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.

Telikom PNG Limited has recently facilitated a mediation forum for landowners of Mt Kegum in Mul LLG of Western Highlands Province, where its transmission tower was recently vandalized by locals. Telikom PNG Board Chairman Cedric Rondoke and CEO Amos Tepi arrived in Mt Hagen over the weekend to address what has been described as the biggest vandalism of Telikom PNG in Western Highlands Province. Telikom CEO Amos Tepi, Board Chairman Cedric Rondoke and Mul Baiyer Lumusa MP Jacob Maki, accompanied by Western Highlands Provincial Police Commander John Sagom and representatives of Western Highlands Provincial Government, travelled on Sunday to Nengel village. The ttarvel was made to speak with the Kumdi tribes’ people who make up three council wards that claim ownership of Mt Kegum and the area on which the Telikom repeater station was located. The mediation forum was to address the theft of 120 solar panels, fuel drums and other valuable equipment costing between K3-4 million. Telikom CEO Amos Tepi while explaining the importance of the transmission tower, asked the reason behind this vandalism. Tepi explained that Telikom PNG owned the piece of land on which the tower was, since 1968. He added that Telikom PNG belongs to the 8 million plus people of Papua New Guinea. Telikom Board Chairman Cedric Rondoke wasted no time in getting to the bottom of the problem, by asking those with grievances to come forward and explain if they had issues with the annual Community Service Packages (CSP) payment arrangement or engagement of security guards for the tower. The Chairman's call prompted some youth and community representatives to reveal that the vandalism was done by those who felt they missed out on benefits like the annual CSP payment and monthly Goodwill Payment done to a security firm. Following the aired grievances, Chairman Rondoke made the decision in the people's favour by resorting to split the benefits equally to the three council wards and advised them to set up a collective security firm. Mul LLG President, Samuel Aikeke, on behalf of his people expressed remorse for what they had done. Meanwhile, Western Highlands Police have urged the vandals to return the stolen properties to avoid arrest and imprisonment for criminal offences including the breach of NICTA Act, which carries a penalty of K200, 000 fine and 15 years imprisonment for vandalizing telecommunication facilities.

A man is behind bars in Mt Hagen Police station and his accomplices are on the run after an attempted robbery gone wrong on Tuesday in Western Highlands. According to Mt Hagen Police, the attempted robbery has also left a Guard Dog Security officer wounded in the face by a gunshot. Police Duty Officer, Constable Kelly Tombon told PNG HAUSBUNG the incident happened at around 4am on Tuesday. Up to fifteen criminals armed with bushknives, axes, a factory-made magnum pistol and a M-16 rifle attempted to rob CASA Hardware at Tega. Tombon said the criminals pried open the gates with a bolt cutter, overpowered two Guard Dog Security guards and tied them up. However, a third guard whom the criminals did not see, quickly radioed their rapid response unit as well as Mt Hagen Police. The criminals were said to have worn masks during the robbery attempt. When the additional security colleague arrived on scene, the criminals escaped. In the escape a criminal with the M-16 rifle shot at a guard dog vehicle, injuring a security guard on the cheek. The guard is currently in Mt Hagen General Hospital, recovering. Police added nothing was stolen in the attempt. One suspect has been caught and is undergoing interrogation as investigations continue.

People of Enga Province will now see proper regulation in price of goods and services. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Enga Provincial Government and Independent Consumer Competition Commission (ICCC). The signing of the MOU was done on Tuesday this week at Takeanda Amphitheatre in Wabag by ICCC Commissioner Paulus Ain and Enga Provincial Administrator Sandis Tsaka. The signing will now see proper regulation of price of goods and services in Enga. ICCC has engaged two agents from the Commerce Sector of Enga Provincial Administration. Provincial Administrator Sandis Tsaka said the signing will pave way for the people also to report on any unexplained rise in the cost of goods and services. Meanwhile, ICCC Commissioner Paulus Ain said his office was pleased to be invited to do an important job in ensuring ordinary citizens of Enga could afford basic goods and services. “Cooperation is needed from all stakeholders, especially the common citizens.” “The two ICCC agents Faith Amean and Zacharias Sakar must be respected by business houses in Enga when they go around inspecting pricing of goods.” Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas said all these efforts were to ensure the people of Enga received government services right at their doorstep.

Western Highlands Police have warned drivers to take all necessary measures to avoid accidents especially along the four lane highway in Mt Hagen City. Provincial Police Commander John Sagom said care must be taken as freeways provide fast movement of vehicles especially during rush hours during mornings and evenings. “Police will not hesitate to enforce traffic laws on road traffic offenders.” “PMV drivers must at all times be mindful of the fact that they were carrying passengers and utmost care must be taken when transporting them.” He said in the recent past, there have been frequent accidents occurring and this was due to unnecessary speeding. “Drivers are now warned that police will strictly enforce traffic laws on traffic lawbreakers.” PPC Sagom further added that pedestrians on the road are also urged to be cautious as accidents do occur anytime, so don't be absent minded whilst walking on pathways. This warning was reiterated after a vehicle accident this morning along the four lane highway at Kimininga, Mt Hagen city which resulted in a careless driver detained at Mt Hagen Police station. PPC John Sagom stated that the 25 seater bus drove out from Koglamp road whilst a 15 seater bus drove from the city and was heading to Kagamuga Airport. Both PMV buses were loaded with passengers when they collided, however fortunately, no one was injured. PPC Sagom says all drivers should know that Mt Hagen City now has increased number of vehicles unlike the past, and traffic laws must be observed properly. The driver of the Coaster bus was allegedly at fault by underestimating the speed of the 15 seater bus and turning out onto the freeway without care. Police attended to the accident scene and from statements by independent witnesses, the driver of the coaster bus was arrested and formally charged for driving without due care and attention.

The Enga Provincial Government Enga Mioks is set for a tough match against Mendi Muruks this Sunday at Aipus Oval in Wabag. Mioks will be banking on it's defence and attack, led by veteran Supa Kokote who led the victory against Goroka Lahanis last weekend. Muruks will be coming back from a 1-point loss, while Mioks will want to maintain its lead on the ladder for Pool A with seven straight wins so far in the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup competition. With the recent landslide at Pausa being cleared, supporters are expected to flock into Wabag town.

A huge landslide at Pausa, near Lai Bridge in Wapenamanda, Enga Province has completely blocked off the highway to Wabag town and rest of Enga Province. The disaster happened Sunday afternoon near Lai River bridge, blocking the highway completely. The incident was confirmed by Enga Police in an interview with PNG HAUSBUNG. Vehicles can not get to Wapenamanda and Wabag towns and those on that side cannot pass through to get to Western Highlands Province. Military personnel are on sight ensuring the safety of travellers and passengers who are crossing the debris on foot to get on vehicles waiting on either side. It is understood that the huge boulder had come lose, causing the landslip of the whole mountainside. Clearance is expected to take two to three days.

Police in Mt Hagen city have confiscated an unregistered M-16 rifle from a drunk police officer who resisted arrest and escaped on foot this morning.  According to Western Highlands Provincial Police Commander John Sagom, the incident happened at Mt Hagen market, where careless driving pointed the suspect out.  The identity of the suspect is known, and he is said to be a policeman in Jiwaka Province.  Upon confrontation with Hagen Police he evaded arrested and escaped, leaving behind the vehicle he was driving along with the gun that had its serial number scratched off.  PPC Sagom said they will use the firearm as court exhibit, clarifying that it was a military issue one and not of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC).