APEC 2018

Chief Superintendent (CSP) Kabib Lamu, from the APEC Joint Security Task Force (JSTF), called upon the participants to be vigilant, active, prepared and to perform their duties with pride and dignity when the leaders and delegates arrive on our shores.

“Close protection officers are the frontline officers providing close protection to high profile dignitaries.

The Vice Minister for Sports, National Events & APEC 2018, Wesley Raminai, says: “I would like to send my Christmas and New Year greetings to everybody involved with sports in PNG and the people of Kagua-Erave, who I represent as their elected Member of Parliament.”

Raminai said 2017 has been a very good year for sports in Papua New Guinea.

In an official hand - over of the chair, outgoing Chair, H.E Bui Thanh Son, committed to support PNG in hosting the APEC Summit in November next year.

Mr Thanh Son said the ISOM symposium in Port Moresby is just the beginning of a series of meetings leading to APEC Summit in November 2018.

He said our people must be given priority in every decision that the leaders do during the meetings.

The awardees undertook 3-4 month studies this year in Australia in the fields of international relations and international trade in preparation for APEC 2018.

Present at the awards night on Tuesday evening was Prime Minster Peter O’Neill, Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis, Papua New Guinea’s Ambassador to APEC, Ivan Pomaleu, and UN resident co-ordinator Roy Trivedi.

Participating were officers from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, the PNG Defence Force, the PNG Correctional Services and the St John Ambulance.

The officers had undergone three weeks of intense Public Order Management (POM) training aimed to erect an effective safety and security cell that will manage public disorder during the APEC summit.

The officers are here to assist the Royal PNG Constabulary prepare for the 2018 APEC meetings.

“Twelve New Zealand Police Service officers arrived in the country and other three are expected to join in early next year to work alongside with the counterparts, the Australian Federal Police to assist the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary prepare for the APEC meetings,” High Commissioner Mackwell said.

In a media conference on Friday in Da Nang city, Vietnam, O’Neill stressed on the importance of economic inclusion as a key element of expanding global trade so that smaller countries and their communities are not disadvantaged.

He said increasing access to modern technology platforms will be an important policy issue discussed by APEC leaders.

Meanwhile, the O’Neill-Abel Cabinet is likely to formally announce the theme and the logo of APEC PNG 2018 in the next parliament session.

Director Traffic, acting Superintendent Joe Joseph, says trainings and graduation are signs of progress and the RPNGC is working towards achieving its target in being better prepared for the 2018 APEC meeting.

Director Joseph made this comment last Friday at the 4th batch of motor cyclist graduation ceremony at the Four-Mile Traffic headquarters in Port Moresby. This was part of the preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting motor cycle escorts.

Welcoming the jets were Minister for Transport, Wesley Nukundj, Police Commissioner, Gari Baki, APEC Secretary General, Sir Charles Lepani, Australian Defence Force officers and others.

Nukundj said the arrival of jet signifies that PNG is prepared to host the APEC in terms of security preparations.

The two jet fighters are here as part of APEC 2018 preparations.

The hosting of APEC involves a joint security operation with partners, including Australia, with security elements including jets and co-operation for land and maritime security.

The Museum has been working closely with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the PNG Governance Facility to activate part of the Museum’s master plan to cater for APEC.

The National Museum and Art Gallery is one of the few precincts in Port Moresby identified by the APEC Secretariat in 2015 to host the spouses of APEC Leaders.