The West New Britain Provincial Assembly who met on the eve of Independence (15th September) has elected Talasea MP Francis Maneke as the new Governor of the province.
Maneke was elected unopposed following the swearing in of the 12 LLG Presidents.

The Governor’s post was vacant when Sasindran Muthuvel was appointed as the State Enterprise Minister in the Marape Steven Government.

The Provincial Assembly had earlier met and voted Maneke but it was taken to court by Kandrian Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang.

​A controversial security contractor for refugees held on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island has been fined millions by Australia's government

The Guardian newspaper reported that Paladin had to pay back $US2.1million to the government for thousands of breaches of its performance indicators.

This was revealed in documents produced to Australia's Senate which has been reviewing the company's $US360 million government contract.

PNG ​PRIME Minister James Marape,  is urging unemployed people living in Port Moresby to return to their provinces and earn a living from the land.
Marape said the land was waiting for them to grow copra, coffee and cocoa. He promised that
the Government would help unemployed people return to their villages to join others there
start commercial agricultural ventures.
“The small agriculture businesses will be broken down into three categories:

• Women and girls;
• Men and youths; and,
• the Autonomous Region of Bougainville,” he said.“

​SOLTUNA Ltd, the manufacturer of the Solomon Blue tinned-fish imported and sold in Papua New Guinea does have counterfeit measures to alert customers if the product is fake, a company official says.
Marketing manager Kenwood Harry told PNG media that the original Solomon Blue can would have the trademark printed on top of the product. Harry said the normal cover label on the side was not a full-proof measure because anyone could use the sticker from an original brand to stick on a fake product and distribute for sale.

VANIMO-Green MP Belden Namah, elected Opposition Leader for the third time in his 12-year career as a parliamentarian yesterday, says the Government is “disorganised” and “unworkable”.
Despite having only five MPs including himself on the Opposition benches, the firebrand politician vows to keep the James Marape-led coalition government on its toes in the 111-member House.
“The (five) members who remain in Opposition to this disorganised government are standing up for what we believe in,” he said.
“We may be small in number but we are united by conviction and desire to develop our country and will hold this government to account.”

​The new Opposition Leader Beldan Namah in a press conference this afternoon assured the nation, the five men opposition team will continue with the Supreme Court Reference, filed by the former opposition leader, Patrick Pruaitch, on the 30th of May 2019, questioning the validity of the election of Prime Minister James Marape .

Mr Namah, says the Opposition believes that process was not followed and this will be heard by the court for their deliberation and decision, based on rule of law.

​FORMER Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, pictured, has condemned the planned slashing of service improvement programme funds for provinces and districts saying it will hurt the people, especially those in rural areas.
O’Neill was responding to a statement by his successor James Marape warning that cuts should be expected in the funding of certain programmes when the Supplementary Budget is tabled in Parliament next month.
Marape mentioned the district service improvement programme (DSIP) and provincial service improvement programme (PSIP).

Christians throughout Port Moresby have been urged to join the planned march in support of West Papua today.

President of the Catholic Professionals Society of PNG, Paul Harricknen, says it is the duty of every Christian to pray and advocate for justice, peace and human rights for the suffering.

Between thirteen to fourteen West Papuans have lost their lives due to the recent protests for self-determination across their country.

The demonstrations which were sparked after Indonesian military and police called West Papuan students 'monkeys' has since escalated with locals coming out in several regencies of Jayapura Wamena and Deiyai among others in protest.

Chairman of the Free Papua Movement Jeffrey Bomay told NBC News, it is has become an 'emergency situation' as the protests continue with the Indonesian Government also blocking internet access for everyone.

The National Government through the Internal Revenue Commission owes the Central Provincial Government an estimated K100 million kina in Goods and Services Tax (GST) for 2004-2010.

Central Provincial Governor Robert Agarobe yesterday revealed in Parliament that a further K328 million is owed in GST dating back to 2016.