Prime Minister James Marape has commended Lands and Physical Planning Minister John Rosso on passage of the Strata Title Management Bill 2022 and accompanying bills and amendments in Parliament today (March 23 2022). The bill allows for people to buy units and apartments in high-rise buildings because of increasing shortage of land and a growing population. PM Marape said the law was brought in to modernise the way business was done in lands and housing in the country. The Prime Minister said smaller Pacific countries like Fiji and Vanuatu already had strata title laws “This is a response to our country’s need for housing,” he said. “The minister has worked very hard on this at the sunset of this term of Parliament.” PM Marape said it should not be forgotten that only 3 per cent of the 462,000 square km of land in the country was State-owned. He said with the ever-increasing demand for land, there was a need for cheaper housing, and the new law provided for this so people could buy units and apartments in high-rise buildings. PM Marape said this law was just one of many that his Government had passed since it came into Office in May 2019. “This law was first talked about 20 years ago,” he said. “It may seem just like any ordinary Act of Parliament that we’re passing today, however, far that. “This has a direct value on the economy. “If one person owns a piece of real estate in an urban area and decides to build a 20-floor building, in which you can find over 60-70 units, these can be individually titled out. “You don’t need to own a piece of land to have title to an apartment that you can call as home. “This is a law to modernise some of the legacy issues that we have carried through.” PM Marape thanked both sides of Parliament for giving their support for passage of the new law.

Papua New Guinea has locked in a semi-final spot in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Oceania Qualifiers, beating Fiji 2-1 in a dramatic game at Grand Hamad Stadium in Doha. PNG came into the match knowing that a draw would be enough for them to advance, as they had a superior goal difference. However, coach Bob Morris was after a win as his side looked to build on a brave loss to New Zealand and high energy win over New Caledonia by attacking from start to finish. The Fijians certainly would have been forgiven for being a little shell shocked after their 4-0 loss to New Zealand earlier in the week. After a tentative start by both sides, Tevita Waranaivalu decided to take matters into his own hands after 12 minutes and sparked a counterattack that saw the ball end up with Setareki Hughes on the left-hand edge of the box. His curling low cross back inside was inch-perfect for Waranaivalu to stretch out and finish a fantastic goal that put Fiji ahead. Some wonderfully patient work by Fijian skipper Roy Krishna and Sairusi Naulabu set up Hughes for a good chance to double the lead, but his shot went wide. This seemed to sting PNG into life, with a nice ball setting up Tommy Semmy to take possession in the box and cut back beautifully. His shot was on target but tipped over the bar by Mohammed Alam, but his counterpart Ronald Warisan pulled off an even more spectacular effort at the other end not long after. Krishna looked to have set up Naulabu with a low cross, but Warisan charged out and blocked the shot with his feet in an impressive piece of aerobatics. However, the big moment of the match followed just as halftime loomed, with Waranaivalu getting sent off for an elbow to the head of Jacob Sabua. Referee Abdul Al Ruaile had no hesitation in showing a red after the off the ball contact. This proved to be a serious momentum shift, which culminated in one of the goals of the tournament by PNG striker Ati Kepo. His stunning turn of pace from almost halfway saw him run into the box and finish beautifully to draw PNG level. They continued the domination after the break, with Semmy hitting the side netting twice in the space of five minutes. Semmy had a golden chance with a wide-open goal not long after, but his shot was found the backside of defender Remeru Tekiate and bounced away. But it didn’t matter too much, as in the 63rd minute he finished off a sweeping move with a much better strike to put PNG ahead. It was then Warisan’s turn to shine again at the other end as Fiji desperately searched for an equaliser, putting his body on the line to deny Naulabu for a second time. Raymond Gunemba should have put it out of reach for PNG in the 82nd minute, but his shot from close range was blocked by replacement goalkeeper Isikeli Sevanaia. In the end, it didn’t matter as PNG held firm in a frantic final stage. The 2-1 win sends the Kapuls through to a semi-final against the Solomon Islands on Sunday Qatar time, however it means that Bula Boys will be heading home from the Oceania Qualifiers. Fiji 1 (Tevita WARANAIVALU 12’) Papua New Guinea 2 (Ati KEPO 45’+2’, Tommy SEMMY 63’) Half-time: 1-1 Fiji 1 Mohammed ALAM (GK), 5 Remueru TEKIATE, 6 Inoke TURAGALAILAI, 8 Setareki HUGHES, 9 Roy KRISHNA (c), 12 Tevita WARANAIVALU, 13 Rahul NARESH, 14 Sairusi NALAUBU, 16 Atonio TUIVUNA, 18 Lekima GONERAU, 20 Ashnil RAJU Substitutions: 22 Isikeli SEVANAIA (GK), 23 Akuila MATEISUVA GK, 2 Peter RAVITISAI, 3 Muni Shivam NAIDU, 7 Anish KHEM, 10 Nabil BEGG, 11 Edward AARON, 17 Patrick JOSEPH, 19 Afraz ALI Papua New Guinea 20 Ronald WARISAN (GK), 2 Daniel JOE, 4 Alwin KOMOLONG (c), 5 Felix KOMOLONG, 6 Ati KEPO, 8 Michael FOSTER, 13 Tommy SEMMY, 14 Emmanuel SIMON, 15 Stahl GUBAG, 17 Jacob SABUA, 23 Emmanuel AIREM Substitutions: 1 Russel CHRIS (GK), 22 Ila ILAROVA (GK), 3 Godfrey HARO, 7 Raymond GUNEMBA, 9 Patrick AISA, 10 Obert BIKA, 11 Yagi YASASA, 12 Joshua TALAU, 16 Pala PAUL, 18 Kolu KEPO, 19 Koriak UPAIGA, 21 Mathew DAVID SOURCE: OCEANIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION

Despite winning Euro 2020 last year, Italy have missed out on qualifying for the World Cup for a second straight year after being beaten 1-0 by North Macedonia. The Azzurri fired 32 shots across the 90 minutes, but it was Aleksandar Trajkovski’s low drive in the second minute of stoppage time that stunned the European champions in Palermo and set-up a qualifying final with Portugal in Porto on Tuesday for a chance to be in Qatar in November. Roberto Mancini’s side were loudly booed off after a defeat which means Italy will have to wait until at least 2026 to see its national team at a World Cup. By then it will have been 12 years since the Azzurri’s last participation in the world’s biggest football tournament after they failed to qualify for the 2018 edition, also crashing out in the play-offs on that occasion. With the result, it means that Italy’s last World Cup knockout win will remain the 2006 final in which they beat France on penalties and it will be a 20-year drought by the time the 2026 World Cup final rolls around given they don’t miss out for a third time in a row. The football world was stunned, with many perplexed at how the footballing giants could go from the toast of Europe to missing out on football’s showpiece event for the second time running. BRILLIANT BALE BAGS DOUBLE FOR WALES A brilliant double from Gareth Bale took Wales to the brink of a first World Cup since 1958 thanks to a 2-1 win over Austria in Cardiff on Thursday. Robert Page’s men will face Scotland or Ukraine for a place in Qatar later this year after Bale rolled back the years to again produce his best form for his country. Bale’s stunning free-kick and strike into the top corner either side of half-time gave the home side a two-goal advantage. A Ben Davies own goal halved Austria’s arrears, but Wales saw out a tense final quarter to move one match away from ending the 64-year wait to reach the biggest stage in football. Bale has been nearly a non-existent figure during the final year of his contract at Real Madrid. The 32-year-old has played just 77 minutes at club level since the last international break in November and irked his critics in the Spanish capital by declaring himself unfit for Madrid’s 4-0 defeat to Barcelona last weekend. But one swipe of Bale’s wand of a left foot transformed the game and set the home side on course for a famous night. Harry Wilson was cynically hauled down on the edge of the area by Baumgartner. Bale had not scored a free-kick at international level since doing so twice at Euro 2016, but produced the perfect time to find his range with a stunning dipping effort that clipped the underside of the bar on its way past Heinz Lindner. Austria again started the better in the second half with Marko Arnautovic heading a good opening straight at Wayne Hennessey. However, they were again undone by a moment of Bale magic as he collected a loose ball from a corner and arrowed a shot high into the far corner for his 38th international goal in his 101st cap. But they were made to suffer a nervy finale when Bayern Munich’s Marcel Sabitzer’s shot from outside the box deflected in off Davies 26 minutes from time. ALL UEFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER RESULTS Portugal 3-1 Turkey Wales 2-1 Austria Italy 0-1 North Macedonia Sweden 1-0 Czech Republic SOURCE: FOX SPORTS

Womenfolk in the National Capital District are seeking an update from the Parliamentarians on the agenda of the four regional women’s seats in parliament as well as the update on the actions the government is doing in addressing gender-based violence cases. The women gathered in numbers this morning along the Independence Boulevard to mark the National Womens Day and celebrate the achievements on women in the gender equity and gender equality space. NCD Governor Powes Parkop as well as the members of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Gender Based Violence will address the women later today on the agendas.   Gender Officer at the National Capital District Commission Olivier Sagata said the women have two agendas that they want the Parliamentarians to answer for the people and country to know. “Number one is for them to tell us on the progress of the four regional womens seat and number two is the progress of GBV issues by the Special Parliamentary Committee on GBV,” Ms Sagata said. The women who gathered are from the political wing, SME association groups as well as individual womenfolk throughout the Nation’s Capital.

The Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai has advised the people of Papua New Guinea that his office is now ready to deliver the 2022 National General Elections. Commissioner Sinai made this announcement following the approval of 7 new electorates by Prime Minister James Marape in Parliament on Tuesday. He said the Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) has been at work since last July to come up with the boundaries report and redistribution of electoral boundaries and further mentioned that the commission (EBC) is grateful to the Marape-Basil government for accepting the Electoral Boundaries Commission Recommendations and Maps (EBC Report). The new electorates include Delta Fly, Hiri-Koiari, Popondetta, Nakanai, Wau-Waria, Komo-Hulia and Porgera-Paiela. The adaptation of the 7 new electorates now brings the total number of seats to contest for in the 2022 National General Elections to 116. Commissioner Sinai said that population was one of the major determinants in the creation of the 7 new electorates to ensure an equal and fair distribution of resources and equal participation by citizens of this country. “The main goal of the EBC in carrying out its function was to ensure that all open electorates within the country contained approximately the same population within the limits prescribed by the Organic Law on National & Local Level Government Elections.” “This goal is prescribed under the Constitution and the EBC considered this as a determinative factor throughout its operation,” Commissioner Sinai said. The Electoral Boundaries Commission is now calling on the relevant stakeholders and implementing agencies to support and manage these new electorates going forward into the 2022 National General Elections. Commissioner Sinai also said that there are no new LLGs being introduced apart from the existing 331 and so budget has already been factored for these LLGs in the last elections as well as for the upcoming election. He further advised that the EBC only split up the existing electorates within their own boundaries without touching or overlapping the neighboring electorates and so in terms of funding, all LLGs within those new electorates have already been covered in the budget. “With the upcoming elections, we already have polling schedules, polling teams, LLGs and districts aligned. The only difference is we are creating a new name for the electorates.” “To separate them is a matter of moving two locations (electorates) and setting a line, separating them by way of polling schedules and polling arrangements however budgets for these LLGs have already been factored in past elections as well as for the upcoming elections,” said Commissioner Sinai. The Electoral Commission is now looking forward to carrying out polling for the elections and ensuring due diligence for the election process is being adhered to by all parties concerned.

The Office of the Public Service Minister has confirmed a total of 75 public servants under the Government’s Ascender payroll system have resigned to contest the 2022 National General Elections. This excludes those public servants who were employed by other government agencies not on the Ascender payroll. The 75 public servants have resigned before 28th of October, 2021, as per the Public Service Management (Amendment) Act 1995, the Department of Personnel Management Circular Instruction No. 27 of 2021, and the General Orders, which require public servants to resign six months prior to the issue of writs. Public Service Minister, Hon. Joe Sungi said the Department of Personnel Management is working closely with Electoral Commission to monitor public servants who will contest the 2022 National General Election in light of the amendments to the PSMA Act. Minister Sungi has confirmed the 75 public servants who have resigned, have been removed from payroll. He said the Public Service Management Act is very clear and DPM will write to former public servants who will be contesting this year’s election, but have tendered their resignation as ‘normal resignation’ or after the 28th of October, 2021. “If they think they will hide from the law, that’s where we will tighten DPM’s recruitment and selection process. It will be tightened to ensure public servants who have not followed due process to tender their resignations are not recruited back into public service”. DPM has put in place a Technical Working Group, working in consultation with the Electoral Commission and the Office of Registrar of Political Parties. The Technical Working Group has created a database for public servants who have resigned to contest the elections. TWG will work closely with EC to obtain the nomination list to ascertain those who may have resigned in the eleventh hour, and those from the other government agencies, who are not on the Ascender payroll system, and have resigned to contest the 2022 National elections. Parliament passed the amendment to the Public Service (Management) Act 1995, Section 55, which now require public servants to resigned 6 months prior to issue of writs and will only be eligible to re-enter the public service, if they lose the elections, after five years. Minister Sungi said, it is a constitutional right of every citizen to contest, but as public servants, the need to observe the PSMA Act 1995 (as amended) and the General Orders is critical and urge Public Servants and officers of all State Authorities to ensure they abide by the law. The Minister said, final entitlements of the 75 public servants will be done by their respective agencies and sent to DPM for verification and approval for Finance to pay them out. Meanwhile, the DPM will issue a separate circular instruction to advice all agencies, on the engagement of public servants during the 2022 National General Elections.

Any decision by Government to create new electorates with one month of the issue of writs for the 2022 National General Elections, is irresponsible and will adversely impact both the governance and the administration of the elections, says Transparency International PNG (TIPNG). This statement was made in light of media reports stating that the Government would be tabling a report advocating the creation of seven new electorates as Parliament resumes this week. “Papua New Guineans expect our elected representatives to uphold the democratic ideals that underpin our National Constitution. A decision by parliament to create new electorates in the absence of reliable census data, with no gazettal notices, proper broad public consultation as required by the law and with no consideration for the administrative implications in the coming elections is highly irresponsible,” said Peter Aitsi, Board Chair of TIPNG in a media statement. “The voting public are right to wonder, if such a decision at this time is really serving the national interest? We urge our Government not to rush through this process, as they stand the risk of their actions being viewed as creating these new political boundaries purely for political convenience to secure numbers,” said Mr. Aitsi. Under section 36 of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Elections, the boundaries of an open electorate are drawn or revised taking into consideration; the population density; physical features and communications; existing electoral boundaries; Local Level & Provincial Governments and other administrative areas; and community and diversity of interest where it is considered relevant to do so. Under section 41(1) of the organic law, parliament has a time frame of two months to consider the recommendations and it may do any one of the following by way of resolution: • Accept the recommendation wholly; or • Reject the recommendation wholly; or • Reject the recommendation and refer specific matters for reconsideration by the commission TIPNG is calling on the Government to instead focus its attention on addressing the administrative requirements to deliver an effective, free, fair and safe 2022 National General Elections. The introduction of any new electorates would present a significant operational nightmare for the PNG Electoral Commission and Security Forces given the time left to recruit additional manpower, survey polling sites, counting venues and printing of ballot papers.

PNG’s Heads of Mission offices in several countries are facing possible closure following the inability to pay up operational costs in running their offices. Opposition Leader Beldan Namah highlighted this in Parliament yesterday during Question Time and asked Prime Minister James Marape if the government is aware of this situation and is doing anything to address this issue. Mr Namah made reference on the issue in reading a letter from the Permanent Mission to the United States dated March 17, 2022 to the Deputy Secretary of Trade and Foreign Affairs Department on the deteriorating state of affairs in their office in the United States. “I have received the same story from our mission in our nearest neighbor Indonesia and our consul in Jayapura, they’re virtually closed,” Mr Namah said. “Our mission in Seoul, South Korea has also closed and I’m told that this is the same embarrassing state of affairs in all our missions abroad.” “It is totally embarrassing to receive this kind of letter from our representatives who carry our face in our international missions abroad.” Mr Marape in response said the government is aware of this issue and has been supporting these missions abroad however the legacy issues in debt repayment over the years has crept in on their operation in recent times. “When we send in money to keep the business running, they are also trying to catch up on outstanding bills that they’ve been carrying for many years,” Mr Marape said. He further said he also directed the Treasury Department in January to send funds directly to the overseas missions instead of sending it through to the Foreign Affairs Department as is the case in the past so that they can administer their own administration to ensure their business remain functional. “I sincerely apologize to the faithful public servants and the Heads of Missions and their families for working under duress and stress but thank them for serving the country very well,” Mr Marape said.

Papua New Guinea reported 135 new cases of the Omicron variant including five new cases of Delta variant on Thursday, 3 March 2022, bringing the cumulative total to165 and 744 respectively. Of the Omicron cases, National Capital District (NCD) recorded (95), Morobe (31), Hela (three), Madang and Central (two each), and Eastern Highlands and Enga (one each), while East New Britain recorded five new cases of Delta variant. One  virus-related death was reported in the last  7 – 14 days in the Eastern Highlands, thus increasing the death toll to 639. According to the latest COVID-19 update from the National Control Centre, Papua New Guinea  has also reported 112 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours ending midday Thursday 3 March 2022, brining the total confirmed cases since the outbreak, to 41,533, including 40,145 recovered cases. The new cases were recorded in NCD (35), Morobe (31), Eastern Highlands (25), Hela (five), Central (four), Milne Bay, East New Britain and Madang (two each), and Enga and  Gulf (one each). In its daily updates, NCC also reported a total of 324,925 people having been tested for COVID-19, with 749 newly diagnosed cases in the last 14 days. In the meantime, a summary of Covid-19 statistics for the 22 provinces is as follows: – NCD –  11554 cases, 11284  recoveries, 102 deaths, 207 delta cases, 114 Omicron cases; – Western  – 3737 cases, 3695 recoveries, 33 deaths, 43 delta cases; – Western Highlands  – 3050 cases, 2878 recoveries, 79 deaths, four delta cases; – Morobe  – 2574  cases,2516  recoveries, 50 deaths, 87 delta cases, 31 omicron cases; – Eastern Highlands – 2451 cases, 2284 recoveries, 119 deaths, 22 delta cases, two Omicron case; – East New Britain – 2291 cases, 2260 recoveries, 31 deaths, 33 delta cases; –  Milne Bay – 1499 cases, 1414 recoveries, five deaths, three delta cases; – Madang – 1379 cases, 1341 recoveries, 29 deaths, four delta cases, two omicron cases; – West New Britain  – 1241 cases, 1234 recoveries, six deaths, 44 delta cases; – Central  – 1195 cases, 1178  recoveries, two deaths, 10 delta cases, eight  omicron cases;  – Southern Highlands – 1177  cases, 1115 recoveries, 53 deaths, 43 delta cases; – Enga – 1139 cases, 1085 recoveries, seven deaths, four delta cases, one omicron case; – Chimbu – 1062 cases, 1051 recoveries, 11 deaths, 14 delta cases; – Hela –  1004  cases, 911 recoveries, 14  deaths, 35 delta cases, five omicron cases; –  Autonomous Region of Bougainville – 981 cases, 960 recoveries, 17 deaths,15  delta cases; – New Ireland  – 918 cases, 902 recoveries,13 deaths, 34 delta cases, two omicron cases; – Manus –  895 cases, 866 recoveries, 11 deaths, 29 delta cases; – West Sepik  – 879 cases, 845 recoveries,13 deaths, 70 delta cases; – East Sepik  – 746 cases, 714 recoveries, eight deaths, 27 delta cases; – Gulf – 632 cases, 582 recoveries, 13 delta cases; – Northern  – 618 cases, 572  recoveries, six deaths; – Jiwaka  – 511 cases, 458 recoveries, 30 deaths, three delta cases. There have been a slight increase in the vaccination coverage rate as of Tuesday 1 March 2022, which indicated 419,426 doses of vaccines have been administered, of which 310,761 people  have at  least received  one dose, while 250,376 persons received double doses. The statistics also included Booster doses.

Businesses and Corporate organizations in the country are urged to support the Trukai Fun Run Auctions scheduled to be held in Lae on 24th March 2022 at the Lae Yacht Club and in Port Moresby on 31st March 2022 at the APEC Haus. The Trukai Fun Run Auctions is one of two major fundraising events for the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) held annually to raise funds for Team PNG to participate at international sporting events such as the Pacific, Commonwealth and Olympic games. All funds raised this year will enable Team PNG to attend the Pacific Mini Games in Northern Marianas in June and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July. PNGOC President Sir John Dawanincura urges the Business Community to get behind this year’s Trukai Fun Run Auctions by purchasing Trukai Fun Run Shirts in Lae and Port Moresby. While acknowledging the great support from the Business Community in the many Trukai Fun Run Auctions held in the past, this year will be no exception. “The last auctions were held in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic and we’re very excited to bring back the auctions after an absence of two years. The auctions are a great opportunity for the business community to come out to support Team PNG by purchasing Fun Run shirts and at the same time donate these shirts to schools. Both auction events are approved by the Controller’s Office and we’ll ensure Niupela Pasin protocols are adhered,” said Sir John. He further stated that the support shown by the country through such fundraising drives gives confidence to PNGOC to offer the best possibilities for our athletes and our country. “This year we have 50,000 shirts to sell and we are encouraging all Papua New Guineans to get behind Team PNG by purchasing a shirt each at K15.00”. “I thank Trukai Industries for its continued sponsorship of this annual event and I acknowledge our long standing partnership of 23 years”. Shirts bought and donated to schools by Businesses and Corporate Organisations can be resold by the schools at a price not exceeding K15, with proceeds kept by the schools to fund their respective school projects. Interested organizations wanting more information on how to purchase Trukai Fun Run T-Shirts and how to be involved in the auctions can contact Ms. Sangiawi Singut, Marketing & Events Coordinator at the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee on 323 1499, 325 1411 or e-mail events@pngoc.org.pg.

Seven new electorates have been approved by the Parliament today after Prime Minister James Marape tabled the report on the recommendations made by the Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC). The seven include Delta Fly in Western Province, Hiri Koiari in Central Province, Popondetta in Northern Province, Nakanai in West New Britain Province, Wau Waria in Morobe Province, Komo Hulia in Hela Province and Porgera Paiela in Enga Province. This seven new electorates will also see the election of their respective Members of Parliament be conducted in the upcoming 2022 National General Election. The EBC recommended 12 new electorates however upon consultation with the Electoral Commission, it has not prepared and is unable to conduct elections for all the 12 proposed electorates in the 2022 National General Elections. The Electoral Commission further advised EBC the five proposed electorates will have their elections in the 2027 National General Elections. The five include Baniara in Milne Bay Province, Motu Koitabu in NCD, Baining in East New Britain Province, Middle Sepik in East Sepik Province, Mendi Central in Southern Highlands Province and Anglimp in Jiwaka Province. Mr Marape in presenting the report said the main consideration in the recommendations is the population factor apart from geography.

At its meeting today, the Board of NASFUND Contributors Savings & Loan Society Limited (ncsl) considered and accepted the Society’s audited financial accounts for the 2021 financial year. Chairman, Ian Tarutia, on behalf of the Board, announced the following results: • Total Assets increased by 11.5% to K286.4 million • Net Asset Value increased by 13.8% to K33.2 million • Sound General Reserves at K19.2 million, increasing by 8.1% • Revenue from core business increased by just under 13% to K31.0 million • Total Revenue increased by 13.2% to K36.4M • Operating Expenses (excluding Interim Interest Payment to Members and Loan Provisioning) increased by 2.7% to K16.3 million. • Interim Interest Payments to Members increased by 10.5% to K2.7 million. • Loan Provisioning Charge and Debt Write-Offs increased to K3.5M mainly as a result of addressing legacy delinquent loan accounts. • Net Income increased by 4.6% to K13.8 million (after expenses including interim Interest Payment to Members and Loan Provisioning) • Total membership increased by 5.9% to 141,786 members. • Members Savings increased by 12.8% to K247.6 million. • Net Loan portfolio increased by 4.3% to K127.2 million • Total number of loans processed increased by 5% to 141,164 • Total volume of loans processed increased by just under 5% to K129.7M. Net Income of K13.85 million is after allowing for K2.76 million in interim interest to members during the course of the 2021 financial year. After statutory reserving of 20%, ncsl will pay an additional K10.87 million to members. This brings a total of K13.6 million or 6.0% paid to ncsl members for the 2021 financial year. Ncsl’s declared interest crediting rate of 6.0% is above the average crediting rate of 5.5% paid to members over the last 5 years. The result also maintains the wonderful record of healthy returns on members’ funds deposited with ncsl.