Vaccine was part of the national COVID-19 response strategy, says Prime Minister James Marape. Mr Marape said this today when launching the National Rollout of COVID-19 vaccine at the APEC Haus in Port Moresby. He said the national strategy had from the beginning been always 'defence' against the spread of the virus and thanked those who made it possible for PNG to have access to vaccines, particularly WHO and the Australian Government through its Prime Minister who made sure that PNG joined the cue for vaccines. He said COVID-19 vaccine was now available, but it "still remains voluntary because no one will force anyone to be vaccinated''. The PM said he was privileged to be the first person to be vaccinated. He said those who do not believe that COVID-19 is real can find out from those who had it as well as the loved ones of those who died due to COVID-19. PNG Commissioner of Police David Manning has called upon the leaders of the Goilala and Hela people to take ownership of and end the ethnic clash in the nation’s capital.
Mr Manning said the recent ethnic clash has caused so much fear and anxiety within the community in the National Capital District over the last three days. “Whilst Police is out on the streets of Port Moresby to prevent further blood-shed and keep the peace, real and lasting peace and normalcy can be restored with the assistance of the leadership of both groups at the family, clan, tribal, ward, district, provincial and national levels. “These ethnic clashes have been going on for some time now between various ethnic groups within the NCD and also in other parts of the country. We need to seriously look into these clashes and identify the underlying causes. Whilst drugs and alcohol may be contributing factors, there could be other reasons as well. Papua New Guinea Leader of the Opposition, Belden Norman Namah is calling upon the Marape Government to immediately lift lockdowns throughout PNG and promote ‘NIUPELA PASIN’ Protocols. Mr Namah said lockdowns are killing the economy and putting people out of work and shutting down businesses. “Unless the government lifts lockdowns immediately, it will be creating a social and economic disaster far worse than the Covid-19 Pandemic,” Mr Namah said. “Lockdowns are encouraging criminal activities and disrupting the education of a whole generation of children. “The Pandemic Act has given this Prime Minister and his Pandemic Controller unbridled powers. Mr Marape and Mr David Manning and a close knit group of ministers and supporters are now usurping the powers of the legislature, the judiciary, the bureaucracy and even the executive government itself. “We are fast moving towards becoming a police state. “While lifting lockdowns I call for ‘NIUPELA PASIN’ Protocols to be promoted and encouraged by public health workers and civil servants and not members of the security forces. The verbal disagreement by two provincial governors on the recent announcement by the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) on payment of revenue from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue will end up in Court. National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop says the decision to minus the 60% GST revenue component from the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) allocation is illegal. N.C.D.C. will be seeking an interim restriction order from the Supreme Court this Friday to stop the tax office from slicing its monthly GST remittance. Goods and Services Tax or GST is the major internal revenue for all provincial governments. The Papua New Guinea government is serious about introducing the biometric voting system in the 2022 national elections amidst COVID-19. Prime Minister James Marape announced that this is part of cleaning the electoral process and creating a better voting process for the country. He says the biometric voting system is the way to go as it was proven to be a success during the local level government elections at Kupiano in Central Province. Acting PNG Telikom MD Mr Jessie Wangu was released from the Boroko cells today after initial investigative reports suggested that his wife died from a medical complication and not from injuries sustained in a domestic violence, requiring a police homicide investigation.
NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu said the Post Mortem was conducted at 11 am today and found that, the cause of death related to medical complications arising from an antenatal surgery. He said Police now have evidence pin- pointing medical or professional negligence as the cause of death, and it is now up to the family on both sides to pursue further investigations through a separate complaint against the hospital authority . The Acting Managing Director of Telikom Mr Jessie Wangua was taken into police custody last night for his own safety and also to ease tensions sparked by the death of his wife at a Private Hospital. The relatives of the late Mrs Wagua have alleged that she passed away, after sustaining injuries from a domestic-violence incident involving her husband. The irrate relatives went to the hospital and threatened to attack Mr Wagua, accusing him of being the perpetrator. Police intervened and detained Mr Wagua. He was hesitant at first but later cooperated with when made aware of the sensitivity of the situation and why he had to be taken to the Boroko Police Station. Port Moresby Police have arrested and detained a 29 year old male for the murder of his two sons aged 5 and 3 at Port Moresby's Morata One settlement on Tuesday April 27. NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu said Forensic and Homicide detectives attended the crime scene yesterday and immediately arrested and detained the suspect while bodies of the two victims were taken to the mortuary at the Port Moresby General hospital. Two of five suspects involved in stealing a firearm and K330,000 in cash were arrested and over K90, 000 in cash was recovered by NCD Detectives. The suspects named as Gibson James and Nelson Jack , both male adults from Magarima Hela province were arrested in Moveave in the Gulf Province on April 25 - a day after their crime. NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu said detectives investigating this case acted swiftly by tracking the fugitives using police intelligence and networking and eventually captured them in the Gulf Province. James and Jack and three other unnamed suspects were allegedly employed as security guards, and they were tasked with the responsibility of securing and conveying the cash earnings belonging to a large retail shop. They allegedly colluded and decamped with a point 38 revolver belonging to their employer, a security firm and this substantial amount of cash, taken from one of the retailer's shop at the 9 mile suburb. Blaming COVID-19 for the adjournment of PNG Parliament is irresponsible and a desperate move to put political expediency ahead of national interest, especially in these critical times, says Esa’ala MP and PNG former deputy prime minister Davis Steven. “We see an alarming number of people dying everywhere, every day. Fear is gripping our people. Families are doing it tough with price hikes, unemployment and a population that cannot be secured by a lamentable health service,” he said. “Parliament is where the voice of the people is heard. Matters of national interest and concerns are dealt with during Parliament sessions, not on Face book and other media forums. “We see global and regional leaders using Parliament process to inform and assure the citizens about the impact of COVID-19 and how their government is responding. “In PNG, the government uses COVID-19 to adjourn so that they can hide their folly and avoid scrutiny in Parliament. “As we know the main objective of the adjournment is to hold onto power and keep our people in darkness until the 2022 national elections.” He said the Prime Minister and the executive government are under clear legal duty to account to our people in Parliament. “Parliament must seat for a legally prescribed period. |
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