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