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Australia’s Pacific engagement praised

January 29, 2019, 5:51 am
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Clik here to view. The country has acknowledged Australia’s ‘Step Up Engagement’ with the Pacific region including Solomon Islands. 

Outgoing Prime Minister, Rick Hou acknowledged this at a recent Australia Day celebration in Honiara. 

“My Government welcomes the appointment of a Deputy Secretary within DFAT, solely responsible for the Pacific. 

“This initiative signifies Australia’s increased attention on the economic and social well-being of our Pacific region,” he said. 

He said the recent announcement by Australia’s Prime Minister in Papua New Guinea to uncap labour mobility and the issuance of travel cards for senior politicians and public servants are welcome developments for the region and for Solomon Islands.

“It is a great start toward what might one day turn into a reciprocal visa arrangement for our peoples,” he said. 

Hou said Labour mobility is a priority of the Solomon Islands government. 

“The recent opening of the Australian labour market for semi-skilled workers under the Pacific Labour Scheme to complement the Seasonal Workers Scheme will unlock opportunities for our unemployed youths.

“In this context, I am pleased to report that a number of hospitality workers left our shores to work in Australia in December, with another group travelling next month,” he said. 

He added employers from the Meat industry were recently in the country and had selected some twenty workers to travel next month. 

“Australia’s support through the Boost Programme is starting to drive employment numbers in the labour mobility space,” he said.

He then assured that the relations between Solomon Islands and Australia are going from strength to strength. 

“We hope to cement this even further with a planned opening of a Consulate-General presence in Brisbane this year – our main port of entry into Australia,” he added.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hou highlighted all that Solomon Islands has benefited and enjoyed with Australia and wishes Australia a happy 231st day. 

“Your Excellency, my Government and the people of Solomon Islands convey our sincere congratulations through you to the government and the people of Australia on this auspicious occasion as you celebrate the 231st Anniversary of Australia day,” he said.

He added, the Australian Day celebration has become part of the annual calendar in Solomon Islands.

It has also provided a platform where Solomon Islands also honours its’ friendship with Australia, the 12th largest economy in the world, and the largest donor to Solomon Islands. 

“Our connection with Australia is culturally rich and ethnically rooted. 

“We identify with Australia’s indigenous Melanesian populations in the Torres Strait.

Hou said Solomon Islands also share a common history through the South Seas Islanders who have made Australia their home.

“I am sure the recent passage of the Dual Citizenship Act can further cement Solomon Islands relations with our Australian diaspora.

“We continue to remember those 8,000 plus Australian wantoks, Police Officers, soldiers and civilians, who came to Solomon Islands through RAMSI to help us in our time of need, many of whom continue to speak fondly of their time in the Happy Isles,” he added.

SOURCE: SOLOMON STAR/PACNEWS
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Reforms to boost, reward PNG police force: PM O'Neill

January 29, 2019, 5:52 am
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Papua New Guinea Prime Minister has announced that sweeping reforms to the nation’s disciplined forces will take place to increase professional standards and better reward personnel and their families for their services.

O’Neill said last Friday that successive governments and bureaucracy had been blocking reform and was undermining capacity and had lowered moral in the forces.

“We have waited too long, and listened to too many people who put roadblocks in the way of reform.

“There are so many fine men and women in our disciplined services who go out day after day to do their job, and we want to do everything we can to help them perform to the fullest while ensuring their welfare is taken care of.

“Cabinet will consider a raft of measures that have been identified locally, and experiences gained from disciplined force reform around the world.

“We will begin with separating operational and administrative activities, then refocusing them on core activities and establishing better command and control processes.

“Clear chains of command and accountability are essential in reforming our constabulary,” he said.

O’Neill said one of the most important elements in reform is to revitalise the training programme for new and existing personnel.

“Our police, those in the constabulary now and those who will join in the future, need career-long training.

“From the day they enter the Police Training College their training has to be properly structured and delivered by qualified and experienced instructors.

“When they pass out of the training college they have to be at the standard that they can be fully operational.

“It is a very sad indictment of the previous Government that they closed the Police Training College in 2002 and for 10 years not a single new police man or woman was trained.

“It was only after our government came to office that we reopened the Police Training College at Bomana.

“Recruits are being trained and we will now revamp the training programme to be more in touch with today’s policing requirements.

“The law and order situation in our country, and around the world, is different than it was 10 or 20 years ago.”

O’Neill said these new policing methods must be incorporated into recruit training.

Meanwhile, increasing lawlessness has now put the Police Department under scrutiny on how it has failed to address and contain law and order issues with substantial funding increases in the past six budgets.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said substantial budget increases have been given to police and he has proposed a reform to separate administration and operations of the Police.

O’Neill was responding to a separate question from Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta and on the overall government plan to contain the escalating law and order situation with the recent upsurge in crime in Milne Bay Province.

It is not the first time to hear members of parliament complaining of paying for fuel and allowances for operations in the districts and also public expressing frustrations that they pay for fuel to attend to complaints.

East Sepik Governor Allan Bird also raised the questions to Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Charles Abel for a reconciliation on where the Police Department of spending the money.

“I am happy for the Prime Minister to mention law and order. What are the targets for law and order and when are you going to report to us about the impact of the 2019 Budget which is K16 billion (US$4.9 billion) on its efforts in law and order,” Bird said.

“My province receives K3000 (US$922) a month to run police in six districts of 500,000 people.

“Provincial government this year will give an additional K30,000 (US$9,921) a month out of our internal revenue because we want to deal with our law and order situation however, the Prime Minister said a substantial amount of money goes to Police Department, we need a reconciliation of where the Police Department is spending the money when my province is not getting it.”

SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS
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Fiji backing the first step towards NRL dream

January 29, 2019, 5:54 am
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Petero Civoniceva describes the Federal Government's backing for NRL pre-season matches in the Pacific and a Fiji team in NSW's Intrust Super Premiership as "life changing".

Entry into the Intrust Super Premiership would be considered the first step in the Fijian dream of earning a spot in the Telstra Premiership.

With more players of the calibre of Viliame Kikau (Fiji), Nene Macdonald (PNG), Solomone Kata (Tonga) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Samoa) set to emerge, the increased commitment to the Pacific could change the game.

For the first time, two NRL teams will travel to Papua New Guinea to play a pre-season fixture in 2020.

The following year, another two NRL clubs will play in Fiji, with St George Illawarra believed to be interested in being one of them after previously considering taking a premiership match to the 30,000-capacity National Stadium in Suva.

In 2022, there will be a pre-season match in either Samoa or Tonga, while there is also the possibility of the Cook Islands and Vanuatu being added to the schedule if the NRL's Pacific Outreach Program is expanded to those nations.

Civoniceva predicted sell-out crowds wherever the NRL fixtures are played in the Pacific. It is intended those matches will be televised in the country hosting them as well as Australia.

The funding for the pre-season fixtures - believed to be worth about $3 million over three years - will enable two NRL teams to spend four days in a Pacific nation helping to deliver programs about respect, inclusion and the importance of education and health before playing a pre-season fixture.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also announced financial backing for the bid led by Civoniceva to have a Fiji team enter the NSW Cup in 2020.

The Federal Government's support will cover the costs of travel for Australian-based NSW Cup teams to play the Fiji side.

“That is massive for us and it obviously helps our bottom line in terms of expenses so we are very, very appreciative of that support from the Federal Government," Civoniceva said.

“For young kids from the villages who will get the chance to join a professional training set up, it will magnify the natural talent that we all know kids in Fiji have by putting them on the big stage in the NSW Cup and expose them to interest from an NRL side. That could be life-changing.

“That is the aim of this whole development pathway and hopefully we will see the next Suliasi Vunivalu or Viliame Kikau or Apisai Koroisau, because there will be more kids in Fiji who will start to dream big about playing in the NRL now that they have got a real shot at it through the NSW Cup."

The NSWRL's Intrust Super Premiership and QRL's Intrust Super Cup competitions are considered pathways for expansion into the NRL, with Papua New Guinea, Redcliffe, Ipswich and Central Queensland all keen to step up from the Queensland Cup, while Perth may follow Fiji into the NSW Cup.

The Labor Party declared its support for a PNG team in the NRL at December's national conference in Adelaide.

The PNGRL has launched a secondary schools competition this year to develop junior talent, with hopes the Port Moresby-based Hunters can be promoted from the Queensland Cup to the NRL in 2023.

The inclusion of teams from Papua New Guinea and Fiji in second-tier competitions, with the aim of eventually joining the Telstra Premiership mirrors developments in the northern hemisphere, where Toronto Wolfpack and Toulouse Olympique are trying to win promotion to Super League.

Red Star Belgrade, which is part of the famous Serbian sporting club whose football team won the 1991 European Cup, made their Challenge Cup debut on the weekend, with former Melbourne Storm junior Darcy Etrich one of three non-locals in the 22-man squad.

Red Star's ambition is also to eventually join Super League, while a New York-based team is awaiting admission to Britain's lower tiers in 2020.

SOURCE: NRL/PACNEWS
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Tonga had assurances cable almost failproof - Senituli

January 29, 2019, 5:55 am
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Clik here to view. Moves are already underway to ensure Tonga can cope with any further communication blackouts.

Tonga lost its internet and phone connections on Sunday last week when the Tonga Cable linking it with Fiji was cut.

A second cable to the outer islands was also severed.

A government spokesperson, Lopeti Senituli, said there were already talks between Tonga Cable, the Tonga Communications Corporation and the Ministry of Communications, to ensure such a problem doesn't recur.

He said the government had previously been given an understanding there was almost no chance of the cable failing.

"When we hooked up to this optic fibre cable we were given the guarantee that the chances of a disconnection, or an accidental disconnection, was 00.0011, so it was virtually non-existent," Lopeti Senituli said.

Since late last week satellite links have helped to ease connection problems, but capacity is still low.

A repair vessel, which has sailed from Apia, is due to begin repairs which could take a week or more to complete.


SOURCE: RNZ PACIFIC/PACNEWS
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PNG’s largest hotel group connects with STAAH

January 29, 2019, 5:59 am
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Coral Sea Hotels will have access to STAAHs market-leading online distribution and booking technology following the partnership announcement that extends to all seven properties in the group. The roll-out of the STAAH solutions to all properties …29th January 2019

Coral Sea Hotels will have access to STAAH’s market-leading online distribution and booking technology following the partnership announcement that extends to all seven properties in the group. The roll-out of the STAAH solutions to all properties is expected to be completed by mid-2019.

The partnership includes moving to STAAH’s cloud-based channel management system, website booking engine, online review management system and gift voucher management system, kicking off with the Ella Beach Hotel and Gateway Hotel. The remaining properties, including Grand Papua Hotel, Bird of Paradise Hotel, Highlander Hotel, Huon Gulf Hotel and Cassowary Hotel will be brought on to the STAAH platform by mid next 2019.

“Following the Asia Pacific Summit which was hosted in 2018, the hospitality market is looking forward to a resurgence in demand,” Group Operations Manager of Coral Sea Hotels, Matthew Cooper said. “We need to be ready for this expected spurt in activity, especially as competition has increased.”

“As the country’s leading hotels group, we are committed to adopting new technology and deliver to the dynamism that is a reality in today’s distribution landscape, enabling an online user experience that is excellent and guest service that is second to none.”

STAAH ticked the boxes for the group’s complex requirements with its flexible solutions under the Max Channel Manager and Max Booking Engine. While the former becomes an engine to grow the hotels’ reach, the latter is a popular with hoteliers for its conversion-driven features that drive bookings and increase profitability.

“The operational efficiencies gained by using STAAH Max Channel Manager are fantastic,” says Matthew. Real-time updates, insightful reporting and managing dynamic rates are among Max’s most popular features. “In less than one minute we can link up to all our preferred online travel agents (OTAs), and that is absolutely great!”

The group will also be using STAAH’s Gift Voucher Engine, which is a fantastic platform to nurture the hotels’ loyal customer base – both international visitors and the growing domestic market. ReviewMinder is a solution to aggregate and manage online reviews from some of the most widely used platforms. As more than 92% of the travelers are reported to read a review before booking, this solution becomes an essential tool to drive conversion.

“We are absolutely delighted to work with Coral Sea Hotels, our first property in Papua New Guinea,” says Edwin Saldanha, Regional Director – Oceania, STAAH Ltd.

As the country primes itself for another lift in the mining industry and a growing class of domestic travelers, we are confident our solutions will support the group to capitalize on this increased interest and place it firmly on a trajectory of growth and success.” .....read more on : Pacific Travel Advisor


SOURCE: STAAH/PACNEWS
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ACCOR Group of Hotels to invest $200m in Fiji

January 29, 2019, 6:11 am
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Over $200 million (US$100 million) will be invested by the ACCOR Group of hotels in Fiji.

The investment will include improving the services of four of their hotels in the country as well as opening a new one later this year.

The ACCOR group of hotels is a French multinational hospitality company that owns, manages and franchises hotels, resorts, and vacation properties.

ACCOR Group senior manager, Tim Dearsly says it has huge plans to invest more in Fiji.

“But in Fiji we have four different brands, with our newest hotel being the Pullman, opening in April and it’s going to be first one outside of Australia.”

With more faith placed in our booming economy, the group says its future in Fiji looks bright.

The largest hotel group in the world outside of the United States has plans to build more hotels in Fiji.


SOURCE: FBC NEWS/PACNEWS
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PNG highly corrupt: Report

January 29, 2019, 7:43 pm
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A new report by the global watchdog Transparency International has again classified Papua New Guinea as one of the most highly corrupt countries in the world.

The 2018 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), a worldwide examination of perceptions of levels of corruption suffered by individual nations published by TI yesterday, has revealed that PNG is highly corrupt with a ranking of 138 out of the 180 countries that were perceived.

Scoring countries on a scale of zero to 100, with 100 being perceived to be very clean and zero perceived to be highly corrupt, PNG scored 28 out of 100, making it one of the most corrupt countries in the region and the world.

Under the theme ‘Corruption and the crisis of democracy’, the 2018 CPI revealed some crucial areas of the public sector corruption that are contributing to the weakness of democratic institutions and the stagnation to their performance must be addressed by responsible agencies like the government departments and non-government organisations as well.

According to a press statement released by TIPNG, some of the areas that contributed to the rank of corruption in PNG are the deteriorating respect for democratic principles.

“Simply said: There is a massive disrespect for the rule of law,” TIPNG said.

The statement went on to condemn public servants and citizens’ lack of integrity to adhere to proper processes and respectful ways of conduct. And taking the 2017 National Election as an example, the statement expressed great distaste about the way the election was conducted.

This was evident in the 2017 National Elections with discrepancies and electoral roll inaccuracy, bribery, and intimidation by voters and candidates, double voting and blocks voting.

There was also a lack of enforcement of laws by official agencies responsible during the election providing an opening for citizens to disregard measures to ensure a free and fair election, TIPNG said.

However, when corruption seeps into the democratic system, particularly at the higher levels of power, democratic institutions that keep the government in check suffer.

SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS

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‘Intending election candidates in Solomon Islands must return to constituency to file nomination’

January 29, 2019, 7:46 pm
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Clik here to view. The Solomon Islands Electoral Act 2018 has made changes to nomination procedures for candidates contesting election.

It requires an intending candidate to return to the constituency where she/he will be contesting in order to personally file his/her nomination.

Solomon Islands Electoral Office (SIEC) Chief Electoral Officer, Mose Saitala forewarned intending candidates of the change and urges any intending candidates living in Honiara or in the provincial headquarters to return to the constituency of their choice and personally file their nomination when the nomination period opens.

“Those who wish to contest in the 2019 National General Election should by now prepare to return to the constituency they wish to contest in, to prepare for the nomination period,” Saitala said.

He said the nomination period is looming therefore it is advisable that those intending to stand as candidates, to return and prepare for the nomination period.

Nomination centers in the 50 constituencies will be announced by Friday, 1 February 2019.

The Chief Electoral Officer explained that nomination process for the upcoming election will not be the same as past election nominations where nomination application forms are issued.

“Be informed that there will be no issuance of application forms. The forms will need to be completed electronically with the Returning Officer for that constituency, using the nomination application software, which requires the personal presence of the intending candidate and three nominators.”

Saitala said candidates and their nominators are advised to provide to the Returning Officer their Voter Identification Numbers for purpose of verification.

“Another reason why intending candidates are asked to apply in person is because it is a legal requirement for photos of intending candidates to be taken during the application process.

“The ballot paper for the upcoming election will include the facial passport-size photo of the candidate beside his/her name and symbol,” he explained.

The CEO added that candidates intending to contest in remote constituencies such as the Malaita Outer Islands and those in Temotu Province need to prepare and ensure they are in the constituency by the first week of February when the nomination period commences.

“The Solomon Islands Electoral Office chartered boats will travel to these remote constituencies to deploy election officials therefore intending candidates might want to board those boats given the irregular boat schedules to these constituencies.”

Saitala said it is important that intending candidates are aware and adhere to the new requirements to avoid disqualification.

The Constitution provides that a person is qualified as a candidate to contest election if he or she is a Solomon Islands Citizen, 21 years and above, and a registered voter.

The Electoral Act 2018 further requires that a candidate’s nomination can only be completed if the following had been attended to:

i) Complete the electronic nomination application by signing the printed form with your three nominators;

ii) The three nominators for a candidate are present in the nomination centre and that they are resident and registered voters in that constituency;

iii) Where a candidate is contesting as a political party candidate, she or he must:

a) Provide certification from the Registrar of Political Parties that he/she is the party candidate contesting election in that constituency;

b) Provide a certificate from his/her party executive allowing him/her to use an alternative symbol if she or he wishes to use a symbol other than the party symbol. (Returning Officers are not allowed to reserve any symbol for a candidate. A symbol will be issued on ‘first come bases’).

iv) Provides a non-refundable fee of $5,000 (US$626).

Meanwhile, Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) Returning Officers and Election Managers must uphold to the high standard of their duties when carrying their roles and responsibilities in the upcoming elections.

Chief Electoral Officer, Mose Saitala highlighted this when he officially opened the three days training for the Returning Officers, Election Managers and Accountant officers for each province.

He said it is important that they must recognise the values and principles underpinning good electoral practice.

“You need to recognise the values such as Integrity, Impartiality, Transparency, Fairness, Accuracy and Respect for the Law. And I‘m sure as part of your training and your own beliefs, values will be discussed and focussed on as part of good electoral practice,” he said.

He said just recently, during the Public Enquiry phase, a Revising Officer and his team were removed for failing to conduct themselves to the standard required of them as senior electoral officials in the province.

“With these good election governance values, it is important therefore that I emphasise to you the importance of your roles and accountabilities that come with it.

“I fully trust your experience and your integrity but it is important that I remind you SIEC expects all of you to conduct yourself to certain standards, and as your appointing authority I will have to exercise that authority of it is absolutely necessary,” he added.

Saitala said as accountant officers also participated, it is important that accountability in terms of funds that will be transferred to each of the provinces must also be noted.  

“As members of your local community, it will be important to involve all your community by engaging with them and providing awareness of the national election and all aspects including nominations and voting.

“You are our leaders in the field and set the standard for your staff as leaders and role models. It is important that you are acting responsibly and setting that tone for all your staff so that they can follow,” he added.


SOURCE: SOLOMON STAR/PACNEWS

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PNG LLG elections schedule set

January 31, 2019, 4:32 pm
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Clik here to view. Elections for Local Level Governments in PNG  will be conducted between April and June.

Inter-Government Relations Minister, Kevin Isifu, announced the election schedule as follows:

Writs for the election will will be issued on Thursday April 25, allowing nominations to open and campaigning to start.

Nominations will close on Thursday May 2nd.

Nominations will run for 7 days, and campaigning will be for 15 days.

Polling will start on Thursday May 9 and end on Wednesday May 22.

The election will end with the return of Writs on or before Thursday June 13.

NBC News
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Indonesia sends protest note to Vanuatu for smuggling separatist in delegation

January 31, 2019, 4:33 pm
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Clik here to view. The Indonesian Government has sent a note of protest to the Government of Vanuatu for smuggling Papuan separatist Benny Wenda into the South Pacific nation`s delegation while meeting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet Jeria.

The note of protest was sent because Vanuatu was considered not respecting the Indonesian sovereignty by supporting the Papua separatist movement, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said here on Thursday.

“The reason for protest is because an international basic principle has been violated (by Vanuatu). We affirm that we will not back off when it concerns the country`s sovereignty,” Marsudi told the press following a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR).

The Vanuatu Government had no good intention by smuggling Wenda in its delegation while meeting with the UN High Commissioner.

The minister stated that Wenda used patterns of manipulative means and fake news.

Hasan Kleib, Indonesian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, in a press statement on Wednesday slammed Vanuatu for deceiving Jeria.

“Indonesia strongly condemns Vanuatu`s action, which deliberately deceived the High Commissioner by taking manipulative steps through the infiltration of Wenda into the Vanuatu delegation,” Kleib remarked.

Wenda presented to Jeria a petition demanding an independence referendum of Indonesia`s easternmost province of Papua.

The meeting was actually on Universal Periodic Review (UPR). It was unrelated to the petition and had not been arranged by the UN.

“During this meeting, Wenda presented the high commissioner with a petition. This was not actually a meeting arranged with Wenda for that purpose,” said Ravina Shamdasani, deputy spokeswoman at the UN Human Rights Office, as quoted by the foreign media.

“Jeria was not aware” in advance, she added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament`s Commission I Satya Widya Yudha condemned Vanuatu for smuggling Wenda into its delegation.

“That shows that Vanuatu has disrespected Indonesia,” Yudha noted.

SOURCE: ANTARA NEWS/PACNEWS
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Former Tongan PM Lord Tu’ivakanō’s case back in court in March

January 31, 2019, 4:36 pm
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Clik here to view. The king’s noble accused of committing passport offences, money laundering and bribery will be back in court after next month.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said,  Lord Tu’ivakanō’s arraignment is set for March 19.

The former Speaker and Prime Minister had been charged with 10 counts, including making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a passport, perjury, acceptance of bribery and money laundering.

He was arrested on March 2018 shortly after Police Minister Māteni Tapueluelu resigned citing disappointment over what he had described as lack of commitment in the way how authorities addressed allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Police.

“The case has been committed to the Supreme Court to be called on 19 March 2019 for arraignment,” the spokesperson said.

She said a trial date will be announced on that day.

The court case had been postponed repeatedly since the noble’s first appearance in court on March 2018.

The noble’s court case was expected to be heard on 9 August 2018 after it had been adjourned numerous times due to various filing of document needs and related matters..

SOURCE: KANIVA TONGA NEWS/PACNEWS
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PNG, Samoa lead team on ACP-EU Cotonou negotiations

January 31, 2019, 4:37 pm
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Clik here to view. Papua New Guinea and Samoa are leading a team of negotiators and consultants to commence the post Cotonou ACP-EU negotiations for the Pacific region at the ambassadorial level.

This is between the Pacific regional lead negotiators and senior officials of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels.

Papua New Guinea’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union Joshua Kalinoe and Minister for National Planning Richard Maru are on the respective negotiation teams representing PNG.

PNG is also one of the two deputy chairs of the Central Negotiation Group (CNG) of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and both Ambassador Kalinoe and Minister Maru are also lead negotiators in the respective ACP Ambassadorial and Ministerial Central Negotiation Groups. The others are Togo (Chair) and Guyana (Deputy Chair).

Kalinoe said from Brussels that the current Cotonou Partnership Agreement that provides the basis for the ACP-EU cooperation will expire in 2020 and the parties have agreed to negotiate a replacement agreement.

The EU is PNG’s second largest development partner under the ACP-EU partnership arrangements.

The ACP Leader’s Summit in Port Moresby in 2015 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill agreed for the ACP to renegotiate the Cotonou replacement agreement as a group and in a single undertaking and directed their ministers to engage in the negotiations with the EU.

O’Neill is the current sitting chairman of the Summit of ACP Heads of State and Governments and will handover to another Head of State or Government when the summit is reconvened this year in another ACP member state.

The consultations are expected to be launched at the political level in Apia, Samoa, this month.

SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS
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Soft power: Australia uses hard game to tackle China in Pacific

January 31, 2019, 4:39 pm
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Clik here to view. Australia will direct more foreign aid to develop the sport of rugby league in the Pacific, officials say, bolstering a soft power offensive against China's growing influence in the region.

The plan, backed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, aims to tap into a shared passion for the bruising game by funding more coaching clinics and exhibition matches on far-flung Pacific islands being wooed by China.

“The prime minister sees rugby league as a central component of his soft-power plan as China's influence in the Pacific grows,” said a senior rugby league official who declined to be identified as he is not authorised to talk about the plan.

Declaring the Pacific "our patch", Australia is stepping up its diplomatic and trade efforts in the region, uneasy at China's bid for influence through infrastructure loans and its version of soft power – “ping pong” diplomacy.

China's encouragement has helped table tennis, or ping-pong, gain a foothold in Papua New Guinea (PNG), but it is unlikely to challenge the island's love affair with league rugby.

Such is the region's passion for the game that when Australia played a friendly match in PNG in 2016, thousands of people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the visitors.

League-obsessed fans also follow their players in Australia, where athletes of Pacific island or Maori descent made up 44 percent of National Rugby League (NRL) rosters in 2017.

Australia's Pacific Outreach Programme, which includes schemes developed along with the NRL, will expand to include smaller but strategically important islands, officials said.

“Together with the government we have plans to expand into the Cook Islands, Niue and Vanuatu,” said Frank Puletua, senior manager of international strategy at the NRL.

The three island nations have signed up to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which promotes expanding land and sea links between Asia, Africa and Europe, with billions of dollars for infrastructure development.

The NRL already runs programmes in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, all of which have joined Belt and Road.

In response to China's investment push, Australia has promised Pacific neighbours up to A$3 billion (US$2.16 billion) in cheap infrastructure loans and grants, but the new fund is not expected to be operational until July.

Unable to match China's deeper pockets and its willingness to fund projects that Australia will not - such as a new road in PNG - Australia has dialled up a playbook that promotes its cultural ties with the region.

It expanded a Pacific jobs scheme that allows men and women from several island nations to work in Australia.

Morrison, on a tour of the Pacific, also promised to relax curbs on imports of Kava - a mildly intoxicating brew that is deeply embedded in the social fabric of Pacific islanders.

During a trip to Fiji, Morrison said his government would pay the travel costs for a Fijian rugby league team to compete in the second tier of Australia's national competition, joining a team from PNG that has competed since 2013.

The NRL also plans a series of pre-season games in the Pacific region.

“One thing we have greatly in common is our passion for sport,” Morrison said in Fiji's capital Suva.

“Our shared passion has a practical element to the relationship between our countries,” he said.

SOURCE: REUTERS/PACNEWS
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PNG eyes electronic Voting system in 2022

January 31, 2019, 4:40 pm
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Clik here to view. Papua New Guinea will likely use during the 2022 general election an electronic voting system successfully implemented by India, and copied by other nations, says Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

“The electronic voting system is the way to go so that we can have fair and free elections in our country,” O’Neill told Parliament.

“Since Independence, the election process has been giving us a lot of challenges, and it is in everyone’s interest that we conduct this election in a fair and free manner so that people can have their say in how their leaders are elected into Parliament. We have been looking at this electronic voting system for quite some time,” O’Neill said.

He said the Indian government successfully conducted its elections involving between 700 million and 800 million people “voting at the same time, and results coming out in a matter of days”.

“With that experience, we thought we can adapt the technology owned by the government of India. They have similar partnerships with some countries around the world.” A team of Indian electoral officials, at the invitation of the Government, was in Port Moresby to set up the system in the State Function room at Parliament House.

“We were able to see how the election process was conducted and how successful it was done,” O’Neill said.

Further, a Government team led by Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato recently visited India to “witness first-hand” their election process, and discuss adapting their system in PNG.

“We are committed to that and awaiting advice from the Electoral Commission,” O’Neill said.

“Our aim is to start the implementation process, especially getting the voter registration system this year. We don’t wait until the last year to update the common roll, (with) all sorts of ghost names (on it).

“It is important that we start early so that the integrity of the system is tested, and that people have confidence in the system we are going to introduce.”National Planning and Monitoring Minister Richard Maru had earlier called for the National Identification (NID) project to be fast-tracked so that all voters could use their ID in the 2022 general election.

He warned that “those who don’t have an ID won’t vote in the (2022) election”

SOURCE: THE NATIONAL/PACNEWS
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PNG Police Commissioner Baki not aware of additional APEC allowance

February 2, 2019, 2:15 pm
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PNG POLICE Commissioner Gari Baki said today that he is not aware of the payment of the additional K300.00 allowances for members of the disciplined forces engaged in the 2018 APEC security operations.
Commissioner Baki who was Commander of the Joint Security Task Force said this additional amount was promised by the government but to date he has not been informed of any payments being made.
Commissioner Baki made this statement in the wake of rumours being spread that the payment was to be included in this pay period.
“Rather than listen to rumours I would expect some sense of maturity and common sense to prevail among the members of the disciplined forces. The Government made the commitment to pay the additional K300 per day allowance and it is the government who will inform us when and how it will pay,” Commissioner Baki said. Police Media
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6 crimes reported nationwide on Monday 28 January 2019

February 2, 2019, 2:17 pm
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POLICE  in PNG made four arrests in relation to six crimes reported nationwide on Monday 28th January, 2019 according to the daily crime summary provided by the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Chief of Operations.
The six crimes includes: two murders, one break-in domestic, one stealing and one Grievous Bodily Harm. Two crimes were reported in the Eastern Highlands Province, and four crimes reported in the National Capital District.
Brief statements of crimes reported nationwide:
 NCD/Central Command
Kidnapping – Pending - Complainants Jocelyn and Christopher Tiki reported that their adopted daughter Lucy Tiki, 17, from Oreii village in the Southern Highlands Province was selling betel nuts outside their house when the suspect kidnapped her. The suspect Joyce Ponde believed to be her biological mother who took her without her parents’ consent. The complainants claim they bought Lucy for K600.00 from her biological parents when she was two months old. The victim was under the care of the complainants for 17 years. Lucy is believed to have been locked up by her biological parents at the Eight Mile settlement. Matter reported to the police. Investigation is still pending.
Stealing by False Pretense- Pending - Complainant Hebert Hongai reported that the suspect Andy Hamago hired the complainant’s vehicle and failed to pay the amount of K15,000.00 since last year. The vehicle a Toyota Land Cruiser, five door bearing registration number BDM 430, is now impounded at the Boroko Police Station.
Break and Enter, Stealing (Domestic) – Pending - Complainant William Tokana reported that a known suspect broke into his dwelling house and stole a computer bag valued at K300.00, a bag of rice valued at K50.00, a pair of shoes valued at K160.00, a phone valued at K1,500.00 and a boom box valued at K800.00. The total cost of items stolen was K3,060. Nil items recovered. Investigation pending.
Arson-Pending - Complainant Peter Pupun reported that his Duplex house cost around K700,000.00 was burnt to the ground at Gerehu Stage Six. Matter reported to the police and is being investigated.
Willful murder and armed robbery - two follow-up arrests made - Two suspects were arrested and charged for willful murder and armed robbery. The accused Frank Jack and Beliga Dauma from Rigo Central province allegedly shot the deceased, injured his workmate and stole K35,000.00 cash when they were on a bank run. The suspects were armed with a pistol and waited in a stolen motor vehicle at the exit gate at Fortune Club, Gordons when the incident took place.
 Southern Command:
Gulf Province; Missing person - A body was retrieved at the sea in Huritai village in Malalaua, Gulf Province. It is believed that the deceased was a PNG Defence Force soldier who was serving at the Taurama Barracks in the NCD. The soldier was on holiday. The PNG Defence Force was informed and members of the Defence Force are now at Malalaua to retrieve the body to Port Moresby.
Milne bay Province; The bodies of a mother and her seven year old child were recovered at the shower room where they went into hiding when the notorious criminal Tommy Meava Baiker and his gang burnt down eight police houses in Alotau, Milne Bay Province. The deceased woman and her child were from the Misima Island in the Milne Bay Province. Police reinforcements together with criminal investigators and forensic officials are in Alotau investigating this and other related crimes committed on night of 23 January 2019.
 Northern Command:
Eastern Highlands Province; The following major crimes of one Grievous Bodily Harm was reported with nil arrest made and one sexual touching reported with nil arrest made.
All other centers nationwide reported nil major incidents for the last 24 hours.
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PNG's Madang MP guilty of breaching privilege

February 2, 2019, 2:19 pm
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Clik here to view. The Parliamentary Privileges Committee has found Madang MP Bryan Kramer, guilty of breaching his Parliamentary Privilege.

In May 2018, Mr Kramer had published a post on Facebook titled "Has Dumb Become Dumber?" criticizing a proposal by Communications Minister Sam Basil to ban Facebook in the country.

Mr Kramer was referred to the Committee following a complaint by Tewai-Siassi MP Kobby Bomareo.

Presenting the committee's decision in Parliament today, Chairman and Manus Governor, Charlie Benjamin, says the committee has asked Mr Kramer to apologize to Minister Basil on the floor, when the House next sits.

Mr Kramer will be suspended for two sitting days if he fails to apologize.

The committee also warned other MP's, that they too can be referred for prosecution in court, if they breach the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act of 1964.

NBC News
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Philippines, PNG sign new pact for fisheries development

February 3, 2019, 9:56 pm
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Clik here to view. The Philippines and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have forged an agreement to strengthen cooperation in fisheries development.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and Papua New Guinea Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Patrick Basa in Quezon City on Friday.

The MoU called on the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and Papua New Guinea’s National Fisheries Authority (NFA) to boost “mutual cooperation, consultation, and exchange of technical assistance in fisheries research and development.”

“Under the MoU, we remain connected as regards fisheries data sharing which provides us better access and control over our Philippine flagged vessels operating in PNG, coordination on the Coral Triangle Initiative and fight against IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing, among others. Thus [it] also bolsters our closer ties with PNG on other matters such as food, especially rice production,” BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona told The Manila Times.

Under the new pact, a Joint Committee on Fisheries Cooperation (JCFC) composed of representatives from both countries and implementing arrangements are also being reviewed and vetted. The deal, which follows the first MoU signed by the two governments in 2009, will remain in force for five years and then be reviewed for renewal.

PNG has an extensive and valuable fisheries sector ranging from inland river fisheries, aquaculture, coastal beche-de-mer and reef fisheries to the prawn trawl and large-scale deepwater tuna fisheries. Its fisheries zone of 2.4 million square kilometers is the largest in the South Pacific and includes an extended reef system, numerous islands and an extensive coastline.

In November last year, during President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to PNG, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for a joint rice development project was also signed by Piñol and Papuan Agriculture and Livestock Minister Benny Allan. The deal formalized cooperation on rice production research and development, and rice farming technology between the two countries.

Prior to this, the two countries also signed a joint declaration that signified a shared commitment to expand and fortify bilateral relations and cooperation in the field of agriculture and agro-industries, particularly in areas such as rice and industrial crops production; aquaculture and inland fish farming; livestock breeding and improvement; and agri-business development.

SOURCE: THE MANILA TIMES/PACNEWS
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Moves to have compulsory voting in Solomon Islands

February 5, 2019, 8:58 pm
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Movements and religious organisations that are discouraging their followers from casting their votes during the national general election should be charged under the Solomon Islands panel code.

That's according to the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr Jimmy Rogers during a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office, Tuesday.

A question was raised by the local media concerning some movements and church organisations which are telling their members and follower not to participate in election because of their doctrines or rules.

It was discussed that these people however are still using the government services just like other eligible voters in their constituencies.

Dr Rogers said ultimately these types of groups have very strong principles which they imposed on their followers.

He added that under the constitution everyone has a right but our Electoral Act has not yet made voting on our national election a compulsory event for the eligible voters in the country.

“Once the Electoral Act make election a compulsory event then these groups such as Platform Movement, Jehovah Witness and other similar groups can be charged for criminal offence under our penal code,” Dr Rogers said.

He said at the moment they have room to move but then it comes back to individual right under the constitution.

Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Rick Hou when responding to the issue said past government have accommodated such religious beliefs not to vote for elected officials.

But with Platform Movement in Makira Hou said there was work done by the police to ascertain what has been going on with the group.

“But it was quiet a concern for the Parliament Members coming from those areas where Platform Movement have an impact,” he added.

Hou added that if the electoral office can raise this matter for further discussion the government will try and address this issue under the laws of this country.

SOURCE: SOLOMON STAR/PACNEWS

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China releases footage of ‘Guam killer’ missile in ‘clear message to US’

February 5, 2019, 8:59 pm
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Clik here to view. China has revealed footage of its next-generation Dongfeng-26 ballistic missile showing improved stability and accuracy, a move analyst say aims to send a message to the United States about its military strength.

Footage of the missile was released for the first time in a report on state broadcaster CCTV, amid intensifying military rivalry between China and the US.

Four fin-like flight control surfaces are seen around the missile nose in the report on an exercise in northwest China. The People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force launched at least one DF-26 missile during the drill.

Military analysts said the fin-like flight control surfaces provided better stability for the missile as it neared a moving target, such as a US aircraft carrier.

The intermediate-range ballistic missile is also known as the “Guam killer” for its range – 3,000km to 5,741km (1,864 to 3,567 miles) – that puts the US island in the western Pacific within striking distance.

It could be used in nuclear, conventional and anti-ship strikes, meaning China could use it to attack US aircraft carriers and naval bases in the Asia-Pacific region.

China’s defence ministry in April confirmed the DF-26 had been put into service with the Rocket Force.

Adam Ni, a China researcher at Macquarie University in Sydney, said the latest exercise sent “a clear message to the U.S about China’s growing missile capability, and that it can hold at risk US strategic assets, such as carriers and bases”.

“It’s an attempt to reinforce the notion that the PLA has the capability to sink U.S carriers and inflict unacceptable damage on American forces,” Ni said.

“Within the context of increasing strategic competition and tension between the two countries, the latest drills are just another signal to the US about the prevails of escalation, including by intervening militarily in support of Taiwan against China … We are likely to see more [of these drills] if bilateral relations worsen.”

Footage of the exercise was released just one week after US Admiral John Richardson in Tokyo said the US Navy had not ruled out sending an aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait, despite China’s military technology advances posing a greater threat to its warships than ever before.

Military tension between the two countries is escalating, with the US sending two warships through the strait on Thursday, and Taiwan saying multiple PLA military jets had also flown near the southern tip of the self-ruled island to the western Pacific for a drill that day.

James Floyd Downes, a lecturer in comparative politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said releasing footage of the missile drill was a calculated political act.

“Beijing is demonstrating its military capacity and overall strength in power,” Downes said. “This is arguably a strategic power play and a sign to Washington and the Trump administration of its underlying military power … a key strategy taken directly from the realist playbook in international relations.”

Zhang Baohui, a director of the Centre for Asian Pacific Studies at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, said the drill was about deterrence amid rising tensions in the region.

“China has repeatedly stated that the missile can hit moving targets like ships,” Zhang said. “While the overall probability of war between the US and China remains very low, Beijing is nonetheless concerned by recent changes in the dynamics of Sino-US relations. The public debut of the DF-26 could mean enhancing its general deterrence.”.

SOURCE: SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST/PACNEWS

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