​Commonwealth countries have agreed to further enhance efforts to deal the threats posed by the spread of malaria, particularly in developing nations.

Speaking at the 2018 Malaria Summit London, that was held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London this week, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O’Neill CMG MP, committed to enhance regional efforts to combat the disease.

The Summit, that included presentations from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair, Bill Gates, the Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Charles, and a number of world leaders, discussed plans to overcome malaria within the next generation.

PM O’Neill provided insight on current efforts in Papua New Guinea to treat the disease and to enhance preparedness for affected areas.

“Commonwealth countries have made great progress in dealing with malaria over recent decades,” the Prime Minister said.

“At the same time in our own country, and around the Commonwealth, there have been increases in the number of cases of Malaria in certain areas.
“We all know that Malaria affects the poorest in our communities, particularly the most vulnerable, our children.

“Malaria affects productivity and leads to economic and social hardship.

“Being poor should never deny a person’s right to a healthy and productive life.

“Papua New Guinea joins with our Commonwealth partners to better deliver care to those who contract the disease, and to work harder on prevention.”
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of international co-operation to strengthen efforts.

“In Papua New Guinea, we thank the many partner countries, NGOs and the private sector, who have joined with us to fight malaria in our country and in other nations.

“I would like to thank the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their generous contributions to combat the spread of malaria and other disease such as tuberculosis.

“I look forward to continuing our commitment to eliminate malaria from our country, from Melanesia, from the Pacific region and from the Commonwealth.

At the conclusion of the Summit, the Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands signed a joint communique to maintain focus on eliminating malaria.
In the Communique, the Leaders: “Reaffirmed commitment to the goal of an Asia-Pacific free of malaria by 2030. We endorse the Asia-Pacific Leaders’ Malaria Elimination Roadmap as a framework for shared action. We are committed to the Roadmap’s six priority areas.”

Prime Minister O’Neill said through the Asia-Pacific Leaders’ Malaria Elimination Roadmap, Pacific countries are uniting national efforts and regional action to combat this disease.
“This includes better mapping of infections, and strengthening preventative measures.

“We are enhancing the delivery of high-quality malaria services, with better testing and the delivery of medicines, and the distribution of mosquito nets and insecticides.

“We are further increasing domestic financing and working with global partners, while undertaking real innovation in all of our measures to prevent the spread of malaria.”

The PNG Hunters rugby league team have partnered with Child Fund to educate and carry out awareness about violence in Papua New Guinea.

The team visited the Bomana Primary School outside Port Moresby this week to spread the message of "singaut lo stopim pasin bagarap", or stopping violence.

Hunters lock forward Rhadley Brawa said it was important to educate kids at a young age.

"We came here to talk about violence and it's very important to educate these little kids as young as they are," he said.

"To educate them and when they grow up it's going to help them with their mindsets so it's very good we came here and it was really good for the students too seeing the Hunters boys and what the Hunters does for the community.

"To educate the kids that violence against sports and any violence at all - which involves school bullying - it's not good for students or schools in PNG," said Brawa.

"So it was very important for us to come here and talk to the students because we know that as young as they are if we instil their minds with good respect and education in the future it's going to be play a lot for developing our country."

Statistics by the Medecens Sans Frontiers shows that in PNG four in five homes have experienced family violence, eight in ten homes have experienced domestic violence and one in two women had been treated for partner violence.

The Hunters host the South Logan Magpies in Port Moresby on Sunday as they seek to end a two match losing run.  Radio New Zealand 

​Students hit by a near doubling of tuition fees at the University of Papua New Guinea are complaining about the cost of graduation. As well as having to pay an annual $US8 (25 kina) fee for the Student Representative Council that was abolished in 2016, they said $US300 graduation costs were exorbitant.

Graduating student Charity Daniel said paying US$120 to rent a gown on top of the $US180 graduation fee was too much.

"It's really frustrating you know. After four years our parents paid our school fees and for he graduation we have to pay another fee again just to get the degree and it's so frustrating for the parents, especially when most of out parents come from a village it's really a struggle for the parents to pay."

Final year science student from the Highlands Alphonse Alex said students were paying the $US8 (25 kina) without having a student council or representative on the university's board.

"The decisions making in the school board, there's no representative for students inside, so it's biased. They make the decisions and the student doesn't have any say - since 2016 on that issue. [In] 2017 and this year 2018 we are still paying 25 kina."

Alphonse Alex and 1200 other students will soon graduate from the University of Papua New Guinea which nearly doubled its tuition fees this year.

The council was abolished after it led a weeks-long class boycott against Prime Minister Peter O'Neil that resulted in the academic year being cancelled. Source: Radio New Zealand 

Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato joined the Pacific Leaders in a short briefing before the 25thCommonwealth Heads of Government Summit starts in London, United Kingdom from April 16th-20th.
As seen in the picture, Pato joined Samoa Prime Minister and Chairman of the Pacific Island Forum Tuilaepa Lupesoliai with other Pacific Island leaders for the pre-Summit brief to discuss Pacific’s stand on the 2018 Summit theme: “Towards a Common Future.”
Queen Elizabeth II will chair the meeting with issues on the agenda ranging from:

• – Weak global trade and investment flows
• – 21st century security threats which ignore borders
• – How to increase resilience of small and other vulnerable states in the face of climate change especially its impact on our oceans
• – How to advance our shared values of democracy, good governance set out in the Commonwealth charter

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill will also be attending this meeting which will be chaired by Queen Elizabeth II.

​ATTORNEY General Davis Steven yesterday ruled himself out as the authority to determine the resurrection of a Leadership Tribunal against Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta.

Mr Steven said instead it was the responsibility of the Public Prosecutor alone.

Mr Steven said he was clarifying general statements which may have been misconstrued on the law relating to the fate of any incomplete leadership tribunal.

“In reference to the matter involving the Governor for Gulf Province, my position is that only the Public Prosecutor is authorised in law to assess and decide any action in the matter,” Mr Steven said.

“It is not for me or any other authority to decide.

“I regret the conclusions and insinuations now been drawn from the article that appeared in The National and the statements purportedly attributed to me.

“I can understand the leader’s reaction in the circumstances. I also understand the public interest in such matters and the role of our governance agencies and the place of a responsible media.

“In my humble view, the law is clear on the procedure pertaining to the referral of a leader for alleged misconduct in office. There are judicial pronouncements on the jurisdiction of a leadership tribunal and procedure in the event that a leadership tribunal does not complete its inquiry into the allegations leveled against a leader.

“I agree that public confidence and respect for our laws and systems of governance is very important for our nation.

“I admit that from time to time, I may falter in the discharge of my duties as Attorney General and Minister for Justice. But I am also under solemn oath as a lawyer, to uphold the Constitution and the laws of our country at all times, without fear or favour.” Press Release 

​The matter of transnational criminals being allowed to reenter the country was brought up in parliament yesterday.

Oro governor Garry Juffa asked the Minister for immigrations and Border Security Mr Petrus Thomas during question time why convicted felons deported for prior crimes against the nation were being allowed to return to the country seemingly unscathed.

Speaking about a particular foreigner who was deported in 2012 after being convicted of tax evasion among other unlawful activities, Mr Juffa said he had it on good authority that this foreign criminal reentered the country in June last year.

“Whether he is operating legitimately or carrying out illegal activities again is something I’ll leave for you to decide.

“The big question is what business does a deported transnational criminal have in our country?” said Mr Juffa.

The Oro governor who has been vocal about the issue since the unexplained dissolution of PNG’s Immigration Task Force in 2013, further asked the immigration minister if there was a ‘blacklist’ in place that recorded the names of such foreign criminals.

The governor concluded by suggesting that the administrative arm of the ministers’ immigration and citizenship service had loopholes that were still being exploited by foreigners with bad intentions.

Minister Thomas in responding said that he was aware of a list detailing deported criminals but that once deported under criminal allegations or convictions, these individuals or groups are subject to no further scrutinizing by local law enforcement agencies.

“Once they are deported, if they choose to enter PNG again, they will have to apply for reentry just like any other expatriate trying to enter the country,” explained the Minister.

He said that the usual practice is to deny these sorts of applicants with bad records in-country but admitted that the alleged criminals’ resurfacing in PNG and others like him proved that there may be a loose end in his authority that needs to be exposed.

Minister Thomas said that he would address this issue post-haste. Postcourier/pngfacts

​The growing trend of niche markets is the foundation of creating sustainable revenue in the tourism industry in Papua New Guinea.
There were a total of five target niche market segments identified by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in partnership with the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority.
These segments include bird watching, diving, historical tourism, cultural tourism and soft adventure tourism.
IFC’s Pacific Tourism consultant Sara King and Becky Last said each of the market segments have different aspects to take into consideration when dealing with the tourism industry in Papua New Guinea.
Representatives from IFC indicated in their research that there were also international perception of PNG which included infrastructure concerns (safety & security, cleanliness, cost & prices) and strong tourism offerings (rich culture &friendliness of people, scenery & landscape, diverse recreational activities).
According to the research study presented yesterday by the International Finance Corporate, the 2017 international visitors survey a total of $US 205 million (K666,319, 963) was the total visitor spend from the visiting 86,403 visitors.
The survey incorporated key specifics like the purpose of visit, how much an individual visitor spends, regions visited in PNG, visitors satisfaction and the top five sectors benefiting from tourism.
These five sectors benefiting from tourism included accommodation, airfares, food & beverage, local transport and domestic travel.
The amount spent by one visitor was highlighted to be at $ US 2,371 (K7,706.56) and the percentage graph indicated that majority of the visitors were Australians.
The research also highlighted that potential of the respective niche markets can contribute significantly to the local economy.Given the fact that visitors have the preferences to choose from which tourism niche market segment they feel comfortable with.

​Papua New Guinea's foreign minister has had talks with China about establishing a free trade agreement between the two countries.

Rimbink Pato has just completed a visit to Beijing where he had discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

Mr Pato has told PNG media that as a result of their talks, China has agreed to pursue a free trade deal and will do a feasibility study.

Plans for the feasibility study, and a related Memorandum of Understanding are expected to be signed later this year between the two governments.

This would take place in November when China's president Xi Jinping visits PNG for the APEC leader's summit.

According to Mr Pato, Minister Wang Yi would travel to PNG in October to prepare for the signing.

In addition to the free trade idea, the two foreign ministers discussed a number of matters including visa fee waiver for government officials and diplomats in China and PNG.

Mr Pato also pushed Beijing on whether it could soon facilitate Air Niugini's direct flights into Shanghai.

Furthermore, China has reportedly signed off on China's support to PNG for its hosting of the APEC leader's summit.

The terms of this ongoing support remain unclear, but China has already invested significantly towards infrastructure projects which PNG will rely on when APEC leaders visit.

Chief among these projects is PNG's new International Convention Centre in Port Moresby which Beijing reportedly contributed US$ 27-million towards the construction of.

The convention centre was officially opened last week by PNG prime minister Peter O'Neill who paid tribute to the country's growing relationship with China. He said PNG was working with China in reducing trade barriers and promoting investment between the two countries.

"The recent re-election of President Xi Jinping is continuing to enhance this great era of development and growth - not only in the Asia Pacific region, but globally," Mr O'Neill said.

"We have similar views about development, as our people need to move from lower income earning into better incomes and the middle class and to experience real prosperity."

"The One Belt - One Road initiative that is being implemented by President Xi Jinping will again deliver very clear benefits and open up new markets and opportunities especially for our agricultural produce."

Mr O'Neill said that the Chinese-built infrastructure in PNG, also including new roading projects, would benefit Papua New Guineans for many decades. Source: Radio New Zealand 

​A moratorium has been placed on mineral exploration and activities in Bougainville.
 
President John Momis announced the indefinite moratorium following resolution by the House of Representatives to cease all exploration activities.
 
Momis said the decision could not be avoided and was made in the best interest of landowners and the people of Bougainville as the region prepares for its referendum next year.
 
He said it was absolutely clear that the landowners and the people of Panguna are divided over their preferred developer of the project and at the same time the landowner leadership remains unresolved creating factional groups with opposing views and positions on how the mine should be developed.
 
“This has posed a challenging and untenable situation for the ABG as it strives towards achieving fiscal self-reliance and forging peace leading up to the referendum,” said Momis.
 
“The clear message from the BHoR is that as long as the landowners remain divided and not united over the Panguna project, the moratorium will remain indefinitely and the onus is on the landowners to make a genuine effort to unite.”
 
Momis said since 2012 the ABG had invested a lot of time and money to unite the landowners and the Bougainville people to reopen the Panguna mine and today while most Bougainvilleans are in favour of reopening the mine, the Panguna landowners are holding the region at ransom.
 
He said it is hoped that the landowners realise this and resolve to work together to assist the ABG develop the project for the benefit of all Bougainvilleans.
 
“As President of the only legitimate government on Bougainville, let me also caution foreigners who are guests in Bougainville to respect our customs and traditional ways of resolving our domestic differences.
 
“Our priority going forward will be to work with the landowners and the people of Bougainville to unite them on the future of Panguna and my government will not tolerate foreign guest who interfere with our effort to unite our people on this important matter,” Momis said.

SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS