Member for Moresby Northeast John Kaupa acknowledges the fact of extreme shortage of site and serviced land, and the city’s unpretentious urban development challenges. He sees that informal settlement has been the dominant features of urban growth and expansion on both state and customary land, therefore he believes the way forward is by turning settlements into viable, robust and livable suburbs. Under the settlement to suburb program Prime Minister James Marape yesterday presented two state lease land titles to National Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop and Moresby North-East MP John Kaupa during a ceremony at 9-Mile. The two state lease titles are Subdivision of 14-mile Satellite Township -Portion 1221 on a land mass of 110.65 hectares and Subdivision of Farea-Bushwara and 9Mile Satellite Township on Portion 5548 C on a 61.2-hectare land. During the presentation of the state lease titles to Governor Powes and Kaupa, Marape urged residents to respect the Rule of Law and become law abiding citizens. “No tribal fight in the city, and all must respect the traditional landowners, the people of Koiari, Motu Koita and the people of Central Province who gave us their land,” said PM Marape. Mr. Kaupa who expressed sincere gratitude toward the Marape Rosso Government for the funding and leasing of the State Land, highlighted that the program would cost about K72.2 million and will take more than six years to complete the suburb upgrade. According to Kaupa, the initiative is vital to address the issue of land grabbing, illegal settlements and also to address the growing population in the electorate, which is estimated to be more than 450,000 people. Kaupa added that three key state landholdings under the Port Moresby North-East District Development Authority (DDA) will be utilized to accommodate this growth. He also mentioned that about 2,000 block holders on Portion 2709 will have land titles and more block holders in the district will become block owners through the settlement to suburb program. Mr. Kaupa further stated that the satellite township development project requires modern state - of – the -art infrastructures which are currently undertaken with the support from the National Government, NCD and our development partners. Important key infrastructure Facilities have been built and others are in the process of implementation especially the development at nine (9) mile Saiwara satellite township. “I thank the National Government for a funding support of K10million, whereby K5million was given already and the K5million given anytime soon because there is already a treasury warrant for it," Kaupa said.

Court circuits are helping deliver timely and fair justice to communities that might otherwise experience long delays thus it has brought justice to people in remote areas, and it’s seen as an effective system to address law and order in communities. The Court circuits are supported by the Australia–Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership (APLJ) and they are a regular initiative of the Magisterial Services of PNG, designed to extend justice services to rural and remote communities. Mid this year, between 20 July and 1 August 2025, a team of law and justice officials from Lae successfully completed a court circuit to Salamaua in Morobe Province, following a previous visit in March this year. The circuit brought court services directly to the people—resolving longstanding disputes, enforcing village court decisions, and helping restore peace and order in rural communities. A total of 19 cases were heard, including 13 related to land disputes, domestic violence, and enforcement of village court orders, and six involving Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV). “This circuit has allowed us to reach out to communities and attend to outstanding land matters and enforce village court hearings,” said Magistrate Ngasaling Bingtau. “We managed to resolve several long-pending cases and conduct land inspections, which are vital for maintaining peace in the communities and the district.” Regional Court Registrar Nick Sawong said, “For many people in rural areas, this is a significant support in enforcing village court orders and facilitating land mediation.” “Without it, people often avoid accountability, we’re not only providing legal services, but we’re also conducting awareness sessions to help communities understand court processes and resolve issues peacefully, rebuilding trust in the justice system.” For community leaders like Gideon Caleb from Boakap village, the court circuit brought long-awaited relief. “I’m happy and relieved because we have many land disputes in my community, and the situation is worsened by young people drinking cheap alcohol, which often leads to more conflict,” said Gideon. The visit included community awareness sessions on key laws and penalties, particularly those relating to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV). Community members were also informed about the roles of various justice agencies and the services they provide, thus with support from APLJ, similar outreach has taken place in other parts of Morobe Province earlier this year, and more recently in island communities in Bougainville as well.

The Cocoa Management Information System Goes Live to Power Value Chain Growth Developed by ITU under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, unifies real-time cocoa data in a single hub for planning, reporting, and advisories, and co-designed with the Cocoa Board and DICT, it reduces errors, informs decisions, and speeds support to farmers, businesses, and government. Supported by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, the Cocoa Management Information System (CMIS) of the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea (CBPNG) was launched in Kokopo city in the East New Britian province. The sector-wide platform has been designed to digitize data and record-keeping across the cocoa value chain so that informed decision-making, improved planning, stronger coordination and accurate tracking of export volumes from different ports nationwide can be enabled. Developed in close collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the CMIS was officially handed over to CBPNG at the launch. As a one-stop, real-time hub, the system has been configured to consolidate and analyze key sector information, including farmer profiles, seedling distribution, training data, production yields, processing assessments, nursery status and export volumes, so that reporting to government and stakeholders can be streamlined and service delivery across the sector strengthened. Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Project Officer for ITU-STREIT, Mr. Kanagat Alyshbaev, stated that as part of the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, ITU has helped deliver CMIS which automates data collection, provides live dashboards, and strengthens planning and reporting so that support reaches farmers and the whole value chain moves faster. “CMIS is practical for people in the field as well as policymakers, cutting duplication and errors. Over time, it will lift quality, traceability and incomes across Papua New Guinea’s cocoa sector.” Expressing gratitude, the Chief Executive Officer of the Cocoa Board, Mr. Jesse Anjen, highlighted that they are very grateful to the ITU under EU-STREIT PNG to come on board to help with this CMIS system. “A lot of our work is done manually and as a government organization we’re required to report and this system will help us also to monitor data, including volume export from different ports, and generate very customized report to government and to stakeholders.” “It will be really useful to the industry and the country and the government as well,” Mr. Anjen added. Also present was Deputy Secretary for DICT, Mr. Russell Woruba, who praised the partnership with EU-STREIT PNG, stating that they are very committed to supporting CMIS and are working very closely with EU-STREIT PNG to see the fruition of this system. “This is a very momentous occasion for us and the industry and what we are doing is supporting government in developing the agriculture sector starting with ICT innovation and to see the Cocoa Board come to this stage is very fulfilling.” “With this system we can get the insights, and I commend the leadership and collaboration by all stakeholders with EU-STREIT PNG.” The CMIS is intended to deliver four core results for the cocoa industry: automated aggregation of industry data; a robust information and knowledge-sharing hub; a tool for institutional strengthening and management; and a comprehensive information layer to support planning, monitoring and performance control. As these features roll out, CMIS helps agencies plan and coordinate better. Farmers receive trusted advice on pests and diseases, which lifts product quality and improves crop and farm management. More quality planting material reaches farms. Cocoa Agribusinesses meet market requirements and international standards more easily, and good agricultural practices spread across the value chain. Together, these changes raise incomes, strengthen food security and improve livelihoods, while deepening links with suppliers and buyers in Papua New Guinea and overseas. To support these outcomes, the platform brings together production data, farmer and fermentary profiles (with sales records), market and export information (including prices), nursery and budwood records, stakeholder and input-supplier lists, and exporter client profiles. These are linked across CMIS databases and producer and farmer registries, and selected information will be available through a public portal. To ensure high-quality, timely data flows into the CMIS, training on Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) has been conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme for 15 Cocoa Board officers based in East Sepik. By using 15 tablets provided by ITU, or their own smartphones, field officers are now able to collect and validate data in real time and enter them into the CMIS, so that errors can be reduced, verification carried out immediately and decision-ready information provided for analysis. Through this end-to-end digital pipeline, from field capture to sector dashboards, a major step forward in modernizing Papua New Guinea’s cocoa industry has been marked.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, has completed a targeted capacity-building initiative to strengthen institutional capabilities of the provincial government and its agencies in digital data collection and monitoring, supporting the shift from paper-based to more efficient, paperless operations. As part of this initiative, the Programme delivered a tailored training workshop on the computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) approach using the Kobo Collect solution. A total of 59 officers (including 18 women) from the regional office of the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea, the East Sepik Provincial Division of Agriculture and Livestock, Division of Fisheries and Marine Resources, and local agrifood value chain experts took part. Through this hands-on training, participants learned to use Kobo Collect (tool for real-time data collection, monitoring, and reporting) and skills that will enable their officers and public bodies to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate development projects more effectively, support evidence-based decision-making, and strengthen extension service delivery to smallholder farmers in the cocoa, vanilla, and fisheries value chains. The training also introduced participants to the newly developed nationwide Agriculture Management Information System (AMIS) and the Cocoa Board Management Information System (CBMIS). Both systems were designed and deployed by the EU-STREIT PNG Programme to support and enhance the nationwide operations of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea, enabling integrated data management and better sector coordination. To complement the training, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, provided 35 handheld tablets to officers from the Cocoa Board and the DAL in East Sepik Province. These devices will enable officers to apply the CAPI approach in the field, collect accurate data in real time, and upload it directly into the AMIS and CBMIS. By pairing skills development with the necessary technology, the initiative ensures that officers are fully equipped to translate their new knowledge into practice, leading to more efficient monitoring, reporting, and evidence-based decision-making processes across key agricultural value chains. Speaking at the closing session, Dr Rabi Rasaily, FAO Senior Agricultural Officer, underscored the central role of digital tools in transforming agricultural extension services. “Digital innovations are essential for improving the efficiency and impact of agricultural services, and your commitment to learning these new tools is an important step towards building stronger, more responsive systems for Papua New Guinea’s farmers.” Reflecting on the impact for the cocoa sector, Mr. Daryll Worimo, Regional Manager for the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea in the Sepik, noted the practical benefits for their ongoing digital transition and stated that this training can significantly benefit the Cocoa Board by improving the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of data collection for its Management Information System. “The trained officers can now directly contribute to the CBMIS by using tablets or smartphones for real-time data collection, which reduces errors, allows for immediate validation, and provides timely information for analysis and decision-making.” “I would like to also express a special thanks to ITU for giving handheld tablets which will help in data collection.” From a provincial perspective, Mr. Kevin Hawan, Executive Manager of East Sepik Division of Agriculture and Livestock, expressed his appreciation for both the training and the tools provided. “The DAL officers and the agriculture sector is very fortunate and grateful of the CAPI and MIS training and the issuance of CAPI hand-held tablets to the officers for use to collect and collate information of our programs plan implementation,” said Mr. Hawan. This training has built the officers capacity to best collect information for forward forecasting, appropriate planning to optimize the limited resources to improve on the service delivery. This training and materials will be the tool and knowledge to coordinate and monitor our operations, performance and implementation of our program plans in the province”. The EU-STREIT PNG Programme continues to invest in institutional capacity-building and digital transformation in the country’s agrifood sector, contributing to improved livelihoods, greater gender inclusion, and sustainable rural development.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has received four completed Valuation Rolls for Bougainville from the Office of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Valuer General, within the National Department of Lands, Physical Planning and Urbanisation, during a handover ceremony in Buka recently. Acting Deputy Secretary Operations, Mrs. Belinda Lanbong, accepted the documents on behalf of the ABG, describing the occasion as a significant milestone in Bougainville’s journey in institutional and economic development. She acknowledged the Government of PNG for its continued support, noting that this is the first time in Bougainville’s history that urban property values have been systematically recorded and endorsed in full compliance with the PNG Valuation Act. “On behalf of the Chief Secretary and administration, we are happy and recognize that this occasion and the work that has come out of this over the years to bring us to this stage with completed valuation rolls for Bougainville’s key towns is a significant milestone for Bougainville.” “And we thank the Government of PNG for having gazette that on August 4th, 2025, in accordance with the PNG Valuation Act 1967.” The Bougainville Valuation Rolls list the assessed value of land and property, particularly on statutory or government land, thus they are essential tools for land governance, urban planning, and financial transparency, enabling better revenue collection and service delivery. In addition, National Valuer General, Mr. Suman Holis, commended the ABG for initiating the process and highlighted the significance of the achievement. “Bougainville has again set a historic milestone in that it is the first region in the country to have four valuation rolls for four towns including, Buka, Buin, Arawa and Kieta/Toniva.” He added that the rolls can empower respective local authorities to collect revenue from the use of land, adding that this contributes to the provision of necessary services to people living within the boundaries of the declared physical planning areas. Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary of the National Department of Lands, Physical Planning and Urbanisation, Mr. Michael Gideon, who formally handed over the rolls, also congratulated the ABG. “Valuation is about raising the revenue of the government so that government can carry out services such as maintaining the roads, and other services but due process must be followed.” “Valuation rolls are updated every five years, and it covers state lands not customary grounds so that those living within these designated towns of Buka, Buin, Arawa and Kieta/Toniva can pay rent to our municipal authorities in the towns.” He also reminded that the rolls are legal public documents under the PNG Valuation Act 1967. Leaseholders have the right to view them and raise objections if they believe they are being overcharged, the Valuer General can assist with such processes. On the other hand, ABG Lands Secretary, Mrs. Lynette Baratai-Pokas, emphasised that the valuation rolls are more than a bureaucratic requirement; they are a foundation for governance and sustainable urban development. “These rolls hold equal weight for our broader land administration and responsibilities therefore we will rely on the accepted valuation rolls to help us set those appropriate land rentals for government owned and leased land.” “This is to guide our decisions on zoning, planning and sustainable urban development, resolve disputes and maintain transparency in land dealings, attract and regulate investment in a way that is fair to our people.”

Minister for Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Timothy Masiu has acknowledged the successful outcome of the recently concluded the second ICT Minister’s Dialogue in Suva, Fiji. “I am hugely satisfied with Papua New Guinea retaining the Chairmanship of this important regional undertaking. This signifies a very, very successful outcome of our Ministers’ Dialogue.” “I am equally impressed with and acknowledge the leadership provided by Caretaker Minister for ICT, Peter Tsiamalili at the Dialogue.” “At very short notice, Minister Tsiamalili was able to take stewardship on my behalf and maintain our collective objective of the Dialogue, of ensuring ICT takes its rightful place in the future development and growth of our Blue Pacific.” Minister Masiu, who is currently on medical leave, also thanked the Secretary for ICT, Steven Matainaho and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), Kila Gulo-Vui, for providing all secretariat and logistics support and arrangements for all the Pacific ICT Ministers and senior officers for the Suva meeting. “It took our senior PNG officials several months to put into place all the agendas and logistical and administrative arrangements for our Suva meeting, and I also commend the leadership and guidance of Secretary Matainaho and CEO Gulo-Vui.” He said he is also quite pleased with the higher level regional political representation for the Dialogue going forward. “I congratulate Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Small & Medium Enterprises and Communications, Manoa Kamikamica for assuming Vice Chairmanship of the Dialogue.” Minister Masiu further congratulated the Minister for Justice, Communications and Foreign Affairs of Tuvalu, Simon Kofe for his appointment as the other Vice Chairman of the Dialogue. Furthermore, he stated that for now he wants to see that the Secretariat and senior officials must commence planning for the next meeting. “It is my view that taking our Dialogue to a smaller Island nation would demonstrate to our people that, while our individual development goals and challenges may be on differing scales, we have a common and powerful tool at our disposal; the utilisation of ICT to mitigate or minimise many of them.”

The Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner (OBEC) has launched a new online landing page to promote transparent and timely communication with voters and electoral stakeholders ahead of the 2025 Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) General Elections. Accessible at abgelections2025.com, the landing page serves as a central source of election-related information, which includes resources for candidates and scrutineers, the indicative election schedule, how to vote instructions, polling procedures, and downloadable awareness materials. Bougainville Electoral Commissioner Mr. Desmond Tsianai, stated that the new digital platform is part of OBEC’s commitment to strengthening transparency and ensuring all election stakeholders have access to accurate and timely electoral information. “We call on all Bougainvilleans to help us amplify this platform.” “Trusted information is the foundation of a credible election, and this site is one way we’re working to ensure voters are informed and empowered,” he added. The site will be regularly updated with press releases, fact sheets, and other election materials, therefore OBEC encourages the public, media, civil society, and election stakeholders to visit the site regularly and share the link widely across their networks.

The Bougainville Disaster Directorate recently hosted a consultative workshop to present and review its Strategic Plan for Emergency Management & Disaster Resilience 2025–2030. Secretary for the Department of Community Government, Ms. Belinda-Maree Lanbong, in her opening remarks, highlighted Bougainville’s vulnerability to natural disasters and stressed the importance of proactive preparedness. “To achieve significant development opportunities, build resilient communities and districts that understand disaster risks, investing in disaster preparedness through proper planning and capacity building are crucial,” she said. She also acknowledged the contributions of various stakeholders involved in developing the plan, with special appreciation for the United Nations International Organization for Migration (UN IOM) as a key partner. “We are grateful to the United Nations International Organization for Migration (UN IOM) for their continuous technical support since 2013, and to the National Disaster Centre for their ongoing support to Bougainville.” “Additionally, the office appreciates the contributions of individuals who have influenced the development of the disaster management plan,” she added. Director for Disaster and Emergency, Julius Nohu also noted that while the Bougainville Disaster Management Plan took several years to develop, it is now close to completion. “We are now at the stage where we are validating this key document, which has already been drafted, and that is the purpose of this workshop.” “The plan is called the ‘Bougainville Strategic Plan for Emergency Management & Disaster Resilience 2025–2030." Mr. Nohu further added that they have now concluded the validation process, and the next step is to submit the document to the Bougainville Regional Disaster Management Committee (BRDMC), which is headed by the Chief Secretary, to endorse this key document for the Government of Bougainville ahead of its submission to the new Bougainville House of Representatives when it is formed in September.

Nine (9) graduate development program trainees from City Pharmacy Ltd Group (CPL) were certified as table facilitators for Maxwell’s Leadership Program under PNG Tribal Foundation last week. Donald Willie, City Pharmacy Ltd Group, People and Culture Department lead said the nine trainees are the first batch from the graduate development program to take part in the Senisim PNG Program, a valued based and leadership roundtable session for 11 weeks. This program will not only build good character and personality but also contribute to developing good human resource for CPL as they move into the workforce. “The Senisim PNG program is a safeguard for CPL’s leadership in the future and our trainees’ taking part is a pathway to managers in various departments,” Mr. Willie said. The trainees are now Senisim Pasin facilitators who will run their own table sessions with CPL staffs at their respective departments to have more staffs take part in good values and leadership program. Mr. Willie said these trainees are from various universities from University of PNG, University of Technology and amongst other universities that joined the GDP program this year. Senisim Pasin National Coordinator for Port Moresby, Agnes Andreas said these trainees are now eligible to run their own table sessions within their workplace and out in communities. “Let us continue to teach good values into communities because we have a moral decay in our homes, schools, communities of simple values that we don’t practice in our daily lives”.

Papua New Guinea Police Minister and Acting Minister for ICT Peter L. Tsiamalili Jnr at the opening of the 2nd Pacific ICT Ministers Dialogue at the Pacific Islands Forum Headquarters in Suva, delivered a strong call to action, urging all regional leaders to embrace the Pacific’s unique geography as a strategic asset in global digital development. “The Pacific is not just a collection of small islands — it is a vast digital frontier,” said Tsiamalili. Tsiamalili added that with one of the world’s largest ocean and airspaces, the Blue Pacific faces distinct challenges in building resilient and inclusive digital infrastructure, and sadly many island nations continue to grapple with limited connectivity, high costs, and vulnerability to cyber threats. “Our geography demands innovation from satellite connectivity to undersea cables and cross-border cybersecurity,” Tsiamalili emphasized. “Our big ocean and big airspace are not barriers; they are assets that position the Pacific as a digital gateway between continents.” The Dialogue brought together ICT ministers and regional stakeholders to align on shared priorities, including digital sovereignty, infrastructure investment, and regional cooperation. Tsiamalili underscored the importance of ensuring that Pacific nations are not left behind in the global digital transformation. “As custodians of this vast ocean of data pathways and digital potential, we must ensure that digital infrastructure is inclusive, sovereign, and future ready.”

Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Lands, Physical Planning, Environment, Conservation and Climate Change (DLPPECCC) recently conducted a Valuation Rolls workshop for Bougainville Valuation Rolls stakeholders in Buka. The workshop was conducted ahead of the official handover of Bougainville Valuation Rolls to the Autonomous Bougainville Government on Thursday, 07th August 2025, with participation from the ABG Department of Lands, Urban Town Councils of Buka, Arawa, and Buin, regional business associations, Bougainville Police Service, and the National Lands Department. Speaking at the opening of the workshop was the Secretary of the Department, Ms. Lynette Baratai-Pokas, who explained that the Valuation Roll strengthens broader land administration functions, including setting land rentals, guiding zoning and planning, resolving disputes, attracting fair investment, and ensuring transparency in land dealings. “These valuation rolls will set the basis for us on how we are going to go forward in setting up land rates and taxes in the future,” she said. “Your participation in attending this workshop is a testament to your commitment as a whole to support this department and its other stakeholders on how we can progress accountability and governance in the space of Land management and land development.” Bougainville will be the first region in PNG to receive not one, but four valuation rolls for the four townships of Buka, Buin, Arawa, Kieta, and Toniva. These valuation rolls will assist in: Urban Planning & Zoning – helping to guide development decisions in towns like Buka, Arawa, and Buin. Land Rentals & Revenue – providing valuation data that will be used to set fair land rental rates and support budgeting. Dispute Resolution – providing accurate valuations that will help resolve land ownership and usage disputes.  Investment and Transparency - attracting responsible investment by ensuring land dealings are transparent. Participants who were at the workshop expressed their gratitude at being invited to attend the workshop and stressed that there was a mammoth task for all participants and stakeholders to work together with the department to understand the valuation rolls, the vital role it plays in generating revenue for the townships, and how to set the land rates and land rentals.

The Kroton Hela Wigmen who is currently sitting on the 6th place on the Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup Ladder for 2025 season is setting its eyes on winning this weekend’s game at the Santos National Football Stadium as they go up against the Kimbe Cutters. Wigmen Coach Mr. Ian Yaro stated that with just 1 or 2 points difference on percentage amongst other clubs, winning this weekend game is crucial. “Sitting on the top 6 is still not healthy because we are just 1 or 2 points difference, and if we win, plus if the Lahanis and the Vipers somehow loose this weekend game then we have better chance of moving up to 4th place, however, this weekend game is a must win for the boys.” Coach Ian described the upcoming game as a crunch time for the Wigmen, saying they will be fighting to remain in the top 6. He also highlighted that the club had a bit of a rough year in this season game, with 18 rounds played, and 9 home games, only 5 was won here in Port Moresby and this one this weekend is very crucial. “Winning games when we travel out and play out is always a bonus for us, but then winning home games too is important and we want to do just that this weekend and by all means more win on home game in the next season.” “Wishing my boys all the best this weekend this Saturday at 1pm when we meet the Cutters at the Santos Football Stadium, hoping we get this game as well as the next weekend game in Kokopo against the Guria, so we can advance to the finals.” All Kroton Hela Wigmen fans and supporters are urged to come support the boys this Saturday when they play their final home game for the 2025 season here in Port Moresby, before the finals in 2 weeks' time.