Digicel considering legal options after Papua New Guinea tax
Digicel is considering an appeal against a “sudden, bizarre and unprecedented” new tax announced by the Papua New Guinea
PNG
$5m for PNG PM’s one-day state visit to Jakarta
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape this week leads a 71-member delegation to Jakarta, Indonesia today in what could be his last state visit. Marape and his large delegation will spend 24-hours in Indonesia, in
Additional COVID funding postpones aid cuts
Faced with the prospect of another cut to aid while the COVID-19 pandemic continues – and in some ways intensifies in our region – the government has again reached for the “temporary and targeted” lever to avoid
Women MPs should be the norm, not a novelty: Bale
The absence of any women in the Papua New Guinea parliament is a matter of deep national shame, says candidate, Tania
Cobb seeks ‘Freedom’
Chris Cobb’s song Freedom is inspired by two tragedies, the ongoing human rights abuses of the indigenous people of West Papua, and the sinking of the MV Rabaul
Fiji outclassed, PNG victory at FIFA Oceania qualifiers
Fiji outclassed by strong New Zealand side After a 2 – 1 win over New Caledonia in the first round, Fiji has suffered a devastating 4 – 0 loss to New Zealand in their second outing at the FIFA Oceania qualifying
The Lazy Little Frog
A new children's book from Papua New Guinea unfolds through the eyes of a little green tree
44 parties to nominate candidates for PNG elections
Papua New Guinea Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission has confirmed that only 44 parties will field candidates in the elections. Registrar Dr Alphonse Gelu said the commission had de-registered 10
Australia asked to allow PNG athletes in to train
PNG Weightlifting Federation in conjunction with the PNG Olympic Committee (PNGOC) has written to the Australian Government requesting for its athletes to be allowed into Australia to train and prepare for the 2022
PacTow ‘Workhorse’ Back in the Water
Pacific Towing (PacTow) is celebrating the return of its tug ‘Waiowa’ to the water. One of PacTow’s 12 tugs, Waiowa is back at work following an engine replacement. Predominantly used for open ocean
PNG election polling date moved to accomodate threat of COVID-19 surge: Sinai
The PNG election polling date has been moved forward to 18 June from 25 June, Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai has announced. Sinai said this cut the campaign period to 52 days from 28 April to 18
‘New Dedicated Harbour Tug for PacTow’
Pacific Towing (PacTow) has expanded its fleet with the purchase of a dedicated harbour tug ‘Koranga’ from Singapore. Koranga is scheduled to arrive in Lae in March where she will be permanently stationed to better
Pacific corruption scores continue to stagnate: Urgent action required
Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index adds Fiji as a fourth Pacific nation, as stagnation demonstrates the critical importance of corruption reform in the region to secure basic rights and freedoms.
Low vax rates threaten PNG economy
By Kevin McQuillan COVID-19 will remain a threat to the Papua New Guinea economy throughout 2022, due to the low rate of vaccination and poor health infrastructure, compounded by a lacklustre foreign investment climate.
Political leadership in PNG: women parliamentarians in the 2017 election
The three women parliamentarians who were elected in the 2012 Papua New Guinea (PNG) election failed to win re-election in the 2017 general election. Their electoral defeats only deepen the concern for gender
Five-year timeline to vaccinate
By Kevin McQuillan New modelling has revealed that Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea will have vaccinated less than 20% of their adult populations by the end of this year and it could take five years to
Refugee processing in PNG to end
Australia and Papua New Guinea have announced the closure of Canberra’s offshore refugee processing program by the end of this year, leaving responsibility for the remaining asylum seekers and refugees to Port
Port Moresby General hospital on the verge of collapse
PNG COVID update: Papua New Guinea’s Port Moresby General Hospital(PMGH) says it is reaching a crisis point, with services teetering on collapse unless they are immediately given more support. “We urgently need
Transformation of a Port Moresby settlement
Joyce Bay settlement, formerly known as Horse Camp, is a notorious settlement in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG). It has been known for criminal activity, and as a place where many criminals live. The settlement is
Reeves Envico supports a COVID-safe environment in the Pacific
Reeves Envico is committed as an employer in supporting a healthy and COVID-safe environment across all our project sites and in the local communities we operate in. Our recent initiatives have helped workers access
PNG edges closer to sovereign wealth fund
By Kevin McQuillan The PNG Parliament approved establishing a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) more than a decade ago but it’s only this month that Prime Minister Marape indicated moves towards its establishment. In
Kina’s acquisition of Westpac Pacific operations thwarted
Papua New Guinea’s Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) has rejected Kina Securities Limited’s proposal to buy out Westpac Bank’s PNG operations. The ICCC’s decision reflects its concerns about
UBS Inquiry: Loan losses quantified
Papua New Guinea lost US$432 million on a loan arranged by the Sydney office of the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) in 2014, far more than earlier thought, the UBS Inquiry has heard. Current Prime Minister, James