Wantok Nius

Queen Emma Milk Chocolate Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull, during his recent visit to Port Moresby, has praised Papua New Guinea (PNG) chocolate brand Queen Emma and said he is looking forward to seeing it make an appearance in the Australian market, Post Courier (April 19) reports. The chocolate is produced by Queen Emma Chocolate Company & Paradise Spices, and general manager Karina Makori said they were delighted by Turnbull’s positive comments. Ms Makori said they are currently establishing and marketing themselves in the domestic market, but they are also exploring export opportunities. “ …we are exploring opportunities to export into Australia and Europe as there has been interest from these areas .”  - Karina Makori , GM, Queen Emma Chocolate Company & Paradise Spices She said they have sent out samples to several interested chocolate producers in other countries. Queen Emma chocolates are made from locally sourced cocoa beans.

Alan McLay The Lae Chamber of Commerce (LCC) has forecasted optimistic economic conditions which will progressively improve this year, The National (April 19) reports. According to LCC President Alan McLay, businesses in the nation’s second largest city were operating under difficult circumstances due to the lack of circulation of the Kina and shortage in foreign exchange. However, he forecasts that the economy would get back on track with the increase in commodity export prices. We are quite optimistic. And there is a general feeling that commodity prices for the bulk of PNG exports will pick up toward the end of this year, which will bear well for the overall PNG economy.   - Alan McLay  - President, Lae Chamber of Commerce McLay also said the chamber still believed Lae as the premium place to invest in the country for the appropriate businesses. He said investment continued to grow in spite of the tough economic times. He said examples were the new tuna fi...

Kina Securities Ltd has announced the completion of their acquisition of Maybank PNG which will see the bank becoming a part of the Kina Group and a change of name to the Kina Bank. Maybank has been in operation in Papua New Guinea since 1994. The acquisition increases Kina’s portfolio in the financial market including stock brokering, fund management and now banking services. For more information, please contact Kina on (+675) 308 3810 or visit kina.com.pg

John Mangos PNG Power Ltd (PPL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Mangos, has been suspended following allegations of misappropriation, only 7 months after being appointed. The National (October 1) reports 14 allegations against Mangos based on several legal, financial, governance and ethical issues and he has been given notice to provide a show cause letter for his actions within 14 days or face an investigation. PPL board chairman, Larry Andagali, said the board was seriously concerned with the allegations and more so with the way the PPL has been operating under Mangos management since his appointment on April 23, 2015. Mangos confirmed with The National that he has been suspended and said he would respond to the allegations leveled against him in the next 14 day. Meanwhile, PPL Chief Operating Officer (COO), John Yanis, has taken over responsibility as CEO following Mangos' suspension, pending an investigation.

The Central Province Transport Authority (CPTA) is no longer accepting cash payments for vehicle registration and third party insurance. According to the Manager for Vehicle Registration and Licensing, Bernadette Gulaga, the body will only accept EPTOS, bank cheque and companies on the Motor Vehicles Insurance Limited (MVIL) credit listing. “Due to circumstances beyond our control, we regret to advise that CPTA will no longer accept cash payments for Vehicle Registration & Third Party Insurance as started today 23rd March, 2015. Only Eftpos, bank cheques & companies on MVIL credit listing will be accepted. This includes payments for replacement of certificates or labels, change of number plates and change of ownership on current Compulsory Third Party policies.” She also stated that all cheque payment should be made out to MVIL and not the CPTA. Further information can be obtained by calling 311 2379.

A forestry company has filed a lawsuit against South Pacific Post Ltd, which owns Post Courier, and its editors regarding articles published on September 3, 4 and 19, 2014, The National (November 5) reports. The articles purportedly revealing the company’s links with known or suspected terrorist and Islamic extremists was published both in print and online, and attracted the attention of international media organizations including The Guardian and ABC . The company, Cloudy Bay Sustainable Forestry Ltd , filed a writ of summons against the newspaper claiming damages up to K584 million (US$ 200 million). In a public statement, the company said the publications were “grossly defamatory” and “published in bad faith” which resulted in the “cancellation of commercial contracts”. The company directors are seeking aggravated damages on the basis that the Post Courier editors knowingly published information that was false. Other sources of interest: Post Courier sued for US$60 ...

BSP logo. Image via bernardosbagofbeans.com Bank South Pacific (BSP) will be closing its Kerevat sub-branch due to safety concerns for its staff and property. In a public statement, BSP announced the indefinite closure citing recent break and enter into the branch as “unacceptable and a serious impediment” to their operations. The bank also called local leaders in the area to take ownership and ensure law and order is guaranteed. Although not clearly stated, the closure could be implied as punishment and a lesson for the Kerevat area and Papua New Guinea (PNG). The bank stated that the branch would be closed until “…such a time that BSP feels it is absolutely safe to continue operating and the people fully understand their obligation in appreciating vital services that the bank and its staff provide.” It also hopes that the closure will “…facilitate all communities in PNG to appreciate the real economic damage that deterioration of Law and Order has on every town and ci...

Nambawan Super Ltd (NSL) is currently distributing members’ statements and ID cards at their branch offices nationwide. In a public statement, NSL said the exercise would be conducted from June 16 – 30 and members who did not collect their cards and statements would have them mailed. This would also be applied for members in Port Moresby, Central and Gulf provinces. Meanwhile members who have received a pre-printed ID are also asked to visit their nearest branch to have ID photos taken to be printed on the cards. They are asked to bring the following for identification purposes: 2x payslips confirmation letter from provincial offices Police (PPC) Health (Provincial Health Authority) Education (Education Advisor /School Inspector & Head Master /Principal) Other departments /companies (Human Resource) Any ID (Work, Driver’s License, Passport, etc) Further information can be obtained by calling 309 5311 /733 37777 / 761 12222 or emailing callcentre@nambawansuper.co...

PNGTUC General Secretary, John Paska The Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress (PNGTUC) has given its approval on the new national minimum wage rate set by the Minimum Wages Board. PNGTUC General Secretary, John Paska, said it was fair and would have minimal impact on the national budget as the government does not employ minimum wage earners. He also added that the minimum wage set in 1992 was heavily influenced by a “powerful employer lobby instigated by the World Bank” who later circumvented the determination in 2000, restoring the minimum rate to a respectable K120 per fortnight. According to Paska, there are a handful of employer lobbyist who are dangerous to the country and welfare of the workers. He said their claims are apparently made to protect profit margins at the expense of stimulating robust domestic demand. He said PNGTUC calculations based on data from the National Statistical Office (NSO) indicated that over K8 billion that should have gone to wages was gob...

The Prime Minister has warned public bodies to be careful when dealing with international media and publishing companies. According a circular dated December 19, 2013, from the PM’s chief of staff, Isaac Lupari , the PM’s office is aware of agents and marketing representatives visiting public bodies to solicit interviews and policy material for publication. The circular said Papua New Guinea (PNG) had become the latest target of international media organisations and publishers using agents to “ lure unsuspecting Government Agencies and Officials in such scheme which is aimed at making easy money for their Companies/proprietors .” It further stated that there were already 14 international media and publishing companies operating in the country, with more expected to arrive in the coming months, which has the PM concerned. The circular also instructed all government agencies and officials to refrain from making any financial commitments until proper verification is conducted, ...

“Leave politics to the politicians,” was the call made by a union leader in Papua New Guinea (PNG) following the recent events involving politicians and the Police force. President of the PNG Banks & Financial Institutions Workers Union, Anton Sekum, made this call in a media release today. Mr Sekum said the use of the Police by politicians as a means of “vilification of political enemies is deplorable.” He said power crazed politicians were ripping the laws of the country apart. Sekum also warned the business community to brace for the worst indicating political trends were indicative of a Police state in the making. He said: “This developing trend is indicative of a police state in the making and is a serious threat to public safety and properties." Mr Sekum said no one is above the law and the police force must perform their constitutional duties without political influence. He also called for the leaders and Police Commissioner to work within the dictates o...

Open forum on Manus about Regional Resettlement Arrangement As part of the Australian Government’s ongoing community and business consultations on the Regional Resettlement Arrangement (RRA), a series of open forums will be held in Manus and Lae on 21 January. Consultations will also take place with presidents of PNG peak business bodies in Port Moresby on 22 January. Similar information sessions were held last year in Manus, Lae and Port Moresby. The RRA is already delivering many economic opportunities for Manusians and other PNG companies and employees. The Australian High Commission publishes facts about the economic benefits resulting from the RRA at www.png.embassy.gov.au . The Manus and Lae open forums will highlight the opportunities for local and national business involvement in the implementation of the RRA. The separate consultation with PNG peak business bodies in Port Moresby is an opportunity for dialogue and information sharing to further strengthen understand...

Public Enterprise and State Investment Minister, Ben Micah Consumers will not be paying for the 5.9% increased tariff this quarter following directives from the Public Enterprises and State Investment Minister, Ben Micah, reports The National . This news was made public by PNG Power Ltd (PPL) CEO, John Tangit, yesterday. He said in a letter dated January 11, Minister Micah directed the company not to implement tariffs that were approved by the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC). Instead, the government, as a shareholder, would inject a promised K10 million capital into the company for maintenance and upgrades, which according to Tangit is more than the expected revenue from the new tariff. He said: “This is more than the expected revenue from ICCC approved tariff increase.” Mr Tangit also said this is the first time for the government to inject money into the company and apologised to consumers what he claims as “misrepresentation of information” in the...

PPL CEO, John Tangit Electricity consumers can expect more outages and service disruption despite a 5.9% tariff increase and the management of PNG Power Ltd (PPL) awarding themselves a massive 40% raise last October. The increased tariff, which took effect on January 1, has drawn criticism from the public. However, in a public statement, PPL CEO John Tangit said that consumers should not expect any major improvement in their services, adding that the upgrades would take time to implement. He said the increased tariff is the company’s strategy to raise internal revenue to fund projects to improve performance of the existing assets. He also put some blame on fuel prices saying: “Or if fuel costs came down significantly, say 2008 levels, PPL would not need to increase tariffs by this much.” However, despite the high operating costs the company is facing, PPL management managed to give themselves a pat on the back with a 40% pay hike in October 2013, reported the Midweek Ch...

Manus MP, Ronnie Knight The island province of Manus will play host to representatives from the Dubai based Awal Impex Internation (Holdings Ltd) Company who will arrive there on Sunday, The National reports. Manus MP, Ronnie Knight, said the delegation would be exploring investment opportunities if the province is turned into a free trade zone. He said the multinational company planned to establish major port facilities for customs and quarantine checks on vessels importing goods into the country, and their investment in basic services would be in the million kina region. The delegation is expected to visit Mokoreng, Salamei and former logging port, N’drahukei in the Pobuma LLG. Mr Knight said locals had indicated support for the company’s plans. He said the main concept behind building a major wharf facility was that cargo brought in from Asia, Pacific and Northern Australia would be checked on Manus before continuing to Lae or Port Moresby.

10 Fijian models will join the fashion week. Pacific fashion has a huge place in the international fashion industry so fashion designers in the region need to take ownership of their cultural expressions in order to develop lucrative economic opportunities for their traditional art. The Chairman of CPL Group, Mahesh Patel, said fashion as retail business was important for any economy and Papua New Guinea was no different. He made the comments as he launched a partnership to stage the Port Moresby Fashion Week scheduled for Wednesday, November 27. “As I understand it, Fashion Week’s in the Pacific have been a huge success largely because of the partnership and support of dynamic retail businesses who realize the value of a diversified economy and who support fast growing brands. CPLGroup is committed to adding value to our current portfolio so this partnership is a natural fit,” Mr Patel said. “Fashion Week Ltd is committed to showcasing Pacific talent and they’re a proven su...