Wantok Nius

The Papua New Guinea (PNG) diplomat who was arrested in Seoul, Korea in relation to sexual molestation charges has been charged accordingly by his departmental head, Loop PNG reports. The 40 year old diplomat allegedly molested an inebriated woman who was lying at a parking lot at the city’s Iteawon Street. The diplomat returned to the country earlier this year. Meanwhile, news of the diplomat’s misbehavior has upset minister responsible Rimbik Pato. He said upon receipt of the reports, formal disciplinary charges under the Public Service have been served on the officer by his department head. Pato said, As required under this process, the officer has been given seven days to respond to the allegations.   It is important that the officer is given fair opportunity to present his side of the story. Minister Pato also said diplomats have been warned of zero tolerance toward improper behavior while serving in overseas missions.

Police Commissioner Gari Baki / Photo: EMTV Online Papua New Guinea’s Police Commissioner, Gari Baki, has called on social media users to become reliable sources of information in areas where there is no security presence during the elections, The National reports. Commissioner Baki said Facebook users posting reliable information of undue and undesirable influences by people who would want to disturb the peace would be very much appreciated. He said: Because my job is to ensure a safe and free election, I appeal to people to report accurately. Baki also said social media had the potential to destroy the country with the type of information people were giving out. He appealed to social media commentators to report accurately and factually to give everyone the opportunity to know what is happening around the country. So my appeal is for them to report accurately and factual reports so the every Papua New Guinean has an opportunity to know what is actually happening around...

Toea Wisil takes out 100 and 200 meter gold Papua New Guinea’s sprint Queen Toea Wisil has won the double sprint at the Australian Athletics Championship in Sydney at the weekend. She clocked in 11.42 seconds to win the 100 meters and 23.76 to take the 200 meters. Toea Wisil nudges out Melissa Breen in a race in Canberra last month. /  Photo: Matt King, The Canberra Times The 28 year old Queensland based Jiwakan’s win confirms her place as one of the best female sprinters in the Oceania region. Wisil etched out Australia’s Melissa Breen by 0.22 of a second at the 100m sprint to claim gold. However, her win has caused some upset at the meet. According to The Canberra Times, Breen’s coach Matt Beckenham has questioned the rules of the championship after Breen’s claim to silver despite being technically the fastest Australian in the race. Beckenham aired his displeasure on Twitter saying that while Wisil was a “deserving winner”, “the rules defy common sense.” This ...

The Governor General (GG) of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Sir Michael Ogio, passed has died. He was 74. News of the Late Ogio’s passing was shared on social media on Saturday evening, and since condolences have been flooding in. #PNG governor general Sir Michael Ogio died today after recent heart problems. Condolences to family & friends of this man of Bougainville — Keith Jackson AM (@PNGAttitude) February 18, 2017 The Sir Michael Ogio was the country’s 9th vice regal. His term was about to expire and he was awaiting a handover ceremony at the time of his passing. The late GG had heart problems and was sick for a while. In 2015, he underwent a coronary bypass in Singapore and was flown to Brisbane last October for emergency medical treatment. Before serving as Governor General, the Late Ogio served as the Minister for Higher Education.

John Paska The Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, John Paska, has reportedly been replaced and Ugwalubu Moana from the Teachers Association has been appointed as interim President, according to a post by journalist Scott Waide. John Paska has been removed as Trade Union Congress President. He has been replaced by an interim president - Ugwalubu Moana from PNGTA — Scott Waide (@Scott_Waide) April 8, 2016

A search and rescue operation has been launched for 11 people, including 3 children, who have been missing at sea since Tuesday (December 29, 2014), The National reports. It is reported that the missing had left Baluan Island in Manus on a 23ft dinghy powered by two 40hp engines and were expected to arrive at Pana Island in Madang the next day. The dinghy left Baluan for Panna Island . Image from climatechallengervoyage.net Relatives reported the dinghy missing last Friday and a search and rescue operation was organized on Monday. It was also reported that a relative saw a miscall from one of the missing on Sunday. Disaster & Emergency authorities say they will coordinate with the mobile carrier to pinpoint where the miscall originated and assist in the rescue operation. It is believed that the dinghy may be drifting toward Wuvulu Islands. Meanwhile the National Weather Service has issued strong wind warnings for people traveling by sea.

Australian Immigration Minister and Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin in 2013. Source: News Limited Refugees from the detention center will not be allowed to resettle on Manus, the province’s Governor, Charlie Benjamin, has revealed. According to the Post Courier (November 7), the Governor was not aware of the National Executive Council (NEC) decision to finalize the process necessary to grant citizenship and engage skilled refugees. Mr Benjamin said: “It’s news to me and they will not find a home in Manus…they won’t be resettled here permanently, they are here to be moved to another country.” The Governor said he welcomed the prospect of asylum seekers being released and settled but it is not his long term vision for the province. He said the detention of asylum seekers on the island was a part of the Australian Government’s off shore processing policy designed to discourage dangerous boat journeys to Australia, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) did not need to discomfort its ow...

The Papua New Guinea Accident Investigation Commission (PNGAIC) has come out publicly to set the record straight after reports emerged from The National newspaper regarding the Twin Otter crash on September 20, 2014. In a letter dated October 22, 2014, to the editor of The National , Ms Christine Pakakota, PNGAIC’s acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), David Inau, said the paper’s report titled “Mt Lawes crash report out” was “highly misleading” and “contained several gross errors”. Inau said the paragraph which stated that the “preliminary report into the accident involving HeviLift’s Twin Otter that crashed on September 20 at Mt Lawes suggested miss-communication between the pilot and tower controller” was “completely incorrect” and the report only contained factual information and does not suggest anything. He further added that another paragraph stating that the pilot in command had requested tower control if they could pick up the Instrument Landing System was also inco...

Leslie Alu, City Manager The National Capital District Commission (NCDC) has finally set up an inspection program that will allow officer’s to inspect residential areas to ensure the requirement of the Public Health Act are being observed. According to a public notice authorized by City Manager, Leslie Alu, the program will involve youths from the suburbs that will be trained and properly identified to conduct inspections. The program will begin at North Waigani, Hohola and Tokarar suburbs and will focus on health and hygiene, and a 14 day notice is being put out for home owners. The inspection will also be on the lookout for other breaches in the NCDC regulation including trading, building and physical planning which will be reported back to the management for prosecution under relevant laws.

13 unlucky inmates on death row could face the death penalty, according to reports in The National , which could be implemented this year. Of the 13 inmates, 8 were convicted of piracy related crimes while the rest were convicted of murder. According to Dr Eric Kwa, Constitutional Law Reform Commission Secretary, the government has opted to implement the death penalty this year. However, they are yet to sort out two things: The method of execution, and; A proper facility for them. The methods which Cabinet will have to decide on include electrocution, lethal injection with deprivation of oxygen, lethal injection with anaesthetic, firing squad and the gallows. Until May last year (2013), offences like treason, piracy and wilful murder attracted the death penalty. This has been extended to include sorcery related murders, aggravated rape and robbery. The move comes despite opposition from Amnesty International which claims that there is no evidence to support the death p...

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...

Police are investigating the claim that two girls were used as payment in a compensation to relatives of a deceased teacher, according to The National . Western Highlands (WH) Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Supt Joseph Tondop, said the team would go to the villages involved and investigate the matter. Supt Tondop condemned the act saying he would get to bottom of it and if confirmed, those involved would face the law. Meanwhile, two women’s groups have decried the clans’ actions saying it amounted to human trafficking. Scholar Kakas, President of the National Council of Women (NCW) said using the girls as compensation was nothing short of human trafficking and a breach of human rights. She also said this was not the first time for such an incident. Kakas said: “Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time human trafficking has been seen in Jiwaka.” She called on the people, government and women leaders to take a stand against the issue and stop human trafficking once and...

Human rights lawyer based in Mt Hagen,  +Danny Gonol   Young girls have been used a compensation payments in Jiwaka, according to reports in The National , and a human rights lawyer has condemned this. Two girls, allegedly 13 and 15 years of age, were handed over to the Kui villagers by people from Menginpol as compensation over the death of a teacher. A human rights lawyer based in Mt Hagen, +Danny Gonol , is calling for the police to investigate and arrest those who made the decision to use the girls as payment. The two girls were given away to the relatives of the deceased for marriage, and while it is unclear whether they consented to this, both girls are underage. Mr Gonol said the girls’ dignity and rights should have been protected and it is a “breach of human rights at its worst.” He said: “I condemn the community leaders who made the decision to use the two innocent girls as payment.” Gonol also described the practice of using people as payments as “to...

The Papua New Guinea Forest Authority ( PNGFA ) is unaware of any illegal harvesting or export of the Massoia bark in the country as alleged by an academic. This was the word from Managing Director, Mr Kanawi Pouru . Mr Pouru made this remark in response to allegations by Dr Topul Rali from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) that Asians were illegally harvesting and exporting bark from the Massoia tree. He said: “PNGFA is not aware of this and we ask Dr Topul Rali to come to us, the government’s only regulatory forest authority in the country, with any information he may have so that we can investigate this matter further.” Education News PNG reports Dr Rali calling for the authority to “penalise foreigners illegally harvesting and exporting the Massoia bark”. He said foreigners were buying the bark at K3 per kg from locals in the Kubuna and Baidoku areas of the Central province. PNGFA banned the harvest and export of the Massoia tree on May 31, 2012. Anyone ca...

Australians entering Papua New Guinea (PNG) will no longer enjoy the luxury of getting Visas on Arrival, according to unconfirmed reports on Facebook. According to posts on the social media site, this could take effect as soon as Monday. The move comes after Canberra did nothing to relax visa restrictions on Papua New Guineans trying to visit Australia. Prime Minister, Peter O'Neil, mentioned this last November. Last November, Prime Minister Peter O’Neil, said they were thinking of taking this action if Canberra did not reciprocate the treatment given by PNG to her citizens. The news was welcomed by PNG’s Facebook community with members commenting “about time” and “music to my ears.” While Australians have enjoyed the luxury of getting Visa on Arrival to PNG, PNG citizens are forced to fill in lengthy visa applications and are required to lodge them at least a month in advance for an Australian visa. Some have also welcomed the change saying it will give enough ti...

One of the country’s top Ombudsman, John Nero, died in his village in Eastern Highlands on the early hours of Saturday. The late Nero joined the Ombudsman Commission in 1995 as a senior investigator with the Leadership Division and was promoted to team leader 4 years later and then to Deputy Director in 2002. He was appointed an Ombudsman in 2005 which remained until his untimely passing. The cause of his death is unknown; however, reports indicate that fighting has erupted between his relatives. According to The National , late Nero’s paternal uncles attacked his mother’s relatives soon after the news of his death came out. Mr Nero’s death and the fighting were also confirmed by EH provincial police commander, Superintendent John Kale, who said 10 houses were burnt and properties were destroyed. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Police units from Goroka have been deployed to assist local police and the situation is tense. However, Kale noted that they were closely ...

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...

Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) major referral hospital is now issuing access cards in an effort to curb overcrowding and congestion, PNG Edge reports. The restrictions are being implemented by international security firm, Black Swan, who have been contracted to provide security at the hospital. However, this has not gone down well with relatives and friends of patients. A frustrated woman who was bringing home cooked food to her sick relative during lunchtime yesterday was refused entry by security personnel. She said: “How do they expect me to have an access card when the patient guardian is the only one issued with one?” According to one of the security guards, each patient is entitled to one guardian for 24 hours and one visitor only during visitation time. The visitation pass was an issue brought up by nurses during a sit-in protest late last year. The hospital CEO has also defended the policy saying it will control overcrowding by visitors and at the same...

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...

Bulolo MP, Sam Basil The Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Treasurer other ministers could be in Court again for another matter. This time for alleged discrimination over the disbursement of district funds. Bulolo MP Sam Basil announced that he would be taking the Government to court over discriminatory handling of DSIP funds. He said: For the benefit of the people of Bulolo District who had paid the prize for the role I have played as Deputy Opposition Leader to defend the people of PNG, I am taking the Government to court and I name James Marape, Don Polye, Charles Abel, Peter O’Neill, Ken Ngangan, Dairy Vele, Juliana Kubak, Paul Sai, Manezupe Zurenouc and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea as first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth respondents. Mr Basil said his people have suffered setbacks in the delivery of basic services as a direct result of discriminatory and politically motivated delay tactics employed by the Government. The Op...