AN estimated 1.4 million Papua New Guineans are affected by gender-based violence annually, with accusations of sorcery one of the many issues women and girls face, an inquiry has been told. A two-day public inquiry on gender-based violence before a special parliamentary committee in Port Moresby heard that it worked out to a woman dying or being injured every 30 seconds through such violence. Issues raised included prosecution, funding, polygamy, and access to services by victims. Voice for Change founder Lilly Be’Soer who is based in Jiwaka told inquiry chairman Charles Abel that accessibility to services by women in rural areas was a big problem. THE cost of implementing a roll verification system in Papua New Guinea is around K230 million, according to acting Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner (PNGEC) 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. Port Moresby based Police Unit Fox 301 members while on footbeat within the Port Moresby Gordon's shopping centre and bus stop, apprehended three (03) suspects who frequently harass the public and bag snatch along the bus stop area. Port Moresby: The Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) of PNGSI has come out strongly to express its dissatisfaction at the Government’s lack of consultation with local Churches in formulating the Inquiry on the Declaration of Papua New Guinea as a Christian Country. The emphasis was made at a Press Conference on Thursday 20th May, at the CBC headquarters in Gordons, that also had its media release highlighted in bold with the statement “…all considered, we do not deem it necessary to introduce amendments to the current PNG Constitution…” Speaking at the conference were His Excellency Archbishop Anton Bal, President of CBCPNGSI and Archbishop of Madang; His Eminence Sir John Cardinal Ribat MSC, Archbishop of Port Moresby; Bishop of Bereina, His Excellency Otto Separy; and Mr Paul Harricknen, President of Catholic Professional Society (CPS) PNG. Moderating the session was Fr Ambrose Pereira sdb, Social Communications Secretary. The Papua New Guinea High Courts has dismissed the application by PNG Opposition Leader Belden Namah regarding the non-tabling of the motion of vote of no confidence in last December’s Parliament session. The five-man Supreme Court bench comprising of Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, Justice David Cannings, Justice Derek Hartshorn, Justice Ere Kariko and Justice Thomas Anis upheld the submissions by the two interveners, in an unanimously decision to dismiss the matter. The two interveners are Attorney General Dr. Eric Kwa and Parliament Speaker, Job Pomat. Namah, through his lawyers from Young and Williams Lawyers had made submissions that the Speaker’s decision on December 16, 2020 to adjourn Parliament to April 20, 2021 without debating and voting on the motion of no confidence breached some provisions of the Constitution. The Office of the Member for Lae has supported the Lae based Northern Mobile Group with K10,000 worth of fuel for its operations in securing law and order in Lae and surrounding communities. Lae MP John Rosso says this is to compliment logistical support given to the Lae Metropolitan Police Command over the last three years. Law and order is an important sector that needs to be funded and supported by everyone to ensure Lae is safe and conducive for economic growth and development. The Papua New Guinea Government intervention is urgently required on rising fees, surcharges, and prices of goods and services throughout the country, Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Belden Norman Namah said today. Mr Namah described as ‘economic madness’ the government’s management of the economy and described Prime Minister James Marape as ‘heartless, helpless and hopeless’. The Farmers and Settlers Association have complained of huge fees and surcharges ranging from 100(%) per cent to over 500(%) per cent of existing prices. “Association President, Mr Wilson Thompson is fighting a lonely and uphill battle presenting the case for the farmers but nobody in government seems to be listening,” Mr Namah said. Australia is supporting its Pacific and Timor-Leste partners as we work together to recover as a region from the health, economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In further steps towards recovery, Australia will provide an additional $52 million in targeted financing to assist our partners in the Government of Papua New Guinea’s response to COVID-19, supporting continued delivery of critical health and education services to Papua New Guineans. In the health sector, this will assist faith-based organisations to provide accessible primary health care. In the education sector, it will help finance the cost of Papua New Guinea government tuition for primary school children. The financing is part of Australia’s $304.7 million Pacific COVID-19 Response Package announced in last year’s Federal Budget to help our Pacific and Timor-Leste partners to manage the economic and fiscal shocks of COVID-19, and to maintain critical social services. 11 year old Esther Yari who was found crying at the 4 mile bus stop at 6.30pm yesterday, was returned to her mum today at Bautama. Esther was consoled by a group of sympathetic Papuans and taken on a PMV to Gaire village. Ray, a father who took the responsibility of providing care for the distraught child, said Esther related very well with his own children and momentarily forgot about her own plight. Today Ray's family took Esther to Bautama and she hugged her mum. Port Moresby based police unit FOx 201 have arrested three (3) suspects for raping a woman. It was alleged that on the 13th of April 2021 a single mother of 4 children was gang raped by three male suspects. She had lodged her complaint at Port Moresby Gerehu Police Station, however the three suspects went into hiding. |
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