Yeri Penna

The Open Parliamentary Project (OPP) which enables the people to see for themselves what their Members of Parliament are doing in their districts is one way of fighting corruption in the country. The project which was initiated by Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) in 2012 in partnership with the Speaker of Parliament, Theo   Zurenouc, and the European Union with the aim of providing the people of Papua New Guinea with the required information about their MPs. Last week, the OPP was handed over to the Parliament by TIPNG after steering the project since its initiation. Chairman of TIPNG, Lawrence Stevens said TIPNG embraces the important of the project because it returned information on the proceedings of the parliament to the people who are the rightful receivers of the information.   “The open parliament project is one of our flagship program and we have watched it grow with communities in the country embracing its’ importance. We hope that the people

   Picture by www.airport-data.com : Momote Airport    (L-R) CADIP Program Director, Manuai Kametan looks on as NAC's Acting Managing Director Joseph Tupiri signs the documents for the fencing Materials for Buka and Momote Airports in front of General Manager for Markham Culverts, Ron Lane and Port Moresby 's Branch Manager, Ray Yapo.              Buka and Momote Airport which have faced operational and safety issues will now b e fenced after a local company was awarded contract to supply fencing equipment.  On Tuesday, National Airports Corporation’s Civil Aviation Development Investment Program (CADIP)awarded the 6.2Million project to Markham Culverts to supply fencing materials for the two airports. NAC Acting Managing Director, Joseph Tupiri said the fencing of the two airports have been an issue for the organization for the past years. “We have had so many safety concerns over t

    Papua New Guinea does not have an effective local quarantine when it comes to securing local plants and animals from invasive species. Peter Mwayawa, a University of Papua New Guinea Open College lecturer, said there is not enough done to protect our cash crops, food crops and local fauna species within the country and as a result they are losing their value. Presenting his paper on Biosecurity and impacts on food during the recent Waigani Seminar this year, Mwayawa said invasive species such as cocoa borer and coffee blight that disturbs proper growth of the plants results in less income for growers while simultaneously reducing food value for consumers. “We do not know that pests are eating away our environment. The more the pests, the more food value decreases,” Said Mwayawa. Mwayawa further explained that PNG’s local animals also face the same threat as plants; such as the recent bird flu related to chickens but there is no strategy developed to

Published in Sunday Weekly Magazine: Sunday, May 31st, 2015     She left high school at the age of 14 and went straight to Tafe in Australia. The year after, Fatai had completed all her certificate courses and was referred to the Victoria University in Melbourne.   At just 16 years of age, Fatai joined the Australian TV Show The Voice soon after admitting to college. Originally from Tonga, Fatai has lived all her life in Australia with her family. Her love for singing began in church where she sang professionally alongside her family at an early age at major events. For Fatai, Music has always been a family affair but she took a bold step in 2009 when she decided to pursue a solo career in music. There, Fatai began singing at various community events and eventually into The Voice in 2012. Fatai was brought into the country this week to celebrate the Australian week in Port Moresby. Fatai visited the University of Papua New on Thursday to introduce herself to

Published in Sunday Chronicle's Sunday Weekly Magazine: Sunday, May 10, 2015   He is right where he wanted to be, the young lad from Suau in the Milne Bay Province is one star that is turning heads in America. Famously known as Prote-J, Jayhugh Smith, is a lyricist, song writer and producer who has shared the stage with big name Artists such as Busta Rhymes, and opened for artists like J.Cole, Big Sean, Curren$y, Mac Miller, and more. Currently back in his mother land to touch base with his PNG roots, The Weekly Magazine caught up with the star on Wednesday when he took time out of his busy schedule for an interview. This is a part one of a two parts interview with Prote-J published in Sunday Chronicle Weekly Magazine. Smart, down to earth, handsome and his mommy's boy is just a few words PNG comedy King, Elton Kili used to describe the 26 year old American PNG lad. Born in Orlando, Las Angelus from an American father, as Jayhugh Smith, Prote-J grew up

To celebrate the 50 th Anniversary of the University of Papua New Guinea, Bank of Papua New Guinea has released commemorative K5.00 and K2.00 coins to mark the event. The commemorative coin was minted by the Royal Australian Mint which comes with its packaging and would be on sale. The K2.00 coin is Gold in colour while the K5.00 coin is Silver and both coins have the UPNG Golden Jubilee emblem minted onto it. The K2.00 coin will be sold for K25.00 while the K5.00 coin would be sold for K125.00. Speaking at the launching of the commemorative coins, Governor of Bank of PNG, Loi Bakani said University of Papua New Guinea has come a long way in terms of grooming a lot of Papua New Guineans who have contributed in developing the country. “We have been associated with other entities but with the University of Papua New Guinea to celebrate its Golden Jubilee; we at the bank of papua new guinea are honored to participate in this milestone event to present these coins,

 Geology Professor at the University of Papua New Guinea has been recognized on the 50 th anniversary year of the university for his contribution to the science community in Papua New Guinea and the country . 80 years old Australian, Professor Hugh Davies was presented two commemorative coins of K2.00 and a K5.00 by the University of Papua New Guinea’s Vice Chancellor Professor Albert Mellam as a token of appreciation. “Professor Hugh Davies has made a very profound contribution not only to the Geology community but to the country in the context of preparing and training geologist who have gone out in the discipline and the industry which has a significant contribution to the global community. “On the 50 th Anniversary I have the greatest pleasure of presenting the professor with two of our commemorative coins as a token of appreciation,” Said Professor Mellam. A surprised professor Davies said he is grateful for the University’s gesture as he did not expect a

Papua New Guinea has been vulnerable to various natural and man-made disasters over the years which occur frequently and affect a lot of lives. All these impacts place enormous financial burden to the people and the levels of government where finances are spent on unbudgeted events. As a way forward, Papua New Guineans need to be prepared to cater for to minimize such unexpected experiences. As such the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazard Management through the Geohazard Management Division had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Papua New Guinea, via the Center for Disaster Reduction, recently to train, educate and develop and up skilled personnel who would be knowledgeable and understand the geohazard of Papua New Guinea, Pacific Islands and the world as a whole. Secretary of the DMPGM, Shadrach Himata said the value of geohazards should not be underestimated simply because PNG is prone to many different geographical risks.

The use of Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing is vital to PNG in term of Managing Natural Disasters in the country. The increase in frequencies of natural disasters in the country has prompted the Environmental Science and Geography students of the University of Papua New Guinea to propose the use of GIS and RS to better prepare people before disasters. The environmental Science and Geography students presented a highlight of the program through a project during the recent UPNG Science Fair. National and Provincial Disaster officers or urban planners in managing natural disasters were targeted to use the software to quickly identify possible impact areas to evacuate the affected population in an area. Final year Environmental Science and Geography student Joshua Sasahombi said the materials involved includes ArcGIS and MapInfo software and relevant data received from the UPNG Remote Sensing Centre and the National Statistics Office. “The ArcGis identifies vulnerable ar

Governor of Northern Province Garry Juffa has expressed concerns over Papua New Guinean's National Security and intelligence capacity after the recent terrorist attacks in France and the attempted attack in Germany on Wednesday where an ambulance filled with bombs was discovered by Police. Juffa said PNG’s National Security and capacity has significantly contracted over the years in terms of man power, funding, training and development. “Every time an economy grows and expands; its population grows and expands and thus it increases its national security capacity. But in Papua New Guinea it has been the opposite. “We have less resources going into that area while the economy and population is growing the threats and opportunities posed by globalisation continue to increases, our intelligence community does not get the resources it needs, it has not developed its capacity and its ability to develop intelligence for decision making,” said Juffa. Juffa said

Basic Health care is a fundamental right for all Papua New Guineans and it must be provided to every citizen despite location, ethnicity, gender, age and race. A Special Parliamentary Committee appointed by parliament early this year to find out the effectiveness of public sector reforms and service delivery concluded the health hearing on Wednesday. Committee chairman and Goroka MP Bire Kimisopa expressed concerns of the country’s ignorance to provide basic health care in rural areas of Papua New Guinea. The committee comprised of Kimisopa as chairman and committee members; Northern Governor Garry Juffa, Obura Wonenara MP Mehrra Kipefa, West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel, and Lawyer Roger Maguire as counsel assisting the committee. The three day hearing summoned provincial health officers, doctors, the Department of Health, Department of Finance and other relevant authorities to find out the effectiveness of health service delivery in the country. The Comm

Cervical cancer is a major threat to the female population of the country but the required vaccination to prevent the disease is yet to be implemented in the country. The trial Gardasil Cancer Vaccination conducted in West New Britain through World Health Organisation by Axious Healthcare Development was described as failed by the National Department of Health and the Special Parliamentary Committee hearing into the Health Service delivery in PNG. Rural Health Officer of Kendrian Hospital Dr. Yvonne Sapuri told the special parliamentary committee on Tuesday that the girls between the ages of 9-13 were supposed to receive three vaccinations each but on the third round, only 719 vaccinations were left. According to a report presented by Dr. Sapuri, the first vaccination was given to 17,256 girls while the second vaccination was given to 14, 872 but on the third round, there were not enough vaccination. Dr. sapuri said despite the cost of purchasing the vaccination

The Cobalt therapy machine for cancer treatment at the Angau Memorial Hospital's oncology department in Lae, Morobe Province, has been out of action since 2013. About 400-500 people who turn up at ANGAU Hospital every year has been receiving adequate treatment since 2013 according to discussions revealed by a Special Parliamentary Committee hearing on Health Service delivery in PNG last week. The cobalt source which is the backbone of radiotherapy treatment had run low on power and needs urgent replacement. Department of Health’s Manager of the cancer treatment program George Otto admitted that the cancer treatment centre in Lae is not ideal for radiotherapy treatment and although the technology involved in treating cancer has advanced, PNG is still using cobalt which in addition needs immediate repair. “We have a big challenge ahead of us; the facilities there (angau) are nowhere up to an ideal centre for radiotherapy treatment. In today’s standards, the treatment by

Hagen’s refurbished Kagamuga airport was reopened on Thursday (26/11/15) by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill after undergoing reconstruction. The state of the art terminal building is worth K70m and is just one of the massive capital intensive programs which the National Airports Corporation is rolling out at airports in the country. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill appealed to the people to take care of the airport while taking into account the struggle they encountered before the new terminal was built. “I am happy that this government is taking the lead in expanding our infrastructures apart from prioritizing on Education and Health. I am also very thankful to the landowners who have worked together with us to expand Kagamuga airport. We launched this program two years ago and I am proud to be here with you today to open this terminal,” Said O’Neil. O’Neill reiterated that Mount Hagen will be undergoing major projects to improve its outlook as it serves as transit point for mo