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  • Govt agencies move to fast-track border post

    Govt agencies move to fast-track border post

    Lands, DPLLGA, and OTML teams use static GPS technology to map the 50m x 170m temporary Butmabin Border Post site on Thursday, Aug 27, establishing boundary coordinates for PNG Customs declaration and customary landowner lease rentals (Image: Supplied)

    Key government departments and border agencies met in Kiunga last week to fast-track the establishment of a temporary border post at Butmabin-Yetetkun in the North Fly district of Western.

    The initiative aims to secure fuel and essential supplies for Ok Tedi Mining Limited [OTML] as ongoing El Niño conditions severely disrupt standard logistics routes.

    The inter-agency meeting follows a directive issued on August 19 by the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs [DPLGA], which declared the operationalisation of the border post a national priority.

    Representatives from the Western Provincial Administration convened alongside officials from DPLGA, Foreign Affairs, Lands and Physical Planning, Transport, PNG Immigration, PNG Customs, and PNG Biosecurity.

    Under the framework, DPLGA will lead overall coordination, prepare the National Executive Council [NEC] submission, and conduct landowner awareness.

    The Department of Foreign Affairs is tasked with leading government-to-government negotiations with Indonesia while supporting OTML’s talks with Indonesian state energy company Pertamina.

    The Department of Lands and Physical Planning will execute land surveys and facilitate official gazettal of the site.

    Concurrently, the Department of Transport is developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for heavy transport vehicles, while Customs and Biosecurity will establish border control compliance protocols. Immigration officials will oversee travel documentation for all border operators.

    Site surveys, agency deployments, customs protocol development, and landowner consultations were scheduled to run from Aug 24 to 30.

    OTML stated that the temporary border post remains critical to maintaining mining operations and safeguarding national revenue during the prolonged dry spell.

    Meanwhile, the Provincial Administrator and Mayor of Kiunga Town have reiterated FRPG’s position that the Butmabin site must not be used as a temporary border post. Speaking at Thursday’s meeting, both leaders said the focus must remain on the permanent gazetted site where work is ongoing.

  • Water level surge brings relief to North Fly

    Water level surge brings relief to North Fly

    Kiunga catchment area after heavy rain in Western Province (Image: NBC News)

    Fly River water levels at the Kiunga Wharf have surged following heavy rainfall in the headwaters, bringing relief to residents and businesses relying on river transport in North Fly.

    The water level rose to 6.98 metres at 7.28am this morning and continues to swell following continuous downpours in the Ok Tedi catchment.

    Rainfall data from Ok Tedi operations showed the catchment recorded 168 millimetres of rain within 24 hours, while the Upper Fly catchment recorded 16mm.

    The latest figure marks an increase of more than half a metre from Sunday’s reading of 6.5m.

    The sudden rise is expected to assist cargo vessels previously stranded along the Fly River, clearing the way for ships to reach Kiunga Wharf and offload essential supplies.

    Rain has also been reported in Tabubil, Kiunga, and the mountainous areas of Olsobip Rural LLG in North Fly district, with dark clouds hovering over Kiunga signaling further rain.

    The Ok Tedi catchment covers the area from Tabubil through Ningerum, where the Ok Tedi River joins the Fly River just upstream of Kiunga.

    Officials say river levels would continue to fluctuate depending on mid-week weather conditions, with the PNG National Weather Service expected to issue updates.

    Meanwhile, authorities have urged communities living along the Fly River system to stay alert and monitor water levels.

  • National Literacy-Week launched in Northern province

    National Literacy-Week launched in Northern province

    Students of Koipa elementary school in sohe district dressed in traditional attire for the launching of National Literacy Week (NBC News)

    The National Literacy Week was officially launched today, 31st August, in Northern Province to pave the way for government, schools, churches, communities, literacy practitioners and development partners to celebrate progress and discuss how literacy services can be improved in Papua New Guinea. 

    This year’s theme is “Reading today, leading tomorrow, unlocking potential through literacy.”

    Literacy is traditionally defined as the ability to read and write, but modern definitions now include speaking, listening, and communicating effectively.

    National Literacy Week is observed annually from 31st August to 4th September throughout the country.

    Officiating at the launch at Northern First Assistance Secretary School, First Assistant Secretary for School Intervention and Innovation Division, Gandhi Lavaki said PNG is facing a serious literacy challenge with 63% of the population able to read and write, while 37% remain illiterate. 

    The kundu drum for the national literacy week is presented by Mr. Carson Taylor Evari, an adult literacy educator in northern to deputy governor Robin Safitoa symbolizing the celebrations of literacy week in the country. (NBC News)

    The statistics were extracted from the World Bank and other partners’ databases.

    Mr. Lavaki said the literacy gap is huge and must be addressed, adding that a nation cannot build its economy on a foundation where its people cannot read and write.

    Popondetta skills training institute student at the launching of national literacy week in northern (NBC News)

    “As government, schools, churches, communities, literacy practitioners and development partners celebrate literacy across PNG, we must advocate the importance of literacy in our homes, communities and schools,” he said.

    Lavaki said the Education Department’s mandate is not only to celebrate Literacy Week but to embed literacy in every dimension of national development.

    He added that literacy is the foundation for workforce readiness, civic participation, and inclusive growth.

    The National Literacy Week program will end on Friday, 4th September 2026.

  • Water struggle adds to young woman’s health battle

    Water struggle adds to young woman’s health battle

    Quiny Tony (seated) with her mum Tracy Kerowa at their family home at Hagen Technical School (Image: NBC News / Vanessa Ripa)

    Quiny Tony, a 21-year-old woman living with down syndrome, has reportedly battled severe crusted scabies since 2019, following an outbreak of a highly contagious itchy skin condition locally referred to as ‘I Don’t Care’.

    She is from the Jika Melakemb Tribe of Hagen Central District, Western Highlands Province.

    Years later, her suffering is being compounded by the worsening water shortage.

    With household tanks and nearby water supplies dry, her family struggles to access sufficient water for her daily care, washing and hygiene.

    The nearest water source, River Rongen is about a kilometer away.

    Quiny’s mum Tracy Kerowa, a primary school teacher tells this newsroom that Quiny though born with Down Syndrome hasn’t had such skin disease until 2019.

    Mrs. Kerowa added, though Quiny had face some challenges with her health when she was a little girl, she lives a normal life always being described by her friends and family as ‘bubbly and outgoing’.

    However, with her skin condition, this had made Quiny bedridden most of the day and wanting close attention for her skin disease.

    “Quiny was born healthy but with down syndrome. Some of her health issues has made us in and out of the hospital for almost five years and after that I left Quiny at home with a ‘house girl’ and had to go back to work,” Kerowa said.

    “My instructions to the house girl was to pay attention to Quincy especially with her hygiene as she needs clean and fresh water to ease the itchiness caused by the scabies.”

    Following the dry months [without rain], water tanks and other nearby water sources around the family’s home have dried making it difficult to maintain regular washing and hygiene needed to care for Quiny.

    A water tank that family use to wash and care for Quiny. With the recent prolong dry season, the was was used up so as nearby water sources (Image: NBC News / Vanessa Ripa)

    And with a household already caring for a vulnerable young woman with a serious skin condition, the daily journey to fetch water has added another burden.

    Quiny’s condition has been described by medical specialist as Norwegian or crusted scabies; a severe form of the disease that requires proper medical assessment and treatment.

    The World Health Organization identifies crusted scabies as a severe form of scabies that can cause widespread scaling and crusting of the skin and may lead to secondary infections.

    WHO says Papua New Guinea carries a particularly high burden of scabies, with the disease endemic across all provinces.

    While scabies itself is caused by mites and is not simply the result of poor hygiene or lack of water, limited access to water can make the daily care of an affected person much more difficult, particularly when clothes, bedding and personal hygiene require regular attention.

    A recent social media post by Quiny’s big brother about her health condition has received a medical doctor’s attention.

    Quiny was taken to the Mt Hagen Provincial Specialist Hospital last week and was tested, treated and prescribed to by the doctor to complete her medication.

    “Thank you Dr. Junior John McKup for reaching out to Quiny in regards to her skin condition. Quiny is now put on medication (tablets, ointments) and we were advised to give her medication on time and see if her skin condition still persists,” Quiny’s mum said.

    Quiny is the fourth child to a family of six children, and all her brothers and sisters, including her parents, do not have this skin condition nor down syndrome.

    For Quiny Tony, every drop of water now represents more than basic necessity, it is part of her daily struggle to comfort, care and dignity.

    Quiny’s skin condition was described as crusted (Norwegian) scabies (Image: NBC News / Vanessa Ripa)
  • Govt, church partnership vital for development: official

    Govt, church partnership vital for development: official

    Madang governor’s representative Sam Uyagaum (middle) presenting the K10,000 funding to church elders at Ramu Sugar last Saturday (Image: Supplied)

    Government and church partnerships remain vital to delivering essential socio-economic services to rural communities, an official says.

    Lutheran Development Services [LDS] spokesperson Bonny Keoka said this on Saturday during the presentation of K10,000 from the Madang Governor’s office to the Ranara Circuit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea [ELC-PNG].

    The funding, drawn from Governor Ramsey Pariwa’s Provincial Services Improvement Program [PSIP] allocation, will support the circuit’s upcoming conference next month.

    The event will be hosted by the Duru-Kopa congregation of Naho 2 Parish in the Naho-Rawa local level government [LLG] area of Rai Coast district, bordering Morobe.

    Governor’s office representative Sam Uyagaum presented the cash assistance to church elders at Ramu Sugar.

    Organisers described the funding as a crucial eleventh-hour intervention that saved the event from cancellation.

    ELC-PNG Ranara circuit president Pastor Gumeyu Bais said host communities were facing severe uncertainty over staging the conference due to local food shortages caused by the ongoing El Nino drought.

    “With this late intervention by the Madang Governor, it brings huge relief and demonstrates a generous gesture toward the work of the church,” Ps Gumeyu said.

    He said it was not the first time Pariwa had provided emergency financial backing.

    “Last year during the hosting of the ELC-PNG Madang District Conference at Ranara, Governor Pariwa came to our aid when we fell short.

    “Our governor is truly a man of faith whose intervention greatly supports church work. We will continue to pray for his leadership,” Ps Gumeyu said.

    Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea bursar Daniel Biti, who hails from Naho-Rawa LLG, also acknowledged the governor for his consistent support during trying times.

  • Parliament reconvenes with disaster relief, budget gap on agenda

    Parliament reconvenes with disaster relief, budget gap on agenda

    Parliament will reconvene tomorrow as it discusses budget agendas (Image: Supplied)

    Parliament will resume on Tuesday 1st September, following its adjournment last week after the tabling of the historic 2019 Bougainville Referendum results.

    It’s expected to go about normal government business before the National Government hands down a supplementary budget, on Thursday, 3rd September.

    Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey confirmed a K300-million proposed disaster relief financing from the World Bank is among those considerations to be captured in the supplementary budget.

    He said high costs of fuel subsidy and poor performance of Kumul Consolidated Holdings Limited dividend payments are also expected to be captured in this money plan.

    Prime Minister James Marape said the government is preparing to table a deficit supplementary budget as it looks at cutting down costs on non-essential items that exceeded the budget appropriations for 2026.

    He said its been a challenging year that the government has faced in cushioning the impacts of unforeseen costs such as rising costs of goods and fuel prices and now the El Nino.

    He admitted that the expenditure costs are running close to K800 million on top of this years’ budget allocations of K30.9 billion.

    The debate and potential date for voting on the Bougainville Referendum results is expected in the October sitting of Parliament.

  • 30-year-old man refused bail for assaulting Gurias supporters

    30-year-old man refused bail for assaulting Gurias supporters

    The alleged suspected was held by police after assaulting Rabaul Gurias supporters (Image: Supplied)

    A 30-year-old man from Muntma Village, Mul-Baiyer District, Western Highlands Province, has been arrested and charged, with police refusing bail, in connection with an alleged offence committed on Sunday at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

    National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Warrick Simatab confirmed that the suspect is currently detained in the Boroko Metropolitan Cell.

    He said the suspect has been refused police bail but may apply for court bail.

    Superintendent Simatab stated that the suspect’s actions inside the stadium were unacceptable and portrayed a negative image to other spectators attending the game on Sunday.

    According to the police report, officers on duty were alerted to a man misbehaving at the stadium on Sunday, August 30, 2026. It was reported that the suspect allegedly assaulted a Rabaul Gurias supporter.

    Police officers from Boroko and other supporting units responded swiftly, identified the suspect, and apprehended him on-site. He was taken to the police station, formally charged, and placed in custody without bail.

    While commending the quick response from police officers, Superintendent Simatab appealed to the public to maintain proper conduct and respect one another at public venues like the Santos National Football Stadium when supporting their respective teams.

    “The NCD Metropolitan Command strongly condemns the harassment of opposing fans and spectator violence in our public sporting venues. Lawlessness under the guise of sports fandom will not be tolerated,” he said.

    “Rival fans targeting and harassing opposing supporters in the stands threaten public safety and ruin the core spirit of our national sport. Ongoing hooliganism jeopardises local competitions and severely damages our nation’s image in the international community.

    “Wearing team colours or holding a match ticket does not give anyone immunity from criminal prosecution. If you engage in violence at a sporting venue, you will be arrested and processed through the court system.”

    He added that with Papua New Guinea preparing to celebrate its 51st Independence Anniversary in just 16 days, as well as hosting the PNG Games in November, preparing for the Rugby World Cup, and pursuing the PNG 2028 NRL bid, the Metropolitan Command calls on all residents and sports enthusiasts in the capital to reflect on their conduct.

    He urged the public to take pride in these national events, enjoy the spirit of competition, respect opposing supporters, and act as law-abiding citizens at all public gatherings.

    “Let us demonstrate civic pride and unity as we approach our national celebrations, the PNG Games, the Rugby World Cup, and the PNG 2028 NRL Bid, ensuring our public arenas remain safe for families and international visitors alike,” he said.

    Superintendent Simatab also appealed to everyone in Port Moresby to act responsibly, emphasizing that, as the national capital, Port Moresby welcomes visitors from all walks of life and that mutual respect is essential.

  • Road, trucks bring relief to Middle Fly communities

    Road, trucks bring relief to Middle Fly communities

    Western governor Taboi Awi Yoto (right) presenting the vehicles to community leaders (Image: NBC News)

    For years, mothers carrying garden produce and sick family members from remote parts of Middle Fly faced grueling, multi-day river journeys just to reach basic services in Kiunga.

    That long-standing struggle is finally easing for hundreds of villagers following the opening of the upgraded Kiunga-Aiambak road and the presentation of two new service vehicles to local health and administrative officers.

    Western province governor Taboi Awi Yoto delivered the Isuzu Dyna vehicles to the Lake Murray and Kiunga rural local level governments [LLGs] to support frontline workers serving outlying areas.

    For locals in Kukujaba, Membok, Karemko, Yulawas, and Moian, the new road cuts a trip that once took days along unpredictable waterways down to just a few hours by land.

    Local mother and vendor Mary Karemko said the direct road link means fresh produce can finally reach local markets before spoiling.

    “Before, we had to sleep on riverbanks and spend heavily on outboard motor fuel just to get our garden food to Kiunga,” she said. “Now our families can travel safely, sell our crops, and return home the same day.”

    Governor Yoto said the infrastructure investment was targeted directly at lifting the daily burden on rural families.

    “This makes the movement of people, goods, and essential services much faster,” Yoto said. “These vehicles will give our people direct access to markets, medical services, and a better future.”

    Leaders in the neighboring Fly Zibo LLG are expected to receive their allocated vehicle as soon as river levels rise to allow shipment, extending relief to even more remote pockets of the district.