The University of PNG

NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Ben Turi  late this afternoon said police will not allow for the march to take place.

Turi said no clearance had been given by the Peace and Good Order Committee, adding that he will not change his stance on this issue.

The NCD police boss said he was wary of opportunists who may take advantage of the situation.

As of this afternoon Turi said the Peace and Good Order Committee had not received any request from the students with regards to police allowing them to carry out their planned protest.

“The university senate standing committee is concerned about the disruption of classes this morning,” UPNG vice-chancellor Professor Albert Mellam stated in a circular issued yesterday (Monday) evening.

The senate said the rally held yesterday (Monday) was “unsanctioned”.

The senate is concerned because it “has a responsibility to ensure that the integrity of our academic programs are not compromised”.

Mellam said: “The university senate cannot authorise strikes or indefinite suspension of academic activities; but encourages academic debates at forums.

It is unfortunate that these events take place on the week the media fraternity including UPNG journalism students join the rest of the world to commemorate Media Freedom celebrations, commencing Tuesday,  May 3, 2016.

“Media freedom is the people’s right to free speech in any democratic State. If the educated few in a country like PNG feel that we’re not serving them well, they can defend their right to free speech,” Wafiwa said in a statement.

WPFD celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

More than 100 national celebrations take place each year to commemorate this day.

UNESCO leads the worldwide celebration by identifying the global thematic and organising the main event in different parts of world every year.

The warden of male students Balinus Halepu tells Loop PNG that his office has helped circulate all statements and reports to be filled in by the students. 

However, he says that with classes, the 79 students have yet to properly coordinate themselves and sort out their statements. 

The April 1st fire gutted the Talaigu hall of residence and left many of the students without belongings; most of them were left with just the clothes on their backs. 

In a small handover ceremony today, the group gathered at the Forum Square at the UPNG Waigani campus.  Led by elder Wilfred Kaleva, they handed over the items to Talaigu student leader Israel Jacob and other male students gathered there.

Jacob thanked the group for their donations and said that now, more than ever, they needed and appreciated all the help they could get.

Kaleva said the group felt obliged to put up their hand to assist the boys who lost a lot during the April 1st fire. 

PNG Research, Science and Technology chief executive officer, Professor Lohi Matainaho received the first of the three-volume Conference Proceedings and the Resolution of the Conference today.

The three volumes were put together over a year’s editorial work by the conference editorial team.

The volumes capture selected written contributions presented at the conference which was the largest scientific discussion ever hosted by this University.

The ceremony was held at the UPNG Campus witnessed by fellow students, parents, lecturers and representatives from the National Disaster Centre.

The graduands were all in smiles receiving their certificates after 14 weeks of intense training at UPNG in 2015 on mitigation and management of a wide range of hazards in PNG.

The graduates mostly from Science disciplines and National Disaster Centre are the fourth batch of students to take on the CHaRM program since its inception in 2012.