Angoram MP, Salio Waipo today presented a cheque of K200,000 to support the work of the Samaritan Aviation in Wewak, East Sepik Province.
 
Samaritan Aviation, a non-profit organization that provides medical and emergency flights in remote areas, first started it’s operations in East Sepik in 2014.

It has since provided much needed health emergency evacuations in villages along the Sepik River.
 
Angoram is the biggest district in the province, and people normally use boats and dugout canoes as their main form of transportation to seek medical services in Wewak.

MP Waipo, says the cheque given today is the first step to a commitment the District Administration is planning to make every year.
 
He thanked the aviation company for the many years of health emergencies even at no cost to many remote areas.

An Immigration led spot check operation in Kimbe yesterday, resulted in the apprehension of over 20 foreign nationals identified with discrepancies in their entry permits.

The random spot checks targeting foreign owned retail and wholesale businesses were carried out with the support from PNG Customs and the Police.

Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau, said some retail and wholesale businesses are non-compliant and it is fair that spot check operations are fairly conducted in all the provinces to ensure compliance of the Migration laws.

The operations in Kimbe started from Morokea to Hoskins with the apprehension of 2O foreign nationals operating in 14 different locations.

11 of them were penalized under the Migration Act for discrepancies and breach of their visa conditions and were fined.

A total of K60,000 Migration Service Fees and charges were raised into the Immigration Revenue Account.

Mr Hulahau said West New Britain makes significant contributions to the Government’s revenue through agricultural industries and logging and it is one way they can give back to the province by ensuring foreign owned businesses are compliant.

The 46th Independence Celebrations in Port Moresby will start tomorrow with the traditional walk for life or Unity Walk.

Under the Amazing Port Moresby banner, NCDC has invited a number of talents around the country to perform in the 5 day celebrations.

Yesterday, the Queen of Paradise Orchestra from Vanimo arrived and will perform tomorrow at Ela Beach after the Unity Walk.

Naomi, a 14 year old contortionist from Kimbe will also perform her superhuman and flexible stunts during the week.

All activities will take place at Ela Beach and will end on the 16th at the Independence Boulevard with the traditional flag raising ceremony in the morning and fireworks in the evening.

A remembrance walk will also be staged on the 16th to remember the late Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare.

After signing an agreement with the PNG National Control Centre for COVID-19, Oil Search Limited (OSL) is now administering the COVID-19 Vaccination to its staff and community.

“We are happy that we can be a major part of the solution by working collaboratively with our National Government and NCC, in proactively managing the growing severe risk of COVID-19 through vaccination,” said Leon Buskens, Oil Search Executive Vice President and Co-Head PNG.

To date all of OSL’s PNG field operations including its Moro site remain COVID free. This has been the result of strict protocols.
OSL has conducted more than 54,000 COVID tests at its medical clinics and quarantine facilities, distributed 450,000 items of PPEs and administered more than 1300 doses of the AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines.

Head of COVID-19 Vaccination Ministerial Taskforce, Api Kassman said the Government is now engaging directly with companies with registered medical staff so they can administer vaccines.

“Companies such as OSL are able to administer vaccination and so they are expanding vaccine coverage to workers, their families and community members,” said Mr Kassman.

Kassman also called on all businesses and companies to register their interests in receiving vaccines through the NCC.

“For other private sector businesses who are looking to have their workforce fully vaccinated, we have mobile units that can visit your offices and workshops. After the 1st phase of the vaccine rollout, it has become clear that we must have more mobile units to take the vaccine to our people,” Kassman said.

All PNG Air flights into Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province will be suspended starting tomorrow, 9 th of October.

In a media statement, the airlines company stated that the suspension will be for one week.

All customers who have purchased tickets for travel must contact the PNG Air Call Centre for further advice.

The company is also working close with the Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority and the National Control Centre to ensure all health measures are in place before any resumption.

Meanwhile all travels to other domestic ports remained as scheduled with customers encouraged to practice COVID protocols.

Former West Sepik Governor Amkat Mai passed away this morning in Vanimo after a short illness. Mai served as Governor for West Sepik from 2012 to 2017.

He spent almost 2 and a half years suspended from office following several election-related disputes. However, he was re-elected into office in a by-election in 2015.

Many in the province know Mai for his educational background. The teacher from Telefomin played a pivotal role in reforming some of the high schools in West Sepik into top performing Secondary Schools in the country.

He also introduced a number of education programs with neighbouring city Jayapura and was an advocate for border development, trade and security.

He is survived by his wife Susan, his seven children and 10 grandchildren.

A primary school in remote Green River LLG in West Sepik Province has received a major boost from the Vanimo Green District Development Authority.

Funding of K100, 000 was presented to Hogru Primary School last week to upgrade some of the school’s bush material classrooms to permanent structures.

The assistance comes after strong winds destroyed several classrooms last month.

Headteacher, Jerry Homai, says despite many challenges, the community’s efforts in keeping the school year going has kept them thus far.

Local MP Belden Namah visited Hogru and spent two days helping the locals to fix the damaged classroom. He also presented K30, 000 for immediate works to start.

He presented the remaining K70, 000 on Friday to finish works on the remaining buildings. 

Vanimo Green District and the Republic of Indonesia have entered a partnership to boost border relations through the work and technical support of Small to Medium Enterprises for women.

In a small ceremony yesterday, essential office items were presented to Vanimo Green Women’s Representative, Dorothy Tekwie, to mark the start of a long journey of boosting trade and SME activities amongst women folk of West Sepik and Indonesia’s West Papua Province.

The Indonesian Consul to Vanimo, His Excellency, Allen Simarmata said Indonesia will continue to provide technical support to fill in gaps where both countries can benefit greatly in terms of trade and investment along the border.

Vanimo Green DDA CEO, Kida Ambakua thanked the Indonesian Government for their support.

He said women in the district will now have the opportunity to utilise border facilities like the recently opened Kemberatoro border facility in Amanab where they can engage in business activities.

Being closer to the coast, the warm weather and fertile soil, the Southern Highlands Provincial Government has embarked on introducing cash crops such as cocoa, vanilla and oil palm in the Mt Bosavi area.

With this, the communities in Mt Bosavi have organise into small groups to start a Sustainable Agriculture Development Project.

The project will also look at environment and wildlife conservation.  

Acting Deputy Provincial Administrator for Economic and Social Services, Fiebik Simon, visited Muluma in Mt Bosavi recently and launched the development project.

“People must take ownership of what they want to do in their associations. They must not wait for the government to do these things. We encourage them to work together,” Kilip said.

Mt Bosavi remains one of the most isolated areas in Southern Highlands but has the potential to be an economic hub in terms of agricultural activities.

This initiative also falls in line with the Provincial Government’s vision of developing agriculture in the province.  

In March, a sum of K10 Million was allocated for agriculture development followed by the launching of several potato production investments in the province.

It’s not every day you see 1st responders in PNG attending to injured animals on the road.

That is not the case for St John Ambulance officers William Solomon and Kerry Suapi.

The two ‘Green Angels’ were 1st on the scene to attend to this injured stray dog after it was hit by a vehicle in front of their base yesterday evening.

“The dog sustained serious head injuries and officer Suapi and I had to attend to it. Luckily it was managed in time,” Officer Solomon said.

Now named ‘Lucky’ the injured stray is under observation with the two officers and will be handed over to the RSPCA tomorrow.

Officer Solomon also challenged drivers to take heed of traffic rules when driving near hospitals or emergency services.

“Drivers should observe ground rules. PIH and St John Ambulance have Emergency exits. Responding vehicles will pull out at any time so please no speeding. The dog could have been a human so drive responsibly.” Officer Solomon said.