Manus Province

Coastal Conservation through Sports

The program, which goes beyond traditional notions of sporting success, aims to raise awareness about the environmental impact of human activities. Students of Pisik Primary School were engaged in enlightening sessions, followed by a beach cleanup led by esteemed Team PNG HERO athlete Hussein Lowah.

K180.5 million Manus budget approved

Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin presented the budget. It included the Manus District Development Authority Budget and budgets for his twelve local level governments to comply with Section 105A of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government.

Governor Benjamin said he was thankful to the Prime Minister and National Government for the 2024 Budget allocations for Service Improvement Program grants and functional grants to his province, including infrastructure funding under the Connect PNG Program for the Manus Highway.

Building skills in Manus

Nineteen students graduated with an internationally recognised Certificate II in Construction qualification, while nine staff members of Manus Training Centre (MTC) completed International

Skills Training (IST) TVET Trainer and Assessor certificates, contributing to their capacity as training staff.

“Manus faces limited educational opportunities, therefore initiatives like these are crucial for our locals, particularly students from the first and second cohorts of the Certificate II in

Construction program,” said MTC Manager, Paul Buka.

Manus villages establish new trading partners

Ahus islanders in the Lelemadih and Bupichupeu Rural Local Level Government (LLG) and N’drehet villages in Pomutu, Kurti and Andra Rural LLG exchanged gifts like axes, bush knives, food (rice, smoked fish, sago) and canoes.

Ahus Islanders traded axes, bush knives, rice and smoked fish to N’drehet villagers and N’drehet villagers gave sago and 56 canoes to the Ahus Islanders in return.

Harvard Scientist collect Meteor Fragments from Manus Island

Key points:

  • Analysis of the fragments is hoped to reveal whether the meteor was made up of elements different from those found in our solar system
  • Professor Loeb says the fragments may be the first sign of civilisation beyond our solar system
  • The meteor was detected by US ballistic missile systems in 2014

The team set out on a research boat called Silver Star in late June.

Using a magnetic sled, they excavated debris from the ocean floor where the meteor hit.

U.S Coast Guard Henry Oliver In Manus

The U.S. Coast Guard arrived in Lorengau last Sunday, 14th August from Guam. They are in Manus participating with partners to support the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency-led Operation Island Chief and the larger Operation Blue Pacific through patrols in the Western Pacific in August and September 2022.

Benjamin, Pomat Lead Respective Tallies

Progressive results from count 13:

MANUS REGIONAL

  1. CHARLIE BENJAMIN – PANGU PATI – 3360
  2. GEORGE SIKIN – PNC – 1717
  3. DAVID AUSSEL – ULP – 1383
  4. KEPO POMAT – INDEPENDENT – 707
  5. JAMES KIELE – PNG PARTY – 456

MANUS OPEN

Counting in Manus suspended

The concerns at hand that led to the suspension of counting were raised by regional candidates Kepo Pomat (Independent) and David Aussel (ULP) at the Manus Counting Center, before counting was scheduled to start.

Manus Election Manager and Provincial Returning Officer Tony Balema and the Provincial Election Steering Committee (PESC) resolved to have the candidates present evidence to support the allegations.

The candidates said an investigation must be conducted upon receiving the evidence.

Meanwhile counting remains suspended.

Counting For Manus Begins

The counting was deferred earlier due to administrative matters that were being sorted for counting, this included the debriefing of counting officials.

The scrutineers present were in agreement to have these matters resolved and addressed to ensure no further disruptions concerning counting.

The election officials have confirmed that once counting commences, it will continue over the weekend starting from 8:00am and ending at 5:00 pm daily.

Quiet Christmas at Manus

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said his members on festive operations were out in full force to ensure people celebrated peacefully.

He said the additional manpower from the Southern Mobile Group from Port Moresby had beefed up his capacity to contain the situation in the province.

PPC Yapu thanked the general public for their behaviour, and hoped that they will continue in a similar manner during New Year celebrations.