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Douglas Tomuriesa, Pope Francis and James Marape

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  Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa said he is disappointed and embarrassed over the way His Holiness Pope Francis was treated by Prime Minister James Marape over the last three-days during the Papal visit, and the lack of courtesy and respect shown by the Prime Minister. He said the Prime Minister continuously declares PNG as a ‘Christian country’ and prides himself on being a religious individual but he was surprised when the Pope was continuously snubbed by the PM over the weekend since the Pope’s arrival on Friday. “The Pope is the head of the Catholic church, the largest Christian church in the world and he is also a head of state. “PNG not only being a Christian country, but a country that prides itself as a ‘friend to all, enemy to none’, the PM should be according the Pope with the highest level of respect,” Tomuriesa said. The Opposition Leader pointed out that on Friday, the Prime Minister did not welcome the Pope at the airport, a tradition he had accorded to many othe...
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Gearing up for World Cup

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  July 9, 2021 Sports GREETINGS to our rugby league family and welcome to our 19th edition of “Fulltime Reserve” column for this year, in our favourite rugby league newspaper,  The National . The Papua New Guinea Rugby League’s 2021 World Cup plans received a huge boost this week with the confirmation of Oil Search PNG Orchids captain Elsie Albert’s travel to Australia today after successfully securing a playing contract with the St. Marys Saints women’s rugby league team in the New South Wales women’s rugby league competition. The PNGRFL is extremely grateful to the tremendous support provided to Elsie by the Australian Embassy and the DFAT team in PNG. We also acknowledge the support of Elsie’s player agent, Mr Robin Kawaipa in Brisbane, who has been instrumental in getting her contract renewed assisting the PNGRFL. This opportunity follows from her successful debut season with the St George Dragons in the National Women’s Rugby League in Australia last year and the PNGRFL i...
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Families on repatriation

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  July 9, 2021 Main Stories By MIRIAM ZARRIGA ANOTHER repatriation exercise was carried out on Wednesday in Kimbe, West New Britain, as the provincial government began evicting Sepiks. A total of 200 families, who were plaintiffs in a court case against the provincial government in 2009, were put on a boat in Kimbe. All were from East Sepik and were repatriated to their home province on Wednesday night. They’re scheduled to arrive in Wewak today on MV Momase charted by the WNB government. There were some mixed emotions from the people. Parents and grandparents were happy to return home but the young people – males and females – wept openly. They were sad leaving Kimbe as they said they were born and grew up there and regarded it as home. This second group included many youths. This brought the total repatriated to 297. The third repatriation exercise is scheduled for next Monday. The repatriation was only for the plaintiffs, those who took the WNB government to court. The court ord...
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PM: No breakaway provisions

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  July 9, 2021 Main Stories PRIME Minister James Marape says there are no provisions in Papua New Guinea’s Constitution that allows for one part of the country to break away and form its own country, including Bougainville. “The word ‘Independence’ was used as a referendum choice,” he said. “It does not mean the Government has automatically agreed to that move. “A political settlement can only happen for Bougainville when all parliamentary processes have been complied with, including a wide national consultation and Constitutional amendments reflecting the result of that consultation.” Marape said 2027 was the proposed date by the Autonomous Bougainville Government for its Independence. “The Government has tentatively accepted the date but at no point did we agree to Independence,” he clarified in a statement on Wednesday. “Sensitivity in disseminating information to the public is paramount as ‘Bougainville Independence’ not only meant changes to Bouganville’s political autonomy bu...
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1 dead in brawl

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  July 9, 2021 Main Stories POLICE and two tribes at 8-Mile are looking for a man who fatally wounded another in a drunken brawl at the Port Moresby settlement early yesterday. National Capital District Met Supt Gideon Ikumu said the tribesmen of the wounded man, who died on arrival at the Port Moresby General Hospital, took revenge and burnt seven houses belonging to the assailant’s tribe. “There was a drunken brawl in the early hours of yesterday when a man allegedly wounded another man,” Ikumu said. “The wounded man was taken to the Port Moresby General Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. “The suspect’s (assailant) tribesmen then began mobilising to start up another fight but quick response from policemen and community leaders calmed them down.” The Met Supt said the conflicting parties gathered and talked and the leaders of the suspect’s tribe were sent throughout the city to look for the suspect. “In fact, everyone in that settlement, including the rest of the suspect’s t...
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Mead scores on return

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  May 24, 2021 Sports By PARKER TAMBUA PAPUA New Guinea Kumul David Mead scored a hat-trick in Brisbane’s 34-16 upset win over the Roosters in round 11 of the National Rugby League at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday. Demoted by coach Kevin Walters last month, the Central native made his first-grade return and finished with 231 run meters, two tackle busts, a line break and a hat-trick to help his side register their third win of the season. “It was good to win and be part of the 17 again,” the 33-year-old told The National. “Tries are always bonus when you win. “I thought we defended well. “Our forwards, led by Tevita Pangai Jr and Matt Lodge, played tough and smart which helped us a lot.” Mead scored his first try in the 26th minute when club debutant Albert Kelly combined with fullback Jamayne Isaako and centre Dale Copley to set up the PNG international on the left edge. His second try came via an intercept off Roosters playmaker Sam Walker’s pass which saw him run 95 mete...
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K230mil for roll verification

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  May 24, 2021 Main Stories THE cost of implementing a roll verification system in Papua New Guinea is around K230 million, according to acting Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai. “This is a lot of money. But given past election records, it is (an) affordable cost,” Sinai said. He said the 2012 general election cost close to K800 million. He said the 2017 one cost around K400 million. The cost covered the process from enrolment to polling. “If we establish this system with a photo roll, we will spend less to maintain the roll in 2027,” Sinai said. “This exercise can be rolled out in less than 12 months. But time is against us. “If the funds are timely appropriated, I am sure and confident that we are technically ready to take it. “We have had enough of the hijacking of elections and its results by bullying citizens. “We start blaming the Electoral Commission, not knowing the truth involved when managing these activities. “I wish to see people change for the better and take ownershi...
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Czuba fights suspension

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  May 24, 2021 Main Stories By KARO JESSE A COURT has rejected an application by Fr Jan Czuba to stay a Cabinet decision to suspend him as secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology. Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi rejected Fr Jan’s urgent application in the National Court to stay the decision and to restrain the State from taking any disciplinary action against him, intimidate or harass him, pending the ruling on his application for a judicial review of his suspension. Police charged Fr Jan with one count of official corruption and nine counts of abuse of office on Dec 18, 2020. He will return to court on May 31 when his application for leave to review the Cabinet decision will be heard. Fr Jan was suspended on May 12 following a Cabinet decision that was gazetted on May 18. DHERST Minister Wesley Raminai said Fr Jan was under criminal investigations and would return when he cleared his name. He is suspended with pay. Dr Francis Hualupm...
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REMNANT AJ Group Limited donated a new vehicle to NHC

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  REMNANT AJ Group Limited, one of the contactor who was engaged by the National Housing Corporation to connect the sewage system at the NHC’s new Durand Project site donated a new vehicle to NHC on Friday, 7th June, 2024. The key of the new vehicle that costed the company close to K150, 000 was presented to the NHC’s project management division who will be using the vehicle to do inspection on the Durand project site on a daily basis. NHC Acting Managing Director Abel Tol while thanking the Company Managing Director Andy Minok, he said purchasing a vehicle by the contractor and donating it to NHC was one of the requirement written on the Contract signed. Tol said this company, Remnant AJ Group Limited was awarded a K3. 2 Million worth Project and that was to fix and connect the sewage system from the MacGregor Police Barracks all the way to the main Sewer. This contract was awarded to this named company in July last year and this is one of the few contractors who were engaged by N...
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MARAPE’S DECISION DEFICIENCY

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MARAPE’S DECISION DEFICIENCY* Wednesday 5 June 2024 Approved for release – Recently some political commentators who blindly endorse Hon James Marape as the Prime Minister, decried the Opposition’s push for a VONC, arguing that “a change in the Prime Minister will not fix the problems the country has.” This is where they are wrong. Decisions have the power to affect people and the decisions, or indecision, of a Prime Minister, affect the nation. This is the most important leadership quality that evades Marape – the innate ability to make decisions that are in the country’s best interests.  If Marape was serious about the country, he would make the following decisions to save PNG:  1) Review the national budget and cut spending, stop borrowing, and reduce taxes.  2) Give the Central Bank their independence back.  3) Stop printing money at the Central Bank.  4) Stop Connect PNG and other pork-barrel programs.  5) Give each province Block Grants and greater aut...
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Speaker's Decision Sparks Controversy in Parliament

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The parliament’s speaker Job Pomat’s decision on Wednesday has ignited a fierce debate among members, highlighting the complexities and challenges of parliamentary procedures.  In a phone interview yesterday afternoon with Kalang News, Douglas Tomuriesa, the Member for Kiriwina-Goodenough, and the Opposition Leader expressed the oppositions concerns regarding the Speaker's ruling, which they argue undermines the decorum and impartiality expected of the chair. Tomuriesa emphasized the importance of maintaining respect and dignity in the House, asserting that the Speaker must embody impartiality. "The decorum of the House depends on the chair, and the respect, the dignity of the chair must always be maintained. In this case, impartiality is very important," he stated. He criticized the Speaker's approach, questioning the decision to seek court clarification after making a ruling. "It's like putting the cart before the horse. How can you make your ruling and lat...
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Cockfighting ops busted

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  February 1, 20 22 Main Stories Police rounding up the men and a woman at Sumomini, West Sepik. By MIRIAM ZARRIGA in Vanimo POLICE have busted an illegal cockfighting operation run by expatriates in the mountains of Vanimo-Green’s Sumomini in West Sepik on Sunday afternoon. About 30 men from Indonesia, Malaysia and China, and a woman from Indonesia, had been taking bets on the cockfights were arrested. Police Commissioner David Manning was informed of the bust by policemen in Vanimo on Sunday afternoon after they returned from the mountains. Manning told  The National  that the cockerels were specially bred and conditioned for increased stamina and strength to get them more aggressive. “The cockerels are injected with drugs brought in by their owners. “The birds are then fitted with razors, known as gaffs, and the ‘armed’ cockerels are then put into a ring, called cockpit, to fight until one is maimed or dead. “I have told the policemen to ensure that the expatriates are...
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Provincial MP for West New Britain, Sasindran Muthuvel has called on the government to commit to the people of Papua New Guinea that it will prioritise Papua New Guineans in the sale of Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited’s (MVIL) shares in BSP Financial Group.

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 Provincial MP for West New Britain, Sasindran Muthuvel has called on the government to commit to the people of Papua New Guinea that it will prioritise Papua New Guineans in the sale of Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited’s (MVIL) shares in BSP Financial Group.  Governor Muthuvel said that given the National Executive Council has approved this decision and is now a foregone conclusion, the next best step is to ensure Papua New Guineans do not lose shareholding in such an important commercial entity.  Mr Muthuvel said: “I understand the government has indicated unofficially that its intention is to sell these shares to Papua New Guineans, but they must put this commitment on paper to properly assure the nation.  “Contradictory to these remarks, the NEC decision that gave effect to the selling of shares has no explicit directive to ensure these shares are  exclusively sold to Papua New Guineans.  “Majority ownership of BSP shares are one of the biggest assets ou...
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