With the current reports by local and overseas media regarding a tribal fight situation at Akom, Enga Province on Sunday, Enga Provincial Police Commander George Kakas has clarified that police reports had 26 bodies retrieved and not more than 50 as initially reported. This was after he first revealed earlier today that there were more than 50 bodies and later had the figure reconfirmed as lower. PPC Kakas says searches for more bodies was going on but 26 have been retrieved in partnership with PNGDF security personnel. Meanwhile, attempts are being made to obtain responses from the Enga Governor and Provincial Administrator today.

53 Men have been confirmed to have been killed on Sunday morning in an ambush by enemy tribes in Wabag, Enga Province according to local Police. Enga Provincial Police Commander George Kakas, confirms that the 53 Men killed were from the Sikin/Kaekin tribes who had gone to stage an attack on the Ambulin/Itokon tribes but were taken off guard, ambushed and killed. This clarifies the recent photos going viral on social media showing dead bodies piled up on a Police truck. It is understood that more bodies are expected to be retrieved today by neighbouring tribes assisted by PNGDF counterparts. The incident yesterday happened at Akom/7mile. The warring tribes are from Wapenamanda where fights have been going on for the last two years. It is understood that Kandep MP Don Polye and Provincial Police Commander George Kakas have witnessed the ceasefire agreement at around September last year, however some disagreements in a case in Port Moresby saw one party trying to attack the other and got ambushed instead. Meanwhile, the highway from Mt Hagen to Wabag is clear, although situation is tense at the moment.

All shops in the heart of Mt Hagen City, Western Highlands Province, have closed doors today in fear of opportunists taking advantage of yesterday's chaos in Port Moresby. PNG HAUSBUNG witnessed mobs moving around in groups this morning, keeping eyes out for opportunities to pounce at any shop that gets opened for business today. However, police have been seen patrolling the city streets to ward off any attacks and disturbances in town. Women, children and vulnerable members of the community are urged to stay at home. Meanwhile, calls have been made on the youths and opportunists that the buildings in the city belonged to locals from Western Highlands and the Asians and other businesses houses were only renting them. It's understood that the shops provided employment for alot of innocent people, hence the general public at large do not want any destruction of properties. However, police and military personnel remain on high alert today as not to leave opportunities for looters.

Police in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province have prepared for Prime Minister (PM) James Marape's visit today. Plans for the security arrangements were discussed with all divisional heads of the police force in Mt Hagen, following the end of the year parade at Kimninga Police Barracks yesterday. Provincial Police Commander (PPC) John Sagom who is back in the province after being in Solomon Islands for the last two months as commander of the PNG security contingent for the Pacific Games, said the appropriate security measures have been taken into consideration for the PM's visit. It is understood that Prime Minister James Marape who visited Jiwaka Province today will be in Mt Hagen tomorrow for the official launching of the sealing of Mt Hagen City roads by China Harbour Engineering. Police in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province today held their end of the year parade at the Kimininga Police Barracks. PPC Sagom thanked all the members of the police force for their work this year. Amongst a few announcements made today, liquor ban for Western Highlands and Mt Hagen City starts tomorrow (Friday) December 22nd and will end on January 5th, 2024. Meanwhile, Inspector Moses Kalandi, who was acting Provincial Police Commander during Sagom's absence for the last two months has been appointed Rural Police Commander Western Highlands Province. PPC Sagom also announced that next year on, there will be physical training programs for all the police men and women so that they are kept fit and healthy, given the fact that they have lost some of their colleagues due to lifestyle diseases and effects of lack of exercise.

The tribal fighting in Wapenamanda, Enga Province which raged for almost two years, has gradually come to a halt, with the warring factions being served with preventative orders, which were accepted by the parties last week. Enga Provincial Police Commander George Kakas, Kandep MP and Minister for Higher Education Science and Technology Don Polye, as well as Enga Provincial Government through its Law-and-Order directorate witnessed the peace efforts. PPC Kakas said there were two different fights around the same time, which amalgamated into one bloody battle, which had seen killings going viral on social and local mainstream media as well as overseas media. He said it was a relief now that leaders of the warring factions have talked peace and accepted the preventative orders. Minister Polye had also urged the parties to lay down arms and to embrace peace whole heartedly. Meanwhile, PPC Kakas said he decided to have 30 security personnel to be stationed at the boundary of the two factions so that the preventative orders can be observed.

Mt Hagen Open MP and Acting Prime Minister William Duma has expressed sorrow for the loss of Dei MP Steven Pim who passed away over the weekend. Duma told PNG HAUSBUNG that it was very heart breaking for the colleague MPs in Western Highlands to lose a colleague MP who was into the fourteenth month as a Parliamentarian. Duma says late Pim had a lot to offer and his loss was also a great loss for Dei electorate and Western Highlands Province. He relayed his condolences to the immediate family, friends, and tribesmen of the late Member for Dei. It is understood that late Steven Pim was said to have passed away at Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby due to heart failure.

With the restoration of the Eagle monument at Independence Hill in Mt Hagen City, the Provincial Rugby League team Hagen Eagles will also see rebuilding of a competent team management structure. That's the joint assurance from Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa and Hagen Open MP William Duma during the recent 48 Independence Anniversary Celebration at Queens Park in Mt Hagen. The two leaders announced that major changes will be done to the Hagen Eagles team management, going forward. This is to restore the pride of the home team that has been performing below par in the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup Competition in PNG NRL. It was highlighted that currently, a lot of players in other franchises were Western Highlanders, including this year’s Digicel ExxonMobil Cup winner Enga Mioks, which had up to six players from Western Highlands. Meanwhile, State Owned Enterprise Minister and Hagen Open MP William Duma said in all Rugby League teams around the country, there were at least two to three Western Highlanders, and it was time now to take stock of the home team and it's performance.

Four escapees from Buiebi prison in Southern Highlands Province who took part in the mass break out yesterday have been shot dead. Southern Highlands Provincial Police Commander Joseph Puri told PNG HAUSBUNG this afternoon that 47 escaped but four were shot, one has been recaptured and 42 are still on the run. Police and Correctional Services officers are on the lookout now. The call is on the public and the villagers around Buiebi and Asisa areas to keep eyes out for the 42 escapees. Meanwhile, PMVs and private vehicle owners are also being urged to scrutinise people, especially males asking for lifts at uninhabited areas along the highway between Mendi Munihu and Imbongu Districts. We will keep you posted on this story as more updates come in.

Mt Hagen General Hospital in Western Highlands Province, on Monday opened its recently refurbished staff clinic and four rooms for on- call staff at the Hospital. The opening was done by Acting Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority CEO Dr. Jonah Kurubi. The availability of the rooms will now ensure duty staff can sleep on site and are available quickly when needed, instead of having drivers to do pick up and drop off at their homes during odd hours. Dr. Kurubi said this will also ensure more timely response to urgent patient demands. The staff clinic will also have a database to manage sick leaves and staff profiling, to improve attendance to the welfare and health of hospital staff. The funding for the refurbishment was from late John Bori's family, who had donated K100, 000 to the Provincial Health Authority to use in improving health services. Dr. Kurubi said K60, 000 had been used to refurbish the staff clinic and four rooms, and remainder of the funds will be used to assist wellness clinics in rural areas and to establish a sewing room for volunteers in Mt Hagen General Hospital.

An educationist and elite from Southern Highlands Province, Jackson Yer has launched a foundation called Yer Education Foundation at Mendi town recently. Mr Yer is based in the United States of America (USA) and had founded the Yer Education Foundation with the aim of assisting Papua New Guineans to secure spaces in tertiary institutions in the US. Mr. Yer graduated with a Bachelor of Education at University of Goroka (UOG) and pursued further studies in the US, got married and works there. Through Yer Foundation, he had assisted many young Papua New Guineans to secure places in institutions in the USA for further studies in different fields, and many are studying and working in the USA. Now, with the Foundation office to be based in Mendi town, young candidates who wish to further their studies in the USA can be further assisted through this.

The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) is currently hosting the Highlands Regional Consultation Awareness Workshop at Highlander Hotel in Mt Hagen, starting today and will conclude tomorrow. The conference is to inform relevant government departments and statutory agencies in the Highlands region that the business of Information Communication Technology (ICT), procurement and management is now standardized under the Digital Government Act 2022. This means all government departments and statutory agencies will have officially authorized ICT systems approved and regulated by the Department of Information and Communication Technology. Participants included representatives from the district and provincial administrations and Provincial Health Authorities in the Highlands region. They heard from ICT Department's Principal Legal Counsel Mr. Oala Moi, who clarified the provisions in the Digital Government Act, which came into force on August 8th , 2022. Meanwhile, James Ogia, Strategic Management Advisor, Department of ICT said the aim was to improve service delivery through effective digital networking and communication.

Ialibu District Hospital in Southern Highlands Province will be closed on Monday next week unless the people of Ialibu station behave and respect the health facility's management. THE Management of Ialibu District Hospital recently issued the warning through a public notice from the Officer in Charge, for the people to stop doing markets around the hospital fence, near it's gates and within the premises. The hospital management raised concerns that relevant authorities like the DDA CEO, Police, Town Mayor and ward councillor were notified to have the people moved but nothing has been done so far. PNG HAUSBUNG has reached out to local Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O'Neill on the matter, but he has yet to respond. Meanwhile, Southern Highlands Provincial Administrator Jerry David, when responding to the issue, says bad attitude was killing the province, and people needed to change. During emergencies, vehicles, especially ambulances may speed into or out of the gates anytime, hence the entrance of the hospital should be free of vendors and customers.