NCD Governor Powes Parkop

EC unprepared for trial

The case, which was set for trial today, was further adjourned to Wednesday to allow the Electoral Commission to file the necessary documents.

Lawyer representing the Electoral Commission told Court that they are having trouble obtaining the documents requested by the petitioners.

The documents are locked up in a container.

They consist of the 364 presiding officers’ journals, list of polling schedules, forms 66 A and B showing the 34th and 35th elimination and the list of presiding officers.

K1.4m gym, sporting centre for electorate

Funded by the NCDC with a cost of K1.4 million, the gymnasium centre will house up to 300 people and will be managed through the Active City Program.

Officiating the ground breaking, Minister for APEC and member for Moresby South, Justin Tkatchenko, said with the help and financial support of NCD Governor Powes Parkop, Moresby South has seen a number of positive developments and will continue to do so in the long run.

Laws will regulate betelnut vending: Parkop

This stern warning comes from NCD Governor Powes Parkop, with the support of Moresby North-East Member John Kaupa.

Kaupa is taking a lead on this in his electorate.

A step towards this is having a stakeholders meeting with everyone involved in betelnut vending.

“In our discussion, we’ll be having a meeting to brainstorm, so nobody feels left out,” he said.

He acknowledged that putting a total ban on betelnut would be difficult because of its cultural significance.

New city manager warned on challenges

He made the remarks during the hand over take ceremony of the City Management yesterday (March 5).

It was a packed ceremony where NCDC staff came to witness the closing of a chapter in the management of City Hall and the start of a new one.

Governor Parkop commended Leslie Alu for his role in changing the face of NCD.

“Sadly because of his health, he had to make this hard decision. But it is the right decision,” said Parkop.

 Leslie Alu is closing an 11-year tenure, the longest ever by a City Manager.

Plans to make Boroko decent again

NCD Governor Powes Parkop highlighted this plan in a press conference yesterday. 

He said the process starts with introducing a clear traffic in the area.

This includes introducing one-way streets which would ease traffic congestion and allow for more pedestrians to walk the streets.

Reke, Turamu and Nita streets will become one-way streets, going from the west to the east.

Angau Drive will be opened again and made into a two-way street. Parkop says this will be the only two-way street in the area.

Betelnut, litter ban for NCD

The ban comes in effect within the next few days, starting at the Boroko centre.

This decision is in line with the efforts to create a safe, healthy and clean city and uplift its image in terms of cleanliness and hygiene.

Following the ban review after the election, NCD has concluded that a total ban on betelnut is not the way forward for all stakeholders in the city, including both chewers and vendors.

The announcement made today is that the partial ban will be imposed only in public places and around shopping malls and commercial areas.

‘You know that you are not alone’

This statement by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua chairman, Benny Wenda, follows the announcement by MSG chair and PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill that West Papua’s request for full membership has now been progressed to the Secretariat.

“West Papua is entitled to join the Melanesian family,” Wenda tells this newsroom in an exclusive interview.

“For 50 years we have been separated from our brothers and sisters across Melanesia.

“This is a sign of reunion with our family.”

NCD one city concept gains momentum

The idea ultimately aims to bridge the disparity that has existed in the city for the last 4 decades and to upgrade settlements to suburbs and modernise Motu-Koitabu villages.

This concept has been taken to the World Urban Forum discussion table in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

NCD Governor attends World Urban Forum

Parkop will attend high-level discussions and dialogue during the forum, while sharing his progress on the Participatory Settlement/Slum Upgrading Project.

The forum will provide opportunities for modernisation of urban development in Papua New Guinea.

This is good news for the settlement and urban villages in the city and eventually for the whole country.

Hundreds walk against violence

This is the effort in the nation's capital.

The usual yoga for life and walk for life platform has been used time and again to push messages such as this.

The walk started at Murray Barracks at 5am today.

Wearing maroon and holding placards to end violence, the walk continued onto the freeway, down Poreporena highway to Sir Hubert Murray Stadium where a stage was set up.

The main program started there with entertainment and speeches, while a minute of silence was observed to remember those who had lost their lives as a result of violence.