Manus

Amongst the team going to Bipi this morning are three Japanese engineers from the Toray Industry, the manufacturers of the desalination plant.

The three arrived in Manus on Wednesday and were welcomed by officers from Sojitz Corporation, (the contractors) engineers of the seawater source well sites, staff from Department of National Planning & Monitoring and the National project manager of the PEC (Pacific Environment Community) fund desalination project, Tom Anayabere.

A prominent citizen in the Manus community in the city reached out with a simple donation of K500 to these mothers.

Leslie Roai decided to give his small donation to help the women in a small way.

The nine mothers are members of the Pihi Manus Association who come from the Lorengau LLG and the Lelemadi Bupichipeu LLG.

Association president Grace Malai, when receiving the donation of K500, thanked Roai on behalf of the women for coming forward to help them in their time of need.

The program today will see the ground breaking ceremony and signing in Lorengau before drilling test works commence on Bipi Island.

Five villages will benefit from the project: Bipi, Mbuke (and Whal), Nauna, Mal and Aawa islands.

These five villages and Manus Province as a whole will lead the way with this technology that will see solar-powered seawater desalination plant systems installed to convert salt water to fresh drinking water.

The country's human rights record was scrutinised at its second Universal Periodic Review on Friday night.

Several countries encouraged PNG to decriminalise homosexuality, to improve its rates of violence against women - some of the worst in the world - and to put a stop to police brutality.

David Yapu said the PNG immigration department asked him to provide a police presence after the Supreme Court in PNG ruled the centre was illegal.

A detainee has said police are now controlling the compound, but Mr Yapu said police are assisting the management.

"Their presence at the centre has calmed down the situation. So far I've been getting briefs from them on a daily basis that the situation at the center is quiet and normal."

David Yapu said police are stationed outside and not inside the detention centre.

Papua New Guinea ordered the closure of the Manus camp after the country's Supreme Court ruled the facility unlawful, leaving the fate of the 850 people held there up in the air.

Australia and Papua New Guinea each claim each other is responsible for settling the hundreds held on Manus.

The injunction, filed in Australia's High Court on Wednesday, calls for the asylum seekers to be sent to Australia and not to Nauru, Matthew Byrnes, one of the lawyers acting on behalf of the majority of those held on Manus, told Reuters.

Ferrovial is set to take a commanding stake in Broadspectrum, formerly Transfield Services, after its board agreed to a buy-out this week.

Broadspectrum had resisted takeover attempts, but the company's board changed its mind following a PNG Supreme Court ruling that the detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island was unconstitutional.

The PNG Government has said it plans to close the centre on Manus Island following the court ruling, but Broadspectrum is contracted to run the centre on Nauru until 2017.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has confirmed following a discussion with the Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull.

They discussed issues relating to the Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of the Manus Regional Processing Centre and the action that is required to comply with that decision.

O’Neill said in a statement that from this discussion, they have agreed that a delegation of officials from the Australian Government will visit Port Moresby next week to meet with our officials.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill also noted that the closure of the centre will have a negative effect on the local economy on Manus, and the Government will work with Australia to seek to minimise damage to businesses and workers.

“I have considered the ruling of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea and welcome this outcome,” Prime Minister O’Neill said.

“Respecting this ruling, Papua New Guinea will immediately ask the Australian Government to make alternative arrangements for the asylum seekers currently held at the Regional Processing Centre.

An eyewitness Brian H Waffi posted on his facebook page alerting the public about the incident.

He said the flight was disrupted after two Asylum Seekers protested and tried to break the airplanes glass protested not to go to Manus.

“All of us were told to disembark after two Asylum Seekers protested and tried to break the airplanes glass protested not to go to Manus. We will reboard.”

“The plane was about to lift off when the two started hitting the windows and crying out loud struggling with the air hostess.