East New Britain

The one-day program was held at the Serenguna Primary School for WDCs of 8 wards in zone 2, East New Britain Province.

The eight committees comprised of 56 members; with seven members per ward, which is inclusive of the ward member as the chairman of the WDC and the ward recorder.

Pomio deputy district administrator for operations, Joshua Jeremiah, said there is a training program for ward recorders in the coming week for the district, to be held at Palmalmal town.

This is in a bid to seek solutions to address the escalating law and order problems in the area, over the past years which has disturbed classes, PMV services and caused general fear amongst the population.

In a site meeting recently, District Administrator Benedict Mode together with the district’s technical team met with the East New Britain Provincial Police Commander, Januarus Vosivai to discuss the way forward to boost police presence in the resettlement area.

The team visited the site, which is situated at the back of Kombiu LLG office.

The opening also included the commissioning of new school uniform, a new fencing and classroom maintenance, blessing of new school truck as well as the commissioning of the new vehicle for Gelegele Health Centre.

Officiating at the program was East New Britain Governor, Micheal Marum, Acting Provincial Administrator Levi Mano, Provincial Education Advisor Alkan Mararang, including officers from the Rabaul District Administration.

The event was attended by the Governor of East New Britain, Michael Marum, Open Member for Gazelle and Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Jelta Wong, Believe Global Director Neil Smith, and leaders and members of the community.

The Community Hub is designed to bring positive impact in five key areas: leadership, business, education, health, and the church.

It provides infrastructure for dedicated youth development programs, education training, health services, and general community support in rural areas across Papua New Guinea.

The lounge was filled with dignitaries, family and close friends. They were escorting the late statesman’s body home one last time.

The emotional wait to bring the proud Papua New Guinean and Melanesian icon back home to Kenabot saw the likes of Sir Charles Lepani, Gazelle MP Jelta Wong, Dulciana Somare-Brash and Arthur Somare, Dame Meg Taylor, Board Chairman of National Fisheries Authority Laurie William, Alan Moramoro, Namatanai MP Walter Schnaubelt, Commissioner or Police David Manning and Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso.

The country’s 4th Prime Minister and former Kokopo MP, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, passed away on March 31^st as he was being medevacked from Tokua airport to Port Moresby, following liver failure.

A provincial committee has been set up to oversee repatriation and funeral programs for the late Sir Rabbie, with a tentative program in place to receive his body by this week.

ENB Governor, Michael Marum, said his office has been holding meetings with the family of the late Sir Rabbie since last Friday and they should finalise a program by this week.

ENB's prominent leader and PNG's fourth Prime Minister passed away on 31^st March 2023.

“A great statesman and leader, Sir Rabbie served our people of Kokopo District, the people of East New Britain and our country, with passion and integrity, that will be dearly missed,” said Marum.

“Sir Rabbie is a national treasure and his death is a massive loss of wealth and knowledge not just to the people of Kokopo, East New Britain, but Papua New Guinea as a whole.

Both teams went through the quarter and semifinals playoff before the big grand final showdown and played in front of a good size crowd.

Kokopo City Rugby League Agmark 9s tournament is used as a launch pad to get the domestic East New Britain rugby league back up and running after being domain for two years due to covid-19.

Under the presidency of Nicole Kamara and her new  executive Kokopo City League initiated  the 9s tournament to lure the interest back and get the clubs organized for the 2023 season proper which will follow shortly.

The program was initiated by the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Elias Wohengu, whose partner is from Kunakunai ward.

Wohengu is in the province with a state delegation from the Department and the PNG Defence Force for meetings with their United States (US) counterpart, to talk about a security agreement and on setting up a base for them in PNG.

He also presented K5,000 from the department to the health facility at Kunakunai ward.

Host Raluana LLG President, Tiolam Wawaga, said the area had been a no-go zone for a long time.

This will be made possible for the North Baining area through a public-private partnership.

Gazelle MP, Jelta Wong, who is also National Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, in partnership with local landowner, Henry Saminga Jnr, invited KKC Veneer Limited to set up a multimillion-kina veneer mill at Kurindal.