Papua New Guinea ratings may gain from Exxon-Mobil's planned facility
12 April 2008 - Source: CNN

Moody's Investors Service said an Exxon-Mobil-led (NYSE:XOM) consortium's planned export facility in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for liquid natural gas could, over the longer term, greatly improve the prospects for PNG's economic development and its government-bond rating.

The $10 billion project, if developed, could begin exports by 2014, thereby contributing to higher GDP growth and government revenues, as well as assuring stronger balance of payment and external financial positions, Moody's added.

Additionally Moody's said, from a short-term perspective and despite some expected slowdown in global growth, prices of PNG's major commodities might stay high, while low interest rates are encouraging an acceleration in credit to the private sector and government spending is likely to rise.

The ratings agency also said Papua New Guinea's 'B1' government bond rating is supported by PNG's large natural resource base, low external debt and improving government finances but is constrained by PNG's low development, governance problems and volatility in export earnings.

Moody's also notes that despite its successful fiscal and monetary policies a commodities boom might allow it to invest more in responding to these problems.

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Lutheran Church in PNG says lax migration laws fostering violence
08 April 2008 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

The Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea says weak migration laws, the internet and increased contact with the outside world are to blame for an increase in pornography and violence against women.

The Post Courier newspaper reports the head of the church, Bishop Wesley Kigasung, saying laws must be changed to make it hard for anyone to enter the country and do what they like.

In a press conference, Dr Kigasung, says violence against women is on the increase and this is partly due to pornography.

He says it shows that the country’s traditional, cultural and Christian ethics and values are breaking down.

Bishop Kigasung says it is important that the family unit is kept strong and issues like incest, rape and violence must be kept out.

He says there is also widespread abuse of alcohol and drugs among young people.

Bishop Kigasung says all churches in PNG and the government at all levels should work together to address these issues.
 

PNG Athletics moves elite runners to Australia
04 April 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia

Papua New Guinea elite athletes Salome Dell and Kevin Kapmatana are being moved to Australia from the High Performance Training Centre in Auckland, New Zealand.

The move comes at the request of Dell, who will remain on her international athletics federation scholarship.

She asked to be moved after arguing with another elite runner based at the Auckland HPTC.

The Papua New Guinea Athletics union, in consultation with the IAAF, will move Kapmatana also.
 

Mt Tavurvur ash causing health problems in PNG province
31 March 2008 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

Hospitals and health centres in Papua New Guinea’s East New Britain Province have reported an increase in the number of patients complaining of chest pains caused by the continuous ashfall from Mt Tavurvur.

Health workers told the Post Courier newspaper that the number of people needing medical attention had increased after ash from the volcano started falling in populated areas such as Kokopo.

The Rabaul Volcano Observatory reported that thick pale grey ash clouds were rising to two kilometres above the volcano’s summit before blowing towards the south.
 

Pini overcomes virus for PNG record
27 March 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia

Papua New Guinea swimmer Ryan Pini finished third in the men's 50 metre butterfly at the Australian swimming championships in Sydney.

Pini appeared by invitation of the Australia team.

It was a PNG record, with Pini finishing behind Australia's Mathew Targett and Andrew Lauterstein.

Earlier in the meet, Pini recorded a personal best in the 200m freestyle.

Pini says he felt flat, and is recovering from a virus.

"I always want to get out there and do a personal best ," Pini said.

"I've set myself goals to better myself but am recovering slowly from a virus infection I caught at the Beijing test event."

Pini has qualified in four events for the Beijing Games.

Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane has also been in action, swimming just outside her personal best in the 50m backstroke.
 

PNG to review national games
23 March 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia

The national games of Papua New Guinea were so well attended they have now rivalled the regional Pacific Games for participants.

Their sheer size - more than 3,000 athletes at 2007's third games in Lae, Morobe Province - forced organisers to rethink plans.

While one of the purposes of the PNG Games is to attract mass participation, the national games council chairman, Edris Kumbruwah, says there a problems needing urgent attention such as the health and safety of athletes.

An evaluation workshop will be held at the National Sports Institute in Goroka, March 28-30.

The PNG Games Council will introduce a games charter, and PNG Sports Foundation executive director John Kambuou will talk about finding talent through the grassroots program.

The council is considering insurance for athletes who attend the games.
 

Prime Minister visits Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands
19 March 2008 - Source: Relief Web

From 6-8 March 2008 Prime Minister, the Hon. Kevin Rudd MP, along with Parliamentary Secretary for International Development the Hon. Bob McMullan MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs the Hon. Duncan Kerr SC MP, visited Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

The visit to PNG commenced with a round of meetings in Port Moresby where Prime Minister Rudd met with the Right Honorable Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Prime Minister of PNG and members of the PNG Cabinet.

The two Prime Ministers held a joint press conference where they signed and announced the Port Moresby Declaration which symbolises Australia's new approach to the region. The core of the Declaration will see Australia begin to negotiate Pacific Partnerships for Development with the nations of the Pacific.

The Australian and PNG Governments also began dialogue on long term cooperation on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Other announcements during the visit to PNG included:

- $13 million to NGOs working across PNG with people affected by HIV and AIDS.

- Up to $25 million increase in development funding in 2008-09 to help PNG meet its Millennium Development Goals.

- $260,000 package to help develop sport in PNG.

In Solomon Islands Prime Minister Rudd held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Derek Sikua on a range of issues, including the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, Pacific development partnerships, and Australia's bid to host the Pacific Island Forum Leaders meeting in 2009.

Other announcements during the visit to Solomon Islands included:

- $3 million additional funding for the rehabilitation and maintenance of rural roads.

- $1.5 million further funding for the construction of shelters in communities affected by the April 2007 earthquake and tsunami.

- Up to $10 million in additional assistance in 2008-09 to support work in priority areas, including in infrastructure development, health, technical education and reforestation.

The visits herald a bright future of cooperation on many levels between both Governments.
 

Woman Living With HIV Given US Award
15 March 2008 - Source: Pacific Magazine

A Papua New Guinea woman living with HIV/AIDS, Helen Samilo, has been awarded the U.S. State Department Secretary’s International Women of Courage Award.

The soft-spoken 25-year-old lass from PNG’s Western province joined colleagues around the world who were recognized by the U.S. government for championing human and equal rights in their communities.

Diagnosed with HIV over 10 years ago, Helen starred in a 6-minute TV series called Helen's Story which was aired over 10 weeks on PNG’s only television station EMTV since May last year.

The television program was produced in a diary format, in which she talked about her daily experiences as a person living with HIV, how it affected her life and her relationships, and how she coped with the various challenges posed by the infection.

The program was produced by EMTV in a joint effort with the PNG office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Anglicare StopAIDS PNG, a PNG-based non-governmental organization that provides HIV/AIDS awareness and counseling, where Helen works as a senior counselor.

In a brief ceremony in the U.S. embassy in Port Moresby yesterday, US ambassador to PNG Leslie Rowe presented the award to the lass and said she was a role model for Papua New Guineans and Pacific Islanders affected by the disease
.
The presentation was witnessed by a group of HIV/AIDS campaigners, care-givers as well as Helen’s parents.

Helen’s mother, Sabato, told EMTV in an interview the presentation of the award to her daughter was a blessing from God.

Dame Carol Kidu, PNG’s only woman national parliamentarian and Minister for Community Development, admitted when invited to speak at the presentation ceremony that the PNG government’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic was in crisis.

Her comments coincidentally come after the PNG Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS (BAHA) expressed concern that the government’s response to the epidemic was in crisis.


Speaking at a recent dinner hosted in honor of visiting Australian TV personality Ernie Dingo, BAHA CEO David Mitchell said some functions the National AIDS Council secretariat is currently responsible for such as condom distribution should be outsourced to NGOs and private businesses.
 

Rudd pledges funding boost to fight HIV in PNG
11 March 2008 - Source: ABC News

Kevin Rudd said he wants a new, improved relationship with Papua New Guinea, and now he's putting his money where his mouth is.

The Prime Minister spent his second day in PNG in the country's highlands where he's promised to do more to help.

He's committed extra cash to control the spread of HIV, but he's also demanding more of a say in how Australia's $400 million of aid is spent.

Kevin Rudd: Incentive-based payments will offer the possibility of more funding once jointly agreed performance criteria are met. These funds could then be used by the Government of PNG for further work in areas such as infrastructure.
 

PNG Pharmacy Denies Illegal Venom Sale
07 March 2008 - Source: Pacific Magazine

Papua New Guinea-based company City Pharmacy Ltd (CPL) has denied illegally importing and selling pharmaceuticals.

“All medical supplies from Australia, New Zealand, India, UK, USA and Malaysia are from the World Health Organization-certified manufacturers (and) City Pharmacy employs 40 qualified pharmacists providing a nationwide coverage of health care,” said CPL chairman Alan Jarvis.

He was replying to a recent report on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Foreign Correspondent Program, which revealed that a PNG-based pharmacy was selling anti-snake venom for Indian poisonous snakes.

Health/HIV AIDS Minister Sasa Zibe went undercover in the ABC program and posed as a snake venom buyer to prove reports that the pharmacy was illegally selling the Indian-made medication.

But Jarvis, in a full-page statement in one of PNG’s daily newspapers, denied his company committing acts of impropriety said they were ready to let the PNG Health Department do an audit of its staff and 24 pharmacies.

“City Pharmacy conducts its affairs in a transparent manner and is willing to subject its 24 pharmacies for audit and inspection by the Department of Health and is prepared to make available its 1400 staff members as part of any such investigation,” said the CPL chairman.

City Pharmacy has never received or sold any stolen pharmaceuticals, he added.
The revelations by the ABC report coincides with an investigation by the PNG Health Department into why government-bought drugs are not being delivered to hospitals and health centers in rural PNG.

The department is looking at setting up a drug registration program to prevent the illegal import of medicines, which Jarvis indicated would be supported by CPL.

“City Pharmacy is a trusted health care provider in Papua New Guinean, we respect and honor that trust and we strive to maintain the highest integrity and ethics at all times, whilst providing healthcare products and medicines for the best prices,” he added.

PNG has one of the world’s highest snakebite fatality rates but anti-snake venom is not easily accessible by government-owned hospitals and district-based health centers due to its exorbitant cost.
 

Australian PM to visit Solomons on Friday after talks in PNG
03 March 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia

Australia’s Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, is due in Honiara on Friday for talks with his Solomon Island’s counterpart, Dr Derek Sikua as well as other senior ministers.

Mr Rudd has pointed out that Australia plays a leading role in the reconstruction and nation- building work of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

He said he is committed to using Australia’s bilateral aid program to assist with the country’s rural development and infrastructure challenges.

The SIBC says the Australian prime minister will visit Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, on Wednesday.
 

PNG police to probe attempted double lynching
28 February 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia

Police in Papua New Guinea are investigating the attempted double lynching of a pregnant woman and her husband.

The National newspaper reports the couple were accused of sorcery by villagers in Kilip, in the Western Highlands province, after a local man died.

The villagers allegedly tied rope around the couple's necks and hung them from a tree.

The woman, who was seven months pregnant, delivered her child while trying to free herself.

The couple fled the village and have since reported the incident to police.

The husband, Paul Yekum, has told PNG's National newspaper local police had been informed of the matter but had not acted.

The provincial police commander says he will investigate.
 

PNG official warns donors against interference
24 February 2008 - Source: Pac News

One of Papua New Guinea’s senior statesmen, Sir Julius Chan, has cautioned international aid donors against using money to interfere into the sovereignty of recipient countries, reports The National.

He said while aid in general was beneficial, experience among developing countries of the South Pacific, especially in PNG and Solomon Islands showed that some of the areas in which aid money was spent “digs into the heart of a country’s right to exercise its national sovereignty.”

He cited the aborted enhanced cooperation program in PNG and the controversial Australian-led regional assistance to the Solomon Islands as examples of “external interventions” using aid that needed re-examination and refinement.

The former prime minister, who is now governor of New Ireland made these remarks on Wednesday, when welcoming delegates to the 3rd PNG Government and Donor Consultative Forum in Kavieng.

“Papua New Guinea is by no means the largest recipient of your aid in the world, but whatever the size it is important and invaluable,” Chan said. “But one thing is indisputable — providing development assistance and accepting it, is based on mutual trust. This trust only comes through years of working with individuals that can stay the course.”

He said, “Working out how and where to best use the limited funding on PNG’s needs is a road that you and I know too well; it is not for the faint-hearted. Donor funding to support national objectives is serious business. If we don’t generate maximum benefits from the money used in programs and projects at the grassroots level, then we should expect a disenfranchised public service, a struggling private sector, and in the end disheartening outcomes. If we don’t have a genuine partnership between donor and recipient (countries), whether this is real or perceived, we run the risk of building a house on quicksand.”
 

Oxfam says PNG sorcery a growing problem
20 February 2008 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

Oxfam’s representative in Papua New Guinea, Eileen Kolma, says violence associated with sorcery appears to be a growing problem

Ms Kolma says a culture of silence means there is little in the way of hard data regarding the number of people being killed on suspicion of sorcery, but anecdotal evidence suggests it is on the increase.

“Women especially are being killed without any evidence just on suspicion that the woman has caused sorcery against someone and women are being burnt alive or murdered.”

She says research needs to be carried out to confirm the extent of the problem and then an advocacy programme established to try and deal with it.
 

Event Polynesia to market and promote Toa Samoa RLWC campaign
16 February 2008 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Samoa Rugby League has announced the appointment of Event Polynesia to market and promote Toa Samoa for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, to be held in Australia starting in October. The arrangement includes marketing, promotion and fundraising, starting as soon as possible and includes all commercial arrangements from now up to and after the Rugby League World Cup. Details of the partnership are yet to be finalised, but the two parties are keen to work together for the betterment of Toa Samoa’s World Cup Campaign and commercial arrangements going forward.

“We are so delighted to be working with Event Polynesia for the World Cup and going forward" said SRL President Mr Peter Paul.

Toa Samoa RLWC Fundraising will kick-off in mid April with corporate fights pitching rugby league legends against those from other sports. It will also include fights between corporate professionals pitching CEO’s of the public and private sector against one another. This will be the first time for corporate Samoa to enjoy corporate fights, including wining and dining and cheering on a professional partner, while at the same time, contributing to and fundraising for Toa Samoa’s Rugby League World Cup campaign.

“It is such a relief for us to bring in a professional event company to take care of marketing and commercial matters whilst we concentrate on the administration side of things for the World Cup” said SRL Secretary General Fritz Tuiavii.

The local Samoa Rugby League competition kicks-off in early April, with trials set for July and the World Cup squad to be finalised in August. With the high interest and participation of our premier Samoan professional rugby league stars from all over the world, Toa Samoa stands a very positive chance to make the Semi Finals of the World Cup.
 

PNG release suspected Fijian mercenaries
12 February 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia

Four men from Fiji who were arrested in PNG for illegally entering the country and training an illegal army have been released.

The men arrived in PNG in 2006.

They told authorities they were missionaries, but officials say they are mercenaries.

It is believed the men were training an illegal army, acting as security for a group of men behind an alleged investment scam.

The men served six months in jail for illegal entry and were also charged for training and raising an illegal army but those charges have been dropped.
 

PNG urges schools to be lenient over fees
08 February 2008 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

The Secretary for Education in Papua New Guinea, Dr Joseph Pagelio, is urging school authorities not to turn students away for non-payment of school fees.

He has issued an appeal that schools allow students to enroll and attend classes even if they have not paid any fees while their parents and guardians sort out their school fees.

Dr Pagelio says children should not be deprived of their right to education.

And he says schools should not demanding payment in full but accepting it in installments.

Dr Pagelio says schools must be reasonable in collecting fees to meet the school’s costs for getting the year started but parents also need to honour their obligations to contribute to their children’s education.
 

Ten Samoan boxing pioneers receive honorary awards
04 February 2008 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Ten recipients of the Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing Honorary Awards were presented their awards at the Pre-fight Cocktail on Friday 1st February 2008.

According to Mr. Puni, “It is fitting that the pioneers of Samoa boxing are honoured at the inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing event for their service in boxing. This weekend Samoa will not only host representatives from the four main world boxing bodies, but will make boxing history with local referee and judges officiating the WBO Oriental Cruiserweight title.”

“Contrary to what most think, it is very hard to raise funds in Samoa to promote boxing and especially to stage international fights here. This is the first and very likely to be the last time Event Polynesia Boxing will bring such an international boxing gathering here to Samoa.”

“Event Polynesia Boxing is committed to promoting Samoan boxers. However, the international title fights will have to be in Auckland where we stage our New Zealand fights because of the huge expenses that we incur to bring such events to Samoa.”

Mr. Puni and boxing officials made a courtesy call to personally thank the Prime Minister, Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi and to thank the Samoa Government for the financial assistance towards the amateur expenses of this event.

Mr. Reginald Leca, President of Oceania Boxing Association and representative for PABA and WBA at a media conference yesterday, compared Samoa to Cuba as a force in world boxing. But unlike Cuba, Samoa needs to move its amateur boxers to professional boxing earlier rather than very late as is the case with Maselino Masoe.

“This requires amateur boxing to work together with professional boxing in Samoa in association with promoters such as Event Polynesia Boxing, who are helping Samoan professional boxers to get ranking for title fights.”

The 10 recipients of the Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing Honorary Awards are:
Hon Peter Paul – Promoter, Hon Sala Ulugia Suivai – Promoter / Coach,
Savaiinaea Malo Slade – Boxer / Trainer / Coach,
Oscar Meredith – Trainer / Coach,
Hon Fa’asootauloa Sam Saili – Promoter,
Galumalemana Afeleti Betham – Trainer / Coach / Promoter,
Hon Polataivao Fosi Schmidt – Boxer / Promoter / Coach,
Lesa Eric Fatupaito – Trainer / Coach,
Maposua Rudolf Keil – Promoter, and
Ulugia Elijah Stanley – Promoter.
 

PNG's aids council accused of inappropriate spending
31 January 2008 - Source: ABC Online
 
The Australian Government says it is confident none of the money spent on helping (PNG) curb its HIV AIDS epidemic has been used inappropriately.

The acting director and several top level managers working for PNG's National Aids Council have been suspended over allegations of inappropriate spending.

The Australian Government has given more than $1 million to the National Aids Council for HIV prevention and education programs.

AusAID says it has in place strict guidelines on how the funds are used and that the funding has been satisfactorily acquitted.

The PNG Government allocated the Aids Council $10 million in the 2008 budget.

The country's Health Minister wants an investigation into the Council's spending completed by the end of March.
 

Special accommodation and rental car deals announced for boxing fans
27 January 2008 - Source: eventpolynesia.com
 
Overseas interest in the upcoming Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing event in Apia on Saturday 2nd February 2008 will see up to 200 boxing fans and supporters arriving in Samoa next week.

Many more are expected to book a ticket to Samoa with the announcement over the week end of special accommodation and rental car deals for boxing fans and supporters.

Hotel Kitano Samoa is offering an accommodation special $200 SAT per room per day for up to three people with ELAVA at Vaitele is offering $120 SAT per room per day up to two people with continental breakfast included.

Apia Rental is offering a 15% discount to all their vehicles with DAT Car Rentals is offering a special $165 per day for their Hyundai Tucson fleet.

This was confirmed by Mr. Teleiai Su’atapulolo’o Edwin Puni, Managing Director of Event Polynesia, “For the next two weeks, Hotel Kitano Samoa and ELAVA Resort will be the home of international boxing with Apia Rental and DAT Car Rentals as the preferred rental car service.”

The inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing is an initiative of Event Polynesia Boxing in association with SPBI and SABA to provide our Samoan boxers both amateur and professional a pathway to boxing world titles by setting up the needed top international competitions right here in Samoa.

Mr. Puni credits the support from media partners Samoa Observer, Le Samoa Post, SBC, TV3, Vaiala Beach TV and Radio Polynesia in promoting the upcoming fight.

Mr. Puni goes on to say, “Staging international title fights in Samoa is very good for tourism and local businesses and also allows for our people to see the action LIVE and up close.”

WBO Oriental Cruiserweight title contender and current IBF Australasian Cruiserweight champion Mr. Lawrence Tauasa arrived in Samoa on Sunday with his manager Mr. Lincoln Hudson to prepare for the upcoming fight.

For more information contact Mr. Tuilagi Maiava Saipele Esera on (+685) 751-9458 or email: saipele@eventpolynesia.com.