“MOROBE PROVINCIAL GOV’T TO COURT” – Scott Waide
The Morobe Provincial Government may go to court if the NEC-approved Lae City Commission is implemented.
Governor Kelly Naru said the idea of the commission is to take away funds and powers from the provincial government and concentrate much of it within the city commission.
He says there are risks of the rest of Morobe missing out on funding benefits if such a move is implemented.
His comments come after Lae MP Loujaya Kouza announced that Lae city may soon have an arrangement like NCDC.
“PRCE ENCOURAGES PROFESSIONALISM IN TEACHERS” – Tokana Hasavi
Member for Wabag and chairman of the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Education, Robert Ganim, has urged teachers nationwide to stop strikes or industrial action.
He urged to instead continue negotiations and dialogues with the Teaching Service Commission and the Education Department on wage discrepancy issues.
Mr Ganim said the opposite could undermine the ability of PNGTA as the legitimate mouthpiece of teachers and hamper the education of students nationwide.
Mr Ganim said the investigative report on teachers’ salaries and entitlements has been concluded and will be delivered to parliament on August 26th – until then, the Referral Committee is calling for teachers to be patient.
“REPENTANCE VITAL” – Bernadette Efi
The nation will come to their knees on the 27th of this month on the National Day of Prayer and Repentance.
The Yangoru Sausia electorate has gone the extra mile and allocated K300, 000 to host a weeklong prayer and fasting crusade before the day.
Local pastors say they believe this is a way to improve social and law and order problems.
“GULF TO RECEIVE EM TV SIGNAL” – Tokana Hasavi
Gulf Governor Havila Kavo gave K250, 000 to Media Niugini Limited today for the setup of a transmitter in his province to receive the EM TV signal.
Mr Kavo said for more than 30 years, his people have had no reception of local television signals, which resulted in a lack of knowledge of current domestic and international issues.
The handover of the dummy cheque marks the first instalment payment of 3 proposed installation sites in Gulf Province.
“KAVO UNHAPPY WITH DISASTER FUNDS” – Tokana Hasavi
The Gulf Governor made remarks on the recent disaster payments to Gulf and Southern Highlands. Both provinces were recent victims to excessive flooding and landslips which affected an estimated 70, 000 people.
Mr Kavo was frustrated with the slow release of funds and called on Prime Minister Peter O&rsquO’Neill to intervene and look into the matter.
He also raised questions as to why K1 million kina was removed from Gulf Province’s K3 million allocation and given to Aitape.
Attempts to verify these remarks and receive updates on ground reports in the Southern Highlands, Gulf and Aitape provinces from the National Disaster Centre were unsuccessful.
“2nd ECONOMIC CORRIDOR” – Bernadette Efi
Ramu Valley is the country’s second economic zone, the first being the Sepik Plains.
Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru, identified the Valley as such following an aerial inspection recently.
The Ramu valley was chosen for its fertility and small population. The minister said a developer has shown keen interest.
He is now working closely with Usino Bundi MP Anthon Yagama and Minister for Agriculture and Member for Ramu, Tommy Tomscoll, to make an NEC submission to have developers carry out a survey.
“YAMA CASE” – Mickey Kavera
The decision on the Madang Open Seat will be handed down in Madang on Tuesday. Petitioner Peter Yama filed proceedings on grounds of errors and omissions encountered during the by elections.
He said the court proceedings are not against the sitting member Nixon Duban, but against the electoral commission for its oversight.
He wants the electoral commission to come clean on the disputed ballot boxes that were overlooked during the by election.
“WISIL’S 200m SEMIS” – Tere Alex
Toea Wisil is the most successful Papua New Guinean sprinter in the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She has so far advanced to the semi-finals in both women’s 100 and 200 metres.
Wisil clocked 24.48 seconds which is outside her personal best in her 200m semifinal.
Wisil, who came fourth in the semi-final qualifier, ran in the first lane and was kept within 2m of the leaders, including Jamaica’s Schillonie Calvert, England’s Anyika Onuora and Trinidad and Tobago’s Reyare Thomas.
