transformed his countless setbacks into breakthroughs that changed the world. Failure is not about losing; it’s about learning what doesn’t work. When you face failure, it’s easy to feel discouraged, doubt yourself, or want to quit. But these moments are tests of your character and strength.

BE IINSPIRED

Who is picking Chiefs players?

HAVE the PNG Chiefs started their recruitment drive already?

As we know it, the PNG Chiefs will be participating in the National Rugby League in 2028, and the hired coach is not on the ground yet.

But, it seems the recruitment process for the future PNG Chiefs roster has started.

This will be a concern for Papua New Guineans who follow sports.

Is there a process in place to select the first team of the PNG Chiefs?

With the recent visit of West Tigers halfback, Jarome Luai, some of us are surprised with the news that the NRL player has signed a deal with the PNG team.

On the other hand, there is a lot of talk about the possibility of South Sydney’s Alex Johnson also signing with the PNG Chiefs.

This is not to question the ability and talent that such NRL stars bring, but the need for transparency and fairness in the selection process.

The management of the team ought to share with the fans and followers of the Chiefs as to how the first team will be picked.

Will it be a case of anyone playing in the NRL flying over to Port Moresby and having a chat with Prime Minister James Marape and

a member of the management to get a spot in the first team?

Will Mr Marape have a say in the selection of the team?

Or, will the management - without the input of the coach - determine who gets a place in the Chiefs’ first team?

We are of the view that the selection of the first team must be made by or with the coach and a panel of former NRL players of PNG origin.

NRL is the top rugby league competition in the world and people with no experience in playing in international football or NRL must stay clear of the selection process. The first team of the Chiefs must not be influenced by people who have no game experience. Additionally, the selection process must be shared with the fans and followers of the Chiefs. If that is not done, it is likely that many international players will be travelling up to Port Moresby soon to get a spot in the first team. And, that would not be a good start for the PNG team.

Your reader,

“SPORTS ANALYST”

Administrative incompetency and budget blowouts

BY JOSEPH KETAN

Anthropologist and Political Scientist

The PNG Electoral Commission has a history of administrative ineptitude and budget blowouts. Rather than addressing these twin problems, the national government continues to fund the excessively high cost of elections in this country.

The projected cost of elections by successive Electoral Commissioners at every election is often uncritically accepted by the government. Independent audits will establish actual cost against wild projections.

In a previous general election, one province had budgeted K247,500 to fund vehicle hire, but ended up incurring a vehicle hire bill of K6 million. In most countries, someone would have gone to prison for such spectacular budget blowouts, but in PNG, I cannot remember anyone ever being prosecuted for spending beyond approved budgets on elections.

Acting Electoral Commissioner

Margaret Vagi and Deputy Electoral Commissioner were part of an internal PNGEC election review that uncovered serious budget blowout in this particular case. This kind of madness must never be repeated under their watch.

The PNGEC is the statutory agency responsible for administering the Organic Law on National and Local-level Government Elections in Papua New Guinea.

The Electoral Commissioner is responsible for organising, conducting and supervising National Parliament elections as well as Local-level Government elections. The Electoral Commissioner is to ensure that elections are conducted freely, fairly, and safely, while maintaining an accurate electoral roll containing a list of all eligible voters.

Unfortunately, our election management body, despite consuming a significant chunk of the national budget, remains incapable of delivering free, fair and safe elections.

Why is the PNGEC incapable

What should we do to prepare for 2027?

of delivering free, fair and safe elections?

Aggressive, irresponsible, belligerent Melanesian political culture has rendered this important Constitutional office impotent. The PNGEC, in bits and pieces, might demonstrate the will to do the right thing, but, as a whole, it is bloated, weak and ineffective. The bits and pieces represent the good men and women who have come and gone through that organisation. Yet, there are some really bad people in provincial election management positions.

Provincial Election Managers and Returning Officers often defy lawful instructions from the commissioner, conveniently forgetting that they hold delegated powers. These rogue officers give the PNGEC a bad name, use their positions for personal gain, make false declarations, and sometimes send wrong people into parliament. Rather than suspending these scoundrels, or discarding them completely, the commissioner continues to employ corrupt election managers and returning officers.

Destructive Melanesian political culture has, thus, corrupted the personnel responsible for conducting elections in a free, fair and safe manner. For example, in the 2025/2026 Dei Open By-election, polling was conducted without an electoral roll, no indelible ink used, and ballot papers were marked by supporters of candidates, thereby preventing voters from voting.

Acting Electoral commissioner Margaret Vagi has inherited a dysfunctional organisation.

The Australian Government, via AusAID/DFAT, has sent up hundreds of electoral advisors to work with the PNG Electoral support program to strengthen both the electoral system and the process. The AEC worked with PNGEC through a revolving door policy, which inevitably left no corporate knowledge behind.

organisations (ACIL, Cardno, IFES) brought in advisors with no local knowledge.

Margaret Vagi is at the helm of an organisation with a terrible culture of sitting out crises, rather than rectifying problems. Successive electoral commissioners have not found ways to fix at least the most glaring of problems, nor have the foreign advisors been able to make a dent on intractable problems that have overwhelmed election managers in this country.

Former Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai and Deputy Electoral Commissioner John Kalamoroh visited India to look at the machine for electronic voting.

While the system is feasible, the PNG Government would need to pass revised legislation, purchase the equipment, recruit and train technical staff to operate the voting machines. At the same time, Biometric Voter Registration can be introduced to replace the outdated and ineffective electoral roll.

Decades of sitting out crises at PNGEC has resulted in each general election becoming worse than the last. The quality of elections has drastically deteriorated, while the cost of elections has risen dramatically. PNG elections have lost credibility, which raises serious questions about the composition of parliament and the legitimacy of government. Restoring integrity to the electoral process will take years of an integrated approach to civic education and voter awareness programs. Parents and teachers have a big responsibility in the education of young people to comply with the laws of this country. Schools need to develop curricula on proper electoral behaviour and the reasons for conducting credible elections. The media needs to reinforce the message that responsible government, good leadership, and good governance depend on credible elections. Nothing will change in 2027, but the fruits of the good seeds

that we plant today will be harvested by future generations in the next 50 to 100 years.

What should we do to prepare for 2027?

The government will need to make a decision next month on whether to confirm the current Acting Electoral Commissioner Margaret Vagi for a full-time five-year appointment, or to bring in someone from outside the PNGEC to replace her. Sensible heads in government would argue that it is too late to bring in a new Electoral Commissioner, while some hot heads, seeing her as a threat to their political careers, may lobby for one of their own to take the country to the 2027 general election.

Better coordination between the commissions branch directors and provincial election managers can eliminate administrative problems. Improved planning and budgeting by the commissions, timely release of funding from Finance Department, and spending within the approved budget by both PNGEC headquarters staff and provincial election managers will be essential to delivering credible elections.

Why are elections so costly in this country?

There is a culture of extravagant spending during elections in PNG. Over the last 30 years, the government has given the commission an open cheque book to spend on procurement and allowances. It has consistently run up massive debts which the government recklessly pays off after each election.

Rather than prosecuting and fining or jailing electoral staff for running up massive bills, the government leniently lets offenders off the hook.

An ANU study has indicated that “Papua New Guinea’s election spending has surged dramatically, with the 2022 general election becoming the most expensive in the country’s history at over K695 million, a 88.8 per cent increase from 2017. This high spending, often

described as an “election splurge,” has seen astronomical costs per voter and substantial, sometimes controversial, funding for local level government (LLG) polls”.

The same study pointed out that “the cost of conducting elections in Papua New Guinea is significantly higher than global averages”. Rugged terrain, combined with poor transport infrastructure, and corruption contribute to escalating cost of elections in this country.

The cost of elections has consistently risen, doubling every 10 to 15 years. For the upcoming 2027 National General Election, the commission estimates a requirement of more than K500 million, with security cost expected to take total costing to exceed one billion kina. Note that the cost of election campaign is also running into millions of kina, but this is another story for another time!

The abolition of the government PTB system has resulted in the hiring of private vehicles at inflated rates. A 10-seater Toyota LandCruiser that was once hired from PTB pools at less than K100 (with free fuel) in the 1990s went up to K250 in the 2000s and is currently at K800 per day. Election managers often act independently, defying orders from headquarters, which results in overspending on vehicle hire, running up huge bills in millions of kina.

Election managers spending beyond budget requirements on any expenditure item should be terminated, fined, or jailed. Ultimately, the commissioner should be held responsible for any budget blowouts in election expenditure. No matter who is in charge, or what ever the circumstances, the CEO of the organisation is answerable to the government on how public funds are spent, and, wherever appropriate, that person at the apex of the hierarchy should face the consequences. Holding our CEOs to higher standards of accountability is one way of restoring credibility to state organisations, starting with the Electoral Commissioner.

Australia commits K11 million for cyclone Maila recovery

BY TANISHA SASSAH

AUSTRALIA has committed K11 million for infrastructure to improve access to affected communities in three provinces.

The money will go towards urgent repairs and temporary restoration of roads and bridges in New Ireland, East New Britain and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Australian High Commissioner Ewen McDonald said yesterday during the completion of the Royal Australian Air Force C-27 Aircraft humanitarian relief that the restoration phase of the three provinces will be in partnership with the Department of Works and Highways. “The response to Cyclone Maila reaffirms our enduring partnership with Papua New Guinea, we will continue to stand side by side with PNG as it responds to requests for assistance as the needs assessments are finalised and we will certainly support recovery planning as needed,” Mr McDonald said. He said that the C-27 aircraft was used to support the National Disaster Centre’s response by delivering 45 tonnes of supplies to affected communities through 15 flights.The supplies were worth K715,000 of food supplies, to families who lost their food source and K100,000 in relief supplies including shelter kits, water purification tablets, hygiene kits, medical supplies, and aviation fuel.

Australia will continue to support the country to deliver the last remaining supplies to be shipped to Bougainville and other remote communities affected by Cyclone Maila. “We plan to ship the

The response to Cyclone Maila reaffirms our enduring partnership with Papua New Guinea.

EWEN MCDONALD

Australia’s High Commissioner to PNG

remaining supplies to Bougainville and we’ll be supporting the last mile delivery to get supplies to remote and disconnected communities where people need them most. “We will also be responding to further requests as assessments have done and of course we’re very interested in supporting the recovery.

“As you know some of the islands that we’ve seen have been heavily affected by the cyclone in terms of food supply, in terms of infrastructure and yes you can be assured of Australia’s support as we go forward,” Mr McDonald said.

He thanked the Australian High Commission team in Port Moresby for working closely with NCD, and the PNG Government, the locals in the affected provinces helping to unload supplies, the Australian Defence Force, Australia Assist Rapid Response team, New Zealand aircraft, United States and United Kingdom for donating supplies, and UNICEF.

“Of course, the next steps I acknowledge the road to recovery will be challenging and Australia

where we

Lawlessness a threat to progress

THE Member for Maprik Libert Kapris has strongly condemned the destruction of state property following the death of local resident Jude Mundi, warning that lawlessness threatens the district’s future growth and stability.

In a comprehensive statement, Mr Kapris acknowledged that grief and anger are natural responses to tragedy, but stressed that such emotions must not lead to violence. He said the burning of police houses and public servant residences undermines the rule of law and disrupts development in a district steadily emerging as a key

MP calls for calm in Maprik unrest following death

commercial hub in the central Sepik region.

“Maprik is growing and we cannot allow retaliation and destruction to reverse the progress we have worked hard to achieve,” he said.

Mr Kapris cautioned residents against repeating the unrest seen in 2024, urging citizens to exercise restraint and respect the law.

He said that state institutions exist to serve the people, and that mutual respect between citizens and authorities is essential.

Independent probe ordered as tensions ease after deadly incident

THE LOCAL Member Libert Kapris confirmed that specialist teams from police headquarters, including the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and Internal Affairs, will be deployed to ensure a thorough, impartial, and unbiased inquiry into all aspects of the incident.

A full forensic examination will also be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, with officials assuring the public that findings will be made available once completed.

He said that accountability will apply to all parties, including members of the police force.“No one is above the law,” Mr Kapris said, adding that any officer found responsible for misconduct or unlawful actions will face arrest and prosecution.

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary has already begun making arrests into the burning of state assets, while also engaging community leaders in peace talks aimed at de-escalating tensions.

Residents harbouring suspects involved in the violence have been urged to surrender them peacefully to authorities, with assurances that due process will be followed and no harm will come to those who cooperate.

Mr Kapris said that maintaining calm is critical to ensuring the integrity of the investigation, warning that further unrest could compromise efforts to establish the truth.

He also clarified that neither his office nor the District Development Authority had any involvement in the incident, reaffirming their focus on restoring peace and supporting affected families.

While the destruction has displaced several public servants, including police and health workers, the broader situation remains stable. Businesses and public services continue to operate, signalling a return to normalcy.

Extending sympathy to all affected, Mr Kapris called for unity during what he described as a difficult time for the district.

“Justice will be served for the family of Jude Mundi, for those who lost homes, and for anyone wrongly accused,” he said. “Maprik must not be destroyed by anger. Through patience and collective responsibility, we will rebuild and move forward.”

Maintaining calm is critical to ensuring the integrity of the investigation, warning that further unrest could compromise efforts to establish the truth. Justice will be served for the family of Jude Mundi, for those who lost homes, and for anyone wrongly accused.

LIBERT KAPRIS Member for Maprik

Community leaders, including women, youth, and public servants, were called upon to lead by example and promote peace.

He also warned against individuals exploiting the situation for political gain, describing such actions as selfish and lacking leadership integrity.

Security forces have since reinforced their presence in the district, with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary confirming that the situation is under control.

Arrests have been made, with further apprehensions expected as investigations continue.

Police leadership has also initiated peace discussions with local leaders in what has been described as a positive step toward restoring stability.

Despite the unrest, businesses in Maprik remain open, with markets and essential services operating as normal.

The member assured the public that there is no need for panic,

encouraging residents to continue their daily activities.

Authorities from the Criminal Investigation Division and Internal Affairs are expected to arrive in Maprik to conduct an independent and thorough investigation into the incident, including the circumstances surrounding Mr Mundi’s death.

Mr Kapris extended condolences to the grieving family, as well as to police personnel and public servants who lost homes in the violence, reaffirming that justice will be pursued fairly and without bias.

Starlink decision to impact every village

BY ERIC SUPA

THE Opposition commended the Acting Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Peter Tsiamalili Jr and NICTA CEO Polume Lume, for securing operating and spectrum licences for Starlink Internet Services (PNG) Limited, describing it as a “big win for the people of Papua New Guinea”, yesterday.

Opposition Leader James Nomane said this is a decision that will be felt in every village, every classroom, and every business across Papua

New Guinea. “Communication is not a remote luxury. It is the oxygen of development. Without reliable connectivity, business struggles, learning is inhibited, and we have an uneven playing field,” he said.

He said the licensing of Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit satellite technology directly confronts PNG’s challenges of inaccessible geography and limited terrestrial coverage.

He said the Opposition noted that NICTA’s approval followed a comprehensive assessment of technical capability, financial capacity, and regulatory alignment.“Crucially, the licences cover both KA and KU band spectrum. This simply means broader reach, greater reliability, and real competition against existing providers,” he said.

“Competition drives down cost. Lower cost means more businesses connected, more communities empowered, and more Papua New Guineans participating in the

digital economy.”

The Opposition praised Mr Tsiamalili for demonstrating “clarity of purpose, regulatory discipline, and a genuine commitment to inclusion”.

“He has moved decisively without cutting corners.

The safeguards attached to these licences consumer protection standards, national security compliance, and emergency service obligations signal a Minister who understands that openness must be balanced with accountability.

The Minister and NICTA CEO have

imbued confidence in all of us.”

While affirming that the Opposition’s role is to hold government to account, the statement added: “It is equally our duty to acknowledge progress where it exists. This is progress.”

The Opposition called on Minister Tsiamalili to ensure rapid deployment and transparent pricing following the licence approval.

“Getting Starlink was a big win for the people of Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea’s future is digital.

Today, we are closer to it.”

While PNG burns, Marape jets off to China: Nomane

BY ERIC SUPA

WHILE Papua New Guinea’s economy, society, and institutions are bleeding, Prime Minister James Marape has departed for China aboard a charter flight, accompanied by business associates, to visit corporate headquarters and meet with business and government officials says Opposition Leader James Nomane.

Mr Nomane said this is not leadership when the country is experiencing contemporaneous crisis and our next generation is graduating from universities across the country.

He said this is abandonment.

He said in seven years, this government has delivered the following: a kina that has lost over 4 per cent of its value against the US dollar since 2014, driving import costs through the roof; a sovereign debt burden of K66 billion equivalent to over 50 per cent of GDP, with no credible plan for repayment; FATF greylisting in 2026 that has frozen correspondent banking relationships and driven away the foreign capital PNG desperately needs; and a cost-of-living crisis in which a 10kg bag of rice now costs over K70 and a litre of fuel sits above K4.50 at the pump.

“Ordinary families are rationing meals. Small trade store owners cannot restock shelves. Drivers cannot afford to work. The country is suffering,” he said.

“The failures compound. Budget execution rates have consistently fallen below 70 per cent, meaning billions allocated to health, education, and infrastructure never reached the people.”

Mr Nomane explains that the National ID system has failed despite hundreds of millions invested. He said the recent attempt at the National Census failed and remains so incomplete its data cannot be trusted to plan schools, clinics, or electoral boundaries.

“SME policy is absent. And the Vagrancy Act attempts to criminalise the informal economy, where an estimated 85 per cent of Papua New Guineans earn their living,” he said.

“The Prime Minister has traversed China, Singapore, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the Pacific. Each trip was announced with ceremony but concluded in nothing.”

“Bilateral agreements have not produced jobs. Investment pledges have not materialised into growth.”

He said these trips are signs of a Prime Minister in denial, running away from problems he created. He said this week, as the Prime Minister dines in Guangzhou, thousands of young Papua New Guineans are graduating from our universities and technical colleges proud, capable, and ready.

“They studied through hardship, through power outages, through a pandemic. They earned their qualifications. Yet now they are walking into nothing. No jobs. No growth sectors. No investment pipeline. No economy built to receive them.”

Instead of hope and opportunity, they are met with failed leadership focused on globe-trotting, excess, and status.

Mr Nomane concluded this government has learned nothing from its international junkets and demonstrated disdain for the next generation by doing nothing to prepare for their integration into society so they can build the nation and prosper in the process.

Narcotics office to set-up in Morobe

THE National Narcotics Bureau (NNB) will sign a landmark agreement with the Morobe Provincial Government today in Port Moresby.

This will signal the expansion of the Government’s anti-narcotics agency to Morobe and establish its presence in a strategic position on the mainland of Papua New Guinea.

Deputy administrator of Morobe Mr Robin Bazinuc said Morobe is the gateway to the mainland and plays a pivotal role in the domestic and internal transaction of goods and services via its international wharf.

“Therefore, we need the presence of the National Narcotics Bureau because illegal drugs flow in and out of this province from the Highlands Highway and the international vessels sailing into Lae,” Mr Bazinuc said in his office in the Tutumang in Lae last month when reaching out to the NNB with the propostion to set up office in the province.

According to him, the Morobe Provincial Administration will provide an office space and assist with other requirements for the NNB to establish there.

This will now be the second regional office to be established by the NNB in its expansion plan to have regional offices in all provincial headquarters throughout the country.

In June last year (2025), ex-combatants in Bougainville were among 30 participants who graduated as certified drug awareness educators and trainers in Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Other participants are from the ABG Department of Community Services, Bougainville Police, Churches, NGOs and CBOs on the ground.

The acting Director General of the PNG National Narcotics Bureau, Mr Kiria Kotange, said; “Since the establishment of the National Narcotics Bureau in 1992, it has been entirely based in Port Moresby under four different director generals before me.

“But in November 2023, after my management succeeded in separating the NNB from the Department of Justice and Attorney General, we have relentlessly pursued our new agendas to expand and modernise this very critical, but consistently undermined government agency.

“And I couldn’t be prouder to say- the signing today again marks another milestone achievement in our singular drive in just over 2years to get this agency, not only- up and running, but expanding our services outside of NCD for the first time in over 33 years of its operation,” Mr Kotange said.

“Following this, we have Hela and Eastern Highlands provinces lined-up whose respective governments and administrations have formally invited the NNB to go and set-up offices within their establishments.“Our policy division has already drawn up the respective MOUs and we anticipate sending a team to Hela and another to Eastern Highlands before the end of this month.

“Both provincial administrations have already allocated office spaces that come with logistical support and I extend my sincere thanks to the respective political and bureaucratic leaderships for their well-placed priorities, prudent thinking and foresight.

“These are significant progresses, and I take my hat off to the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and by extension the Chief Secretary Mr Kearneth Nanei and the Bougainville Department of Justice Secretary Ms Leontine Ivano for facilitating for what I understand is aligned to the greater Shaping Bougainville Justice (SBJ) agenda of the sector, but has also significantly helped our cause in so far,” Mr Kotange said.

“Therefore, I am also using this opportunity to salute the Morobe Provincial Administration and Government and urge all other provincial governments, administrations and districts to come on board because the issue of drug abuse affects all of us and demands a full and comprehensive approach to uproot it at the village level up,” he added.

Panguna landowners issue stop work notice

BY STEVEN BUSIN

LANDOWNERS of the Panguna Mine Pit domain have issued an urgent stop-work notice to Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) and Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL).

They are demanding an immediate halt to all exploration activities and the removal of personnel and equipment from their customary land within 24 hours.

In a public notice dated 28 April, 2026, the Indigenous Owners of Land, Resources and Territories of the Panguna Mine Pit domain state that BCL and LMEL are trespassing on indigenous land, and that all on–site pre–feasibility and feasibility studies under exploration license EL01 – including technical, economic and social assessments – are “unauthorised, unethical and illegal”.

The landowners further allege that the use of veteran (ex–combatant) heavy machinery for exploration work is also illegal.

“We, the indigenous (traditional/customary) landowners of the Panguna Mine Pit domain, have not signed any Land Access and Compensation Agreement (LACA) with you (BCL) nor have we agreed, consented to and authorised your presence and activities on our indigenous lands and territories,” the notice stated.

The directive orders BCL and LMEL to: 1. Stop all work immediately; and 2. Remove all personnel and equipment from the indigenous lands and territories no later than 24 hours from the notice.

Failure to comply, the landowners warn, will result in “necessary actions to protect our indigenous land, resources and territories” in accordance with indigenous ownership rights and relevant legal frameworks, including the Bougainville Mining Act 2015, Bougainville Inward Investment Act 2014 (and its 2018 amendment), the Bougainville Customary Land Act 2024, and the constitutions of both Bougainville and Papua New Guinea.

The notice is issued under the banner of the Panguna Osikayang – Spiritual, Ethical, Wisdom and Morality coalition and signed by a group of recognised customary leaders, including: Martin Minisinu – Chief, Karaponto Sub–Clan (Kurabang Clan), Principal Block Title Holder, Caroline Daveona, Chieftess, Karaponto Sub–Clan, Principal Block Title Holder, Paschalis Itamari Jr, Paramount Chief, Simpirako Sub Clan (Bakoringku Clan), Beverly Bakari Itamari – Chieftess, Simpirako Sub Clan, Rose Pisi Tamou, Chieftess representing Kurabang Clan of Moroni Village, Tony Tamou Sylvester, Representative for Bakoringku Clan of Dapera village.

Copies of the notice have been sent to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives, the Office of the President, the Bougainville Executive Council, the ABG Chief Secretary, multiple ABG departments (Lands, Mining, Veterans), the Bougainville Police Commissioner, the Bougainville Council of Churches, Bougainville Civil Society, and several national members of parliament representing Bougainville constituencies, including Peter Tsiamallili Jr (Bougainville Regional), Jimmy Mirington (Central Boug), Francesca Semoso (North Boug), and Timothy Masiu (South Boug).

The Panguna mine site, once a major copper and gold operation, has remained a hotly contested issue since the Bougainville civil war.

This latest notice signals an escalation of that opposition, with a hard 24–hour deadline.

Neither BCL nor LMEL had issued a public response at the time of publication.

Training strengthens police officers

THIRTEEN police constables were trained on Occurrence Book entries in support of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Corporate Plan 2021-2030 and its focus on building a professional and accountable police service.

East Sepik Provincial Police Commander

Superintendent Christopher Tamari said the session covered the correct procedures for recording incidents in the OB, an essential part of daily policing and official record keeping. Through practical exercises, officers improved their accuracy, discipline, and confidence in reporting.

“This initiative aligns closely with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Corporate Plan 2021-2030 by strengthening Goal 5 through continuous skills and professional development of officers.

“It supports Goal 2 by improving first-response reporting and the integrity of evidence, and reinforces Goal 3 through greater accountability, discipline, and proper procedures,” he said.

Supt Tamari, welcomed the initiative and commended the Provincial Training Officer for his commitment. He said such practical training is essential in preparing young officers for real policing duties.

He said that ongoing training of this nature is vital in building a stronger, more disciplined, and service-oriented police force.

Drivers question reliability of highway

BY MARTHA LOUIS

FOR PMV driver, Shadrach Malio, every trip along the Madang-Ramu Highway now feels uncertain.

He said the road is no longer something drivers can trust, especially when the rain comes down hard.“Every time it rains, we worry. The road is not safe and we don’t know what we will face on the next trip,” he said.

His warning comes after heavy rain and flooding in January 2026, badly damaged the Madang-Ramu Highway, cutting off key transport links between Madang, Ramu, Lae and the Highlands.

Several bridges had collapsed along the route.

The Yanamu and Aumea bridges were washed away after days of continuous rain. Later, the Omea and Yanima bridges also gave way when floodwaters weakened their foundations.The collapses happened between 2am and 3am, leaving travellers stranded and surprised.

The Department of Works and Highways sent in teams to assess the damage and set up temporary crossings. But transport remains limited and unsafe, especially for heavy vehicles and long-distance travel.

Temporary bypasses are now in place, but PMV drivers say the road remains risky and unpredictable. The highway is a major lifeline. It carries food, patients, workers and business supplies every day. With bridges down, movement has slowed and services between provinces have been disrupted.

Local businesses say the impact is already being felt. Deliveries are delayed. Transport costs have gone up. Some goods have spoiled while

waiting for trucks to get through. Mining company Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited has stepped in to help fund emergency

repairs and build temporary bypasses in some affected areas.

The travelling public has also been

warned that the temporary crossings are not safe for heavy trucks.Works and Highways Secretary Gibson Holemba had previously announced that a long-term reconstruction plan for the highway under a World Bankfunded program was progressing, with bridge replacement works approved and supported by development partners.

But since that announcement, there has been no visible start on the ground. No bridge reconstruction work has started, and affected sections remain in the same damaged condition.

The project is still in the design and tender stage. Technical studies on unstable sections are ongoing, and full construction has not begun.

He also confirmed that wider reconstruction is still waiting on funding finalisation and project approvals. At least three bridges along the corridor are now damaged or destroyed, with the key crossings still relying on temporary bypasses.

For drivers like Malio, the gap between announcements and reality is frustrating.

On the ground, he said, nothing has changed since the bridges went down. People are still waiting, and every trip still carries the same risk. The repeated damage points out a familiar problem in Papua New Guinea. Heavy rain continues to weaken road foundations.

Malio said when bridges fail suddenly, communities are left cut off when critical links collapse -- often with long delays before permanent repairs begin.

MICHELLE’S MOMENT

ON PAGE 24

- a mount ialibu inspiration

MICHELLE’S CLIMB TO SUCCESS

Heart-warming, beautiful, caring, and ambitious.

iful,

Her beaming smile caught the attention of the cameraman for the occasion.

The graduation hall was full of colours, exuding a fragrance that trapped the light in a hue that is reserved for important occasions.

She was there among the hundreds, flamboyant, a mirror of confidence, focus and ambition.

Yesterday will go down in her calendar as the day she achieved her highest university honour.

Today is a day of reflection with her family on her journey, sacrifice, purpose, focus and faith.

Tomorrow, a red carpet closed dinner will be held to celebrate her achievements, followed by ‘mumu’ with family, friends, and co-workers, which will seal her Executive Master's in Business Administration (EMBA) from the University of Papua New Guinea.

Meet young upstart Michelle Wapia, whose determination, life journey and achievements should be the motivational story for all Papua New Guinea girls.

Michelle is the Finance & Administration Manager at Kalang Advertising Ltd, trading as FM100, HOT97FM & Kalang Events Management.

Michelle is the firstborn of a pair of humble teachers. Her father is Councillor Albert Wapia of Morea Ward One, East Pangia LLG and from the Greater Koliri Tribe of Ialibu Pangia in Southern Highlands.

mile he ll e ue nt the ror of on n her ed her n with rifice, closed ebrate d s, l her siness m the nea chelle n, hould or all e at ding ang a r t , the alibu s. ahuei Sik

And her mother is Mrs Rosey Temon Wapia from Kwahuei Village, Yangoru in East Sepik Province.

The seed for the EMBA germinated long before she went to school. Her grandpa, Kaila Wapia was the paramount chief of the Greater Koliri.

Michelle loved her grandpa. One day, when she was washing her grandpa, he told her, ‘My child, you will climb over Mount Ialibu and will do better in life. Thank you for always looking after my old body.’

It was metaphorical. When Michelle returned from year 12 with the news that she was selected at the University of Technology, the old papa muttered: ‘My child, you have conquered Mount Ialibu!’

The seed of her grandpa’s challenge bore an accounting degree from the University of Technology (2014) and her CPA (2024), which set her on the course for an EMBA at UPNG.

Amazingly, Michelle conquered that mountain too in 12 months, while juggling full-time studies and full-time work at the same time.

Bound by the heartfelt motto: ‘Your current situation is not your final destination,’ Michelle believes that too many women give up or are forced to quit chasing their ambitions by losing focus.

She recalled yesterday: “My advice to all the women out there is never give up.

“Follow your potential, never let others dictate your life.

“If I can do it, you can do it too. Education is progress. You must add value to your life by focusing on your goals and dreams through education.” Michelle says she was also inspired when the Group CEO of Telikom, Amos Tepi, graduated with an MBA.

“At his graduation luncheon, he challenged all of young people with the same words,” she recalled.

“He said, if I can do this at my age and busy schedule, then what are you young people doing, what are you waiting for?”

“I took that as an open challenge and had to sacrifice to invest in

my studies. “I was blessed that my family and a very close friend were able to assist financially by meeting the K32,000 school fee expense for the full 15 units in a tri-semester."

“One thing we must never forget is that our lives belong to God; in whatever we undertake, God must be in it. Without God, we are nothing.”

She added, “Be humbled. Be patient. Love your parents and elders. Show gratitude, be caring, be kind, gentle, considerate and helpful.”

It was a journey of love and patience. It was a trip built on dreams and anchored by the advice

of her grandparents. Her paternal grandpa, Chief Wapia, lived to be over a hundred years old. In the twilight of his years, it was his loving granddaughter Michelle who bathed him, oiled his body, scrubbed him, clothed and fed him. This is no secret. It is well known in the East Pangia that a young girl who cared so much for the elderly paramount chief and other people with an open heart that her own tribesmen and women gave her the name Mummy Kelo, which signifies her values and importance in the community.

Her maternal grandma Salome Temon is the chairman of her

Michelle proudly says, “On my mother's side, all my Sepik relatives are highly educated. On my father's side, not many people have a university degree.

“I am the first Female EMBA graduate from East Pangia. I take this as a role model qualification. And I hope to inspire the next generation of master's graduates from East Pangia and Southern Highlands and PNG, especially among women.”

Footnote – special thanks

Joan

Josephine

Finance and Admin team at Kalang FM. Her EMBA is specially dedicated to her chalk dust parents, Mr and Mrs Wapia, Greater Koliri Tribe of Ialibu-Pangia District, SHP and Mori Tribe of Yangoru-Sausia District, ESP.

RUGAMAGULI – GAIRE REEF,

Sometime in 1962, a doublehulled canoe owned by Stephen Dawanincura Senior slipped away from Hula village, bound for Port Moresby.

On board were Alesana, Stephen, and their families, carrying with them the quiet rhythms of sea travel and the uncertain hope of arrival. Stephen was married to Alesana’s younger sister.

The year remains clear in memory, as it was when the last of Alesana’s six children, Vakona Sivako, was born.As they reached the reefs off the coast of Gaire village, they saw another canoe from Hula already anchored there, riding the wind. It belonged to Vakona Vali, another brother-in-law of Alesana. The sun was beginning to set.They came alongside, keeping a distance of about twenty metres.

The sea was restless, and the wind carried their words away before they could be understood.After some time, their canoe prepared to continue onward.

It was then that Alesana chose to dive into the water to spear fish. Turning to his family, he said, “Go ahead without me.

I will call across to the other canoe and let them know I will swim over and join them.”

He called out through the wind, gesturing toward the other canoe— his message carried more by movement than by sound.

Then he slipped beneath the surface.

He moved through the water with purpose, spearing fish as he went, closing the distance toward the other canoe.

But the wind turned his intentions

into misunderstanding. His message was never clearly received.

And so, when his canoe sailed on, the other canoe, after a time, also lifted anchor and followed—quietly leaving the reef behind.Alesana remained unseen in the water.

By the time he realised he had been left behind, the sea had already widened between him and any sign of return. There were no radios, no lights, no voices that could carry across the distance—only wind, tide, and silence.He spent the night alone on the reef.

Cold settled deep into his body as the hours passed.

The sea did not relent. Yet he endured—his strength carrying him where certainty could not.

Through the long night, he held on, fighting both the cold and the loneliness of the open water.

His massive stature insulated him from a possible death from hypothermia.

At dawn, when the world was still grey and uncertain, fishermen from Gaire arrived in their double-hulled canoes with tarpaulin sails.

At the front, stood a man named Kema Kema.As they approached the reef, Kema saw a figure standing motionless on a rock, faintly waving.

For a moment, fear gripped him—he thought it might be a spirit of the sea, something not of this world.

But courage overcame fear, and he moved closer.

In the growing light, the figure became clear—a man, soaked, strongly built, barely able to stand.

Alesana had survived the night.

They pulled him from the reef. His body was weakened, his lips darkened by the cold.

The fishermen wrapped him in spare tarpaulin and abandoned their journey, turning instead toward Gaire. There, by the warmth of a fire, they slowly restored his strength.

Later, Alesana would recall fragments of that long night. Hunger came quietly, like the tide.

At one moment, a bird landed on his shoulder, as though offering reassurance that he would endure. It remained there for a time, keeping

him company in the vast emptiness.

Not long after, a dry coconut drifted nearby. He retrieved it, broke it against the reef, and ate—life returned to him in small, sustaining pieces.

From that time onward, something unspoken remained between the families of Alesana and Kema Kema.

A bond formed not through ceremony, but through survival and compassion. Even today, that connection is remembered in

custom and gathering.

Not long after the ordeal, a child was born into Alesana’s extended family.

He was given a name to remember the night that refused to take him: Rugamaguli—“Surviving by Standing.”.

A similar name is mentioned in the Gaire stories – Gini Rani. Story told to us by my mother, Tapualigo Paulo, the youngest sister of Alesana – 1970

- building visions through dedication

CELEBRATING LEADERSHIP, CELEBRATING RESILIENCE, AND SERVICE AND SERVICE

IN A remarkable story of dedication, perseverance, and continuous growth, Wama Matoa, a recent graduate of the Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance, exemplifies how determination and strategic learning can transform lives and careers.

Her journey from humble beginnings to becoming a senior public servant and a role model for many is nothing short of inspiring.

Matoa, a proud graduate and participant of the Diploma of Government Leadership & Management program, second batch in 2025, is not only a dedicated employee of the PNG Immigration & Citizenship Services Authority. She is also a committed single parent and the primary breadwinner of her family. Her professional journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and Social Work from the University of Papua New Guinea in 2011. Her passion for community development through storytelling and performance laid the groundwork for her future in public service.

Following her graduation in 2011, she gained experience in the media industry with EMTV and served as a Data Entry Auditing Officer at the Electoral Commission of PNG.

Since 2014, she has dedicated over a decade to PNGICSA, steadily rising from a casual Data Entry Officer to her current role as a Senior Migration Officer in the ABTC section.

Her commitment and hard work earned her a Certificate of Long Service in March 2025, recognising her loyalty and dedication. Matoa’s expertise

has not gone unnoticed. She has had the privilege of representing Papua New Guinea at several APEC forums in Thailand (2022), the USA (2023), and Peru (2024), showcasing her leadership on the international stage.

“Being able to represent PNG at such forums has been a proud moment for me and a testament to the trust placed in our public service,” she reflects.

In June 2025, Matoa embarked on a new chapter by enrolling in SILAG’s six-month Diploma of Governance, Leadership & Management. What started as a quest for professional development quickly turned into a transformational experience.

“I expected to learn the basics of leadership, but the course went much deeper,” she says.

“It changed how I see my role as a public servant and as a leader in my community.”

Despite juggling her studies with her responsibilities as a single mother, Matoa demonstrated resilience and determination. She faced challenges,

particularly in understanding complex government financial systems, but with mentorship and practical training, she mastered budgeting and financial planning - skills she now applies daily to ensure her work aligns with national goals like Vision 2050 and MTDP IV.

The training equipped her with vital skills, emotional intelligence, project management, and strategic planning, which have enhanced her productivity and leadership qualities. “I now approach my tasks more strategically and objectively.

“I understand that leadership is about attitude, actions, and inspiring others, not just age or hierarchy,” she emphasises.

Her newfound knowledge has also strengthened her resolve to incorporate Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and ethical standards into her decisionmaking processes, ensuring fairness and integrity in her work.

Matoa sees her education as a strategic step toward advancing her career and contributing meaningfully to

PNG’s governance landscape.

SILAG’s reputation for excellence and its focus on developing capable leaders align perfectly with her aspirations.

“Leadership is not about waiting for a title,” she asserts.

“It’s about attitude, actions, and inspiring others. I’ve learned that from SILAG, and I’m committed to applying these principles in my work and community.”

Wama Matoa’s story is a testament to the power of education, resilience, and service.

Her journey underscores that with determination and the right support, individuals can overcome personal and professional challenges to become leaders who drive positive change in their communities and beyond.

As she continues to serve and lead at PNGICSA, Matoa remains an inspiring example for aspiring public servants, proving that leadership is accessible to all who dare to pursue it with passion and purpose.

A SHARED VISION: GROWING A BUSINESS TOGETHER

BEHIND every growing business is often a network of support that is less visible but equally critical. For KHAY Consultancy Services, that foundation lies in partnership; both in business and at home.

Founded by Keslyn, with her husband Kenneth as Managing Partner, the business reflects not only professional ambition but also shared commitment.

“For me as a partner, I’m very proud of her,” Kenneth

said. I have seen what she went through in employment and now seeing her build something of her own, it is different and something special.”

Kenneth, who continues his role with the PNG Defence Force, describes his involvement as both supportive and educational.

“I come from a different field, but being part of this business is eye-opening. Every day I am learning, he said.

And I would like to encourage other men, if your partner has a talent, support her. Put your ego aside and grow together.”

That support has been essential, particularly as Keslyn balances the demands of business with family life.

“There are times I am not home, Keslyn said.

I am working late or traveling. But he holds things together.”

She credits her husband, along with a strong childcare support system, for enabling her to pursue entrepreneurship without losing connection to her role as a mother.

“I always make time to come back and give that love

and support to my children, she said. But without that understanding from him, it would not be possible.”

The business itself was a dream that is now growing into a long-term plan.

It emerged more when her previous role in the workforce ended unexpectedly. What followed was a period of uncertainty, before taking the step to activate the business that had already been registered.

From a single home office setup, KHAY Consultancy Services has since grown into a structured operation with staff and an expanding client base.

For both Keslyn and Kenneth, the journey has reshaped how they see business and life.

“You do not think the same way anymore, Keslyn said. You think about sustainability, about the future and about what you are building or rather, who you are building it for.

That vision extends beyond immediate success. For them, the business represents longterm security.

“This is for our children, she said. It is something they can

fall back on. That is what drives us.”

The couple also emphasises the importance of understanding the realities of business ownership in Papua New Guinea.

“Sometimes people think business owners are too strict or do not want to help, Keslyn said. But what people should understand is these businesses are protecting what they are protecting the future of their business.”

At the same time, KHAY Consultancy Services is committed to giving back, particularly by creating opportunities for young Papua New Guineans and supporting staff development.

“We believe in our people, she said. When you value them, they value the business.”

As the company continues to grow, its foundation remains grounded in partnership, trust and shared purpose.

“It is not just about business. It is about building something together.” Kenneth said

- immediate action to improve bad roads

SOUTH COAST BAINING’S POOR ROADS

BY REINHARD MINONG

AGOVERNMENT-BACKED

project commissioned in December 2023 promised progress.

A 17-kilometre missing link along the South Coast Road in Pomio’s Sinivit Local Level Government area was officially opened, connecting communities such as Merai, Illi, Karong, and Marunga under the national Connect PNG program.

The project, funded at around K10 million, was presented as part of a broader push to improve rural connectivity across Papua New Guinea. Bridges were planned, including Bailey bridges at the Merai River

and the Kilak River, and sections of the road were reportedly progressing toward completion.

But more than a year on, communities further along the same corridor tell a different story.

From Nongia through Merai, Gar, Mungou, and Putput, residents say the road has steadily deteriorated.

What should be a vital artery linking rural households to Kokopo has instead become a patchwork of eroded tracks, potholes, neglected stretches, and rivers that challenge even the most experienced drivers. PMV operators describe the journey as unpredictable. What begins as a routine trip can quickly turn into a slow, hazardous passage, with vehicles forced to crawl through damaged sections or wait

for better conditions to attempt crossings.

The state of the road continues to have an impact on both operators and the general public, according to Winter Robert, Managing Director of MADDex Logistics, one of the few PMV operators serving the South Coast region.

He is urging the relevant authorities to take immediate action to improve the road network’s declining condition.

For farmers, the consequences are immediate. Cocoa and other produce must still make their way to Kokopo markets, but delays, vehicle damage, and transport costs reduce already-thin margins. Some say loads are smaller, trips are fewer, and income is increasingly

They describe repeated situations where vehicles have been swept off course by strong currents, sometimes resulting in total loss. In more severe cases, lives have been lost.

There are also added risks that do not exist on sealed highways: some of these rivers are known crocodile habitats.

For those forced to cross on foot or assist stalled vehicles, the danger is not only the water but what may be beneath it.

The contrast between the commissioned road project and the current condition of the broader South Coast Baining route has become a point of concern for local communities.

While government infrastructure programs such as Connect PNG have delivered road improvements and missing link projects in parts of Pomio, residents along this stretch say the benefits have not fully extended to their area, particularly where bridges remain incomplete.

In official settings, the road represents connection, development, and economic opportunity. On the ground, however, it is experienced as fragmented and incomplete.

For the people living along this corridor, the road is not simply infrastructure; it is access to everything.

Health care in Kokopo. Education for children. Markets to sell crop produce. Emergency services. Each depends on a route that many now describe as unreliable at best and dangerous at worst.

PMV operators continue to run the route, often absorbing higher maintenance costs and facing increased wear on vehicles.

Farmers continue to transport their goods, despite delays and risks. Families and students continue to travel and cross rivers because there is no alternative.

But with each crossing of a river without a bridge, the margin between routine travel and potential disaster remains thin.

According to Winter Robert, the South Coast Baining Road remains a critical economic and social lifeline.

He noted that while companies like MADDex Logistics continue to provide transport services under difficult conditions, sustained investment, proper maintenance, and the completion of key bridges are essential to unlock the full benefits of the road for communities.

He added that improved and reliable road access would not only reduce transport risks and costs but also strengthen agricultural supply chains, improve access to health and education services, and support long-term development across the corridor.

uncertain.

Rivers without bridges, and crossings without certainty

The most dangerous points along the route are not the potholes or the mud, but the rivers.

Along the South Coast Baining corridor, several river crossings remain without permanent bridges.

Rivers like Marumbu, Gar, and Merai, vehicles are often driven directly through the water, relying on local knowledge, timing, and luck.

During dry periods, crossings may appear manageable. But when rain falls upstream, water levels can rise quickly, transforming familiar crossings into fast-moving hazards.

Locals in these areas said that these are not isolated incidents.

Community voices are increasingly calling for more than isolated projects. While road links and sections may be commissioned, they say what is urgently needed is continuity, permanent bridges, consistent maintenance, and sustained investment across the entire corridor.

Without that, they said, the South Coast Baining road will remain a paradox: partially developed in parts, but still broken where it matters most.

And for those who rely on it daily, the question is not whether progress has been announced, but whether it has truly reached them.

PULSE Sean Rii touches down in POM for double-header concert

BY PHILEMON KASSMAN

SOLOMON Islands sensation Sean Rii officially touched down at Jacksons International Airport on Thursday, April 30, 2026, ahead of a massive weekend of back-to-back performances in Port Moresby.

The “Banana” hitmaker arrived with a powerhouse entourage, including Jenieo, Sharzkii, and Tee Boy, setting the stage for what is expected to be one of the biggest music events of the season.

Makasi Sounds & Entertainment

Director Terence Rini, who welcomed the team on arrival, confirmed two major shows lined up for fans. The first will be a Friday night takeover at Club 99 on May 8, followed by the main event at Lamana Gold Club on Saturday, May 9.

Fans can expect an electrifying marathon performance, with Sean Rii revealing a carefully curated setlist featuring 35 songs spanning his entire career.

“All the favourites from Dezine, from Sean Rii, including the latest tracks as well. It’s a mixture of songs, but the total number will be 35,” he said. Explaining the concept behind the “Run It Back” tour, Sean Rii said

it reflects his musical journey from the beginning to where he is today.

“That’s what ‘Run It Back’ is all about from the beginning to the current one,” he added.

In a major shift from previous shows, this tour will feature exclusive backing from the D# (Dee Sharp) Band, bringing an authentic Solomon Islands sound to the stage.

“It’s not going to be a band from PNG this time. It will be a band purely from the soul of Solomon,” Mr Rini said.

The band is led by legendary musician Paeva, while fellow icon Sharzy is also part of the entourage.

Although not officially listed to perform, there are hints of a possible surprise appearance.

“Sharzy won’t be performing, but who knows? He might be a surprise act on the night,” Mr Rini teased.

Adding a heartfelt touch to the tour, Sean Rii and Jenieo’s mother, Monica Saeni, has joined the trip to Port Moresby. Her visit coincides with Mother’s Day, making the performances even more special as she watches her sons take the stage.

Local supporting acts J-Liko and De Plezza will open the shows, setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Brings mum to Port Moresby for emotional ‘Run It Back’ performances

We’re going to make it a memorable one for everyone.”

Cosmopolitan hosts Central Coastline Night tonight

WITH the vibe in the air with Wan Squad sharing their experiences with other dance crews in the city, enjoy an opening performance by the Strikers Dance Crew that will capture your attention and then try a move or two on the dance floor when the party is on.

Catch up with live performances on stage as the Central coastline

concert moves in to top gear featuring the likes of Taita Maraga with her electrifying vocals that have somewhat, blossomed to a level that may compare with Alisha Keys and be taken away to the coastline the central way.

The following artists, New Case of Doura with their typical central flare, Gillian, Messy Kay, Bolt

Mahn, Tomex, Noczy, J Vee, Scotty Gee Arua adding a slight touch of contemporary, Essoh, Aiva Ovia, Royals of Hisiu & Gou Gaoma are also set to take you on a cruise down memory lane from the central coastline boasting of mega hits from the central province, as well as a peaceful concert to be enjoyed by all. Although it is called the Central

Coastline night, most of the artists performing tonight are from the Hiritano Highway, with a few of the artists joining from the Magi Highway set to get the weekend started here in Pom.

K50 tickets are available and can be purchased through contacts 78609730 and 81739096. Tickets are also available at The Cosmopolitan

with gate fee set at K60 on the night. So, get your tickets ahead of the night or pay the extra cost at the gate.

Turn it Up and party hard for the Central coastline night at The Cosmopolitan tonight, the 1st of May & support local artists.

We Are One Foundation to lead Mother’s Day Festival

Charity music event in Port Moresby to raise awareness and support life-saving screening services

PORT Moresby will host one of its biggest Mother’s Day events this year, as a major charity music festival brings together top local artists to support the fight against cervical cancer in Papua New Guinea.

The Mother’s Day Charity Music Festival, organised by We Are One Foundation, will be held on May 10, 2026, at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.

The event aims to raise awareness and funds to support the development of a Cervical Screening Centre at Port Moresby General Hospital.

Organisers say the festival is more than just entertainment, describing it as a national call to action to address one of the leading causes of death among women in the country.

According to health data, Papua New Guinea records more than 1,500 new cervical cancer cases each year, with over 1,000 women dying annually. Medical experts say the disease is preventable and treatable if detected early, but challenges such as lack of awareness and limited access to screening continue to cost lives.

Foundation Director Kavitha S Bluett said the event is focused on bringing communities together to support women’s health.

“This festival is not just an event it is a movement. If we can raise awareness and save even one life, then every effort is worth it,” she said.

The festival will feature performances from a strong lineup of Papua New Guinea artists, including Henry Kewang and Santanya Kewang, Isaiah Manoa, Jay Rex, Irau Jessie, Taita Maraga, Chris Cobb, Kali-D, Boys from 911, O-Four, Nathan Nakikus, Mereani Masani, Mal Meninga Kuri and Justin Wellington.

All performers are donating their time and talent to support the cause, using music to spread

awareness and encourage women to get screened early.

Organisers say the event will provide a family-friendly environment, featuring live entertainment, children’s activities,

food stalls, and small business booths, with a fireworks display to close the night.

Tickets are available at Fone Haus outlets, starting from K80 for general admission.

The foundation is calling on the public to attend and be part of the movement, highlighting that early detection remains the key to saving lives.

The festival is expected to draw

large crowds as it combines entertainment with a strong public health message, reinforcing the importance of protecting the lives of women across Papua New Guinea

PNG artists take music to Australia in 2026 Miningulai Tour

BY MAGNAM TARA

PAPUA New Guinea music is set to reach new international audiences as local artists prepare for the 2026 Miningulai Australia Tour, will showcase across major Australian cities.

The tour will feature leading PNG artist and Jarahn alongside Jaran, performing with Australian bass DJ Tikelz.

The lineup highlights a growing collaboration between Pacific and Australian music talents, combining island sounds with contemporary electronic music.

According to tour details, the 2026 Miningulai Tour will run from May 8 to May 28, covering key cities including Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.

This year’s edition will also expand into Sydney, marking the first time the tour reaches some of Australia’s largest urban centres.

The expansion reflects the growing popularity of PNG music beyond its borders. The inaugural

Miningulai Tour in 2025 focused mainly on Queensland, where PNG communities are strongly represented. The success of that first run has driven the decision to scale up the tour in 2026.

Speaking during the launch, Saii Kay said the tour is not only about entertainment but also about reconnecting Papua New Guineans living abroad with their cultural roots.

He said many Papua New Guineans overseas have never had the chance to visit their home country, and bringing PNG music to them helps strengthen identity and cultural connection.

“Music is one way we can bring our people together, no matter where they are,” he said.

While this will be Psyche’s first time taking the Miningulai Tour beyond Queensland, fellow performer Jaran brings prior experience, having previously performed in some of the selected cities.

This exposure to Australian

audiences will help broaden the reach and impact of the tour, especially in new locations such as Sydney and Melbourne.

The 2026 tour is being led by Psyche in partnership with businessman Steve Nightingale, who is supporting the initiative through his Mamaguria and water plantation businesses.

The Miningulai Tour is part of a broader movement of PNG artists entering international music circuits, as Pacific sounds continue to gain recognition across Australia and beyond.

With a mix of live performances and DJ sets, organisers say the tour will deliver high-energy shows while promoting PNG culture on an international stage.

As the countdown begins, expectations are high that the 2026 Miningulai Australia Tour will not only entertain audiences but also strengthen musical ties between Papua New Guinea and its diaspora communities across Australia.

Domestic violence to have new voice

Lecturer with UOG’s School of Education and expert on Narrative Therapy, Dorothy Wanega, and Executive Director for Somare Research Institute, Dr. Jane Awi, whose recent research was published in the international journal as the lead article about narrative therapy and was the lead article in the book they are holding.

MANY school-aged children in the world are still suffering from domestic abuse at home yet cannot express this to anyone for fear of reprisals and wear a mask to school just to get an education.

This was revealed during the twoyear research conducted by Dr Jane Awi, Executive Director of Somare Research Centre, and Dorothy Wanega, Child Psychologist expert at the University of Goroka.

The duo covered three schools in NGI and two in the highlands, engaging students between the ages of 16 and 19 in process drama and narrative therapy to gauge their views on whether or not domestic violence was part of their daily struggles.

It is how human suffering through narrative therapy - a therapeutic approach that helps individuals separate themselves from their problems by re-authoring their life stories - can help people seek the professional help they need.

The activity involved using creative devices to enable the students to speak about their experiences of domestic violence (arts-based research).

The students are not judged in any way. They are simply given an avenue where they are “telling their own story”.

The students are invoked to probe hard questions in which they offer their own insights of advocacy.

From the rich material (letters) offered by the students, three collective letters were written for use in advocacy and education. These letters formed the basis of the duo’s research paper to the Dulwich Center in Australia for publication.

This is a first in terms of addressing

domestic violence in schools by staff from a Teachers’ University.

The preliminary findings from Phase One and Two of the study were used in the publication titled “Dear Violence”.

The third and fourth phase of the study is being planned for the next publication also.

Formal recommendations arising from the study will be presented to the National Department of Education (NDOE).

It is hoped that NDOE will formulate a policy that can investigate and provide the adequate measures for students suffering from domestic violence.

The researchers emphasised that it is a serious nationwide issue since many schools do not have ‘Guidance Teachers’ available for such help.

Dr Awi and Wanega’s arts-based research and narrative practise offers an example to use collective letters to represent qualitative research findings and document a form of research that encompasses social action on community problems.

In recognition of this research, the University of Goroka held a small ceremony last week where the ladies’ work was launched with the copy of the ‘International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work’.

Present at the ceremony were: Cheryl White, Director of Dulwich Centre and founder of Dulwich Centre Publications; David Denborough, Writer for the Centre; Carolyn Markey, Child and Family Counsellor; and Tanya Newman, a hospice worker in New Zealand.

GUESTS AT OPENING OF NEW MESS

Hagen market told to improve security

BY ROBERT TIKI

THE Provincial Police Commander for Western Highlands Chief Superintendent John Sagom has issued a strong warning to the management of Mt Hagen market to fix its facilities urgently.

Mr Sagom told the management to fix the five gates of the market, toilets, sewerage and all lights inside the markets within three days.

The PPC sounded the warning, this week, after receiving reports of thugs easily entering the market to conduct

criminal activities including selling drugs. Mr Sagom said thugs take advantage of the unlocked gates and gain entry into the market after hours.

He said Hagen market is the largest in the city and serves people of the Upper Highlands and the catering companies daily.

Mr Sagom said it is unbecoming of the market to be in tatters.

He said police would look at whether or not to lay appropriate charges under relevant laws to the management for its negligence in not doing its mandated duties.

Eight arrested amid police operation

BY ROBERT TIKI

EIGHT suspects have been caught and locked up by Mt Hagen police inside Mt Hagen market during a police operation, this week.

The suspects were caught for being in possession of cannabis and offensive weapons like bush knives and taken into custody at Mt Hagen Police station and will be charged accordingly.

Provincial Police Commander Chief

Superintendent John Sagom said this special operation conducted by Hagen police from police in Baiyer River, Tambul and Dei, started, this week, to clamp down on cannabis trading, knives and other illicit activities in Mt Hagen City.

Goroka improves public transport facilities

BY ERIC SUPA

COMMUTERS in Goroka now have safer, cleaner, and more dignified public transport facilities after the Goroka District Development Authority completed the National Day Park Bus Bay Shelter and Frontage Upgrade Project.

Community leader Jim Sari said the upgrade targets one of Goroka’s busiest public spaces along the Highlands Highway, used daily by thousands of students, vendors, public servants, and travellers.

He said works included new weather bus bay shelters with seating and lighting, formalised PMV bays to ease congestion,

paved pedestrian walkways, drainage, rubbish bins, and landscaping along the National Day Park frontage.

“National Day Park is the heart of Goroka. How we treat our public spaces shows how we value our people,” he said.

“This bus bay is used by mothers, by school children, by our elderly. They deserve shelter, safety, and respect.”

The project was fully funded through the Goroka District Services Improvement Program (DSIP) under GDDA.

Local contractors carried out construction under GDDA engineering supervision.

Mr Sari said the project reflects the District’s 5-Year Development Plan priorities of urban infrastructure and community safety.

“This is not just a bus stop.

“When we fix the basics, transport, safety, cleanliness, we built confidence in our town,” he said.

The project has drawn strong praise from community leaders and praised the DDA for prioritising people-focused infrastructure.

PMV operators and commuters also welcomed the upgrade.

Vendor Ruth Kuman, who sells near the park, said the shelters and lighting made a real difference.

“In the operation, our first main target was Mt Hagen market after we received reports of petty crimes and other illicit activities going on there,” he said.

Mr Sagom said police conducted random searches on suspicious persons.

He said 120 police officers were involved in the operation.

Mr Sagom warned people not to sell store goods, drugs, betelnut and cigarettes inside the market.

He said it is unbecoming of people selling store goods and betelnuts because the market was meant for selling garden produce only.

Mr Sagom urged people to look after the market and use it for the intended purpose.

Cyclone Maila victims get tools, hope

supplies to be distributed to severely affected areas.

BY SHARON WALI

MORE than 280 severely affected households across five wards in the Gazelle and Pomio districts have received humanitarian assistance from international partners. The International Organisation of Migration (IOM) in partnership with the East New Britain Provincial Government through its disaster office has completed

the distribution Non-Food Items (NFI) and shelter tool kits.

Joint assessments conducted by government authorities and partners indicated that cyclone-induced flooding destroyed homes, washed away household assets leaving many families with humanitarian needs.

IOM with funding assistance from the United States Government assisted with the coordination of response efforts in ENB.

The distributions were carried out according to data supplied by the disaster office through its channels of commands from the districts and local level governments.

The relief assistance in Gazelle and Pomio districts reached the 283 affected households, in which 149 households in Tavilo Ward, 65 households in Karavia 1 Ward, 20 households in Lamaraim, 18 households in Open Bay, and 31 households at the Sikut floodway area.

With much assessment, only the severely affected were prioritised,

including the isolated communities. Due to the rugged terrains in the hinterlands of Gazelle, relief supplies to the outer areas of Lamaraim and Open Bay were airlifted, with the support of the New Zealand Government.

Leveraging the US governmentfunded pre-positioned relief supplies alongside the NZ government rapid air-lift capacity, coordination of the supplies moved by international partners, overcoming logistical challenges by the rugged terrains and damaged infrastructures.

The NFI kits contained essential household and shelter related items, including kitchen wares, sleeping mats, blankets, solar lighting, kit bags and gardening tools.

Also distributed were tool kits such as hand saws, hammers, tie wire, assorted nails, and rope to support early recovery and household repairs following the recent cyclone effects.

Cocoa feeder road boosting access for farmers

A NEWLY built 6.8-kilometre cocoa feeder road linking Tehobuin to Sipotavai was opened yesterday, promising to improve market access for more than 2000 farmers in the Taonita/Tinputz Constituency.

The road is one of three feeder routes funded under Component 2 of the PNG Agriculture Commercialisation and Diversification (PACD) Project, which aims to ease market access for cocoa growers in the region.

The project was delivered through a partnership between the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), the ABG Department of Primary Industry (DPI), and the World Bank.

“For the last five decades, the road was bare.

“Now the road is upgraded, with two kilometres of road cemented,” said ABG member for Taonita/Tinputz, David Braun Vatavi, calling the project a major milestone for the area.

Built by Raibro Construction

Limited at a cost of K8.039 million over 15 months, the road includes 4.8 kilometres of road base pavement, 2 kilometres of concrete pavement on steep sections, 2 concrete wet crossings over existing rivers, and improved systems to ensure all weather access. The communities served produce an estimated 180 metric tonnes of cocoa annually.

Two other PACD funded roads have also been completed in East New Britain Province.

The commissioning took place at the Sipotavai Elementary School junction, with member for North Bougainville Francesca Semoso, ABG member David Braun Vatavi, ABG DPI Chief Compliance Officer Dr James Butubu, Deputy Secretary for National DAL and PACD Project Representative Francis Daink, PACD Cocoa Project manager Dr John Moxon, along with other government officials.

Inside Samsung’s succession drama

WHEN power shifts at the top of some of the world’s biggest companies, most people don’t notice.

If products perform, services work and store shelves are full, then who sits in the boardroom doesn’t make headlines. But when it comes to Samsung, the family dynasty behind it is so complicated – and the company so crucial to the South Korean economy – that it’s frontpage news.

And so it was in 2017 when the Samsung heir-in-waiting, Lee Jaeyong - who is also known as JY Leewas jailed for his part in a corruption scandal that also brought down the country’s president.

The 57-year-old is the grandson of Samsung’s founder. Geoffrey Cain, author of the book Samsung Rising, described him as “one of the most powerful people in the history of technology”.

But in 2015, with his father –Samsung’s chairman – in hospital following a heart attack, Lee’s succession was not secure.

He’d been accused of giving money to foundations run by Choi Soon-sil –a close friend and confidant of South Korea’s former President Park Geunhye – in return for political support for a merger that would strengthen his grip on the conglomerate.

He was also accused of using stock and accounting fraud in that merger – between one Samsung subsidiary, Samsung C&T, and another part of the business empire, Cheil Industries.

Prosecutors said he did that so he could take control of the biggest possible chunk of the newly merged entity and, by extension, assume control of Samsung Electronics: the jewel in the empire’s crown, and a key source of power and control.

Lee Jae-yong has always denied the fraud charges, but was found guilty of bribery in 2017.

When the huge corruption scandal broke in 2016 it sparked weeks of protests by millions of people on the streets of Seoul, and eventually led to the country’s president being impeached.

WHY WAS THIS DEAL SO CRUCIAL?

Since Samsung was founded as a grocery store in the late 1930s it’s been in the hands of the Lee family. According to Geoffrey Cain, the family is the “equivalent of royalty” in South Korea. They grew the business into a true global power, taking in insurance, memory chips and construction, along with the consumer tech that’s so familiar. But to stay in family hands, the conglomerate has had to go through a series of complex mergers, acquisitions and power transfers. It’s this manoeuvring that put Lee Jae-yong in jail.

He’d been in de-facto charge since 2014 when his father, and then Samsung chairman, had a heart attack. His father had grown the company from a successful South Korean business to a global conglomerate. In preparation for taking over, Lee Jae-yong had been through a series of top roles.

But when he became acting chairman, he faced a difficult situation: the tricky processes to ensure total family control over Samsung weren’t quite finished. By this point the business empire had become incredibly complicated: it comprised dozens of companies, from Samsung Electronics to retail; construction to chemicals. They were all linked together in an intricate spider’s web of crossshareholdings.

The other problem was that the family faced an enormous inheritance tax bill of more than $10bn (£7.4bn). But if they started

selling off their shares in the companies to pay it off, the Lee family might risk losing control.

THE RISK OF SUCCESSION

As the only son, Lee Jae-yong was chosen to lead Samsung when his father died. But despite being groomed for three decades to take over, for some, he just wasn’t a convincing choice to steward South Korea’s biggest company, and the economic hopes of a nation.

According to Jaeyeon Lee, a reporter at South Korean newspaper Hankyoreh, “he was just really different... While his father was seen as very aggressive and just very goal-oriented. [Lee Jae-yong] was seen as more shy and quiet and

cautious.”

Some say his sister was more capable, and he was criticised for not being ruthless enough. Questions were also raised about his abilities when his pet project e-Samsung collapsed in the dotcom bust.

The family had already been scarred by one succession that didn’t go smoothly a generation before, when Lee Jae-yong’s dadthe youngest son - was picked to lead the company ahead of his two older brothers.

There’s a dispute over what happened with the eldest son, Lee Jae-yong’s uncle, Lee Maeng-hee, who traditionally should have inherited. According to one version of events, when he was given a

payoffs. As Jaeyeon Lee from the Hankyoreh newspaper describes, “[the lawyer] said he just couldn’t stomach the corruption anymore. According to him, Samsung was like so rotten that it made his job unbearable.” It led to questions about what would happen to the company –and to South Korea’s economy. Especially since Lee Jae-yong was the person tipped to become the next chairman.

Suddenly the company looked leaderless. His father was later cleared of the bribery allegations but was found guilty of tax evasion and given a suspended sentence and a fine. He was technically a free man, but there was still a vacancy at the top of the Samsung tree. How would the Lee family regain control?

THE 40-YEAR FEUD

Lee Kun-hee was eventually given a presidential pardon and returned as Samsung chairman. But his problems weren’t over. In 2012 his elder brother – Lee Jae-yong’s uncle - launched a bid to reclaim what he saw as his rightful inheritance. It was a move that could derail the plan for the next generation.

The Samsung founder’s eldest son always thought he would lead the business one day but he was overlooked in the first succession in favour of the youngest brother.

The developing feud was further fuelled when Lee Jae-yong’s father became chairman and divided up the empire in 1976: his uncle’s side of the family was given what could be a considered a less powerful part of the business. And so, 40 years later, Lee Jae-yong and his father were facing a legal claim which might have forced them to return shares worth hundreds of millions of dollars to his uncle. A successful lawsuit would force the unwinding of the empire, and threaten the plan for Lee Jae-yong to take over.

STEADYING THE SHIP

Ultimately, the sibling dispute and the subsequent lawsuit may have brought home the benefits of having a clear line of succession.

The courts found that although some of the uncle’s claims had merit, time had run out to take legal action. As reporter Jaeyeon Lee puts it: “the siblings were all angry at each other, and I think that’s partly why [Lee Kun-hee] just made the succession line very clear for his children”.

And so when Lee Jae-yong’s father became bed-ridden after a heart attack, it’s very clear who would take charge. His son: the man who would later become tangled up in a huge corruption and bribery scandal that would last the next 10 years.

ACQUITTAL

chance to run the company, he was found wanting. He says he ran the company for seven years.

But whatever the truth, it was the youngest son - Lee Kun-hee - who was named as the heir in 1976. It would be a decision that would ripple down the decades.

THE EMPTY CHAIR

After an uncertain start, Lee Kunhee oversaw a period of success for the Samsung group during the 80s and 90s. But there were more challenges to come. In 2008, both Lee Jae-yong and his father resigned after a former Samsung lawyer turned whistle-blower claimed knowledge of a slush fund that was being used for bribes and political

It wasn’t until July 2025 that Lee Jae-yong was finally cleared, when the Seoul High Court upheld his acquittal over alleged fraud related to the merger deal widely thought to have secured his succession.

It brought to an end a decade of criminal charges, court hearings, and stints in prison for the Samsung chairman.

It also marked a departure from the traditions of South Korean chaebols, or family businesses. During legal proceedings, Lee Jae-yong indicated a change in direction for the Samsung dynasty. ”I want to make a promise right now – that there will not be any more controversies related to the succession. I will not hand over managerial rights to my children.”

So, it begs the question, if the eldest son won’t automatically get the keys to the empire: who will?

China to ban drone sales in Beijing

BEIJING: China will ban the sale of drones in Beijing and require permits to fly them under new rules that take effect on Friday.

Drones and key components will be prohibited from being sold, rented or brought into the Chinese capital. Drone owners will also be required to register their devices with the police.

China has gradually tightened regulations on drones in recent years, with authorities citing public safety concerns.

Drones and flying taxis are part of the so-called low-altitude economy, a strategic priority for China that is expected to generate more than two trillion yuan ($290bn; £217bn) by 2035.

In some Chinese cities, drones are a common sight, used for food delivery, agriculture and cleaning buildings.

Chinese companies may dominate the global drone market, but the country is becoming one of the most difficult places to fly one.

Drones must be registered before they can be brought in and out of Beijing. And if users send their drones out of the city for repair, they need to pick up the device in person rather than have it delivered.

All outdoor drone flights in Beijing will also require prior approval, and drone users must complete an online training session and pass a test on drone regulations. There are exceptions: Drones may still be bought and stored for purposes like counter-terrorism and disaster relief, if approved by authorities.

Due to citing security concerns

But in recent years China has repeatedly tightened rules governing the use of drones in the country. The drone restrictions in Beijing were approved in March. At that time, city authorities said management of drones must be strengthened to respond to “challenges” in low-altitude airspace safety.

ELECTRONIC COSTS

TAIWAN’S Delta Electronics warns costs rising as AI data centre demand surges. It reported first-quarter revenue of T$159.35 billion ($5.02 billion), up 34% from a year earlier, driven by AI data centre build-out. Its gross profit was up 56% year-over-year at T$59 billion ($1.86 billion).

BANKING IN ASIA

BANKS across Asia, including those in Singapore - among the region’s largest - are tightening checks on artificial intelligence tools as the very newest models have raised fears that hackers could find weak spots faster and launch wider cyberattacks.

Xiong Jinghua, a senior official in the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, said the goal was to “strike the best balance” between safety and ensuring technological and economic progress.

Last year, Beijing’s entire airspace was designated a no-drone zone,

GUELLEH RE-ELECTED

A RARE regulatory nod for a Chinese company to seek a Nasdaq listing has been deemed extra special as the software maker is not incorporated on the mainland, evidence that such firms can still avail themselves of U.S. capital markets. Last month, sources said Chinese authorities had told some such companies, known as red-chip firms, that they should change their domicile back to China before going public in Hong Kong.

Singapore court fines women for proPalestinian walk

SINGAPORE: A court in Singapore has fined three women who organised a walk to show support for the Palestian cause, reversing an earlier acquittal.

The three women were acquitted last October of organising an illegal procession in 2024, which saw dozens walk towards the presidential office in support of Palestinians amid Israel’s war in Gaza. But the High Court overturned that decision on Thursday following an appeal by the prosecution, handing down a fine of S$3,000 ($2,300; £1,700) each. Public demonstrations are rare in Singapore, which has tight

1, 2026

restrictions on protests, and authorities have effectively banned public gatherings related to the Israel-Gaza war.

In February 2024, the three activists - Mossammad Sobikun Nahar, Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori and Kokila Annamalai - had led around 70 people to walk from a shopping mall to the presidential compound next door, to deliver letters to the prime minister urging him to cut ties with Israel.

Photos of the procession show participants holding umbrellas printed with watermelons - a widely used motif for pro-Palestinian causes.

The three women were charged in June 2024 for organising a procession without a permit in a prohibited area.

During their trial, the defence argued that the women had walked on public roads and did not know the route along the presidential compound was prohibited.

with approval needed from air traffic authorities before people can fly their drones.

The recent sweeping regulations are likely to shake up the massive drone market in China, where according to government data there are more than three million registered drones. China is home to major drone companies including DJI, the world’s largest drone maker. With the looming new restrictions, DJI shops in Beijing are reportedly taking drones and related products off their shelves. - BBC CHINESE

TARIFF CONCERNS

TARIFFS on digital displays could help avoid US military dependence on China, policy group says. on digital displays used in TVs and smartphones could help prevent the U.S. military from becoming dependent on China for the critical parts, a policy group chaired by CrowdStrike co-founder and cybersecurity expert Dmitri Alperovitch said in a report released Thursday.

CHINESE SUBS

PAKISTAN navy to add advanced Chinese submarines. A statement from the military and a government official said on Thursday, a move to strengthen Islamabad’s maritime security as part of a growing defence cooperation with Beijing. The subs are in addition to Chinese-made J10-C fighter jets, which were wartested for the first time during last year’s Pakistan-India conflict.

- AGENCIES

Son overlooked, a jailed tycoon: Inside Samsung’s succession drama

SOUTH KOREAN: When power shifts at the top of some of the world’s biggest companies, most people don’t notice.

If products perform, services work and store shelves are full, then who sits in the boardroom doesn’t make headlines.

But when it comes to Samsung, the family dynasty behind it is so complicated – and the company so crucial to the South Korean economy – that it’s front-page news. And so it was in 2017 when the Samsung heir-in-waiting, Lee Jaeyong, who is also known as JY Lee was jailed for his part in a corruption scandal that also brought down the country’s president.

The 57-year-old is the grandson of Samsung’s founder. Geoffrey Cain, author of the book SamsungRising, described him as “one of the most powerful people in the history of technology”.

But in 2015, with his father, Samsung’s chairman is in hospital following a heart attack, Lee’s succession was not secure. He’d been accused of giving money to foundations run by Choi Soonsil, a close friend and confidant of South Korea’s former President Park Geun-hye, in return for political support for a merger that would strengthen his grip on the conglomerate.

- BBC

Oil price hits highest since 2022

US: OIL prices have jumped to their highest since 2022 after a report that the US military is set to brief President Donald Trump on new plans for potential action in the Iran war.

US Central Command has prepared a plan for a wave of “short and powerful” strikes on Iran to try to break the deadlock in negotiations with Tehran, news site Axios reported.

The BBChas contacted US Central Command and the White House for comment. Brent crude rose by almost 7 per cent to more than $126 a barrel at one point, the highest since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Energy prices have risen this week as peace talks appear to have stalled, with the key Strait of Hormuz waterway still effectively closed.

After reaching $126.31 a barrel at one point in Asian trade, the price of Brent crude fell back to around $121 in European trade.

Crude oil is a key ingredient in petrol and diesel, and the jump in costs since the start of the Iran war has pushed up pump prices for motorists.

In the UK, petrol currently costs an average of 157p a litre, according to motoring group RAC, which is 24p higher than before the start of the war. Diesel is at nearly 189p a litre, up 46p compared with its pre-war price. But the potential impact is wider than just fuel prices.

The UK government has warned people could face higher energy, food and flight ticket prices as a result of

the war. Some airlines have already started to raise fares or reduce flights. Fertiliser prices have also started to increase, which could have a knock-on effect on food prices.

The Axios report cited anonymous sources, saying the proposed wave of strikes would be likely to include infrastructure targets.

Another plan focused on taking over part of the Strait of Hormuz so that it can be reopened for commercial shipping, Axios reported, adding that doing so could involve troops on the ground.

The current Brent futures contract for June delivery is due to expire on Thursday. The more active July contract was up by about 1.7 per cent at around $112 a barrel.

Futures contracts are agreements to buy or sell an asset at a set date.

Oil traders have reacted quickly to the possibility of further military action in the Gulf, economics professor Yeow Hwee Chua from the Nanyang Technological University said.

Even a small chance of the conflict escalating could have “outsized implications” on global energy supplies, he added.

The US said it would blockade Iranian ports for as long as Tehran continues to threaten vessels that try to use the Strait of Hormuz, severely disrupting global energy shipments.

Iran retaliated against US-Israeli airstrikes by threatening to attack ships in the waterway, through which about a fifth of the world’s energy usually passes.

Oil prices had surged by 6% on

Wednesday following reports that Washington was preparing for an “extended” blockade of Iran.

“It does seem as though escalation in the war is back on the table, be it in the guise of the US continuing its blockade in Iran, but also reports and rumours that in order to get out of this bind, Iran may start to strike again,” said Naveen Das, senior oil analyst at Kpler. He told the BBC’s Today program an oil price approaching $125 is the point where businesses and politicians “start to get a bit more jittery”.

“We might start seeing maybe more headlines of trying to de-escalate again,” he added, because the increase in prices “has a knock-on effect not only on oil, but oil-related products, inflation and basically every factor of our day-to-day lives”.

The BBC understands that energy executives met Trump on Tuesday to discuss ways to limit the impact of the war on US consumers, fuelling concerns in the market about an extended disruption to energy supplies.

“The big question in my mind is how long the Trump administration

can stand the economic heat,” Will Walker-Arnott, investment manager at Raymond James, told the Today program.

“People are really beginning to worry about the inflationary impact coming through from the rise in the oil price”, he added.

Stock markets in Asia closed lower, with Japan’s Nikkei down 1.1 per cent and South Korea’s Kospi closing 1.4 per cent lower.

London’s FTSE 100 opened flat, but Germany’s Dax fell 0.6 per cent and France’s Cac dropped 1.2 per cent. -BBCNEWS

SYDNEY, April 30 (Reuters) - Asian shares fell on Thursday as oil prices vaulted to four-year highs due to the risk that US may strike Iran again, with mostly positive earnings from tech giants providing only limited comfort to investors ahead of Apple’s (AAPL.O) results. European stocks are bracing for a lower open, with the pan-regional stock futures gauge down 0.8%. Investors fear the European Central Bank and Bank of England will likely warn of higher rates later in the day after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady. But three Fed board members voted to drop the central bank’s easing bias in the most divided decision since 1992.

Stagflation risks stacking up as Iran war enters third month

LONDON, April 30 (Reuters) - Financial markets are finding it harder to look past the rising economic costs of the Iran war as the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz prolongs the world’s biggest-ever disruption to energy supplies. Two months into the conflict, the global economy faces a toxic mix of slowing growth and high inflation - stagflation. Even as tech stocks lift world shares, analysts warn that the longer Hormuz remains shut, the greater the recession risk for energyimporting regions.

Important trading partner

CHINA is fast becoming Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) most important partner in terms of our two-way trading relationship where PNG enjoys a trade surplus, the level of support we receive through aid, and the investments by Chinese companies in PNG, said Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru.

Mr Maru made this statement during his opening remarks at the China – PNG Business Roundtable hosted on the margins of Prime Minister, James Marape’s working visit to Guangdong province of China.

“This working visit by our Prime Minister to Guangdong province is very important because it signifies the importance of our relationship with Guangdong province and the People’s Republic of China, and reaffirms PNG’s unwavering adherence to the One China Policy. There are so many opportunities for the relationship between our two countries to be nurtured, strengthened and developed further because we have so many emerging opportunities in the mining and petroleum, agriculture, manufacturing, forestry, fisheries, services, and other sectors including downstream processing where China has the expertise, capital, technology and experience, and they know PNG too well as a very close partner,” he said.

“China will continue to be an important market with its growing economy coupled with soaring domestic demands stimulated by its 1.41 billion people. China has the capacity to import all our products like cocoa, fish, coffee, and others. Our export value to China last year peaked US$ 3.26 billion with Japan at US$ 3.03 billion, and Australia at US$ 2.69 billion. PNG offers investment opportunities, and China offers greatest market opportunities for our products. We have a mutual interest to enhance and deepen our

China continues to offer great market for PNG products

relationship,” he said.

The Minister thanked the governor of Guangdong province for his commitment in opening direct flights between Guangzhou and Port Moresby on Southern China Airlines to improve people-to-people, business-to-business, and Government-to-Government connectivity.

“We started with one flight, and now we have three flights a week. This proves that Guangdong province is genuinely committed to building the relationship with PNG. On our part, apart from this visit by the Prime Minister, it is our intention to establish a Consulate General in Guangzhou before the end of this year. We will have

a trade representative in this office to give special focus and attention to developing the trade and investment relationship between this province and PNG. Guangdong province is the manufacturing hub of China and has consecutively been the top contributor to China's GDP for the last 36 years. We see many opportunities for our country and this province to mutually benefit from, including their companies investing in our priority sectors in line with our new policies of replacing all imports, increasing exports, and downstream processing all our raw materials,”

said Mr Maru.

“We also know that China has 100 million tourists that travel the world every year. With direct flights between Port Moresby and Guangzhou, this is an opening for us to tap into China’s tourism industry. We are now building tourism zones to offer tourism products like firstclass hotels, casino and others to attract Chinese tourists to also consider PNG as an attractive tourism destination,” he said.

Mr Maru announced that a framework agreement between Papua New Guinea and the People’s Republic of China will be signed at the end of next month (May) to negotiate comprehensive economic partnership between the two countries.

“We have a relationship that we have built over a long time. We now want to seal that relationship through a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement,” he said. He encouraged Chinese investors to consider investing in PNG across all sectors and its Special Economic Zones.

“PNG will be one of the most exciting countries to invest in, given our natural resources and the emerging opportunities. We are offering fiscal and non-fiscal incentives through our Special Economic Zones to attract investors, and co-investing using State Equity Funds in some projects that are of national significance. We also want to encourage China to invest in a big way in some of the LNG projects in PNG. Instead of just being an importer, they can be an investor in this space. The scope of investment is unlimited and so we encourage Chinese investors to consider these opportunities,” he said.

Bank South Pacific makes Wantok Wallet more accessible

BSP Financial Group Ltd (BSP) has made its Wantok Wallet more accessible, enabling new users without a bank account or valid ID to self-register, simply by using their mobile phones.

BSP Wantok Wallet is changing the digital banking landscape by driving financial inclusion for citizens across PNG. Now new customers can simply dial *131# on their mobile phone to activate and get their own Wantok Wallet.

BSP Retail Bank’s Financial Inclusion manager, Penelope Aisi, said this new feature allows anyone with a registered SIM card and mobile phone to sign up instantly for a Wantok Wallet without the need to visit a BSP branch or agent.

”This initiative is part of the bank’s broader strategy to expand digital financial access nationwide.

Self-registration via *131# is a significant step forward in expanding financial inclusion across PNG. We understand that accessibility and convenience are critical for many of our customers, particularly in rural and remote communities. By enabling customers to register instantly using any mobile phone, without internet access, we are empowering more Papua New Guineans to participate in the digital economy safely and securely,” she said. By removing barriers to entry,

Wantok Wallet provides a safe, convenient, and accessible solution for individuals who may not have a traditional bank account.

To register, customers are only required to dial *131#, enter their first name, last name and set up a secure PIN. Once completed, customers will immediately have access to their Wantok Wallet account. Newly registered users can receive up to K500 and perform up to 20 transactions. After the 20th transaction, users can upgrade their wallet to add more funds and conduct transactions.

Customers then visit a BSP branch or BSP Agent with the required identification or documentation to upgrade their wallet and get access to additional features and higher transaction limits.

“Customers in NCD can now also make payments at Waterfront Foodworld with BSP EFTPoS using their Wantok Wallets. This will be rolled out to other shops soon. They will be required to generate a six-digit Wantok Wallet code before proceeding to the checkout counter. The mobile number and code will be required to make payment. It’s all about con-

venience, so if you don’t have your card but have your mobile on you, you can make cardless payments using your Wantok Wallet,” Ms Aisi further added.

Since Wantok Wallet was launched in PNG a year ago, more than 230,400 wallets have been created, enabling access to affordable banking services.

Transactions available to Wantok Wallet users include: Cardless ATM withdrawals, deposits and withdrawals at BSP Agents, funds transfer between wallets and to BSP accounts, mobile and easipay topup, Origin Solar and Solar PayGo, ticket payments via Air Niugini, BillPay, school fee payments, NCDC services and mobile merchant payments.

RETRACTION: In our Business lead page on Thursday 30th April 2026, we ran a story on BSP’s 2026 Q1 performance attributing it to the former GCEO Sir Robin Fleming in the sub headline. This information is incorrect and may mislead readers. The report is from the current Group chief executive officer Mark Robinson. The error was not intentional and we apologise for any inconvenience that it may have caused.

‘Licensing of Starlink a game changer’

THE president of the Papua New Guinea Chamber of Resources and Energy (PNG CORE), Anthony Smare, has congratulated the Government of Papua New Guinea and the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) on the issuance of an operator’s licence to Starlink, marking a major milestone in advancing nationwide connectivity.

Mr Smare said the decision represents a timely and strategic regulatory intervention that will significantly improve access to fast, reliable, and affordable internet services, particularly for rural and remote communities where traditional telecommunications infrastructure remains limited.

“The licensing of Starlink is a game changer for connectivity in Papua New Guinea and demonstrates strong leadership in addressing the digital divide that continues to affect our most isolated communities,” Mr Smare said.

"PNGCORE's strong support and advocacy for introduction of Starlink's affordable, reliable and rapidly deployable technology to benefit its members and their host communities is well known, and I commend Prime Minister James Marape, Acting ICT Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr, and Chief Secretary Ivan Pomaleu for their consistent efforts in clearing the way for this technology to be brought into the country to benefit PNG communities

impacted by relatively unaffordable, inaccessible or unreliable existing data services.”

He said many PNG CORE member companies operate in remote and geographically challenging parts of the country where connectivity constraints have long affected safety, operational efficiency, service delivery and community engagement.

“Reliable connectivity is critical for the resources sector. It underpins workers safety, emergency response, environmental monitoring, logistics, and effective engagement with host communities.

“Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit satellite technology will materially improve how our members operate

in remote areas and how they support surrounding communities.”

Mr Smare also welcomed the Government’s emphasis on ensuring that the licensing of Starlink aligns with national development priorities, regulatory safeguards, and consumer protection provisions.

“We commend NICTA for applying a rigorous licensing process that balances innovation with strong regulatory oversight. This approach ensures that new technologies deliver real benefits while remaining consistent with national security, consumer protection and lawful use requirements.”

He said improved digital connectivity would also bring broader social and economic

Soroptomist International bridging financial literacy gaps

BY MAYSON LUIS

A NON-GOVERNMENT organisation is earnestly pushing for the growth of small and medium enterprise (SME) while also strengthening families and developing community leaders.

Soroptimist International Port Moresby (SI POM) sponsored a financial literacy training for 153 participants (three males included) in 2025, from six communities in and around Port Moresby.

The program aims to bridge financial literacy gaps to strengthen families and individuals, as well as developing community leaders who can advocate and drive change in the country. The training was facilitated by the Women’s Micro Bank. Participants from the training included individuals from the following groups:

Female inmates and warders from the Bomana Women’s Prison.

WeCare Foundation mothers from Morata and Nine-Mile Morobe Block.

Salvation Army women from Koki.

PNGDF wives and daughters from Goldie, Taurama and Murray Barracks.

Gereka community members, and Rearea village Early Childhood educators.

The selected participants were aspiring entrepreneurs, or those who have skills and in cookery, sewing, or other income generating skills.

Soroptomist International Port Moresby member and representa-

tive Belinda Sinen said the idea of pushing for the growth of SMEs especially among aspiring female entrepreneurs, is to bridge the financial literacy gap faced by many SMEs in the country.

“As an organisation dedicated to transforming the lives of women and girls, there is perhaps no greater catalyst for change in Papua New Guinea than financial literacy, and SI Pom stands at a pivotal crossroad,” she said.

Ms Sinen also highlighted key factors that led SI POM to carry out financial literacy training aimed at breaking the cycle of economic dependency, resilience against Gender-Based Violence, creating

the “multiplier effect”, bridging the digital and banking gap, cultivating leadership and voice, and aligning with global and local goals.

Following the success of the FLT program in 2025, the executive committee of SI Pom Club approved funding for Business Development Skills Training (BDS) for a further 26 participants from the financial literacy training cohort in 2025. The 26 participants finished their twoday training last week. SI POM also helped to open their bank accounts.

“In addition to the two trainings, SI Pom also sponsored the opening of 99 bank accounts for participants with the Women’ s Micro Bank, some of whom have never been able

to access banking services previously due to stringent account opening requirements.”

President Tanya Kassman-Gee said: “Ultimately, our goal is not just to deliver training, but to build capable individuals, strengthen families, and develop community leaders who will drive lasting change across Papua New Guinea.”

SI POM is one of the clubs of SI in the country. The other clubs are based in Lae, and Ramu.

Soroptomist International is a global volunteer organisation that provides women and girls with access to education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.

New wave of Trade leaders to emerge from Adelaide

SIXTEEN trade policy professionals from both the private sector and Government in Papua New Guinea are travelling to Australia to take part in a four-week intensive training under the Australia-PNG International Training Program.

The program, delivered by worldleading Adelaide University’s Institute for International Trade, is supported by the PNG-Australia Partnership and aims to strengthen PNG’s trade policy capacity.

The initiative builds practical knowledge and skills across key areas, including legal and regulatory foundations of international trade, negotiation and implementation of tariff schedules, and effective participation in international trade forums. It also includes sessions on trade facilitation for small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) and the role of trade in advancing women’s economic empowerment.

Mary Mistil Jerry, a Government Business liaison officer with the Business Council of PNG, said the

training has helped shape her thinking.

“The preparatory training so far has been insightful and is strengthening my understanding of international trade processes and policy engagement,” she said.

“I look forward to the Adelaide component to gain practical exposure and build networks that will

support my role in facilitating Government-to-business dialogue. I hope to apply these learnings to contribute to more effective trade participation and economic growth in Papua New Guinea.”

The training brings together international expertise, regional best practice and practical learning opportunities. Participants will take

benefits to rural communities, including better access to education, healthcare, digital financial services, and economic opportunities.

“For communities hosting resource projects, improved connectivity will help strengthen livelihoods, enhance access to essential services, and ensure that no Papua New Guinean is left behind as the country advances its digital transformation agenda.”

PNG CORE looks forward to continued collaboration with the Government, regulators and service providers to ensure the benefits of improved connectivity are realised across the resources industry and communities alike.

part in workshops and mentoring sessions with staff at Adelaide University as well as site visits and networking activities with government agencies and trade industry bodies in Adelaide and Brisbane.

Mr Bartholomew Na’ata from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock is also participating in the training program.

“Coming from the agriculture sector, I hope to have a clear understanding of current trade barriers and how to overcome them so our rural SMEs can have a genuine pathway to international markets,” he said.

“When our rural communities can access international markets, the benefits ripple outward, meaning more income, more growth, and a stronger foundation for the nation.”

International trade plays a critical role in driving PNG’s economic growth and prosperity, and Australia remains a key partner in supporting economic growth and trade development through its long-standing partnership with PNG.

NAMBAWAN Super Limited (NSL)

has announced that a senior delegation is currently attending the Risk Management Institute of Australasia (RMIA) 2026 Risk Conference, held from April 28 to 30, 2026 at the National Convention Centre in Canberra, Australia.

The conference, themed "Risk With Purpose: Driving Impact, Not Just Compliance," is the premier Australasian event for risk professionals hosted by the Risk Management Institute of Australasia. It covers critical contemporary issues including Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), cyber security, AI, and operational resilience. The forum serves as a hub for industry leaders and regulatory groups to share bestpractice frameworks and decisionmaking tools designed to navigate global complexities.

Representing Nambawan Super are Seema Dass-Raju (chief risk and compliance officer), Leonisa Bosimbi (manager compliance), and Bonita Pame (manager risk). Their attendance is focused on achieving higher standards of organisational resilience and evolving NSL’s risk frameworks.

"The RMIA conference provides an invaluable opportunity to engage with contemporary best practices in risk education and operational resilience," said Ms Dass-Raju.

"Our focus is on moving beyond simple compliance to drive meaningful impact. We are equipping our team with the insights necessary to ensure NSL remains a leader in proactive risk mitigation within Papua New Guinea and the wider region." The importance of this engagement is heightened by the evolving risk, financial and regulatory landscape in Papua New Guinea.

Nambawan Super chief executive officer Lachlan Baird said NSL is at the forefront of this effort, ensuring its operations are fully aligned with required standards and expectations.

"Our participation in this international forum underscores our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of governance," said Mr Baird.

"As the Corporate Trustee for Papua New Guinea’s largest superfund, we recognise that robust risk management is not just a regulatory hurdle, but a cornerstone of protecting and growing our members' hardearned savings. We remain dedicated to ensuring our operations meet and exceed both domestic and global benchmarks."

Partnership sets off with first workshop

City Pharmacy Limited (CPL) has received its inaugural training workshop by International Finance Corporation (IFC) following its partnership signed on March.

The workshop on Wednesday marks an important first step in a broader engagement aimed at strengthening primary healthcare delivery, expanding access to quality services, and building longterm sustainability across Papua New Guinea’s healthcare system.

The workshop brought together CPL’s executive leadership and cross-functional teams alongside IFC’s international advisory specialists to begin shaping a practical, future-ready model for CPL’s clinics and pharmacies.

The first workshop initiated this process by aligning teams on objectives, introducing international best practices, and tailoring solutions to PNG’s unique operating environment. Discussions centred on designing healthcare delivery models that are resilient, scalable, and practical in ensuring that innovation is grounded in local capability and context.

Speaking during the session, CPL chief operating officer, Pradeep Panda, highlighted the value of IFC’s hands-on engagement.

“This workshop is about working closely with IFC to build a strong, integrated model for our clinics and pharmacies.

Having access to international expertise while empowering our internal teams creates a meaningful learning process that will ultimately translate into better healthcare outcomes for our communities.”

CPL Group founder Sir Mahesh Patel reinforced the importance of

Kido

execution and local relevance.

“Partnerships only succeed when ideas can be delivered in practice. This collaboration with IFC is focused on solutions that are achievable on the ground in PNG, aligned with the capacity of our people, and capable of delivering real impact.”

The workshop follows the strategic partnership between CPL and IFC signed earlier on March by CPL Group chief executive officer Ajay Patel.

Participants represented key functions including Finance, People and Culture, Information Technology, and Projects, reflecting the integrated, organisation-wide approach required to deliver scalable healthcare improvements.

Under the partnership, IFC will support CPL through its global advisory expertise, focusing on three key priority areas critical to healthcare transformation in emerging markets:

Primary healthcare expansion planning, supporting CPL’s ambition to scale its network of wellness medical centres nationwide.

Quality and operational improvement, strengthening service delivery standards and patient experience across clinics, and Digital health strategy and transformation, enabling technologydriven solutions that improve efficiency, transparency, and access to care.

By partnering with IFC, CPL joins a network of private sector leaders leveraging international expertise to improve service delivery, governance, and sustainability.

IFC’s advisory approach emphasises capacity building, transparency, environmental and social

responsibility, and long-term value creation, principles closely aligned with CPL’s corporate values and national footprint.

The partnership with IFC also aligns with CPL’s broader strategic repositioning, following the divestment of its Stop & Shop supermarket chain operations to sharpen focus on its core business, healthcare.

By strengthening capability, systems, and service delivery across its clinics and pharmacies, CPL is reinforcing its long-term commitment to healthcare as a central pillar of the Group’s growth and national impact.

The collaboration supports CPL’s wider mission to advance accessible, affordable, and highquality healthcare across Papua New Guinea, where privatesector participation is playing an increasingly important role in complementing public health services and responding to rising demand.

The inaugural workshop marks the start of a structured engagement, with further collaborative activities scheduled throughout 2026. These sessions will support CPL teams as they refine expansion plans, strengthen quality and governance frameworks, and progress digital transformation initiatives designed to future-proof healthcare delivery.

As the partnership progresses, CPL and IFC are expected to contribute meaningfully to improved patient experiences, stronger internal capability, and the development of a sustainable healthcare model capable of scaling alongside Papua New Guinea’s evolving healthcare needs.

Kumul Minerals partner as diamond sponsor for accountants conference

KUMUL Minerals Holdings Limited (KMHL) has reaffirmed its commitment to professional excellence and national capacity building by partnering with the Certified Practising Accountants Papua New Guinea (CPAPNG) as a Diamond Sponsor for its 2026 regional conference series.

As a major sponsor, KMHL is proud to support organisations built on strong professionals, strong systems, and strong leadership, recognising their critical role in strengthening PNG’s governance, accountability, and economic development.

Speaking at the opening of the New Guinea Islands CPAPNG Conference held at the Gazelle International Hotel in Kokopo, KMHL general manager, Corporate Services, Cathy Magalu, expressed the company’s pleasure in supporting the event and its forward-looking agenda.

“KMHL is pleased to partner with CPAPNG as a Diamond Sponsor in 2026. We strongly believe in supporting professional bodies that drive excellence, innovation, and leadership across Papua New Guinea,” Ms Magalu said.

“As we navigate a rapidly evolving business environment, forums like these are critical in equipping our accounting and finance profes-

sionals with the skills and mindset to move beyond compliance and into strategic leadership.”

The conference was held from April 23-24, 2026, under the theme: “AI and the Future Accountants: From Compliance to Strategic Leadership.”

The event brought together accounting and finance professionals from across the New Guinea Islands region, with participants also attending from Port Moresby, fostering knowledge sharing and regional collaboration.

The conference was opened by the Governor of East New Britain Province, Michael Marum, who welcomed delegates and highlighted the importance of professional development in supporting good governance and economic transformation at both provincial and national levels.

The Kokopo conference marks the first of four CPAPNG regional conferences to be held across PNG in 2026, with additional conferences scheduled in other regions, culminating in a final national conference in Port Moresby later in the year.

KMHL’s Diamond Sponsorship reflects its ongoing commitment to investing in people, partnerships, and platforms that strengthen institutional capacity and leadership across the country.

and Rearea landowners calm fears of queries surrounding cement proposal

THE recognised landowner entities of Kido Iagava Landowners Association (KILOA) and Rearea Minerals Association Incorporated (RMAI), have reassured their fellow Project Area Landowner (PALO) communities in the Rigo District and across Central Province following recent public attention surrounding the proposed cement development in the region.

Gomara Tarube director CLP group and vice chairman KILOA landowners, said they have progressed through the full and proper processes required under Papua New Guinea law.

“We affirm that customary landowners hold legally recognised rights that are central to any resource development. No project can proceed without proper landowner engagement, formal agreements, regulatory approvals, and structured benefit-sharing arrangements.

In light of recent announcements regarding the proposed cement project in Rigo District, which has been described as being at a Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) stage, KILOA landowners consider it important to clarify standard industry practice. “We note concerns raised by members of the Rigo PALO communities regarding the timing of proposed development activities and the level of consultation undertaken to date. These concerns are valid and reflect the importance of transparency, proper engagement, and adherence to due process.

“As fellow landowners, we affirm our support for these concerns. Landowners must remain central to all development processes, and decisions affecting customary land must be based on informed participation, not premature announcements.

“As landowners of Kido and Rearea, we stand in solidarity with the Rigo PALO communities and reaffirm the importance of due process, transparency, and meaningful landowner participation in all resource developments across our country.

“Our own experience has spanned many years and has involved detailed land investigations, proper identification of clans, and the es-

tablishment of legally recognised landowner entities to ensure effective and legitimate representation. Through this process, we have secured participation not only as stakeholders but as active partners in development, including equity participation, access to joint-venture business opportunities, and formalised benefit-sharing frameworks.”

Mr Tarube said this process includes access to independent legal advice, funded by Pacific Lime and Cement (PLC), as part of the development framework, enabling landowners to engage on informed and reasonably balanced terms. This is

a critical component of responsible and sustainable project development.

“We emphasise that these processes are deliberate and must not be rushed. They are designed to ensure that communities fully understand proposed developments, organise appropriately, and secure long-term outcomes for future generations.”

Based on publicly available information, several of these critical prerequisites do not yet appear to be completed in relation to the Rigo proposal. These include, but may not be limited to: Completion of a definitive feasibility study.

Granting of a mining lease.

Issuance of environmental approvals following a full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).

Completion of structured landowner identification, consultation, and agreement processes.

Establishment of confirmed project financing arrangements.

These are not optional steps. They are mandatory requirements under Papua New Guinea’s legal and regulatory framework and are fundamental to ensuring responsible, transparent, and sustainable development.

The environmental approval process alone requires comprehensive assessment, including ESIA and detailed Environmental Management Plans (EMP), all subject to regulatory review and approval. Similarly, structured landowner processes require time, proper consultation, and formal agreement frameworks to ensure that all customary interests are appropriately recognised.

By comparison, the Central Lime and Cement Project being developed by Pacific Lime and Cement has progressed through feasibility, secured a mining lease, obtained environmental approvals, concluded landowner agreements, and established financing arrangements prior to entering its construction phase. This progression reflects standard industry and regulatory expectations and demonstrates the level of process required for such developments.

Starlink licence issued within a week of court judgement

BY AMANDA H A WATSON

STARLINK has been issued with a licence to operate its satellite internet service in Papua New Guinea. The licence was issued within a week of a court judgement. This article explains the background, the outcome of the court process and the context.

Over the past few years, Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite internet service has entered the Pacific Islands region, bringing connectivity to communities long defined by their isolation. Regulatory responses have varied between Pacific countries, meaning Starlink status differs. When Niue gave Starlink the go-ahead in late March 2026, it left Papua New Guinea as one of only a handful of Pacific countries to not yet issue a licence for the internet provider.

However, a judgement handed down on April 24, 2026, at the National Court cleared the way for the licensing process. Prime Minister James Marape was quick to welcome the judge’s decision, a move that highlighted the importance of the case.

At issue was the process for issuing a licence to Starlink to offer its services in PNG. The dispute effectively halted the licensing process, ultimately causing a delay of about two years.

The process had begun in 2023 when the telecommunications regulator, the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), ran two rounds of public consultation: one on the licensing of low-Earth orbit services and the other on the rules governing licences.

According to the court judgement issued by Judge Susan PurdonSully, the NICTA board decided on December 18, 2023, to approve a Starlink licence “in principle”, subject to the usual processes. The country’s Ombudsman Commission (OC) reportedly received advice from an unknown source, or sources, that this approval had occurred before the second consultation process had been completed and therefore the views of the three mobile network operators had not been considered.

Board approving a licence before a consultation process had been completed? NICTA had suggested to the court that the two rounds of consultation were not of direct relevance to the issuing of the licence and that “public consultations were not a compliance requirement.” The court seems to have accepted that argument. But even if it did not, the court does not accept that an administrative issue of this scale is sufficient to warrant the OC halting all proceedings.

Mr Marape welcomed the outcome as an “important step forward for communications access and digital progress.” He also pointed out that the court’s decision supports the independent regulator and “confirms that proper regulatory institutions must be allowed to perform their lawful functions.”

Starlink has now been issued a licence for its satellite internet service. This happened within days of the court judgement being delivered.

Customs authorities have been seizing Starlink equipment at the country’s borders. For instance, equipment found in suitcases belonging to incoming passengers. NICTA has also been holding some people’s Starlink kits. Now that the licence has been issued, Customs processes will change and NICTA will release the kits it is holding.

While some community members in PNG will not be able to afford to purchase a Starlink kit, others will embrace the opportunity with enthusiasm. Businesses operating in rural and remote parts of the country will likely welcome reliable internet access.

Acknowledgements: An earlier version of this article was published on The Interpreter by the Lowy Institute. I thank court staff who handled my queries about the timing of hearings. I am grateful to Mr Moses Sakai, Mr Hafford Norea and Ms Emily Matasororo who attended hearings on my behalf.

Information and Communications

The OC had communicated with NICTA regarding its concerns about the licensing process. Although NICTA was responding to those queries, the OC issued a directive on February 28, 2024, halting the licensing of Starlink. While the OC has the authority to issue a directive, the judge decided that there had been an “unlawful exercise” of a power that is only supposed to be used in “very limited and carefully considered cases.”

Technology Minister Timothy Masiu and NICTA filed a judicial review on September 20, 2024. They argued that the OC had exceeded its remit. The judge’s ruling in the case has upheld the judicial review. The court said the regulator could carry out its duties, removing the obstacle to the licensing process.

The judgement is scathing of the OC. It found that the OC’s directive was a “disproportionate, preemptive strike”. The court said the OC went beyond its powers and that the directive was “an arbitrary and unconstitutional exercise of power.”

And what about the supposed administrative issue of the NICTA

Author: Dr Amanda H A Watson is a researcher with the Department of Pacific Affairs at The Australian National University.

PNG Power signs transformer procurement deal with UNOPS, funded by World Bank

PNG Power Limited (PPL) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have signed a Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) to procure transformers that will strengthen Papua New Guinea’s electricity infrastructure.

Valued at approximately USD 17.1 million, the project is funded by the World Bank through two key initiatives: the Utility Property Program (UPP) and the National Energy Access Transformation (NEAT) program. This investment represents a critical step in modernising the national grid and improving electricity reliability across the country.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Paul Bayly, chief executive officer of PNG Power said: “Modernising our networks will help reduce the number of outages we’re experiencing

and bring more electricity to homes.

This agreement is a major milestone in delivering reliable power to the people of Papua New Guinea.”

The procurement will be delivered in two stages: Immediate acquisition of seven transformers under the UPP. Procurement of nine additional units under the NEAT program, recently approved and signed in Washington.

Tony Koiri, chief technical officer of PPL, emphasised readiness for implementation: “All the groundwork is complete, and any construction work required will be done well before the transformers arrive. This ensures we can restore confidence among our customers quickly.”

UNOPS, with extensive experience in electrification projects in Papua New Guinea, will oversee the procurement process.

Sofia Olsson, UNOPS Country Manager, said: “This partnership leverages UNOPS’s global reputation for transparent, large-scale procurement to ensure the technical components meet international standards and are delivered on time.”

The World Bank welcomed the collaboration and commended the commitment of Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH) and the Minister for State Enterprises in accelerating approvals.

Eric Blackburn of the World Bank procurement team said: “The project’s delivery to the people is a very important milestone. We look forward to celebrating its completion, which will mark a transformative step for Papua New Guinea’s energy sector.”

After the confusion triggered by Mercury being retrograde in Aries and the resulting fallout, you’ve faced one challenge after another. Now, finally, not only have you dealt with most of them, you’re able to concentrate on exciting new ideas or offers. Better yet, it’s unlikely there’ll be anything to distract you from these.

LEO JUL 22 - AUG 22

For ages you’ve been battling with either one particular stubborn individual or a situation that’s seemed impossibly stuck. Whatever the case, and there could be more than one such matter, suddenly the tide is turning, and to your relief, it’s turning in your favour. Enjoy this victory. You’ve earned it.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 - DEC 20

It’s not that you’re a control freak as much as you know how you want things done and, even more, often

certain individuals take much longer than you would with even simple tasks. Still, that refusal to delegate or

assistance is causing delays. It’s time you handed certain things over to others.

GIANT CROSSWORD

If you sense somebody is hiding important information, that could be true. But also, they’ve no idea those facts are of significance. While you may not be in the mood to be patient, you really have no choice. Events in early May will force these to the surface, for all to see.

VIRGO AUG 23 - SEP 22

The time has come to venture into new territory, via discussion and ideas if not actual travel. Whatever the case, the fresh perspective this offers won’t just be interesting, it will remind you how stimulating exploring and learning about something unfamiliar can be. You’ll return to even burdensome issues feeling refreshed.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 19

In mid-March, Mars, the planet of action and courage, moved into Capricorn for a two-month stay. During that period, you’ve dealt with a lot of challenges and overcome several oncerestrictive doubts. Now and during the coming four weeks, your focus will shift to getting to know, and learning about new people, places and ideas.

GEMINI MAY 21 – JUNE 20

You can debate the rights and wrongs of certain matters as long as you like. But now, in the run up to Monday’s Full Moon, with its heightened emotional mood, your conclusions are unlikely to be rational. Urgent as these issues seem, back off They’ll resolve themselves, and with surprising swiftness.

LIBRA SEP 23- OCT 22

A last minute offer is always worth exploring, even if in saying yes you’d be creating a certain amount of chaos. What’s more, the fact is, you’d regret not taking things further. While you could decide not to go on, the odds are slim you will. Opportunities this exciting appear rarely.

AQUARIUS JAN 20 - FEB 17

Some promises are made to be broken. But those made to family, close friends or even valued colleagues seem different. While your loyalty is admirable, the individuals in question wouldn’t want you to sidestep an amazing opportunity because of them. Discuss this if you must, but you already know what makes sense.

CANCER JUN 21 - JUL 21

Although Mercury’s retrograde cycle ended on the 15th, you’re still dealing with the confusion it triggered. The problem is that others don’t realise how important certain matters are, and so haven’t called your attention to the errors in question. Tell them what’s on your mind. The rest will be easy.

SCORPIO OCT 23 - NOV 21

On occasion, it’s vital you dwell on your feelings about those who matter most in your life. This is especially important now, in the run up to Monday’s emotionally intense Scorpio Full Moon. While you may want to discuss those feelings with others, what’s most important it what you learn from going within.

PISCES FEB 18 - MAR 19

Every once in a while we all get emotional about certain people, situations or, possibly, dreams. Often this is what makes life exciting. However, the current accent on down to earth planet Saturn suggests what, or who, is occupying your time, thoughts and, possibly, heart doesn’t really merit all that attention.

CROSSWORD: 131676

SOLUTION NO. 131675

ACROSS: 2 Aches,6 Itch,9 Lasso,10 Shine,11 Suite,12 Earl,14 Sires,16 Hearsay,17 Crotchet,19 Oar,20 Girth,23 Abacus,26 Praise 27 Poles,28 Sea,29 Downcast,32 Lectern,34 Dally,35 Idea,36 Enter,37 Dirge,38 Urged,39 Even,40 Story

DOWN: 1 Nadir,2 Asset,3 Couscous,4 Esther,5 Sheet,6 Inertia,7 Teas,8 Holy,13 Rafts,14 Scrap,15 Royal,18 Has,20 Grandeur

21 Rival,22 Hefty,24 Bored,25 Certain,26 Pew,28 Sonnet,29 Dregs,30 Carry,31 Sleek,32 Lice,33 Cede

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POSITION VACANT

POSITION VACANT

PNG CORRECTIONAL SERVICE

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN CORRECTIONAL SERVICE Invitation for Applicants

As Papua New Guinea celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Correctional Service is embarking on a new era of transformation. Guided by our vision to strengthen talent and harness vibrant skills, we are committed to driving strategic change across the department. We seek new and inspiring professionals who can contribute meaningfully to the operational, administrative, and rehabilitative functions of our correctional systems. The positions are tailored

The Papua New Guinea Correctional Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, or any other status protected by law.

We believe that a diverse workforce strengthens our ability to serve the community and achieve our mission. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds who share our commitment to build a correctional environment which ensures security, humane containment and rehabilitation of detainees in keeping our national and international obligations.

Available Positions

Core Duties: Provide legal advice, represent PNGCS in litigation, draft contracts and policies, ensure compliance with national laws.

Special Focus: Upholding justice and protecting institutional integrity.

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with admission to practice in PNG; minimum 5+ years’ legal experience.

Skills Needed: Legal drafting, advocacy, analytical reasoning, negotiation.

Impact: Safeguards PNGCS against legal risks and strengthens rule of law in correctional administration.

2. Director – Prison Industry

Core Duties: Manage prison industries, develop vocational training, oversee income-generating projects.

Special Focus: Rehabilitation through skills development and economic sustainability.

Degree in Business, Economics, or Industrial Management; 5+years experience in enterprise development.

Skills Needed: Business management, entrepreneurship, project planning, stakeholder engagement.

Impact: Equips detainees with employable skills and contributes to PNGCS self-reliance.

3.Director – Media & Public Relations

Core Duties: Lead communication strategies, manage public image, liaise with media.

Special Focus: Transparency and public awareness.

Degree in Communications, Journalism, or Public Relations; 5+ years’ experience in media management.

Skills Needed: Strategic communication, writing, public speaking, crisis management.

Impact: Builds public trust and promotes CS PNG’s role in national security and rehabilitation.

4.Director – Facility & Asset Management

Core Duties: Oversee infrastructure, asset maintenance, and resource allocation.

Special Forum: Degree in Engineering, Architecture, or Asset Management; proven project management experience.

Skills Needed: Engineering, asset management, planning, budgeting.

Impact: Ensures safe, secure, and functional correctional facilities nationwide.

5.Director – Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

Core Duties: Manage ICT systems, digital transformation, cybersecurity.

Special Focus: Modernizing correctional service operations.

Skills Needed: ICT strategy, systems administration, data security, innovation.

Impact:

6. Manager – Internal Audit

Core Duties: Conduct audits, assess compliance, recommend improvements.

Special Focus: Integrity and accountability.

Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Auditing; CPA or equivalent preferred.

Skills Needed:

Impact: Strengthens governance and prevents misuse of resources

Core Duties:

Special Focus: Fiscal discipline and resource optimization.

Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Economics; experience in public sector budgeting.

Skills Needed: Financial management, accounting, analytical skills.

Impact:

8. Project Coordinator (FAMU)

Core Duties: Coordinate facility and asset management projects, monitor progress.

Special Focus: Infrastructure development and modernization.

Skills Needed: Project management, reporting, stakeholder coordinator.

Impact: Improves correctional infrastructure to meet national standards.

Core Duties: Coordinate policy research, prepare reports, advise leadership.

Special Focus: Evidence-based decision-making.

Degree in Political Science, Public Policy, or Social Sciences.

Skills Needed: Research, data analysis, policy development.

Impact: Informs strategic reforms and strengthens correctional policies.

Core Duties: transactions.

Special Focus:

Skills Needed: Impact:

•Strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills

•Commitment to innovation and meaningful change

•5+ years of experience

Application Process: Interested applicants are invited to submit;

•A detailed Curriculum vitae (CV)

•A Cover letter outlining suitability for the role

Applications should be addressed to:

Acting Commissioner

Papua New Guinea Correctional Service

Headquarters

P O Box 6889

BOROKO, N.C.D

Attention: Assistant Commissioner, Personnel Finance & Administration

Closing Date: Application must be received by 15th May 2026.

Note: Accommodation is not a condition of employment

Join us in shaping the future of correctional services in Papua New Guinea – your skills and vision can help build a safer, fairer, and more prosperous society.

Authorized by:

POSITION VACANT

Western Highlands Provincial Administration Provincial Procurement Committee

P O Box 17, Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province Phone: 542 1626 / 542 1627; Facsimile: 542 2316

INVITAITON FOR BIDS

CONSTRUCTION OF KINJIBI COMMUNITY HEALTH POST TENDER NO – HEA 02/2026

Western Highlands Provincial Procurement Committee of NPC invites sealed Tender Bids for the construction of Kinjibi Community Health Post on behalf of the Provincial Health Authority and Dei District Development Authority.

Project Name

Kinjibi in Dei District

Funding Source Health Services Sector Development Project.

Development Bank (ADB) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government (DFAT-Australia) towards the cost of Health Services Sector Development Project. The funds are administered by the National

Eligible Bidders

The eligibility rules and bidding procedures of ADB govern the bidding process. Bidding is open to bidders from eligible source countries of the ADB. Eligible

• Minimum average annual construction turnover of PGK9.5 million over the last 3 years

• Minimum experience of 3 years in construction contracts

• Experience in completing at least 1 contract of similar nature and size worth PGK5.2 million.

Bid Security Bid Securing Declaration

Bid Document Fee A non-refundable fee of K1,000.00 must be deposited to Western Highlands provincial Engineering Division, Account # 14400375 with Kina Bank, Mount Hagen Branch.

Date and Time for collection of Bid Documents

From 1st May 2026 onwards

Contact Details for any Queries Haus, First Floor

Bid Submission Address, Due Date & Time

Attention: Steven Moka, Phone: 71893542; Email: smoka.whpga@gmail.com

P.O. Box 17, Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province

The Chairman, Western Highlands Provincial Procurement Committee Western Highlands Provincial Administration, Mount Hagen, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea

• On or before the deadline 29th May 2026 at 1230 hours PNG

Authorized by:

Joseph Mangbil Chairman

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First So Kyokushin Dojo opens

Sempai Sailas Piskaut offers chance to instill discipline, respect

KARATE

BY JOHN PANGKATANA

A SECOND Dan Black holder has opened his school for the first time.

Sempai Sailas Piskaut, a highly recognised So Kyokushin Karate martial artist, has finally ventured into establishing a Dojo in the National Capital District.

The Dojo is called the PNG MiniSports Academy So Kyokushin Karate School, that is IPA registered, and currently runs weekly sessions on Saturday’s at the Filipino Association PNG Clubhouse at Gordon.

Sempai Sailas said the basis behind the Dojo is to attract children in a bid to better their mindsets through the training.

“Myself and several others including our manager Robin Bingfu, fellow instructor Sempai Brian Sammy and senior student Johnson Wako saw the need to contribute back to society by assisting children in the community,” he said.

“In this day and age, the issue of discipline is being lost on parents, with children basically going out of control.

“Not everybody is facing this issue, but there are some parents that have no control over the children, due to the lack of respect.

“Send your children to me and they will know what discipline is and the rationale behind respecting

your parents at home,” he added.

He added that so far they have just over 50 students that include a mixture of adults and children.

Bingfu on that note took the opportunity to acknowledge the FAPNG and the property manager Jerry Theodore for allowing them to use their facility once a week.

“It’s about getting the children at an early age to be exposed to a level of discipline they do not get at home.

“The art of So Kyokushin Karate will provide that direction to eventually become better people in the community,” Bingfu added.

It’s all about investing in a worthwhile cause for your children, he added.

Sempai Sailas who is a recognised champion in both the open full contact IKO and under the PNG Karate Federation (Olympic Rules WKF), has reached several milestones in his career, with the most standout being the 2011 Oceania Open Full Contact lightweight champion in Sydney.

He took part in two So Kyokushin Karate Open World Championships in Japan and is looking forward to his third appearance in 2027 set for October 8-11 in Shizuoka city, Japan. In 2018 he reached third and was awarded the Samurai Award.

Sempai Sailas further acknowledged the head of the International Karate Organisation (IKO) Hanshi Oishi Daigo (President So Kyokushin Karate HQ), Shihan

Cameron Quin (International Chairman So-Kyokushin Karate Oceania HQ in Australia) and Sensei Michael Whitten for their support over the years.

“Their level of support has been the cornerstone behind my wellbeing today and providing the basis behind stepping into a new chapter in my So-Kyokushin life by starting an academy to save our PNG children,” he said.

Sempai Sailas from Ngavalus village, Tikana LLG in the New Ireland Province, is also vying to achieve his Sensei rank with an eye on a third-degree black belt.

“Nothing is impossible if you dedicate yourself to the cause in a meaningful manner,” he added.

For further inquires with regards to joining the Academy, please contact Robin Bingfu on Ph. 71000853 or email president-pngmsokarate@ gmail.com.

For a full membership its K250 and the daily training fee is K5.

Sempai Sailas Piskaut going through the steps of a good warm-up.

PICTURES:JOHN PANGKATANA

Bring it on! it on!

FC Genesis brace for tough Bismarck test

SOCCER

BY SIMON KESLEP

FC Genesis know exactly what it takes to silence opposition in the Vodafone Port Moresby Soccer Association Men’s Premier Division, but coach Percy Mataio is under no illusions ahead of their next challenge.

Fresh off a convincing win over Blue Kumuls FC in a top-of-the-table clash last weekend, FC Genesis have returned to the top of the standings. However, they now face a dangerous and improved Bismarck FC side on Sunday.

The competition at the top end of

the table has been unpredictable, with no side managing to maintain consistent dominance so far this season.

FC Genesis started their 2026 campaign strongly, but their unbeaten run came to an end with a 2-1 loss to Keleiruna FC. They bounced back last weekend with a key win over Blue Kumuls.

Mataio said his side has learned valuable lessons from that defeat and is focused on maintaining discipline in their own game rather than being distracted by opposition strengths.

“We are mindful of each team and each team has its own players,”

Mataio said.

“They come prepared to challenge us on the day and I’m also mindful that every team wants to beat FC Genesis.

“We take each game at a time. We focus on what we can do for ourselves as a team first and then we allow ourselves to place ourselves in positions where we can be better in those moments of the game.”

Mataio said the loss to Keleiruna highlighted the importance of sticking to their own structures.

“A lot of the times we want to focus on the opposition and we forget that it is us that we are supposed to be focusing on,” he said.

“I think we did that against Keleiruna. We thought too much

Three way battle in Ultimate Challenge

THE Ultimate Challenge started its second round of competition at the Car Club on Monday with AST & Pacific Racing Mustangs proving too much for Tru Cargo winning 2-1 and APCS Kiwis floundering against the might of City Memeros & Kekenis losing 3-0.

On Tuesday SCAL continued Zara Holdings Blues woeful season by defeating them 2-1 and LICL Blue Waves upset Tura Warriors 2-1. The final match played on Wednesday matched G-Tigers against AKK Pirates.

AKK Pirates started off well in snooker with Poliap Pokanau able to rediscover his form with a good win over G-Tigers Toby Yaru. In pool, a deciding double had to be played to find a winner and it was G-Tigers duo King Yakapua and Mack Loi who held their cool to sink the black for the win in pool.

Darts saw AKK Pirates Steven

Moyap throw a 180 as one of the few highlights for his team as G-Tigers checked more consistently for a 5 stars to 2 win, helping G-Tigers to an overall 2-1 win and a place in the top five.

The LICL Ultimate Challenge Ladder still has CMK on top with 24 points, followed by AST & PR Mustangs on 20 points, then LICL Blue Waves, Tura Warriors and G-Tigers all with 17 points.

Lloyds Metals backs successful youth soccer tournament

SOCCER

BY PETERSON TSERAHA

LLOYDS Metals and Energy sponsored a successful youth soccer tournament in Arawa last weekend, drawing strong participation from young players and support from the local community.

The event, organised through the company’s sports department, attracted 198 players and around 230 supporters.

Six schools took part in the tournament: Arawa Secondary School Under-16, Rorovana Primary School, Tupukas Primary School, Peter Lahis Primary School, Tubiana Primary School and Metonai Primary School.

The tournament aimed to promote youth participation, teamwork and community spirit through sport.

In the boys’ division, Arawa Secondary School claimed first place, with Tubiana Primary School finishing second and Tupukas Primary School taking third.

In the girls’ division, Rorovana Primary School Team One emerged as champions, while Arawa Secondary School Team One finished second and Arawa Secondary School Team Two placed third.

The tournament concluded on a positive note, with organisers thanking students, teachers and community members for their support.

about what the opposition brought to the table rather than focusing on what we can deliver on the day.

“That resulted in us losing that game 2-1 and we learned from those mistakes and we wanted to better that.”

He said the response against Blue Kumuls showed improvement in execution and mindset.

“We obviously know that we are on top of the ladder but it’s not permanent,” Mataio said.

“There are many good teams in the league with quality as well.

“We just focus on ourselves and how we can better ourselves so that we can do the little things right to maintain what we are currently doing.”

Several schools were unable to attend due to transport challenges and the recent flooding in Buka. These included Sipatako, Nulendi, Kieta, Barava and Arawa Primary Schools.

Despite their absence, organisers said the schools had expressed strong interest in participating in future tournaments.

Lloyds Metals and Energy thanked Arawa Secondary School for hosting the event and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting youth development and community-based sporting programs in Bougainville.

The successful staging of the tournament has also raised expectations among senior men’s and women’s teams in Arawa and across Central Bougainville, with hopes the company may expand its sponsorship support to higher levels of competition in the near future.

Eagles to face Kandes in Minj

RUGBY LEAGUE BY MAL TAIME

WAMP Nga Mt Hagen Eagles the 2024 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup premiers face another tough assignment this weekend when they host new-comers Morobe Kandes at the Jonah Amban Rugby League Oval in Minj.

The Eagles have endured a difficult start to the season, losing three consecutive matches and will be desperate to avoid slipping further down the ladder and being tagged early wooden spoon contenders. Their season began with a loss to Bintangor Goroka Lahanis at the National Sports Institute in Goroka, followed by a narrow 23-22 defeat to Kroton Hela Wigmen at home in Minj. Last weekend, they suffered another setback against Agmark Rabaul Gurias in Rabaul.

This weekend’s clash will be part of a full round of matches spread across Port Moresby, Jiwaka, Morobe and Enga provinces.

In the national capital, fans will be treated to a double-header, with Gas Resource Central Dabaris hosting Agmark Rabaul Gurias, while PRK Gulf Isou take on Kroton Hela Wigmen. At Aipus Oval in Wabag, Porgera Enga Mioks will face PRK Mendi Muruks, while in Lae, Snax Tigers will meet Bintangor Goroka Lahanis along the Highlands Highway. In Jiwaka, Jonah Amban Oval will host a major crowd as Asila Waghi Tumbe welcome Moni Plus Port Moresby Vipers, while Wamp Nga Eagles take on Morobe Kandes in front of home supporters from Western Highlands and Jiwaka. The Eagles, coached by Henry Wan, have shown structure and competitiveness but have struggled to close out games, leaving fans frustrated. Despite their form, they will face a Morobe Kandes side made up of a mix of newly recruited players still finding combinations. Meanwhile, Waghi Tumbe have also had a mixed start to the season, recording one win and two losses.

The pull factor

Luai signing sends ‘cultural message’ as PNG Chiefs target elite roster build

RUGBY LEAGUE

BY SIMON KESLEP

PNG Chiefs football general manager

Michael Chammas says Jarome Luai is “more than just a footy player”, describing the marquee signing as a cultural and strategic statement that signals the club’s serious intent in the NRL.

Luai, a four-time premiership winner and one of rugby league’s most highprofile playmakers, was officially unveiled in Sydney alongside PNG Chiefs CEO Lorna McPherson, chairlady Catherine Harris and Sports Minister Kinoka Feo.

Chammas said Luai’s profile, personality and on-field ability would help shape the identity of the expansion club ahead of its entry into

the NRL in 2028.

“On the field, Jarome gives us a marquee head of genuine elite pedigree, around whom we can build a competitive roster,” Chammas said.

“He’s signing to attract other players. This announcement will open doors that otherwise take years to unlock.”

He said Luai’s impact would extend well beyond football.

“Off the field, the significance is even greater,” he said.

“Jarome’s arrival in the PNG Chiefs jersey is a cultural moment for our nation.”

Chammas said the signing also sends a clear message to potential recruits about the club’s ambitions.

“For Jarome coming to our club sends out a message to other players who are looking to join that you are not

coming for a holiday… we are here to win,” he said.

“We sign him for two years plus an option, but really it is a five-year deal. We get him for two years… he is our marketing man, our recruitment man, our cultural ambassador.”

Chammas said the club will now shift focus to strengthening key positions, particularly the spine, as planning continues ahead of entry into the competition.

“The spine is the most important part of what we do and we’ve got a pretty integral part of that now,” he said.

“We can take stock of what we really need to do next. We’ve got 18 months yet to go before we kick the ball.

“I think that is the area we are focused on—making sure those key positions are quality players.”

Sports Minister highlights importance of Luai’s signature

RUGBY LEAGUE

BY SIMON KESLEP

PNG’s Sports Minister Kinoka Feo says the signing of Wests Tigers fiveeighth Jarome Luai by the PNG Chiefs is of “great significance” for Papua New Guinea rugby league.

Luai, a four-time premiership winner with the Penrith Panthers, NSW Blues representative and Samoan international, has been confirmed as the franchise’s first marquee signing ahead of their entry into the NRL in 2028.

Feo said there had initially been uncertainty around which players would commit to the expansion side, but expressed confidence in the Chiefs’ leadership team to build a strong roster.

“It means a lot to us,” Feo said.

“We were not sure the kind of players we were going to get.

“I was asked several times by the media on what I think should be the best players, but this job is for Michael (Chammas) and Lorna (McPherson).

“We trust them enough to pick the best players and to get Jarome means a lot to us.”

PNG Chiefs CEO Lorna McPherson, who previously worked as senior vice president for Digicel PNG, played a key role in supporting the domestic game through the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup, which continues to provide a pathway for local talent.

McPherson said the Chiefs were closely monitoring talent both domestically and abroad, including

Chiefs

spending

FROM BACK PAGE

PNG players in the NRL and PNG Hunters system.

“Definitely there are talents in PNG, we are looking at players there as well,” McPherson said.

“If you look at the PNG Hunters,

seven of their players went over to the London Broncos and you see the calibre, talent and how well they are doing.

“There are raw talents there too, and other PNG players in the NRL as well.”

capacity raises eyebrows amongst rival clubs

Less than 24 hours after securing the marquee playmaker, attention has shifted to the club’s apparent spending capacity and what it could mean for the league’s competitive balance.

At the centre of the concern is a perceived gap in take-home earnings between players contracted to Australian-based clubs and those who may sign with the PNG outfit.

Under current Australian tax laws, players earning above AUD $200,000 (about K622,000) can be taxed at rates up to 45 per cent. That means a player on a AUD $1.2 million (about K3.7 million) deal could take home roughly

AUD $650,000 (about K2 million) after tax.

By contrast, it is widely believed players signing with the PNG Chiefs could retain significantly more of their salary, creating a powerful financial

incentive that rival clubs may struggle to match.

The disparity has already triggered unease among senior figures across the competition.

“A few clubs will be seriously upset,” one anonymous NRL chief executive told The Australian, highlighting growing frustration within clubland.

Officials fear the issue will extend beyond recruitment and into retention, with clubs potentially losing established stars to more lucrative take-home offers.

One executive noted the Chiefs could table a contract below market value—around AUD $800,000 (about K2.4 million) instead of AUD $1 million (about K3.1 million)—yet still deliver a higher net income to players, while preserving salary cap space to strengthen their roster.

Luai’s signing has effectively served as a wake-up call.

HANGING ON BY A THREAD!

Jarome Luai — Wests Tigers superstar, premiership winner, showman — this week has officially been unveiled as PNG Chiefs Player #01.

Let that sink in.

This is not just a signing… this is a statement to the rugby league world.

The Chiefs aren’t coming to make up numbers in 2028 — they’re coming to compete, entertain, and WIN.

With Alex Johnston also in the mix and more big names circling, the Chiefs are building something serious. Names like Joseph Manu and the Coates brothers aren’t just rumours anymore — they’re part of a growing wave.

PNG is no longer waiting… we’re preparing.

HOSTPLUS CUP ROUND 7

REALITY CHECK FOR HUNTERS

It was a tough day at the office, out on the Gold Coast. The SP PNG Hunters were outclassed 42–4 by the reigning premiers, Burleigh Bears at UAA Park.

After the high of last week’s upset win over Ipswich Jets, the Hunters came crashing back down to earth — and hard.

The Bears’ forward pack rolled through the middle with ease, dominating field position and setting the tone from the opening whistle. The Hunters had no answers.

The lone highlight? A 15th-minute try to winger Myles Banam — but that was as good as it got.

From there, it was one-way traffic. Errors piled up. Defensive lapses exposed. And most concerning — a lack of cohesion and mindset.

This wasn’t just a loss… it was a major wake-up call.

ROUND 8 PREVIEW – HUNTERS VS TOP OF THE TABLE

Well It doesn’t get any easier.

The Hunters (13th) now face competition leaders, the Sunshine Coast Falcons, this Saturday at Santos National Football Stadium (3:30pm).

BUT WE ARE AT HOME!!!! and

we proved that with a gutsy win against the Jets.

History says this one could go either way — the Falcons lead the headto-head 12–10 — but form says the Hunters must lift, and lift big.

To compete, the Hunters MUST: Cut out handling errors

Defend with intent

Play disciplined, structured football

Bring ENERGY in front of the home crowd and be expansive, bring the flair, the flamboyant….Just let loose!!!

DIGICEL EXXONMOBIL CUP

ROUND 3 WRAP, 25 / 26 April

The competition is heating up!

Pom Vipers lead the pack with 6 points

A tight chasing group on 4 points: Dabaris, Wigmen, Gurias, Muruks, Lahanis

The rest are jostling for position — and every round now matters

ROUND 4 FIXTURES (2–3 MAY)

Saturday 2nd May

11am, Central Dabaris vs Rabaul Gurias — NFS, Port Moresby 1pm, Gulf Isou vs Hela Wigmen — NFS, Port Moresby 1pm, Hagen Eagles vs Morobe Kandes - Minj

3pm Waghi Tumbe vs Pom Vipers — Minj

Sunday 3rd May

2pm, Enga Mioks vs Mendi Muruks — Wabag 3pm, Lae Tigers vs Goroka Lahanis — Lae

FINAL WORD

From a heavy loss to a historic signing, this week reminds us why we love the game.

The Hunters must respond.

The Digicel Cup is heating up. And the PNG Chiefs era has officially begun.

Luai is #01… and PNG rugby league is on the move.

Good luck Hunters — na Kukim ol!

Have a blessed weekend Kukim

Many clubs did not expect the franchise’s first major acquisition to be of such calibre and are now moving quickly to secure key players amid fears of aggressive recruitment from the competition’s newest entrant.

While all NRL clubs are set to receive a AUD $4 million (about K12 million) boost ahead of the league’s expansion to 19 teams by 2028, critics argue the funding may not be enough to offset the Chiefs’ structural advantages.

“We can’t compete with them,” the anonymous CEO admitted.

The situation also presents challenges for fellow expansion side Perth, with concerns their recruitment efforts could be impacted by the lack of comparable financial incentives.

Veteran journalist Paul Crawley described the emerging dynamic as “not a fair fight,” adding to calls for the NRL to review the framework governing player payments.

Juniors to take centre stage

POM Netball premiers on break as clubs start campaigns

NETBALL

BY RACHAEL KEAEKE

THE Port Moresby Netball Association (POMNA) season proper continues this weekend with Round 1, Game 3, as 66 clubs take to the courts in pursuit of a coveted place in the grand final set for September.

However, this round will notably exclude premier division teams, with most preparing for the Butterfly Netball League Grand Final scheduled for Sunday, May 2. For this round, action begins bright and early at 8:30am, with the Under 10A division opening

proceedings across Courts 1 to 5.

Teams including CPL Rebels, Veupunama, Poinimo, Snax Mermaids, Gulf Isou, Koroboro 1, Hauvu Pipi 1, CC Sparrows 1, Telstars 1 and Mystics 1 are set to feature in the opening matches.

On Court 6, the Under 10B clash will see Mahuru Eagles face Uvenama, while Aroma Coast sits out with a bye.

As the day unfolds, attention shifts to the Under 13 divisions, where A, B and C grades will deliver a packed lineup of fixtures.

Key matchups include Mystics 1 taking on Telstars 1, CC Sparrows 1 meeting Snax Mermaids 1, and

With games scheduled every 20 to 25 minutes, spectators can expect a fast-paced and energetic atmosphere throughout the morning.

Older divisions will dominate the afternoon schedule, with Under 15, 17 and 21 teams competing alongside Division 1 and 2 sides. Among the standout fixtures are Haidana Lightning versus POMIS, Snax Mermaids 1 against Mystics, Veupunama facing CC Sparrows 1, and Telstars 1 taking on Vuavua Rapids.

Clubs such as ECEM Grammar, KT Manaho, Laimakele and Mahulogo Panthers will also feature

prominently as they push for earlyseason momentum.

With matches spread across all six courts and spanning multiple age groups from Under 10 to senior divisions, the round promises a full day of competitive netball, showcasing both emerging and experienced talent from across Port Moresby and surrounding communities.

Organisers are encouraging families, friends and supporters to attend and back their teams, highlighting the event as not only a competition but also a celebration of community, sportsmanship and youth development.

UN Women backs Lewas ahead of title defence

CRICKET

THE PNG Lewas have received a timely boost ahead of their PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational title defence, with UN Women Papua New Guinea throwing its support behind the national women’s team.

As the Lewas stepped up preparations at Amini Park yesterday with training sessions and practice matches, UN Women PNG Country Representative Peterson Magoola delivered a message of encouragement ahead of the June tournament in Vanuatu.

“We wish all the best for the PNG Lewas as they prepare for the competition in Vanuatu. We stand with you and look forward to seeing how you perform and return,” Magoola said.

“We will continue supporting and working with you moving forward.”

Magoola shared the message during last week’s Young Women Leadership Training Workshop, where he highlighted the important role sport plays in empowering women and girls across Papua New Guinea.

“We believe sport is one of the ways we can empower women, especially young women,” he said.

“UN Women has been very active globally in engaging women in sport, and here in Papua New Guinea we are encouraging sports leadership to bring women to the forefront and provide an enabling environment.

“They should have opportunities in sport. It is one of the key areas

PNG teams yet to be paid after tournament

FROM BACK PAGE

IN a formal statement released yesterday, the PNG national teams said they were “deeply disappointed” that several months after the tournament, players had yet to receive their full entitlements.

The issue follows earlier concerns raised before the 2025 competition, when outstanding payments from the 2024 edition in the Solomon Islands remained unpaid. At the time, assurances were given by the Host Organising Committee that all payments would be included in the 2025 event budget and settled after the tournament.

Despite strong performances on home soil, including a historic title win by the senior women’s team and a runners-up finish by the senior men’s side, players across all squads — including development teams — say payments are still outstanding.

Players have since been informed that only prize money will be paid to the senior men’s and women’s teams, while development squads will receive consolation payments. However, the teams say this falls short of what was promised, with player allowances still unpaid.

“As athletes who have committed themselves to representing the nation with pride, discipline and success, this outcome is both disappointing and disheartening,” the statement read.

The matter has been formally raised with the Prime Minister’s Office, the Minister for Sports, the PNG Sports Foundation and the 2025 MSG Cup Host Organising Committee.

that uplifts women’s leadership competencies. We look forward to working closely with Cricket PNG and other sporting bodies to encourage more young women to participate.”

The Lewas head into the 2026 PacificAus tournament as defending champions after lifting the title in 2025, and will be aiming to maintain their strong presence on the regional stage. Magoola also acknowledged Cricket PNG’s involvement in the leadership initiative, which is being

rolled out nationwide.

The Young Women Leadership Training Workshop has been staged across the Southern, Momase, New Guinea Islands and Highlands regions, including Port Moresby, Lae, Kokopo and Mt Hagen.

Held on April 24, the workshop focused on strengthening leadership capacity among emerging young women, covering areas such as governance, communication, advocacy, financial literacy and community engagement.

The initiative is supported by the Australian Government and implemented by UN Women in partnership with the Department for Community Development and Religion.

Cricket PNG was represented at the workshop by strength and conditioning coach Anthea Murray, training facilitator Margaret Sibona, and Duna Alex of the Ahioma Cricket Association, who has been selected for the 2026 women’s domestic competition.

Players have warned they may reconsider participation in the next MSG Cup, scheduled for September in Fiji, if the issue is not resolved. They also raised broader concerns about what they described as unequal treatment of sporting codes, saying football continues to represent Papua New Guinea with distinction at regional and international level but does not receive adequate support.

The teams reaffirmed their commitment to representing the country, while calling for greater accountability, fairness and respect for players.

POM boss hails role of moms

NETBALL

As Mother’s Day approaches, Port Moresby Netball Association President Alurigo Ravusiro has paid tribute to the vital role mothers play in sustaining netball in the capital. Sharing with Post Courier, Ravusiro highlighted the deep social and cultural connections that keep the sport thriving, particularly among women balancing family and community responsibilities.

“For many, it is an opportunity to make new friends and reconnect and bond more with existing relationships,” she said. “There are of course the surprises of meeting a school or a work colleague from years back.” She emphasised that netball provides more than just competition, serving as a space where relationships are strengthened across generations.

“Netball is kept alive because of these simple and often taken-forgranted experiences that ground mothers with their daughters.”

WHERE’S OUR PAY?

SOCCER

PAPUA New Guinea’s national football players have voiced strong concerns over the continued non-payment of allowances and prize money from the 2025 Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Prime Minister’s Cup held in Port Moresby.

National teams raise alarm over unpaid MSG Cup allowances

NRL clubs on alert as Chiefs flex financial muscle in NRL Market

GAME CHANGER JUNIOR NETBALL PICKING