Sandaun Province

AIC reports airstrip incident

AIC Acting Chief Commissioner, Captain Aria Bouraga announced today the investigation conducted into a PAC 750 aircraft accident that occurred on 18th January 2022 at Tekin Airstrip, Sandaun Province.

Capt. Bouraga explained that PAC 750XL aircraft operated by Niugini Aviation Services Limited (NASL), was conducting a single pilot VFR charter flight from Kiunga Airport, Western Province to Tekin Airstrip, Sandaun Province when during the landing roll, the aircraft sustained a left main landing gear assembly collapse and runway excursion.

Sandaun To Light Up

Unreliable power supplies affecting delivery of critical services have become the norm, with communities in the provinces suffering the most.

The United Nations Development Programme, under the EU-STREIT programme, recently visited several public institutions in Vanimo, Sandaun Province, with the aim to notify and seek consent for the installation of solar photovoltaic systems (Solar PVs).

New Border Market Proposed

Office of the Member for Vanimo Green, Belden Namah recently presented K500,000 to locals of Kembratoro in Amanab LLG.

This financial assistance will assist in opening up the rural district to more opportunities for trade and services.

Kembratoro is a 30-minute walk to the PNG/Indonesian border, which is less than 5 Kilometres away and the people there are traditional border crossers.

About 20 percent of Kembratoro’s population has moved to the other side in search of better services such as education, health care and access to other necessities.

Bishop of Vanimo ordained

Bishop Francis Meli has chosen Justitia et Veritas – Justice and Truth as his Episcopal motto. 

His Excellency, Archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal, Apostolic Nuncio Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, was the Principal Ordaining Bishop. 

The Assisting Bishops were Archbishop Francisco Panfilo, SDB and Bishop Cesare Bonivento, PIME.  Cardinal John Ribat, Archbishop of Port Moresby, 15 bishops of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, priests, religious and faithful were part of the celebrations. 

​Mobile squad restores order

“Despite a few law and order problems encountered where drunken youths travel around, threatening voters to vote for certain candidates, everything is quiet now,” says a member of the Special Services Division (SSD).

"Vanimo is quiet, polling is going well."

The 13-man team landed in the Sandaun capital last Tuesday morning.

“We SSD personnel are also assisting our counterparts from PNG Defence Force to patrol our international border,” Loop PNG was told.

Nuku polls progressing

Speaking to Loop PNG today from Nuku Station, Yawalan is confident the last polling teams will complete polling on Tuesday, 4 days before the 8 July polling deadline.

The 14 days of gazetted polling period approved by the PNG Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato, ends this Saturday.

Nuku RO said polling started on Monday last week for the four LLG ward areas of the electorate.

Yawalan said the district has over 37, 000 eligible voters on the rolls and 16 polling teams. 

PPC alleges operation of scooter trade by syndicate

The motorised vehicles then get registered and licensed in Vanimo to use the public roads.

Sandaun Provincial Police Commander Robert Gesa told Loop PNG in Vanimo that investigations have already started.

“How they are brought in is questionable and we are working on it.

 “Many of them are brought in illegally through bush tracks; not through the border at Wutung.

“My concern is how they get registered to run on PNG soil.