Michael Harrison, Board Chairman of Cricket Papua New Guinea (PNG), has commended the nation’s women cricketers for their achievements and resilience as the country marks International Women’s Day 2026.In a message to colleagues and cricket enthusiasts worldwide, Harrison reflected on the significance of the day, emphasizing that it is not just a date on the calendar, but a moment to honour the courage, determination, and brilliance of women everywhere.“Cricket in Papua New Guinea is more than a game – it is a bridge between communities, a classroom for skills, and a stage where dreams take flight,” Harrison said. He praised the PNG Lewas, the nation’s premier women’s cricket team, for their remarkable achievements on and off the field. “Our women’s teams have shown that determination knows no boundaries and talent knows no gender,” he said.Harrison highlighted that the pursuit of equality extends beyond borders. “Whether in Port Moresby, Mumbai, London, or Cape Town, the story is the same: when women are given the opportunity, they inspire generations,” he said. He noted that PNG’s women cricketers have broken records, motivated young girls in both urban and rural areas, and become role models in leadership, discipline and unity.The chairman also acknowledged that challenges remain. He called for continued investment in grassroots programs, equal access to cricket facilities and encouragement for every girl who picks up a bat or ball to feel included and empowered. Harrison stressed the importance of ensuring that the next generation of women cricketers has the support and resources needed to thrive.“Let us commit to a future where women in cricket – and at every level across all countries – are celebrated not just for overcoming barriers, but for thriving,” he said. Harrison concluded with a rallying message: “When women rise, cricket rises. And when cricket rises, the world becomes a little brighter.”Cricket PNG joins the global community in celebrating women this International Women’s Day, reaffirming its commitment to equality, opportunity and respect within the sport.

The Governor of East New Britain Province has reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to improving education standards while calling for stronger accountability from all stakeholders during the recent official handover of a new school truck to Utmei Secondary School.The presentation ceremony brought together school leaders, teachers, parents, students and community members from the Inland Baining area. The Governor acknowledged the contributions of the School Board of Governors, school administration, teachers, parents, citizens, students, the Inland Baining President, community leaders and Baining cultural performers for their warm welcome and continued support for education in the community. In a notable moment during the ceremony, the Governor allowed a Grade 12 student to deliver his official keynote address. Chris Sokip, the Vice Head Boy of Utmei Secondary School, addressed the gathering on behalf of the provincial leadership. The Governor said the gesture was meant to encourage young leaders and give students a voice in important community occasions. During his remarks, the Governor emphasized that the newly donated truck must be used strictly for its intended purpose of supporting student transportation and school development activities. “In light of recent reports from members of the public regarding misuse of previous school vehicles, the Provincial Transport Division is considering placing all school trucks under ‘P’ plate registration to ensure proper monitoring and accountability. “Government assets must be respected and used responsibly.” The Governor also addressed the broader performance of the education sector in East New Britain Province, noting a concerning decline in results in recent years. “While we acknowledge the challenges facing our schools, these challenges can no longer be used as excuses. We must change the way we have been operating.” He challenged teachers to maintain professionalism and punctuality, warning that absenteeism and lateness will not be tolerated. Parents were also urged to prioritise their children’s education by ensuring regular school attendance and proper discipline at home. Provincial authorities, school boards and administrators were encouraged to strengthen oversight and raise education standards across the province. Beyond education, the Governor urged communities to actively engage in agriculture as a pathway to economic growth. He highlighted key income-generating crops such as cocoa, coconut, oil palm, and balsa. He confirmed that the East New Britain Provincial Government has allocated funding under its 2026 Budget Economic Development Programs to support agricultural initiatives across the province’s four districts. “Our people must work their land. Agriculture remains the backbone of our provincial economy, and we are committed to supporting programs that increase production and household income.” 

Eleven certified male advocates from the East New Britain Provincial Health Authority (ENBPHA) have once again undergone mentoring under the second session of the ‘Wok Wantaim Man’ program in Kokopo.This initiative is a core component of ongoing capacity building designed to empower men as full-time advocates against Gender Based Violence (GBV). Supported by the PNG-Australia Partnership through the PNG-Australia Transition to Health Program (PATH), the session focused on the pivotal role of male advocates in shifting the narrative from power and control toward equality. National Consultant and facilitator Emmanuel Ginis, who listened closely to the participants' personal stories, noted that the level of openness regarding the challenges of navigating masculine dominance was overwhelming. He shared his perspective on these societal pressures, stating that a man becomes dominant, aggressive and unemotional, leading to violence which is mostly defined by cultural norms and toxic masculinity. “However, men can leverage their power to mentor women, become vocal on discouraging men on harmful actions, support women and children’s rights and simply become role models in sharing tasks and responsibilities.” The ‘Wok Wantaim Man’ program has further strengthened the advocates’ ability to fully grasp the dynamics of power and control when applied in the appropriate context. Mr. Ginis emphasized the importance of transitioning toward a more collaborative leadership style. “One is to have power over certain decisions or over others, by sharing power rather than being dominant.” “It is than reflected as choices and becomes applicable towards the actions carried out.” In the coming weeks, the remaining three sessions will focus on identifying and discussing practical measures to address these challenges and issues within both the workplace and the household.

Prime Minister James Marape has apologized to the people of Western Highlands and Governor Hon. Wai Rapa for missing today’s commissioning of the Highlands 132kV Transmission Line in Mt Hagen due to unavoidable travel issues.The Prime Minister had been scheduled to commission the project at the Keltiga Substation in Mt Hagen, with the ceremony hosted by PNG Power Limited, Kumul Consolidated Holdings and the Ministry for State Enterprises. Mr. Marape said he regretted not being able to attend the milestone event and looks forward to visiting Western Highlands at another time. He congratulated State Enterprises Minister Hon. William Duma for his leadership in delivering the project, describing the Highlands 132kV Transmission Line as a major national infrastructure achievement. The new transmission system upgrades the historic 66kV network to a modern 132kV high-voltage backbone capable of carrying larger volumes of electricity across the Highlands region. The transmission corridor stretches about 189 kilometres from Mt Hagen to Tari and is supported by around 448 towers. It includes upgraded substations at Keltiga, Kaupena/Pauanda, Mendi (Tindimi) and Tari (Wabia), as well as a 40-kilometre extension from Tari to Hides. The project allows gas-powered electricity generation from the Hides area to be integrated into the Highlands electricity grid. The investment in the Highlands grid backbone exceeds K1 billion, supported by concessional financing from the Export–Import Bank of China and funding from the Government of Papua New Guinea. Prime Minister Marape said the transmission line will benefit communities and businesses across the Highlands and Momase regions, linking power generation from Hides through the Highlands to Yonki and on to Lae. He said the corridor serves major population centres across the Highlands and could benefit close to five million people. The next phase will focus on expanding distribution networks to ensure electricity reaches homes, schools, health facilities and businesses along the corridor. Mr. Marape said the government aims to increase electricity access to between 50 and 60 percent of the population as more distribution lines are developed across the Highlands. The Highlands grid upgrade is part of a broader national effort to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s electricity generation and transmission network and move towards a more unified national power grid. The Prime Minister also acknowledged development partners, landowners, provincial governments and contractor TBEA for their role in delivering the project.

More than 15, 000 people living in the Gelegele Resettlement area in Kombiu Local Level Government (LLG) of Rabaul District in East New Britain Province, will soon benefit from a Rural Water Supply Reticulation Project aimed at improving access to clean and reliable drinking water.The project stems from fruitful discussions between ENB Governor Michael Marum and Aid Donor, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The initiative is also supported by the ENB Governor’s Office and the Rabaul District Development Authority. Governor Marum invited humanitarian specialists Bret Dandoy and his wife to visit the Gelegele Resettlement area last year, where they witnessed first-hand the need for a proper rural water supply reticulation system to serve the growing communities. During the visit, the team inspected two existing boreholes located at Waterhouse Junior High School and Gelegele Health Centre, that had ceased to function 30 years ago, identifying opportunities to properly utilize them to supply water closer to households across surrounding wards. Speaking on Friday March 6th at Waterhouse Junior High School, Elder Dandoy said the aim of the project is to ensure families have reliable access to safe drinking water. “Clean drinking water, year-round, 24 hours a day- that is our goal that we are hoping to come out of this,” Elder Dandoy said. “From our visit, we realise that having access to more water will allow you to grow even more in your gardens and be more self-reliant and productive.” “We are grateful for the church members and many non-church members who donate money to the church to do these types of projects around the world.” “We do these projects in almost 200 countries around the world with volunteer couples like us.” He also stressed on the importance of having an ongoing maintenance program to keep the project functioning once it is completed. Meanwhile, Himson Novulu from Hornet Consultants PNG Limited, engaged in community mobilization said the project is progressing well and is currently about 50 percent into the drilling stage. Mr. Novulu said the first phase of drilling by WKB Drilling Contractors has been completed at Gelagela Health Centre, with drilling works now underway at Waterhouse Junior Memorial High School. He explained that stage two of the project has also commenced, focusing on training and awareness forward leaders so they can learn how to properly manage and maintain the water systems. Local youths will also be engaged to dig trenches to enable pipes to be laid from the boreholes and wells to bring water closer to families. He also stated that stage three of the project will involve the establishment of LLG WaSH Committees and Ward WaSH Sub-Committees, which will later be formally inducted to oversee the management and sustainability of the rural water supply system in their respective wards. “The project is particularly important for the Gelagela Resettlement communities, which experienced severe drought conditions in 2022, and are in urgent need for a reliable and sustainable water source.”

The Rabaul District Administration in the East New Britain province will continue to roll out its current projects and programs regardless of the recent fire tragedy that destroyed its main Administration Building on Thursday 26th of February 2026.In a recent meeting with the district public servants and its support staff, the District Administrator Mr. Freddy Lemeki, encouraged officers to still turn up to work and continue with respective sectoral programs or projects and other routine programs. “Rabaul District, we may be out but not out. Our office got burned down but our knowledge, skills, expertise, and experiences are very much alive,” Lemeki said. He said that while the old office will be under investigation by the National Fire Services and assisted by Provincial Disaster Office, officers will be using other buildings at the district headquarters for work. “Our sector officers will be temporarily occupying the new District Court House and Education Resource Centre while our Treasury team who also had their office partially burned will be using our new Archives Building.” He said that meetings will be conducted as scheduled and we will still progress with awarded projects and continue programs such as the District Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy. “Printing of cheques will not be affected as advised by our District Finance Manager; however, they will need the assistance of Provincial Treasury for the first two weeks to get us off the ground as some of their vital machines such as the server, cables and computers were looted by opportunists.” Meanwhile, the Member for Rabaul and Chairman of the Rabaul District Development Authority (DDA) Board Dr. Allan Marat, sympathized with the district administration for the tragic loss of government properties; however, assured officers to be positive. “What happened has happened and we cannot change it or continue reacting to the situation but work together and move forward in rebuilding the district headquarters.” Marat made these remarks during an urgent special DDA Board meeting conducted last Saturday which the main discussion was on the short- and long-term strategies of rebuilding the district administration and even considering safety measures. “Rabaul District we are resilient people and we will rise from the ashes. We did it during the 1994 twin volcanic eruption and will do it again.” The DDA Board resolved for the new district administration building to be built again at the district headquarters at Kurakakaul considering scientist predictions on future eruptions and ample land for development.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) welcomes the appointment of Chief Secretary Mr. Kearnneth Nanei as the new Chairman of Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), succeeding Sir Melchior Togolo.The appointment follows a decision by the BCL Board announced today to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), confirming Mr. Nanei as Chair of the Board, effective immediately. Sir Melchior Togolo has stepped down as Chair but will continue to serve as a Director of the Company and Acting Chief Executive Officer. ABG President Ishmael Toroama today met with the BCL Board, together with Lloyds Managing Director and a Lloyds delegation, to discuss the way forward for the Panguna project and Bougainville’s mining sector. President Toroama thanked Sir Melchior Togolo for his leadership and for ensuring a smooth transition in the Chairmanship of the Company. The President also congratulated Chief Secretary Mr. Kearnneth Nanei on his appointment as Chairman of BCL and expressed confidence in his leadership. President Toroama further reiterated the ABG’s decision for Lloyds Metals to be the strategic partner for Bougainville Copper Limited, emphasizing that the proposed redevelopment of the Panguna Mine must proceed in a manner that serves the common interests of the people of Bougainville and contributes to the region’s long-term economic future. BCL and Lloyds Metals will enter into a Non-Disclosure Agreement and a Cooperation Agreement that will pave the way for Lloyds Metals to access the Panguna exploration tenement and the BCL data room, and to undertake various technical studies and exploration activities, including drilling, towards the potential redevelopment of the Panguna Mine. Both parties also acknowledged the importance of Panguna landowners as key partners in the redevelopment process and have agreed to roll out a comprehensive consultation program in partnership with the Autonomous Bougainville Government to ensure inclusive landowner engagement and participation moving forward. The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment between the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Bougainville Copper Limited, and Lloyds to work collaboratively towards responsible resource development that benefits the people of Bougainville

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Ministry of Community Development has begun a two-day community engagement program which started today in Bove, Central Bougainville, to consult with local stakeholders on the proposed Bougainville Sports Academy.Minister for Community Development, Melvin Wilolopa, is leading the consultations as part of efforts to strengthen sports and youth development initiatives in Bougainville. The engagement program, which began yesterday and concludes today, provides a platform for consultation and dialogue with key stakeholders and supports community participation to ensure equitable and inclusive outcomes for sports and community development in Bougainville. “Development must begin with the people. Our role as government is to listen to the community, respect customary land rights, involve our people in decision-making and policy development that affects their lives; and ensure that our young people have opportunities to grow and succeed through initiatives such as the Bougainville Sports Academy,” Minister Wilolopa said. The consultations brought together government officials, chiefs, ward leaders, women’s representatives, youth leaders and members of the Bove community to discuss the proposed academy and ensure that landowners and community members are fully consulted before further steps are taken. “Engaging directly with our communities secures the right pathways for government policies to effectively reflect the needs and desires of the people.” “This also ensures our communities are proactive in addressing local challenges. We are empowering our people right at the grassroots level to participate in discussions and provide feedback directly to us. When we work together to identify issues and challenges during these consultations, we also work together through collaborative efforts to design the solutions we need to move development priorities forward.” “This is all done transparently, hand-in-hand with the people who have entrusted us to lead and serve, strengthening partnerships with our local communities,” said Minister Wilolopa. Officers from the Department of Community Development presented an overview of the proposed Bougainville Sports Academy, outlining its intended role in nurturing young talent, strengthening sports structures and creating opportunities for young people across Bougainville. The meeting was attended by Sports Coordinator Fabian Kotsin and regional sporting coordinators Donald Komoiki (South), Peter Kabui (North) and Gwen Kauva (Central), as well as representatives of Lloyds Metals and Energy, ward members, chiefs and community members from the Bove area. Minister Wilolopa also acknowledged the strong participation of chiefs, women, youth and community members, noting that their views will play an important role in shaping the direction of the proposed project.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has been chosen to play host to the EAP Regional Qualifiers next month.The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that Papua New Guinea will host the Under 19 Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifying event for the East Asia Pacific (EAP) Region.Five teams will compete in the tournament, with the winning team earning qualification to the ICC Under 19 Women’s T20 World Cup to be held in Nepal and Bangladesh in January 2027.The qualifier will take place at Amini Park in Port Moresby from 8 April through to 13 April 2026.Participating teams include Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Indonesia.PNG’s Under 19 Women’s team, the Siales, are currently undergoing a rigorous training program led by Cricket PNG Head Coach and High-Performance Manager Tim McCaskill, alongside recently appointed Siales Coach Jason Kila. Chairman of Cricket PNG, Mr. Michael Harrison, confirmed that hosting rights have now been signed and preparations are well underway to ensure the grounds are ready and all logistics are in place for the arrival of visiting teams. “This is an exciting tournament for Cricket PNG as we show once again that PNG can host international events to the exacting requirements of the ICC. We will be working with the PNG Sports Foundation and NCDC to ensure the event precinct is ready to welcome the ICC officials and the four visiting teams.”

Prime Minister (PM) James Marape is expected to commission today the 132kV Highlands Transmission Line at the Keltiga Substation in Mt Hagen city, marking a major milestone in strengthening Papua New Guinea’s national electricity grid and improving power reliability across the Highlands region.The commissioning ceremony will take place at Queen’s Park in Mt Hagen, followed by the technical commissioning at the Keltiga Substation with the event hosted by PNG Power Limited, Kumul Consolidated Holdings and the Ministry for State Enterprises. The Highlands 132kV Transmission Line forms part of a major national grid investment that began in 2018 and has progressed through several phases before reaching its commissioning stage in 2026. The project upgrades the historic 66kV transmission corridor to a modern 132kV high-voltage backbone, allowing the system to transmit larger volumes of electricity across the Highlands with improved reliability and reduced technical losses. Prime Minister Marape said the commissioning represents an important step in the Government’s efforts to modernize the national electricity grid and expand reliable power access to more Papua New Guineans. “This project strengthens the backbone of our national electricity system and brings more stable, reliable and affordable power to our Highlands provinces. Reliable electricity is essential for economic growth, business development, and improving the quality of life for our people,” Prime Minister Marape said. The transmission corridor runs approximately 189 kilometres from Mt Hagen to Tari, supported by around 448 transmission towers across challenging highland's terrain, and includes the construction and upgrading of key substations at Keltiga, Kaupena/Pauanda, Mendi (Tindimi), and Tari (Wabia).  The project also includes a Tari–Hides extension of approximately 40 kilometres, enabling the integration of gas-powered generation from the Hides area into the Highlands electricity grid.  Overall investment in the Highlands grid backbone exceeds PGK 1 billion, with financing arrangements including concessional support from the Export–Import Bank of China and counterpart funding from the Government of Papua New Guinea. Prime Minister Marape said the upgraded transmission corridor would deliver wider economic benefits to the Highlands region. “Reliable electricity will support hospitals, schools, small and medium enterprises, agricultural processing and major resource developments across the Highlands. It also strengthens our national energy security and lays the foundation for future power generation projects, including hydropower and renewable energy investments. “Our government is not only investing in roads through the Connect PNG programme, but also in other key enabling infrastructure such as electricity, ports, telecommunications and water systems that are essential to supporting economic growth and development across our country.” The Prime Minister noted that the Highlands grid upgrade forms part of a broader national effort to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s electricity generation and transmission network across the country. He acknowledged the support of the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the Ramu Transmission System Reinforcement Project valued at over K200 million, which strengthens the critical Yonki–Lae transmission line supplying electricity to Morobe Province and the country’s industrial hub. He also highlighted the Government’s direct investment in expanding electricity supply to the National Capital District, including a K120 million Government contribution towards the 132kV transmission line connecting the 54-megawatt Edevu Hydropower Project in Central Province to the Port Moresby grid, significantly improving power reliability for Port Moresby. Prime Minister Marape added that these investments are part of the Government’s long-term strategy to build a stronger national power system capable of supporting economic growth, industrial expansion and improved living standards for Papua New Guineans. He added that the project contributes to the Government’s broader national goal of achieving 70 percent household electricity access by 2030. Prime Minister Marape also acknowledged the cooperation of landowners and provincial governments along the transmission corridor and recognized the partnership with the People’s Republic of China and engineering contractor TBEA in delivering the infrastructure project. “Major infrastructure projects such as this require strong partnerships and cooperation from all stakeholders. I thank our landowners, provincial leaders, development partners and project teams who have worked over many years to bring this important project to completion.” The Prime Minister said the commissioning of the Highlands 132kV Transmission Line demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthening national infrastructure as part of Papua New Guinea’s long-term economic transformation.

It was the first time an awareness program on sorcery accusations and domestic violence was brought to Mushu Island in the East Sepik province last week.PNG Tribal Foundation conducted its screening program, Senisim Pasin, a community outreach initiative through documentary screening, last Friday in Sup Village. The event saw more than 60 villagers, both young and old turn up in large numbers. Many described the program as eye-opening and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity, PNG Tribal Foundation President GT Bustin and his team screened the documentary Senisim Pasin, which focuses on shifting cultural mindsets and encouraging greater value and appreciation for women and gender equality. The screening sparked meaningful discussions during an open forum that followed, with many participants describing it as an eye-opener. Esther Numbos from Sup Village, a mother of two children aged 14 and 18, raised concerns about the increase in drug abuse and law-and-order issues in the village. She said many parents have failed to prioritize education for their children. “The film shows that we stop our daughters from furthering their education because we believe they belong at home looking after families,” Esther said. Rodney Maiet said it is now up to the youths to take responsibility to shift their mindset and start making the right decisions, rather than resorting to violence whenever rumours arise. Sup Village Chief Vincent Kamboge thanked PNG Tribal Foundation for bringing the program to the community, saying such opportunities have been needed for a very long time. A Wewak CID officer who attended the screening said documentary awareness programs are new to many communities but are very important in helping locals change their mindset. He added that such programs are also valuable for police awareness. He also thanked the Foundation for raising awareness about the Glassman Act 2022, noting that many people were unaware that such a law exists to hold perpetrators accountable.

More than 100 locals recently attended an awareness program on the Glassman Act conducted by PNG Tribal Foundation on Mushu Island, East Sepik Province.The session focused on educating communities about the provisions of the law under the Criminal Code Act, particularly the penalties for sorcery accusation–related violence, false claims of practising sorcery, spreading rumours, and engaging in ritual activities that may incite violence. PNG Tribal Foundation President, GT Bustin, led the full-day session, explaining the interpretation of the law, legal consequences, and the responsibility of individuals to refrain from actions that could endanger innocent lives. Mr Bustin stressed that the law clearly holds accountable any person who spreads rumours, falsely labels others as “glassman” or “glassmeri,” hires individuals to perform rituals, or incites violence against suspected persons. Community members openly shared their concerns during the session. Village elder Mr. Tobias Mandieng said that while he currently moves freely in his community, he fears that rumours or jokes accusing him of practicing sorcery could one day lead to violence against him. “I am a good man, but one day I could be labelled a sanguma because someone spreads rumours,” he said. Another community member who previously claimed to be a “poison man” confessed publicly that he would cease such activities to avoid future conflict, acknowledging the risks associated with such claims when deaths occur in the community. Patric Koncung also spoke, saying many people are suspected of practicing sorcery without evidence. “I am thankful for this awareness. If someone is suspected, the matter must be reported to police instead of people taking the law into their own hands,” he said. Community members acknowledged that while cultural beliefs exist, the law of Papua New Guinea must prevail. They agreed that anyone involved in violence, attacks, killings, or destruction of property in relation to sorcery accusations will face legal consequences. Youths at the gathering pledged to work closely with PNG Tribal Foundation and to report cases of disorder and lawlessness to police rather than resorting to violence. PNG Tribal Foundation continues to work with victims of SARV, police, court officials, community leaders, politicians and individuals to further address the issue in the communities.