A total of 27 students will be severely affected by the discontinuation of the New Ireland Government’s Governor’s School of Excellence Program. This comes after Lihir Royalties that is the major source of funding have been transferred to the Namatanai and Kavieng District Authorities. The implications for the students include their parents not being able to afford the International Standard Education School fees, Securing spaces in other NIP schools will be difficult as they are already full, safe and timely transfer of students academic record remains a risk, unless it is managed well by higher Authorities such as the head of the Department of Education and Provincial Education Board. To help remedy the foreseeable implications the New Ireland Government during its Provincial Executive Council meeting on Tuesday moved to financially support the current batch of Scholarship students until they complete their Education at the OLSH International School. The Governor’s School of Excellence was established in 2019. The program is part of the seven components of the New Ireland Government’s Free and Subsidized Education Policy. This program has two key components School of Excellence and Teacher Excellence Program. The goal of the program is to increase the level of student’s academic performance  and teacher performance in the province. Which has been successfully achieved and ideally this Government wishes to continue these scholarships  but funds used for Education subsidies and other projects were transferred illegally over to the two District Development Authorities making it impossible to sustain budgeted projects and programs. The Scholarships are offered to the top performing primary and secondary school students from the outer and more rural parts of the province to undertake the excellence program implemented or run in an international standard learning environment. Updating the Provincial Executive Council, CEO for Government Subsidy Mactil Bais said “Since 2019 the New Ireland Government has gone way beyond its target by issuing 94 scholarships, almost 100% more.” In 2020 nine pioneer scholars graduated with a grade 12 certificate. “ They all performed exceptionally well and secured placements in various Tertiary Institutions across the country. New Ireland is now ranked one of the top five performing provinces with its grade 10’s ranked 3rd  in the country and grade 12’s ranked 5th in the country. This is a big improvement from its ranking of second last in the country 10 years ago.

On Thursday 7th of October, 2021, the Ambassador of Japan to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Mr. Kuniyuki Nakahara, was the guest of honour at the Napapar Primary School in East New Britain province, for the opening ceremony of new classrooms funded by the Japanese Government. In March, this year, the Embassy of Japan, under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), made available to Napapar Primary School a grant worth up to K271, 616.00 (approximately US$ 79,447) for the construction of 1 x double classroom building aimed at addressing the serious shortage of classrooms due to an increase in the number of students. Now that the new facilities are completed the school will have a much better learning and teaching environment for the students and teachers. In his speech, Ambassador Nakahara congratulated Napapar Primary School on its successful completion of the project, adding the remarks below; “Education is not only a vital tool to acquire knowledge and skills but also an investment for the future development. Through this project, the Government of Japan is pleased to support the PNG Government’s efforts to improve the education sector. These classrooms are gifts from the people of Japan. Please look after these classrooms well, so that they will not only benefit you now but many more who will attend this school in the future, such as your little brothers and sisters, or even your child. Finally, I sincerely hope that this project will contribute towards strengthening the friendship between the people of Japan and East New Britain and will also contribute towards fostering a partnership between the two countries. Tenk yu tru, olgeta, and boina tuna!” Japan, as one of the major donors of the official development assistance for Papua New Guinea, launched GGP in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. GGP is contributing to “empowering the people through improved education and life skills” targeted by Papua New Guinea Vision 2050. As of October 2021, 303 grassroots projects funded by GGP have been implemented through NGOs, local government units and other non-profit organizations including hospitals and schools. The total grant projects so far amount to K54.2 million (US$19.9 million).

Newly retired Australian cricketer, Kath Hempenstall has been appointed as the new Head Coach of the women’s national cricket team, the Kumul Petroleum PNG Lewas. Kath, who has over a decade of experience, played for the Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) before her retirement. She was awarded by the Australian Cricketers Association, the Legacy Award in Western Australia 2019-2020. The 33-year-old is an experienced coach having coached and assistant coached at clubs in Victoria and Perth, Australia and is looking forward to working more closely with the Cricket PNG coaching staff and the Lewas. Currently based in Australia, she is working with the team on ground on progressive work for the women’s team, saying their home training matches are crucial and a chance for them to assess themselves. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the world over, it is quite the same for Kath and the Lewas. This has caused cancellations and postponements of home matches for the Lewas squad, and as also kept Kath in Australia and will mean she will likely first meet the team in person in Zimbabwe. However, she has already met the team via Zoom and it was, as she says, a great opportunity to put faces to names. As preparations for final selections for will be done in Port Moresby with only four weeks to go, Kath continues to work alongside the PNG team. After the final team for the Kumul Petroleum PNG Lewas is announced she will be meeting the team in Zimbabwe for the World Cup Qualifiers. Kath says participating in the qualifiers will be great for the team because it has been quite a while since playing other international teams. ‘The Kumul Petroleum PNG Lewas have great potential and the world cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe will be a good time to test the team.’ Amid COVID-19 restrictions and new measures in country, the Kumul Petroleum PNG Lewas continue to train and prepare in compliance. And new head coach Kath is looking forward to meeting the team in Zimbabwe, with their sights set on qualifying for the World Cup next year in New Zealand.

Western Highlands Province this week joined the list of high-risk provinces and is now the fourth province after Western, Eastern Highlands and West Sepik Province with an alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, including deaths recorded at the Mt Hagen General Hospital this week. Acting CEO for the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority Jane Holden revealed that the province is the second in the highlands region to report an outbreak in COVID-19 cases and deaths with 25 reported deaths so far and 844 positive cases. “Of the 844 people testing positive to COVID-19, 61 of them are staff from the Mt Hagen Hospital. She said people are already responding to vaccination positively with the current situation in Goroka. Holden said the hospital was providing vaccination at the same time to interested members of the public and encouraged citizens to come forward and get the jab to be protected. “Due to high numbers of community transmission that started over the last couple of days in the four districts, we are inviting the public to get vaccinated. We are administering the Johnson & Johnson single jab vaccine as well as second dose for those who already received the first dose.” The Mt Hagen hospital outpatient services have all been stopped while only services the hospital is providing for at this time is the TB clinic, the HIV and AIDS clinic and the antenatal clinic. Acting CEO Jane Holden said the management had to take such measures to protect sick people in the wards while they attend to COVID-19 patients. [audio mp3="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/WHP-NOW-HIGH-RISK-PROVINCE-.mp3"][/audio] (Voice: Acting CEO for Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority, Jane Holden) Picture credit: Akapite Gamae

All recent deaths from COVID-19 recorded at the Port Moresby General Hospital so far are persons who have not been vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccines. Dr Maria Moguma from the hospital's COVID-19 ICU ward revealed this at the B4H (Businesses for Health) Private sector monthly Zoom Meeting this week. She said apart from that, there has been no deaths of children or persons below the age 18. She also made known that two pregnant mothers have succumbed to the disease so far while encouraging the vaccination for pregnant mums. Port Moresby General Hospital CEO Dr. Paki Molumi has said this week that the positivity rate had increased from 30% late last month to 70% this week, meaning every 10 patients reporting cough, flu, running nose and fever when tested for COVID, seven of them were positive. “So far there has been three COVID-19 related deaths and another 92 patients admitted to PMGH. Our 19-bed isolation ward is full. A medical ward was opened up to accommodate the numbers.” He said in the coming days they will improve the capacity at Taurama Aquatic Centre’s isolation facility to take on moderate cases so PMGH can be freed up to return to normal to provide other service after the two weeks of scale down. As well as that, he indicated that the demand for oxygen at the city’s referral hospital was very high with more and more patients admission to the wards.

The Port Moresby General Hospital just confirmed three COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours. This is following the increase of positivity cases from 33% on the 27th of September 2021 to 70% as of today. Chief Executive officer of the hospital, Dr Paki Molumi confirmed that there are currently 92 COVID-19 patients admitted at the hospital. "This means that in every 10 patients with cough, flu, running nose and fever who have been tested for COVID-19, seven of these patients tested positive to COVID-19." "Our 19-bed isolation ward is full and we've opened up another medical ward to cater for the increasing numbers." said Dr Molumi. He said they will move some of the patients over to the Nightingale Taurama Aquatic Centre during the two weeks of scale down of operations in order to free up some space for normal services at the hospital. "In the coming days, we will improve the capacity at the Nightingale Taurama Aquatic Centre to take on moderate cases so that PMGH can be freed up and return to normal to provide other services after the two weeks of scale down." Meanwhile the hospital management is recruiting for short term contract health workers that can really assist with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients. "We need 30 nurses and 10 doctors for Short term Contract." Dr Molumi said they will be recruiting from the different divisions and departments within the hospital to make up the number of doctors and nurses needed. An internal Memo was issued this week by the CEO Dr Molumi to all the divisions in the hospital for staff to submit their names.

Trukai Industries Limited has announced its sponsorship worth K60,000 for the Hiri Moale Festival’s Vanagi Heau Helulu (canoe race).   This year Trukai will be the naming rights sponsor of the one-day canoe race event. The agreement signed is a three-year agreement between the Hiri Moale Festival Committee and Trukai Industries Ltd.   This K60,000 will go towards the prize money and the preparation of the race.   Trukai Industries Chief Executive Officer, Alan Preston said Trukai has once again proved its support for events that foster and promote cultural preservation.   “Trukai is inspired by communities that work to preserve their cultural practices and traditions in such modern and diverse times. And this sponsorship continues to signify Trukai’s rich history embedded in PNG’s culture”   “Also in these special times we must be aware of the current pandemic and celebrate in a safe manner by following the Niupela Pasin.”   It is anticipated that there will be 60 to 80 canoes participating in this year’s canoe race.   Chairman of the Motu Koita Assembly Dadi Toka said the agreement to host the first ever Trukai Vanagi Vanagi Heau Helulu (canoe race) will be the biggest of its kind in the Nation’s Capital.   “We are very excited to announce that the winner of the A-Grade Vanagi division will take home K10,000, the prize money for the other winners is quite substantial and we thank Trukai Industries for their support.”   The Vanagi Race is part of the three day Hiri Moale Festival which will take place on 20th November.  

SP PNG Hunters have re-appointed Matt Church as coach for the 2022 Intrust Super Cup season. The Hunters board voted unanimously for Church to remain at the helm for next season after he steered the team through the challenges of 2021 when it was forced to relocate to southeast Queensland due to Covid travel restrictions. The Hunters have confirmed that the team will return to Queensland throughout 2022 due to the ongoing international Covid travel challenges. “We are delighted to reappoint Matt Church given how he and his staff handled a difficult year,” Hunters Chairman Mr Stan Joyce CSM said. “The Hunters played extremely well in parts of this season and we know what the team is capable of with the 2021 experience under their belts. Matt is a high-quality coach and he has put in place the building blocks for an exciting 2022.” Church thanked the Hunters board and said he was already looking forward to next season. “I’m really pleased to extend my role as Hunters Coach – it’s a role I take great pride in,” Church said. “I would like to thank Hunters Chairman Stan Joyce and the Hunters board members for their faith in me. “This year threw up numerous challenges but next year brings with it similar tests so the benefit of experience will be significant for us. Our players developed strongly this year by living through these challenges and I know they will be ready to go again in 2022. “I would like to acknowledge Hunters’ sponsors, partners and stakeholders during these times and personally I’d finally like to thank my wife and family for their love and support. I look forward to being back in front of the group and leading the Hunters towards a strong year in 2022." Mr Joyce said the Hunters would complete their pre-season preparations in Port Moresby from mid-November until the end of January before relocating to Queensland. “The board has to begin preparations for next season and, without the prospect of quarantine-free travel in the short-term, we must look towards another season based in Queensland,” Mr Joyce said. “While we would love to play at home again, we must ensure that the Hunters continue to play in the Intrust Super Cup, further developing our pathways to the highest levels of rugby league.” The Hunters played excellent football at times in 2021, defeating preliminary finalists Tweed Seagulls late in the season and falling by only two points to this weekend’s grand finalists Wynnum Manly.

Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) and the Public Services Commission (PSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop an agency-level anti-corruption strategy for the PSC. This initiative is part of TIPNG’s Promoting Anti-Corruption and Integrity Strategies (PAIS) Project funded by the European Union to strengthen public trust in national integrity institutions. “TIPNG welcomes the decision by the PSC to partner with us through an MoU for the development of an anti-corruption strategy that will support the mandate of the PSC. We commend the leadership demonstrated by the Commission in signing an MoU to develop an agency-level anti-corruption strategy. This decision speaks to the foresight of the Commission in ensuring that it is further equipped to fulfil its constitutional role.” “The development of internal anti-corruption strategies was identified as a priority by the PNG national government, under the National Anti-corruption Strategy 2010-2030. While there has been almost no uptake of this national policy over the past 11 years, our current drive to partner with national agencies in aiding them to develop these internal integrity strategies, directly supports the improvement of integrity standards across the PNG public sector. To this end, we invite other agencies to join this initiative and embrace the opportunity to develop and implement active measures to improve the integrity of their internal systems and processes. As well as to restore public trust in our national institutions,” said TIPNG Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Arianne Kassman in a media statement. The PSC is an independent constitutional office, established under Section 191 of the PNG Constitution. The Review of Personnel Matters is a core function of the Commission under Section 18 of the Public Services (Management) Act 1995 (as amended). Additionally, the PSC is also mandated to execute powers under Sections 193 and 208B of the National Constitution relating to the appointment, suspension and/or revocation of appointment of Departmental Heads, Provincial Administrators and Heads of Regulatory Statutory Authorities. TIPNG through the PAIS Project will be working with state agencies to develop internal anti-corruption strategies in 2021, which will be shared with citizens and journalists so that they can more effectively engage with the public sector to take action against corruption. This work has been informed by TIPNG’s 2021 National Integrity System Assessment (NISA) Report which found that all 14 National Integrity pillars in PNG were less than adequate. Furthermore, the NISA identified a clear integrity gap between the existing laws and practice by agencies. The internal anti-corruption strategies developed by TIPNG in partnership with selected agencies will go towards bridging this integrity gap.

The PNG Sports Foundation (PNGSF) Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kapua Kapua, after reading Cricket PNG’s submission has confirmed that Cricket PNG is compliant with the lockdown measures in place if we play cricket at Amini Park as described. Cricket is a non-contact outdoor sport, where at no time are there more than 15 people on the field (11 fielders, 2 batters, and 2 umpires). A cricket field is a large outdoor space, the approximate size of two rugby fields, where it is rare for any player to be within two metres of each other, and even then, they do not touch. Cricket PNG is very thankful for receiving this confirmation from Dr Kapua and will restart training and playing for the Kumul Petroleum PNG Lewas on Friday October 8. At all times Cricket PNG will maintain strict Covid Safe protocols and will ensure there are never more than 20 people gathering on the field. There will be no spectators allowed at Amini Park, however, games will be live streamed on www.cricketpng.org.pg for fans to watch. Cricket PNG is committed to strictly observing the lockdown measures in place and is committed to helping the Government fight the battle we are facing with Covid. Cricket PNG staff and players are all vaccinated, and we encourage everyone in PNG that is eligible to be vaccinated to do so now. This confirmation comes at a critical time, as our fully vaccinated Kumul Petroleum PNG Lewas only have a few weeks left before they depart to represent PNG in Zimbabwe in their own World Cup Qualifying tournament. We are thankful that we have received confirmation that we can continue to play cricket at Amini Park while maintaining compliance with the lockdown measures.

Mr Fleming said BSP understands that with the growing customer base, expansion of the Arawa branch is necessary, to continue to effectively provide banking services to the people of Bougainville. The BSP chief, together with BSP New Guinea Islands Area Manager Ruby Patu, had a brief audience with Arawa Town Mayor, Member for South Bougainville and Minister for Communication & Information Technology (ICT), Honorable Timothy Masiu, MP, including the Business Arm of South Bougainville (BUSIBA) and discussed the expansion of the BSP Arawa Branch and the Buin Sub-Branch. Mr Fleming added; “the trip was timely as we are heading towards Christmas, the peak period of our operations, it was good to visit our AROB branches and acknowledge our staff for their tireless contribution in the region.” BSP’s remains committed not only through banking service delivery in the region but also through its Corporate Social Responsibility in the annual Community Projects. Buka Branch Manager Julie Warren and her team will hand over the branch’s 13th Community Project later this month. The branch will supply desks for Lonahan Primary School, located along the East Coast of Buka Island. “We hope to deliver the project in time for the Grade 8 Basic Examination. With this project Buka Branch will have assisted communities on the island with 13 projects worth K305,000 since 2009 and we are proud to be giving back to the communities through such worthy projects,” Ms Warren said. In June, the Arawa Branch came to the assistance of one of the oldest school in Arawa - Arawa Primary School (previously known as Bovo International School prior to the Bougainville Crisis) giving new desks for Grades 3 and 4 students along with a refurbished classroom. Since 2009, the bank has delivered 21 community projects worth K550,000 through its Buka and Arawa branches.

Yesterday's (6 Oct) announcement of Australia’s withdrawal from its offshore arrangements in Papua New Guinea (PNG) ought to be welcome news. Sadly, it is happening without confirmed viable long-term solutions for many of the individual refugees and asylum seekers it will affect. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has long advocated against policies under which states externalize asylum and protection obligations. We have noted on many occasions the harm done to those asylum seekers and refugees involved. We have also spoken of the grave risks to the global refugee protection regime when countries seek to shift their responsibilities onto others, typically developing nations where refugee protection standards are poor. In the case of Australia, we have advocated too for its offshore arrangements to be ended and more compassionate approaches to be found. Yesterday’s development will achieve neither. Indeed, we note with concern the recent Australia-Nauru MoU that instead extends offshore arrangements there. For the 125 people remaining in PNG from Australia’s offshore programme new uncertainty lies ahead. Among the stated choices they have been given, the option of moving to Nauru is not a long-term solution. The choice to return to their home countries to face risks there is no choice at all for any refugee. Meanwhile, the systems needed for long-term successful local integration in PNG are still undeveloped and largely absent. UNHCR appeals to Australia to work towards concluding its offshore programme and to recognize the plight of the individuals who for so many years have paid the price. Externalization is never an answer.