SAMARAI-Murua MP Isi Henry Leonard has remained as MP- elect after defeating close rival Gordon Wesley for the second time at the end of the National Court-ordered recount.
The returning officer presented the recount results on Tuesday afternoon before trial judge Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika who then endorsed the result, the judge’s office confirmed this yesterday.
The recount results saw Mr Leonard scoring 6257 votes ahead of Mr Wesley, who was the petitioner and former MP, with 6230 votes.
Sir Gibbs had ordered the recount on March 28 after upholding Mr Wesley’s petition on grounds of errors and omissions by the Electoral Commission.
Sir Gibbs then found that at the end of the count for the first preference votes, Mr Wesley scored 5198 votes which was reduced to 5042 going into elimination.
He said the error made without proper explanation would have affected the election result in which Mr Leonard was declared duly elecedt at 6342 votes after passing the absolute majority by 46 votes, ahead of Mr Wesley with 6249 votes.
An arrest warrant against Director of the National Fraud and Anti-corruption Directorate Mathew Damaru was set aside by the Waigani District Court early yesterday.
The arrest warrant was pursued against Damaru by a convicted prisoner over the allegation of false pretense.
The court found that the manner in which the arrest warrant was obtained was improper and ordered that the warrant be set aside.
The matter stammed from an earlier attack on Damaru on April 30, 2015, by a fellow police officer Stanley Poka, who is now serving time at the Bomana prison for assulting Damaru at his office.
The officer was arrested and was imprisioned by the courts in mid 2017.
The convicted officer claimed that Damaru conspired with a medical doctor and forged medical reports which landed him in prison.
The medical doctor was also arrested earlier through a similar warrant of arrest but the warrant was also set aside.
Popular Papua New Guinean singer Moses Tau passed away few hours ago.
Details of his death is yet to be released but according to Port Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko, the singer who hails from Barakau village in the Central Province passed away just before 10pm tonight.
Tkatchenko expressed his sympathy on his official Facebook page adding that Tau was a sensational entaintainer and will be missed by many of his fan’s, families and friends throughout the country as well as the Pacific region.
“Everyone knows his music and he was a true showman,” Tkatchenko said.
Tau, commonly known as Moshanty, recently participated as a judge along with other judging panel at the Vocal Fusion singing contest hosted by EMTV and his passing will leave a huge gab in the music industry.
GOVERNOR of Bank of PNG, Loi Bakani, was among eight departmental heads who signed their contracts at Government House yesterday after their contracts were extended by the National Executive Council.
Mr Bakani will be serving his second term of seven years (14 years) and will be the second longest serving Governor of the Bank, normally called the Central Bank, behind Sir Henry Robert who served for 20 years.
The next person to serve the bank was Sir Wilson Kamit, who served for 10 years.
The other significant appointment and signing of the contract of employment is Jacob Popuna, who was appointed Public Curator and official trustee of PNG.
He becomes the first person to be officially appointed by the National Executive Council after a major restructure. Minister for Justice and Attorney General appointed the public curator in the past.
Mr Popuna said besides the change in the appointment process of the curator, the institution has also experienced change in the institutional structure, including the increase in staff from 37 in 2007 to about 80 staff today.
The youngest departmental head to sign his contract was Raul Yamuna, who was appointed managing director for Climate Change and Development Authority for a period of four years
The other head of departments appointed are Dr Sergei Bang, as Director General of National Agriculture Research Institute for a period of three years, Ari Koni, Secretary for Mining and Geohard Management for a period of four years, Dr James Vele Kaiulo as Managing Director of Kokonas Industry Koporesen for a two year term, Dennis Pjandi, deputy commissioner operation of Correction Services and Steven Pokanis as deputy secretary corporate affairs for a period of four years each.
The departmental heads all signed their contracts with the Governor-General at the Government House yesterday, witnessed by Ravugela Vagi deputy secretary for the Department of Personnel Management, the media, family members and colleagues.
Minister for Communication, information and technology and Energy, Sam Basil announced the extension this afternoon.
Meantime Digicel’s Regional CEO for the Pacific, Oliver Coughlan said Digicel now has over 6,000 people in the country registering sim cards, 2,000 of those are based in the rural areas. Mr Coughlan said Digicel has registered over 1.4 million subscribers and is committed to register more. With the extension, Minister Basil also called on respective provincial Governments and MPs to work together with the NICTA, Mobile operators and the churches to cover the remaining unregistered sim cards.
Tue 15 May 2018 A weeklong celebration of Pacific culture has been confirmed for rugby league fans in the lead up to the 2018 Pacific Test Invitational at Campbelltown Stadium, Saturday 23 June.
In what will be the first set of International Matches since the memorable Rugby League World Cup, players and officials from four nations – Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Fiji – will gather in Sydney’s West following the conclusion of Round 15 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
Fiji officially replaced Lebanon after the Cedars formally withdrew from participating late last month.
Campbelltown Athletics Track will host all four squads for the Pacific Test Fan Day on Wednesday June 20, with fans encouraged to come along to meet the players, take selfies, get autographs and enjoy cultural performances after school and into the evening.
Senior Manager of Pacific Strategy, Frank Puletua, encouraged fans to purchase their tickets early to avoid missing out following a sold-out event in 2017.
“Last year’s Pacific Test and the Rugby League World Cup showed just how much rugby league means to our Pacific players and the communities they represent,” Mr Puletua said.
“The players get to connect with their culture, their peers and the wider community. I encourage everyone to come along and witness the colour, flair, power and passion that the Pacific Test Invitational produces both on and off the field.
“It is truly something special.”
General public tickets are on sale now, with adult tickets from $15 and family tickets from $45. Club member adult tickets start from as low as $12 and family tickets from $35.
The PNG APEC Study Center represents a huge opportunity for researchers at the Papua New Guinea National Research Institute, in PNG and abroad to collaborate and bring regional experience to solve local issues.
The PNG APEC Study Center represents a huge opportunity for researchers at the Papua New Guinea National Research Institute, in PNG and abroad to collaborate and bring regional experience to solve local issues.
These connections and partnership across the APEC consortium network have proven in the past to contribute to stronger, more inclusive public policy.
SOM Chairman Ambassador Ivan Pomaleu in his keynote address at the opening of the APEC Study Centers Consortium Conference today said there are emerging digital issues that PNG hopes to take forward in 2018 that is going to help the country solve some of its own connectivity challenge.
“Innovation and block chain technology is highly relevant and potentially huge. “We certainly hope to spotlight some of the structural adjustments that are needed when we start thinking about how to make digital communication more accessible and cheaper.
“PNG wants to concentrate on digital issues in APEC in order to build the connections needed in trade, education, health and in making financial services more inclusive and accessible in remote areas,” said Ambassador Pomaleu. Ambassador Pomaleu further urged that work must continue towards APEC’s goal of achieving a comprehensive integrated Pacific by 2025 and the implementation of the APEC connectivity blue print 2015-2025.
“The important thing in terms of how we benefit from APEC is our subscription to the general notion of an open economy certainly in relation to configuring best practice, policies and trying to ensure an equal playing field within our economy regarding government facilitated trade and investment.
“The challenge for PNG will be to strike a balance so that the actions taken are also relevant to other member economies and at the high end of the development spectrum.
“Being part of the prestigious network of APEC study centers adds a new long-term dimension to our APEC engagement, together with our public and private partners the PNG APEC Study Center will foster research and academic analysis that supports the APEC vision of regional economic integration,” Ambassador Pomaleu stressed.
The APEC Study Centers Consortium Conference is an annual event and in 2018 has been facilitated by the PNG NRI, the 2-day meeting began today in Port Moresby as part of the Senior Officials Meeting 2.
As part of APECs drive for inclusivity, the Second Senior Official’s Meeting (SOM2) and related meetings began with the 2018 APEC Study Centre’s consortium conference under the theme “Inclusive growth opportunities in an increasingly connected region.”
As part of APEC’s drive for inclusivity, the Second Senior Official’s Meeting (SOM2) and related meetings began with the 2018 APEC Study Centre’s consortium conference under the theme “Inclusive growth opportunities in an increasingly connected region.”
Chairman Dr Osbourne Sanida simplified this by saying it is about how more and more people can be engaged in the production of goods and services for economic growth. “When talking about connectivity we must note that Papua New Guinea as with any other APEC economy is not an island.
“We are all connected and as we talk about IT or ICT there is inclusive connectivity in that it associates with different aspects as well so in the context of today’s session, the key point to note are the important role that innovation and technology plays in us achieving inclusive economic growth,” Dr Sanida said.
Dr Jeffery Noro from the Papua New Guinea Department of Science and Technology alluded similar points during in his presentation on Development of Domestic Innovation Systems as Drivers for Economic Growth. “Innovation has been a key driver for a lot of growth of the GDP of the economy but unfortunately in PNG for the last 40 years since independence, we have actually very limited policy on direction for investment into research and development of innovation as part of a national policy direction to promote growth,” Dr Noho stressed. With APEC discussions on the digital future, Dr Noho says these discussions will reap a lot of benefit and technological developments, while the ability of a human workforce. “The intention is to learn from other economies who bring these ideas into PNG’s social cultural context because Papua New Guinea’s challenges are very different and for us to think about innovation is not just in terms of science but also social innovation, how do we rethink the way to do things in this country,” Dr Noho added. Karina Kudaeva from the Russian APEC Study Centre spoke on key technology infrastructure constraints and strategies as APEC economies gear up for the digital revolution. However, she says that without a strong ICT foundation, digital innovation may be harder to reach.
Her research on information technology has found that Papua New Guinea is the most expensive of all APEC economies, with the lowest number of usage per head per population and also that the use of digital technology by government bodies and agencies is also at the lowest level of all APEC economies.
“When we talk about Papua New Guinea, we have to understand that being an island economy, one of the reasons for a higher cost is because of the borrowed network from neighbouring economies, and also in terms of cost, you need to have more people interested in the internet, the digital literacy rate has to be raised,” Ms Kudaeva said.
She adds that with a good digital infrastructure in place, huge progress can be made in Papua New Guinea.
The 2018 APEC Study Centres Consortium Conference ends tomorrow.
• Awards to recognise digital technology innovation usage by micro, small and medium enterprises • Award nominees to receive complimentary IBM Enterprise Centre business assessment • Winners announced at ABAC MSME Summit in September
ExxonMobil PNG Limited, operator of the PNG LNG Project, has announced the inaugural SME Digital Innovation Awards in partnership with the IBBM Enterprise Centre that is set to recognise achievements of Papua New Guinean businesses contributing to digital innovation.
The 2018 SME Digital Innovation Awards will be presented at the PNG APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Summit and will be focused on SMEs that utilise digital technology innovation as part of their processes, or that provide a service using technology.
Awards will be presented across three categories including micro, small and medium enterprises.
ExxonMobil PNG Managing Director Andrew Barry said ExxonMobil PNG is committed to recognising and encouraging SMEs that use technology platforms to continue evolving in an ever-growing digital world.
“It is important that we, as a company, contribute to developing capacity, and assist smaller organisations to remain competitive and ensure equal participation in economic activities,” Barry said. “The digital innovation awards will encourage MSMEs to be creative and diversify into operational areas that utilise technology to ensure growth and sustainability across the country.”
The 2018 SME Digital Innovation Awards are sponsored by ExxonMobil PNG and managed by its long-standing partner, the IBBM Enterprise Centre. Through ExxonMobil PNG’s partnership with IBBM, more than 19,000 entrepreneurs and local businesses have been supported since 2010 and 32,000 training days and nearly 500 business assessments have been conducted at the Enterprise Centre.
ExxonMobil PNG continues to invest in local businesses with almost 2.3 billion Kina spent on Papua New Guinean services, including 581.6 million Kina spent with landowner companies since the start of production.
Award submissions are open to micro, small and medium businesses operating in Papua New Guinea. Each business who applies and is nominated for an award will receive a complimentary business assessment by IBBM as part of their submission.
Award winners will be announced at the ABAC MSME Summit being held in Port Moresby from 10 – 11 September 2018. Winners will receive training provided by the IBBM Enterprise Centre and equipment to support future digital endeavors.
Finalists from the 2018 SME Digital Innovation Award will be nominated as finalists in the 2019 IBBM Biennial SME Awards under the digital innovation category.
The PNG Hunters held on against a desperate Wynnum Manly Seagulls outfit to claim an 18-16 win to close out Round 10.
It was an entertaining game that had the result in the balance right until the end; but both coaches would have been lamenting the poor handling that continually gifted the opposition the ball.
In a seesawing game, it was the Hunters – thanks to a two-try effort from last year’s grand final champion Willie Minoga – who were able to prevail.
However, it was the Seagulls who started the game the better, with the Hunters kicking out on the full in the first set. Wynnum Manly went on the attack early and were able to score first when Pat Templeman skipped through the line to open the scoring. Shaun Nona was successful with his conversion and the home side were up 6-0 with just over 10 minutes gone in the match.
However, they conceded a penalty to help put the Hunters in a position to capitalise.
Passing from left to right; they then cut back inside and Minoga was through for his first try next to left posts. Ase Boas slotted the conversion to lock the scores at 6-6 with just under 20 left in the half.
After working their way back down the field, Wynnum were able to hit back soon after, with Mitch Cronin doing some cutting into the line of his own and he was over near the right uprights and they were back in the lead.
But in an end-to-end opening, a kick was chased through by Watson Boas who was able to get it down to score. Ase Boas again converted to again draw the teams level, this time 12-12.
There was more toing-and-froing between the teams with some strong defence on show throughout – forcing errors at either side of the field. Neither side were able to crack the line again and the teams went to the break with honours even.
It was an eventful start to the second half – but unfortunately for the Gulls, they gave up what proved to be a crucial penalty in front of the PNG line and Boas was able to put two more points on the board for his team in the 43rd minute.
Both side have been struggling of late, but there was no denying their effort to win – it was more their execution what was letting them down, and that showed in the game.
The Hunters were happy to play adventurous football; and made some busts through the line after putting in some chip kicks, but the Seagulls were up to the task in defence, shutting down danger.
After trying unsuccessfully in previous attacking raids to capitalise via their hand-hand side; the Gulls were finally rewarded in that area when Daniel Ogden went over to score and again put his side in front. However, Nona missed the conversion from out on the left touchline to remain 16-14.
The pressure however didn’t let up in the game, and with only four minutes left in the game; Minoga broke the hearts of the home side’s fans when he threw himself over the line to steal it after a knock on in front of the Gulls line handed over possession.
It was a frenetic final few moments to the game with the Gulls successfully collecting a short kick off before then dropping the ball to concede a scrum with 34 seconds left in the match.
Remarkably, the tension didn’t end there, as the Gulls were able to steal the ball back from the Hunters will the clock winding down, but a kick out to the left could not be collected and the Hunters hung on to claim the hard-fought win.
