PNG Govt paid K400m for roads: PM
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Papua New Guinea
PNG Govt paid K400m for
roads: PM
PORT MORESBY: Prime Minister James Marape says his
Government paid of K400 million to complete the Yalu Bridge-Nadzab section of
the Highlands Highway.
“We paid the outstanding
debts to contractors on the 9-Mile to Yalu Bridge section and the outstanding
PNG counterpart funding of the Nadzab International Airport,” he added.
He said the roadwork
came under the Government’s “Connect PNG” programme in which K2.4 billion had
been expended over the last three years on roads nationwide – K1 billion over
last two years and K1.5b this year,” Mareape stressed.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few news updates on General Election 2022 as published by The National:
Govt paid K400mil for
roads: PM
June 9, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
In a statement yesterday, Marape said the Government paid the outstanding debts
to contractors on the 9-Mile to Yalu Bridge section and the outstanding PNG
counterpart funding of the Nadzab International Airport.
He said the roadwork came under the Government’s “Connect PNG” programme in
which he said K2.4 billion had been expended over the last three years on roads
throughout the country – K1 billion over last two years and K1.4 billion this
year.
Marape said his Government also set in motion plans for the building of Nadzab
satellite city to complement major developments will start over the next couple
of years.
“The first section of the Lae-Nadzab Road from Bugandi to 9-Mile was dogged
with controversy of inflated prices about 10 years ago,” he said.
“After it was completed, work on the next section from 9-Mile to Yalu Bridge
was on an ad hoc basis, which saw the road deteriorated.
“It was only after my Government came into office that we were able to retire
all outstanding debts to contractors for the 9-Mile to Yalu Bridge section to
be completed.
“Cabinet in January approved awarding of more than K1.4 billion of new road contracts
throughout Papua New Guinea.
“Among these is K400 million for the Yalu Bridge-Nadzab four-lane highway.
“For more than 10 years, the people of Lae, Morobe and PNG have been
complaining about the bad roads between Lae and Nadzab.
“I am well aware of your cries as I, on my many visits to Lae over the years,
have driven through the mud and potholes. I can assure you that you will have
one of the best roads in the country when the Yalu Bridge-Nadzab section is
completed.
“People will be able to travel in comfort from Lae to Nadzab, and then get on
an international flight once the new airport is completed.
“This is the same story with the Japanese-funded Nadzab International Airport.
The project was signed for in 2015 but never got off the ground because the
O’Neill regime never provided the required counterpart funding.
“It was only after my Government came into office in May 2019 that we provided
the necessary funding for work to start on the airport.”
Marape said Nadzab, Lae and Morobe would boom with the sealing of Yalu
Bridge-Nadzab section of the Highlands Highway, opening of Nadzab International
Airport and building of Nadzab Satellite City.
3 injured, vehicles
damaged
June 9, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
Evae Segi
THREE people were
injured and three vehicles damaged in an election-related incident in Northern,
Popondetta police have reported.
Provincial police commander, Chief Inspector Evae Segi confirmed that the
incident took place three weeks ago during the nomination period.
He said the supporters of a candidate were attacked by the supporters of
another candidate contesting the same seat in Northern.
Segi said the supporters and their community leaders presented a petition to
the police and the provincial administration.
He said that both candidates had decided to settle the matter in a public
gathering to be witnessed by the police and the provincial administrator.
According to the information from Popondetta, the supporters of one of the
candidates for the new Popondetta Open seat were attacked and their vehicles
damaged while travelling in a convoy.
The incident took place at Jonita village along the Oro Bay Highway on May 20,
after the candidate had been nominated.
A quick action by police had brought the situation under control, the report
said.
It was reported that during the attack, three vehicles were damaged and three
people including a child were injured.
One of the injured was a mother from Barisari village and a male teenager from
Dombada village.
Police seize gun from candidate’s vehicle
Western Highlands
election operations commander Superintendent John Sagom (left) and members of
the Mobile Squad 06 displaying the firearm that was confiscated from a
candidate’s vehicle in Mt Hagen.
POLICE in Mt Hagen
confiscated a Glock 17 pistol, during a road check at the Kagamuga airport
yesterday.
The firearm was removed from a candidate’s vehicle when the Mt Hagen-based
police Mobile Squad (MS) 06 conducted checks on all vehicles.
Western Highlands election operation commander Superintendent John Sagom said
this must be a warning to the rest of the candidates, supporters and even the
general public carrying firearms around.
“This must be a warning to candidates and the public that they will be dealt
with if being in possession of firearms,” he said.
“The law does not allow you to carry weapons and those involved will face the
law,” Supt Sagom said.
He said that with the elections on, police were out on full alert to go after
those who may be breaking the law.
“We want people to become law -abiding and maintain normalcy and order within
this election period,” Sagom said.
Supt Sagom said police would continue to maintain road checks on vehicle’s that
might be transporting firearms.
He said following the reopening of Kagamuga Airport after the oil spill, his
men had been checking all vehicles to ensure the general public and properties
were safe.
Police awaiting autopsy results to make
arrests over two deaths
POLICE have yet to arrest suspects involved in
an election-related confrontation at Munum village, Huon Gulf in Morobe on May
26, says a senior commander.
Police commander Supt Jacob Singura said suspects would be arrested after the
completion of post- mortem for the two men shot dead during the confrontation.
Police believed that the post-mortem would be carried out today .
“Once we have the autopsy report and the suspects identified through the police
investigation, we will arrest those identified,” said Supt Singura.
The confrontation developed from verbal attacks between the supporters of two
political parties that led to the shooting of the men and the burning of a
vehicle and some buildings.
Supt Singura said one suspect was believed to be involved in the shooting of
the men while a number of them were involved in the burning of the vehicle and
the buildings.
“But this depends on the outcome of the investigations that the police are
carrying out. We will make sure those involved are brought to justice,” he
said.
He appealed to community leaders of Munum and surrounding communities to
identify the suspects and bring them to police.
Meanwhile, Singura said a man was on the run after burning a banner belonging
to a candidate contesting the Huon Gulf seat.
“The incident happened at Omsis village, Wampar local level government over the
weekend. The suspect is known to police,” he said.
Provinces waiting for
materials
June 9, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
MULTIPLE election
managers have confirmed that with only three weeks left to polling, they still
are yet to receive their election materials.
Election materials for Manus, Madang, New Ireland, East Sepik, Enga, Eastern
Highlands, Southern Highlands, Bougainville, Northern, Milne Bay and Western
have not reached these provinces according to the respective election managers.
East Sepik election manager James Piapia told The National that
his team was still waiting to hear back from officials within the PNG Electoral
Commission (EC), adding that the ship carrying the materials had not arrived
nor was there any advice from the EC.
Madang election manager Sponsa Navi said he was expecting ballot boxes and kits
to arrive by ship by next week (June 15) with ballot papers to arrive
separately via plane which he was told would be flown in by the Australian
Defence Force.
Manus election manager Tony Balema said he was told by an official of the
International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), that election materials
would be arriving by ship but they had no date confirmed.
“We’ve got our polling schedule and our polling team is prepared but we’re
still waiting for our schedule to be gazetted along with the gazettal notice of
our assistant returning officers and we haven’t heard anything from IFES since
the training,” he said.
He said once shipping schedules were confirmed IFES would be able to ship
election materials to the provinces.
The National reached out to IFES for comment and was told that the EC was in
charge of the distribution of election-related materials and not IFES.
Porgera returning office Daniel Aremo confirmed that his province had not
received anything yet with the same being said for Eastern Highlands and
Southern Highlands. Southern Highlands assistant election manager and
Bougainville election manager were hopeful that they would receive materials
next week.
Students will be allowed to vote if registered: Official
Students from
secondary schools around Goroka town took part in various fun activities at the
Youth Voter Festival at the University of Goroka last Thursday.
By YVONNE KAMBIBEL
STUDENTS registered on
the common roll will be allowed to vote, an official says.
Acting Higher Education secretary Dr Francis Hualopmomi said any student who
was at least 18-years-old and registered on the common roll had a democratic
right to vote.
“There will be polling booths for students to cast their votes in their
respective institutions,” he added.
Meanwhile, Divine Word University president Fr Phil Gibbs told The National
there would be polling booths accessible to students and lecturers within the
campus, depending on how many that had registered.
“Earlier this year, I sent an advice to the Student Representative Council
(SRC) about the importance of having their names on the electoral roll,” Fr
Gibbs said.
“I gave them that advice back in February. However, I have to respect their
decisions and I cannot force them to enrol.” Fr Gibbs said he hoped that all
students with their names on the roll would be able to vote during the polling
period.
He however emphasised to that students who wished to return to their respective
provinces and electorates to cast their votes would need to advise the
university of their intention.
“They would need to negotiate assignments with their lecturers on a case by
case basis,” he added.
He said some of those from the Highlands would want to go home to vote but for
many, it would be too expensive and or too dangerous.
“My understanding is that whether and where you can vote depends on where you
are registered and if you have an NID card.”
He said students who had registered in Madang could vote at the school.
“If your name is not on the roll here then it will be a problem that is why I
advised the SRC back in February to look into it.”
Festival encourages students
STUDENTS and youths in
Goroka, Eastern Highlands, have been encouraged to vote in the General Election
2022 (GE22) to contribute to the development of the country.
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) had its first Youth
Voter Festival at the University of Goroka (UOG) last Thursday with a range of
entertainment activities including voter education games, information kiosks,
mock polling exercises and artistic expressions.
“Young people represent a majority of the population in Papua New Guinea and
they have the opportunity to be active participants in shaping the future of
their community and country by voting,” IFES country director Paul Rowland
said.
“IFES is happy to work with the PNG Electoral Commission and other support
partners to make sure that everyone votes in the general election.”
“The festival is a fun-packed event that is open to young eligible voters to
attend and learn more on how they can become informed voters.”
Student representative and UOG third year physics major Isborn Baspen said, “I
am so happy I came to the festival.”
“I now understand why it is important for young people to vote in the general
election.”
Kairuku misses out, needs to rebuild assets:
Apini
THE recent split of
Hiri-Koiari from Kairuku has also seen the newly-created electorate take away
all major resource assets that both electorates once shared for years, a
Kairuku open candidate says.
John Apini, who is contesting under the People’s Reform Party (PRP), said
Kairuku had nothing left and would now need to work hard to build its own
assets.
“After the split, Hiri-Koiari also took with it two major refineries and the
hydro power project ,” he said, referring to the oil refinery at Roku, the
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project site at Porebada and the hydro power
project at Sirinumu, in the Koiari area.
“What is Kairuku left with to say we have the power and resources,” he asked
his supporters at a recent rally in Mekeo.
Apini emphasised to the people of Kairuku about the importance of building
their own resource assets to grow its local economy into the future.
He said he has two main policies that were derived from the party’s six
policies that he would focus on to give the people what they deserved.
“The fourth policy is to reform government systems to empower development at
the ward level,” he said.
“My two main policies are mainly focused on building human resources and
strengthening agricultural systems.
“I want to see all children from Kairuku to Mekeo receive free education and
continue to study in different trades to become resourceful members of this
electorate.”
He said in agriculture, betel nuts had potential to bring money into the
electorate and there were plans under his policies to help local farmers grow
their businesses.
Apini was the ward councillor for Veifa in the West Mekeo local level
government for a number of terms and said he realised during his term that some
systems at the ward level needed changing to allow for the delivery of services
to reach the people.
He tried to incorporate especially during decision making some knowledge and
experience from his accountancy and law background and his time spent as a
senior officer with Puma Energy.
“Let’s correct what we need to correct and let’s give back to the people what
they deserve,” he said.
“Making the corrections now is important especially for the future generations.”
Madang yet to receive election funds: RO
By BRADLEY MARIORI
THE electoral office
in Madang is yet to receive funding from the Papua New Guinea Electoral
Commission (EC) to carry out General Election 2022 (GE22) operations in the
province, an official says.
Madang returning officer (RO) Sponsa Navi said they were still waiting for
funds to be released from head office and were hoping that they would be
informed on the funding so they could start their programmes.
“Our training, especially the ones for election officials have not started yet
because of funding,” Navi said.
He said once funding was available, ROs for each district would go through the
election training and bring the training back to the districts to train the
election officials there.
“We are also yet to receive election materials like ballot boxes, and papers.
“We were advised that these materials will arrive soon before polling,” Navi
added.
Meanwhile, Navi said nominations and campaigning in Madang so far had been
generally peaceful and incident-free.
He said campaigning had already begun without any reports of disturbances or
disruptions.
He said police personnel from the Northern Divisional Command would be deployed
to the province soon to carry out pre-polling operations.
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