Press Release

Coming Monday May 17^th, is the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and the UN maintains its commitment to protecting the rights of this group of minorities, against the stigma, discrimination, and social and physical violence.

The UN said sexual and gender minorities face these challenges on a daily basis, and this prevents them from accessing services, and denies them the right to a healthy and fulfilling life.

BSP Group CEO Robin Fleming said this is the first of such MoU with any government department.

“These payment gateway modes would appropriately suit different paying sectors of the population of which some are rural based suited with mobile payment mode and Kiosk which would be made available in all cash offices and popular and common public access points, while online will suit city residents and overseas paying clients,” Mr Fleming said.

The NCD Traffic Police impounded the buses and fined them K1,000 each using Traffic Infringement Notices. 

The PMV operators were told to pay the fine at the Finance department and produce their official receipts before they could reclaim their buses.

Meanwhile, a man who came out of a PMV along the Hohola section of the Poreporena Freeway was run over and killed over the weekend by a speeding vehicle. 

Police said the victim reportedly came out of a PMV on this route and was crossing the Freeway when he was hit by an ongoing vehicle. 

However, U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu Erin Elizabeth McKee said just as an athlete practices to prepare for a big game, COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19.

She said it typically takes two weeks after vaccination for the body to build protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.

“That means it is possible a person could still get COVID-19 before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection.

Twinza announced this on April 19^th after stating that the PNG Government again increased its demands from the Pasca A Gas Agreement ahead of a targeted signing date on the 20th April 2021.

In a statement, Twinza said it was informed by the PNG Government on 16th April 2021 that it now requires a 6% Production Levy in order to sign the agreement.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said the 18-year-old was sleeping on the road at Ward 7 when the speeding vehicle hit him and dragged him to the side.

The suspect, who was believed to be intoxicated, was driving without his lights.  

The incident occurred between 11pm and 1am on Friday April 16^th.

The driver, fearing for his life, surrendered immediately to police.

PPC Yapu said when word of the student’s death reached his relatives, they mobilised and rampaged the home of the suspect’s father.

Group CEO Robin Fleming said, “As PNG enters the four-week nationwide isolation period due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, Bank of South Pacific Ltd as an essential service provider remains committed to its customers in ensuring continuity of services.”

“All branches would undergo normal operations during the four-week nationwide isolation period, commencing yesterday, Monday 22nd March, 2021 whilst strictly observing the ‘Niupela Pasin’ and COVID-19 measures put in place by the Office of the Controller.

For the period of 18^th-27^th March, flights from PNG to Cairns have been cancelled, and the number of passengers the airline is permitted to carry into Brisbane has been cut by 30 percent.

Air Niugini says it will continue to operate five services a week to Brisbane, however, as a result of the new restrictions, there are no seats available on any flight to Brisbane until at least the 27th of March, and only limited seats thereafter.

In a statement, Air Niugini says this is already a requirement for all flights to Australia.

Passengers who do not produce evidence of a negative test will not board their flight.

The PCR test must be conducted within three days of the scheduled flight departure and can be completed in Port Moresby for a fee with results provided quickly.

Air Niugini says other types of test such as the rapid (or Gen-X test) are not acceptable.

Air Niugini operates six flights per week to Brisbane, four flights per week to Singapore, and twice weekly to Manila.

For nearly a decade the constituency has reported water issues, with lower than expected rainfalls leading to dry creeks and limited garden food production.

The water tanks provided through this WaSH project will greatly benefit the Poka community, ensuring an increase in the storage of clean and safe water to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases.

A community health centre and two primary schools in Tonsu were also given water tanks.