Morobe province

The damaged left engine casing of the Dash 8 aircraft forced it to make an emergency landing on August 4, 2017.

The Accident Investigation Commission (AIC), in its final report, states that the licensee to the Bulolo Airstrip had neglected its primary responsibility of properly maintaining the airstrip, resulting in the bursting of a tyre which in turn affected the engine casing.

The report states that on August 4, 2017, the Link PNG operated aircraft completed a scheduled flight from Bulolo to Port Moresby.

The escapee had been recaptured on October 30. A further search at his parents’ residence at the block saw the confiscation of a carton of detonators.

The detonators were alleged to be a part of large amount of explosives belonging to a road construction company, TSC, which had ceased operations back in 2013 at Gumine, Simbu Province, and Eastern Highlands Province.

The explosives were ordered from Orica explosives and according to the company, should have been returned after the construction company ceased operations.

The deceased, reportedly a Grade Four student at the Christ the King Primary School at 10-Mile, was found hanging from a rope tied to the ceiling timbers.

According to Chief Inspector Timothy Pomoso, the 14yo was found by relatives who called the police.

He said CID found some marks and bruises on the body of the deceased; there is a possibility of a case of abuse that may have led to the suicide of this young girl. However, this is yet to be proven as investigation continues.

The deceased was stabbed during a fight last week at one of the communities in Taraka when he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

His passing led to a riot among members of the community and police in Lae were on high alert, saying situation was very tense.

Chief Inspector Timothy Pomoso, standing in for the Lae Metropolitan Superintendent, said the incident has caused a disturbance amongst the communities and police were monitoring it.

However, he is confident the police personnel will contain the issue. 

More updates to follow…

Staff went on strike as of 8am this morning and plan to extend to a week if responses to two petitions are not met by management.

Mathew Som, a spokesperson on behalf of staff, spoke to Loop PNG from Lae saying that strike is over pay rise increments and staff overworked without being compensated.

He said firstly, staff salary increments were made by a toea or two annually, which they say is not right since the Bank of PNG has ceased circulation of the one toea and two toea coins.

Staff want salary increments to be increased to around 50 toea or more.

Abraham Black escaped during the mass break out in 2016 at Buimo CS.

He was alleged to have held up a mobile phone company sales team along the back road while they were out on product promotions run, where he was positively identified by surrounding communities.

Police say Black had in his possession a homemade gun and other weapons.

He was found to have been involved in other crimes as well as terrorising the community along the back road of Lae.

However, in some places, people allow the democratic process of election to proceed without any grievances and one such area is Markham district in Morobe Province.

Former MP for Markham Andrew Baing, who is re-contesting the seat he lost in 2007, said it is the people’s right to go to polls.

“Going to polls is the people’s democratic right and they must not be intimidated or forced on who to vote for.”

Baing described polling in Markham as peaceful and conducted in an orderly manner.

When giving an update on the election progress across the country, Commissioner Gamato said the deaths allegedly resulted from a fight.

“It’s over land issues but polling is going as scheduled in some parts in Tewai-Siassi.

“Tewai-Siassi has three LLGs; Sialum rural, Siassi rural and Wasu rural, so this fight is in Wasu.

“Otherwise polling in the other two LLGs is progressing as scheduled,” he said.

Meanwhile, polling has commenced across the Morobe province in most electorates.

Lae metropolitan commander, Chief Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jr, has urged them to be mature and to campaign without resorting to bribery.

“Voters and campaign managers are not to give sweet talks and encourage candidates to spend carelessly to entice voters,” said the police boss.

“Candidates and those that campaign must stand firm and campaign fairly as true and honest leaders.”

Wagambie stressed that police personnel will be out in numbers to ensure that the elections are conducted within stated boundaries.