png

This was his message during the official flag raising ceremony of the 40^th Independence Anniversary at the Independence Hill in Port Moresby.

 “We have been through it before; we have learnt from our past experiences your government today as acted dizzily by delivering relief to all communities as we speak, food as have been delivered,” O’Neil says.

He added that as the nation celebrates its 40 years of nationhood it’s not time for point scoring and playing politics.        

“Climate is a big problem in our country and region.”

“We are still tracking the Shuen De Ching No.888 and we have supplied all our information to the nations where the ship might pull into their ports, including Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Fiji.

“We think it is vital for Pacific nations to investigate this ship to show that illegal fishing will not be tolerated, particularly as the region tries to develop a sustainable fisheries industry,” said Lagi Toribau, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Global Tuna campaigner from aboard Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior ship.

Marape was in Fiji over the weekend and says they are hoping more investors will find opportunities in Fiji.

PNG businesses have already invested in two of Fiji’s top hotels, the Grand Pacific and the Pearl South Pacific Resort.

“Relationships between nations are built on many aspects and lately one of the fundamental aspects of those relationship is business, commerce, trade and PNG and Fiji has seen a growing rapport in as far as various exchanges are concerned.”

The people of Papua New Guinea stand to benefit from the new agreement between their government and the Pacific region’s principal scientific and technical organisation which will strengthen ties to address the country’s complex development challenges in a more holistic way.

“This agreement is based on a genuine spirit of collaboration in which our government and the Pacific Community will seek to complement one another’s efforts more and embrace the contributions of other partners to achieve development outcomes that will assist the people who need it most,” Minister Pato said.

PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and FSM President Peter Christian put ink to paper tonight paving the way for both countries airlines to conclude the arrangement.

O’Neill said the agreement is “historic and the airlines will open up opportunities for our people.”

Christian praised his PNG counterpart and challenged all Pacific Island countries to share their resources and help each other.

“The signing of the agreement shows that prime minister, its true you will be sharing your resource with your neighbors.”

Port Moresby is hosting the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit from Monday and Rimbink Pato says PNG is ready to take on a strong leadership role on shared development, social, economic and environmental challenges.

“In order for regionalism to work properly the leaders will hold frank discussions about pooling sovereignty, sharing resources and agreeing upon regional practices,” Pato told reporters in Port Moresby on Friday.

Puna returned from his official visit to New Zealand last Tuesday and leaves on Thursday for the Pacific Islands Forum in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Puna will travel to Papua New Guinea via Auckland to attend a meeting of the Polynesian Leaders Group on Saturday.

On Sunday he will travel to Papua New Guinea, and will return to Rarotonga on September 12. Puna is being accompanied by a range of officials.

Minister of Finance Mark Brown will be back at work today after accompanying Puna to New Zealand.

Relatives pushed Sim Pala through muddy jungle tracks on a wheelbarrow, paddled her across rivers by canoe, and loaded her onto an old lorry to get her to a hospital 35 miles away in time to save her life.

The incredible journey through some of the world's most inhospitable terrain took seven hours - more than enough time for Sim to have died from the bite of the deadly Papuan Taipan snake, yet somehow she pulled through.

A Jakarta police spokesperson says they are still investigating the case, but it's suspected the ammunition had been ordered by Papuan separatists.

The police say the ammunition was found without proper paperwork on Monday, and was ready to be dispatched to Papua.

After arresting the man who checked in the baggage, the police say they learned that a Papua separatist group member had ordered the bullets.

The ammunition is now being kept at the airport while investigations continue.

Council President, Nouzab Fareed, has invited all financial members to attend the AGM which will be followed by a network event.

“This meeting is an opportunity to discuss our performance over the past year, celebrate our main achievements, election of office bearers and plan for the future,” Fareed said.

Fareed will take advantage of the presence of all members to discuss moving the council forward in terms of creating more opportunities and strengthening the relationship between the two countries.