Wantok Nius

The Police Commander of the National Capital District (NCD) Zone Three (3), Senior Inspector Tovere, has died at the Port Moresby General Hospital after he was allegedly attacked by drunk off duty military personnel last night at the ATS settlement in the outskirts of the city. According to Kalang FM's news website , Late Tovere was responding reports of black market sale of alcohol at the settlement when he was attacked. Acting Deputy Police Commissioner - Operations, Donald Yamasombi, said the culprits have been identified and negotiations are currently underway with military police to have the suspects arrested. Yamasombi said that police were only acting according to the State of Emergency Orders and also called for police personnel in the city to refrain from retaliation. 

A threat of bomb attack in Western Highland's capital, Mt Hagen has turned out to be a hoax, according to the State of Emergency (SOE) Controller, David Manning. State of Emergency Controller, David Manning In an update published yesterday , Manning stated that he was informed of an anonymous caller that threatened to bomb the Kagamuga Airport and then threatened to bomb an Air Niugini aircraft that was kept overnight at the same airport. The same caller allegedly called Heli Solutions and made similar threats. On Saturday 2 May, whilst travelling to Mt Hagen onto Porgera I was informed of a call from an anonymous person threatening to bomb Kagamuga Airport in Mt Hagen. The caller stated that he was not happy with the government and therefore will bomb Kagamuga Airport. The caller called back later threatening to bomb an Air Niugini aircraft that was kept overnight in Mt Hagen. The same called also called Heli Solutions in Mt Hagen and made similar threats. The threats we...

Police Commissioner, Gari Baki The claim of an assassination plot by Madang MP, Brian Krammer, has resulted in Police Commissioner, Gari Baki, stating that the parliamentarian and former Task Force Sweep chairman, Sam Koim, would be called in for questioning. According to the Post Courier (October 18), this is in relation to the 2017 murder of former Border Development Authority (BDA) chairman, Fred Konga, which is subject of an ongoing investigation. Konga was killed in August 2017. He was allegedly followed and ambushed by 2 vehicles that blocked his way along the Poreporena Freeway in Waigani as he was heading to his home in Hohola. Baki said the social media post by Krammer preempted some very sensitive information which was of interest to police. Meanwhile, Koim has come out publicly to clarify that his private message between Krammer was to ensure the politician took precaution when moving around, and did not specify an details. I did not tell Brian that he woul...

Justin Tkatchenko The minister responsible for APEC, Justin Tkatchenko, has responded to the claims made by the members of the Opposition regarding the purchase of 40 Masareti MY 19 Quattroporte from Italy to transport visiting leaders during the leaders’ summit next month . According to the Post Courier (October 17) , Tkatchenko alleges that all claims made by members of the Opposition are lies and ‘absolute rubbish’. He said the there was a certain level of luxury required for the global event, the vehicles will be bought by the private sector at cost and the Maseratis will be priced lower than a Toyota Land Cruiser VX. However, the minister has not addressed questions regarding the procurement process of these vehicles despite saying that it was authorized by the National Executive Council (NEC). Member for Sinesine-Yongomugl Kerenga Kua on FM 100’s talk-back show queried why the procurement of the Maseratis went through a third party in Sri Lanka when there are dealers in...

A very vocal Member of Parliament in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is claiming there is a plot to assassinate him by foreign nationals with political connections living in the country. Madang MP, Brian Krammer, posted on social media site Facebook that he was contacted 2 days ago by former Chairman of Task Force Sweep, Sam Koim, alerting him of a possible plot to have him killed. Although Krammer did not mention any specific details, he said he had credible information naming '2 Chinese nationals and 3 Western expatriates'. He added that they plan to kill him in the same manner in which Fred Konga was assassinated, and they would make it look like the Australians did it. Krammer claims that a number people who are being engaged to kill him were also behind the murder of Konga in August 2017. He said Konga was killed to silence him over his alleged involvement in the hijack of K12 million in K100 bank notes which were destined for Germany to be destroyed. These notes we su...

Michael Dick, Chief OC Papua New Guinea leadership watchdog, the Ombudsman Commission (OC), has frozen all DSIP funds in an effort to prevent them being used during the election period. According to the Post Courier , Chief Ombudsman Michael Dick and Commissioner Richard Pagen said the move is to take effect immediately in order to prevent bribery and inducements during the election period – and will be lifted after the formation of a new government. Ombudsman Dick said there has been ongoing public concern regarding the release and disbursement of public fund during the period leading up to the elections. It has been an ongoing public concern that the period up to and inclusive of the national election to the parliament, serious concerns arise regarding the release, disbursement, transfer and receipt of public money purporting to be in the form of electoral (services improvement program) and constitutional grants (district and provincial support grants) funds and various de...

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.