NewsLink PNG

Author: News-Link PNG

  • Alumni rally behind 30th DWU’s Anniversary  celebrations

    The spirit of “Pasin Diwai” is being celebrated far beyond the classrooms of Divine Word University, as former students across Papua New Guinea return to their alma mater to mark its 30th anniversary.

    For generations of graduates, DWU has been more than a place of learning. It has become a lifelong community built on friendship, service, professionalism and a commitment to giving back.

    That bond is now being demonstrated through the university’s provincial alumni chapters, which continue to support DWU and strengthen its relationship with former students.

    The DWU Alumni Association was established to foster participation in university activities, promote DWU and assist the institution through fundraising. Its provincial chapters include Madang, East New Britain and Port Moresby, with others developing across the country.

    The latest gesture came from the DWU Madang Alumni Chapter, which contributed K13,000 towards the university’s 30th anniversary celebrations, demonstrating that the relationship between graduates and their university continues long after graduation. The university has welcomed the contribution as a meaningful expression of alumni commitment and partnership.

    In Port Moresby, the celebrations have taken a colourful turn, with alumni joining a vehicle motorcade through the capital on August 15 before gathering at the DWU Port Moresby campus.

    The celebration program has brought together alumni, students, staff, partners and friends of the university, with exhibitions, entertainment and a corporate dinner forming part of the anniversary activities.

    At the heart of the celebrations is “Pasin Diwai”, a phrase that has become synonymous with the DWU identity. It represents the values, friendships, discipline and sense of service that graduates carry with them into their professional and community lives.

    For the alumni, supporting DWU is therefore more than fundraising.

    It is a way of giving back to the institution that helped shape their lives, while ensuring future generations can experience the same DWU journey.

    As the university celebrates 30 years, its alumni are showing that graduation is not goodbye.

    It is the beginning of a lifelong partnership.

    Pasin Diwai stap.

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  • Justice Ere Kariko leaves lasting legacy on PNG judiciary

    Papua New Guinea’s judiciary is mourning the death of one of its most senior and respected judges, Justice Ere Kariko, who passed away on yesterday (Tuesday) evening, August 18, 2026, after a short illness.

    Justice Kariko’s death marks the loss of a distinguished judicial officer whose career spanned decades and whose contribution to the administration of justice left a significant mark on Papua New Guinea’s legal system.

    He was a long-serving member of the National and Supreme Courts and, at the time of his death, was among the most senior judges on the Bench. The PNG Judiciary’s 2026 records list him as the 10th most senior serving judge, with the title Justice Ere Kariko CBE, MBE.

    Justice Kariko was appointed a judge of the National and Supreme Courts for a 10-year term commencing on July 8, 2019, under an appointment by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.

    His judicial career, however, had begun much earlier. A Papua New Guinea Centre for Judicial Excellence profile records that he completed his LLB at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1987 and was admitted to the Bar in 1988. It also identifies him as a judge from 2010, reflecting more than 16 years of judicial service.

    For many years, Justice Kariko was a familiar figure in the country’s highest court, sitting on important constitutional, criminal, civil and electoral matters.

    He was also involved in strengthening professional standards within the legal fraternity. In 2016, while admitting new lawyers to practice, he reminded them to remain focused, prepare properly and maintain the standards expected of the profession.

    His name also appears prominently in the development of judicial institutions, including as chairman of the Judiciary Complaints Committee.

    Justice Kariko’s passing leaves a significant vacancy on the Bench and brings to an end the career of a judge who devoted much of his professional life to the law and the service of justice.

    His legacy will live on through the judgments he delivered, the lawyers and judicial officers he guided, and the contribution he made to the development of Papua New Guinea’s justice system.

    The nation now mourns a senior jurist whose life was closely intertwined with the law and the judiciary he served for so many years.

    Rest in peace, Justice Ere Kariko.

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  • MULITAKA LANDSLIDE VICTIMS DEMAND ANSWERS IN PEACEFUL PROTEST

    FRUSTRATIONS over the slow progress of the Mulitaka resettlement program spilled onto the streets of Wabag on Friday, as hundreds of landslide survivors staged a peaceful protest, demanding accountability over millions of kina donated for relief and resettlement following the country’s worst natural disaster.

    Carrying a petition and place cards, the affected people, community leaders and representatives of the Mulitaka Resettlement Authority marched peacefully through Wabag town intending to present their petition to the Enga Provincial Executive Council. However, no provincial officials at the Enga Provincial Headquarters were available to receive their petition. The group handed the petition to Enga Provincial Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Steven Harris, for onward delivery to the relevant authorities.

    The protest was organised after repeated requests by the Mulitaka Resettlement Authority for financial and physical reports on disaster donations allegedly went unanswered by the Enga Provincial authorities.
    A Community Leader, Willie Ipua said the demonstration reflected the growing frustration of families who have spent more than two years waiting for permanent resettlement while seeking transparency over funds donated in their name.

    Speaking on behalf of the displaced communities, Mr Ipua said the victims had remained patient but believed the time had come for authorities to account for every kina and every item donated by governments, businesses, churches, schools, humanitarian organisations and international partners following the devastating Mulitaka landslide.

    “Our people have suffered enough. We are only asking for transparency, accountability and proper governance so the people affected by this tragedy can finally rebuild their lives,” he said.

    The petition dated July 30, 2026, and signed by community leaders and members of the Mulitaka Resettlement Authority, contains two major demands directed at both the Enga Provincial Government and the Mulitaka Resettlement Authority Board.

    The first demand calls for the immediate release of a comprehensive physical and financial report detailing all donations received for the Mulitaka disaster response. T
    he petition states that relief assistance came from mining companies, provincial governments, corporate organisations, churches, educational institutions, the public and several international partners including Australia, China, Japan, the United States, France, South Korea, the European Union and the International Organisation for Migration.

    The affected communities are seeking a complete register of all donations, identities of donors, expenditure records supported by payment vouchers and receipts, distribution records showing who received assistance and the remaining balance of funds still under the custody of the Enga Provincial Disaster Management Committee. They also demand that any remaining funds be transferred to the Mulitaka Resettlement Authority once its official bank account becomes operational to support long term livelihood and small business programs for internally displaced people.

    The second demand focuses on the governance of the Mulitaka Resettlement Authority. The petition calls for the revocation of the appointment of acting Chief Executive Officer, Nason Kaki, alleging the appointment did not follow the Wabag Accord reached during the establishment of the authority.
    It further alleges board meeting minutes were altered to reflect the appointment and claims the matter is already the subject of complaints lodged with fraud investigators. The petition also seeks the suspension of Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Secretary, Philip Leo from his role as a form official board member pending investigations.

    The petition gives authorities seven days to respond to the demand for financial accountability and urges the Mulitaka Resettlement Authority Board and relevant government agencies to address concerns surrounding the authority’s leadership. It warns that failure to act could trigger legal proceedings and further community action, including disruption of traffic along the Highlands Highway.

    The Mulitaka landslide, which claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands of people, attracted one of the largest humanitarian responses in Papua New Guinea’s history. More than two years later, many survivors remain displaced and continue to wait for permanent resettlement.

    Friday’s peaceful march has now placed renewed pressure on the Enga Provincial Government and the National Government to provide answers on the management of disaster funds and ensure the resettlement of Mulitaka survivors remains a national priority.

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  • COURT DISMISS ALL CHARGES AGAINST POLYE.

    The ICAC case against former Kandep MP Don Polye collapsed in the Waigani District Court yesterday after a magistrate found there was insufficient evidence to support any of the allegations brought against him.

    Senior Magistrate Paul Puri Nii dismissed all charges laid by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, ruling that the evidence presented failed to establish a sufficient basis for Polye to be committed to stand trial before a higher court.

    The decision effectively brings to an end criminal proceedings that accused the former parliamentarian of attempting to pervert the course of justice, conspiring to defeat justice, and official corruption.

    With the assistance of top criminal lawyer, Edward Sasingian, Polye walked out of the courtroom smiling.

    The court examined whether the prosecution had presented enough credible and reliable evidence to justify a trial and after reviewing the case files and materials tendered by investigators, Magistrate Nii concluded that the evidence fell short of the legal threshold required for committal.

    The court found that the prosecution had not produced direct and reliable evidence capable of substantiating the charges. It also noted the absence of sufficient corroborative material linking Polye to the alleged offences.

    The ruling means the court was not satisfied that a properly instructed tribunal could reasonably convict based on the evidence presented.

    The charges had attracted public interest due to Polye’s prominence in national politics and his long career in public service. However, the magistrate stressed that allegations alone were not enough and that criminal charges must be supported by credible evidence before a defendant can be ordered to stand trial.

    The decision highlights the importance of thorough investigations and the need for prosecuting agencies to meet evidentiary requirements before bringing serious corruption related matters before the courts.

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  • RPNGC POSITIONS ITSELF AT THE CENTRE OF DIGITAL FUTURE

    The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) has declared its strongest commitment yet to driving national digital transformation, with Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) Dr Philip Mitna telling the 8th Business Council of PNG Future’s Forum that “security is everyone’s business — and if we want a stronger digital future, we must secure it together.”
    Representing Police Commissioner David Manning, Dr Mitna said the Constabulary is no longer just adapting to technology — it is actively reshaping policing to meet the demands of a rapidly digitising nation. He highlighted that modern policing now depends on reliable digital systems, strong cyber defences, and deep collaboration with the private sector.
    Dr Mitna outlined major milestones already achieved, including the launch of the RPNGC website, the 112 National Call Centre, expanded online services, and the establishment of a Cybercrime Investigation Unit supported by strengthened digital forensics.
    He emphasised that emerging technologies bring enormous opportunity but also unprecedented risk. Private sector organisations, he warned, hold vast volumes of personal and financial data that, if compromised, can fuel fraud, identity theft, and organised crime. “Safeguarding that data is not optional; it is fundamental to maintaining public trust, legal compliance, and economic stability,” he said.
    Calling for stronger partnerships, Dr Mitna urged businesses to invest in cyberresilience, rapid incident response, and responsible data stewardship. He reaffirmed that the RPNGC’s digital transformation strategy aligns with global best practice and is building a modern, technologydriven police force capable of protecting PNG in both the physical and digital worlds.

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  • PPL CEO WELCOMES JICA SUPPORT

    PNG Power Limited (PPL) Chief Executive Officer Paul Bayly has welcomed the continued partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), following a highlevel visit by Mr. Yoneda Gen, Director General of the Southeast Asia and Pacific Department at JICA Headquarters.
    Mr. Gen was in Papua New Guinea from 18–23 May, during which he joined PPL and JICA PNG teams to inspect the newly completed 132kV Singsing–Taraka Transmission Line in Lae, Morobe Province. The line, which is scheduled for official commissioning later this year, has already delivered significant improvements to transmission reliability and power quality for Lae customers.
    CEO Bayly said the new line represents a major step forward for the Ramu Grid.
    “The 132kV line not only stabilises supply for Lae but also provides essential redundancy for maintenance and load switching. This is the kind of resilient infrastructure PNG needs as demand continues to grow,” Mr. Bayly said.
    As part of the visit, PPL and JICA also explored future collaboration in power generation, focusing on opportunities to strengthen both the Ramu Grid and the Port Moresby Grid.
    On Saturday 23 May, CEO Bayly and Director General Gen visited the Rouna 3 Hydropower Plant, where discussions centred on the full refurbishment of Rouna 3 to complement the Asian Development Bank’s ongoing work on Rouna 1.
    “Refurbishing Rouna 1 and Rouna 3 is critical to ensuring longterm generation availability and improving reliability for Port Moresby customers,” Mr. Bayly said.
    “We value JICA’s partnership and their commitment to supporting PNG’s energy future.”
    PPL will continue working closely with JICA to progress feasibility assessments and identify priority investments that can deliver immediate and longterm benefits.

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  • PNG POWER CEO LEADS HIGH LEVEL VISIT TO BOOST RELIABILITY IN
    BULOLO AND WAUWARIA

    A SENIOR management team from PNG Power recently completed a three-day visit to the Bulolo and WauWaria electorates. The team was led by CEO Paul Bayly, Chief Technical Officer Tony Koiri, and Ramu Grid Momase Regional Manager Albert Nanako. Their visit reinforced PNG Power’s commitment to improving electricity reliability for communities, businesses, and major industrial partners across the two electorates.
    The delegation was joined by PNG Forest Product Chief Engineer Ben Grieg for the duration of the entire visit to these two electorates.
    For the WauWaria electorate, it was the first time a top PNG Power executive had visited the district and met frontline workers and their families—an important morale boost for staff who maintain the network under challenging conditions.
    The visit began in Bulolo with a highlevel meeting at Zenag Chicken, where CEO Bayly met Managing Director Stanley Leahy to discuss the progress of the critical 22kV power line upgrade and ongoing partnership efforts.
    The delegation also met with PNG Forest Products (PNGFP)—PNG Power’s longstanding generation partner—to review enhancement plans for the Wau–Baiune transmission line, a key supply corridor for the district. The team later toured PNGFP’s power plants in Bulolo to explore opportunities for deeper collaboration to stabilise generation and improve overall reliability.
    In Wau, the executive team conducted ontheground assessments of the district’s ongoing power instability and met with local stakeholders to address weekly outages affecting residents and businesses.
    At Hidden Valley Mine, CEO Bayly met with Community Affairs Manager Stanley Komunt to explore securing an alternative power supply via an 11kV line, utilising existing towers from the 604 line down to Wau.
    —also inspected potential hydropower sites at Kaisinik Village and Kaindi Road, identifying future renewable energy opportunities for the region.
    As part of the visit, the executive team hosted a dinner for PNG Power staff and their spouses—an event many described as the first formal recognition of the families who support frontline workers.
    CEO Bayly also announced the deployment of four new apprentices to support Wau’s linemen and strengthen local operational capacity.
    Local management expressed deep appreciation for the CEO’s presence, noting that having senior leadership on the ground demonstrates a renewed commitment to proactive people management and infrastructure prioritisation.
    Wau Centre Manager Morgan Legra formally thanked CEO Bayly and the executive team for their oversight and renewed focus on addressing the district’s power challenges.

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  • Ombudsman Commission escalates Chief Justice referral to NEC

    The Ombudsman Commission has escalated its pursuit of Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika by referring the matter directly to the National Executive Council despite the Acting Public Prosecutor dismissing all allegations against him for lack of evidence.

    Chief Ombudsman Richard Pagen confirmed the move after the Commission invoked constitutional powers allowing it to proceed independently where it believes a matter has not been properly referred for prosecution.

    The latest development follows Acting Public Prosecutor Helen Roalakona’s decision to drop all 50 misconduct allegations against Sir Gibbs after finding insufficient evidence to refer him to a leadership tribunal.

    In a statement outlining its reasons, the Ombudsman Commission said it had “considered the matter and decided in its deliberate judgment” under Section 29(2) of the Constitution and Section 27(3) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership to refer the case directly to the NEC for the appointment of a tribunal.

    The Commission argued that under the law it has authority to step in if the Public Prosecutor “fails to prosecute the matter within a reasonable period” or if the Commission believes the matter “has not been properly referred to the appropriate tribunal.”

    It said the NEC, chaired by the Prime Minister, has constitutional responsibility to determine whether allegations against the Chief Justice warrant investigation by a tribunal.

    Citing the Supreme Court Reference No. 3 of 2005, the Commission said the Constitution provides distinct grounds for the removal of law officers, including misconduct in office under the Leadership Code.

    The statement further noted that Section 179 of the Constitution empowers the NEC to appoint a tribunal if it is “satisfied that the question of removal from office of the Chief Justice should be investigated.”

    The Commission maintained that questions surrounding the referral process remained unresolved and informed Sir Gibbs of its decision to invoke its constitutional powers.

    The referral to the Chairman of the National Executive Council was formally delivered yesterday morning, setting the stage for the NEC to decide whether a tribunal should be established to investigate the allegations against the country’s top judge.

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  • PUBLIC PROSECUTOR DROPS ALL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE CHIEF JUSTICE

    Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika has been cleared of 50 misconduct allegations after the Office of the Public Prosecutor declared there was insufficient evidence to refer him to a Leadership Tribunal.

    Acting Public Prosecutor Helen Roalakona announced the decision at a press conference this afternoon, bringing an end to months of scrutiny following a referral by the Ombudsman Commission.

    Ms Roalakona said investigators closely examined the allegations, including claims relating to money received by the Chief Justice, but found the funds were derived from legitimate income sources that had already been declared in his annual statements.

    She said the evidence presented by the Ombudsman Commission did not meet the threshold required for a tribunal referral.

    The decision means Sir Gibbs will not face further leadership proceedings over the allegations.

    The Office of the Public Prosecutor said its assessment was based strictly on the evidence available and the requirements of the law.

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  • COURT REFUSES BID TO UNFREEZE K224 MILION OK TEDI TRUST FUNDS

    The National Court has refused an application by the Ok Tedi Fly River Development Foundation Limited to revoke restraining orders freezing more than K214 million held in three bank accounts amid allegations of misappropriation and dealings involving suspected criminal property.

    In a recent decision delivered in Waigani, Justice Susan Berrigan ruled there were reasonable grounds to suspect the funds were linked to offences under the Criminal Code, including misappropriation and dealing with property reasonably suspected of being criminal property.

    The case arose from an application by the Acting Public Prosecutor under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2022 seeking to preserve funds held in Credit Bank and Westpac accounts operated by the foundation. The restrained sums included K8.8 million, K15.5 million and nearly K190 million.

    The court heard that the funds originated from the Western Province Community Mine Continuation Agreement dividend trust account established to hold Ok Tedi Mining dividends for the benefit of Western Province communities.

    Justice Berrigan said investigations revealed large sums were transferred between various accounts without evidence of ministerial approval or compliance with trust conditions requiring the money to fund development projects.

    “At the time of the application I was satisfied that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that the monies held in each of the three bank accounts identified above were instruments of the offence of misappropriation,” Justice Berrigan said.

    The foundation argued the money lawfully belonged to it following National Court orders in 2018 appointing its trustee of the funds. It also relied on a 2024 criminal case in which several defendants were acquitted over related allegations.

    However, Justice Berrigan ruled the earlier criminal decision was not binding in the proceeds of crime proceedings.

    “The POCA specifically empowers the Public Prosecutor to bring proceedings seeking confiscation of tainted property both related to and separate from any criminal proceedings,” she said.

    The judge also criticised the way millions of kina were moved through multiple accounts and withdrawn through cash transactions, directors’ fees, consultancy payments and allowances.

    “In a little over a year, between January 2025 and January 2026, more than K10 million of the balance of the ANZ Trust Account was spent from three different accounts,” the judge observed.

    Justice Berrigan further found there was an obvious drafting error in Section 57 of the Proceeds of Crime Act and interpreted the law to ensure the restraining orders remained valid while confiscation proceedings were before the court.

    She said courts should use “good sense to remedy the situation” where legislation produces absurd results.

    The court ultimately dismissed the foundation’s application, ruling the restraining orders had not lapsed and should remain in force pending further proceedings.

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