Hela

The Delta Company of the First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment are on standby to be sent over to the province.

According to the Chief of Joint Operations, Colonel Ezekia Wenzel, the thirty plus troops will be sent over to relieve the current Alpha Company that has been on duty there for the past four months.

Colonel Wenzel says that the troops have been tasked to reinforce exiting security on ground while at the same time maintain a presence on ground.

The landowners gave their petition on May 10, 2018, calling on the Government and the developer, ExxonMobil, to review the UBSA agreement and make Komo Airfield Facility a standalone project.

Talking to this newsroom from the Komo airfield today, chairman of the Komo landowners, Michael Tiki, is urging the Government to respond to their petition or the closure of the airfield will be definite.

“We have given the Government ample time but they haven’t responded to our petition,” he reiterated.

Marape made this call today after visiting his people recently.

Whilst in the province, Mr Marape met with elders from Huli and Duna in Pori and discussed ways of dealing with tribal issues back home.

“I have made it absolutely clear that murderers must surrender guns ( home-made or factory made) and present themselves to Police, only then will I, as the chairman of my council of Huli Elders hand down our compensation decisions.

Guam praises US-North Korea deal

http://www.looppng.com/global-news/guam-praises-us-north-korea-deal-77366

The Governor of Guam Eddie Calvo says the territory can breathe more easily after an agreement between North Korea's Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump

Hela proposes two additional electorates

Gianluca Rampolla, UN Resident Coordinator in PNG, along with David Mcloughlin, Country Representative, UNICEF PNG and Robert Dekker, Emergency Coordinator, UN World Food Programme (WFP) met with communities in some of the most severely-affected communities to talk about their needs and also distributed food and other relief items.

Hela relief update

Hela Province’s relief coordination team on ground is currently doing a post-mortem and review of rations supply.

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/hela-relief-update-75593

Juffa raises concerns on illegal entry of foreigners

The Oro Governor has called on the government to be strict in allowing foreigners who have been deported but have allowed reentry into the country.

Residents in Ialibu and Hela have confirmed that the quake had been a strong one, lasting for almost 10 seconds.

The Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory (PMGO) says the epicentre was about 45km West of Tari. 

Details are:

Time:                     3.48 pm

Location:              5.8 ° S, 142.5 ° E

Depth:                  10km

Mag:                      6.3

“The earthquake occurred as a result of fault movements in the Papuan Fold and Thrust Belt, which runs parallel to the axial mountain range of PNG,” reports the PMGO.

The Emergency Control team has released a statement noting that the security situation which has put lives of relief workers, public servants and the general public in danger might just have a negative impact on the relief efforts.

Under the above circumstances, it is essential that the security situation be immediately brought under control. 

Emergency controller Dr. William Hamblin, in accordance with his duties under section 4 of the Emergency (General Powers) Act 2018, and powers conferred on him under Section 5 of the Act, has authorised that;

Deputy Police Commissioner and Chief of Operations, Jim Andrews, said this today while expressing his sympathy for families and victims of the earthquake, which is said to have claimed the lives of over 20 people and caused widespread destruction across these three provinces.

"Police in these three provinces are keeping a close eye on the relief efforts and will actively partake in all humanitarian aid activities in the affected places."

The stadium will be the home ground of the Hela Wigmen Rugby League franchise.

In a statement the club says once built, the Wigmen can finally move back to Hela to host games in the 2019 season.

Having its own stadium was one of the challenges by the team since its inception in 2013, where they have had to play their home games in Southern Highlands and recently in Port Moresby.