PAPUA New Guinea will next week open an embassy in Jerusalem when Prime Minister James Marape visits Israel.
Marape, also the foreign affairs minister, could not be reached for comment yesterday. But his office confirmed that the embassy is expected to be opened on Sept 5. Marape’s visit is from Sept 4 to Sept 6. According to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he is scheduled to meet with Marape on Sept 5. PNG does not have an embassy in Israel but maintains a consulate near Tel Aviv. But most diplomatic correspondence are handled by the PNG high commission in Australia. ![]() PORT MORESBY. 29 AUGUST 2023. Papua New Guinea Minister Sawang was pleased to receive a courtesy call from Mr. Christian Viegelahn, the Officer-in-Charge of the International Labour Organisation Office for Pacific Islands Countries. “I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Christian Viegelahn, the head of the International Labour Organisation Office for Pacific Islands Countries based in Suva, Fiji. I expressed my appreciation for the support that ILO has provided to Papua New Guinea. “Our discussions focused on the collaboration between ILO and my Ministry and Department. I outlined my priorities were to: ensure alignment of Government’s labour policies with the Medium Term Development Plan IV; advance the review and updating of our labour laws; address the severe labour market data gaps that undermines evidence based policies; and to review the minimum wage. I sought support to improve the performance and efficiency of my department and the statutory offices that are accountable to my Ministry. ![]() The highly anticipated Inaugural Pacific ICT Ministers’ Dialogue commenced with a spectacular welcome dinner held at the Ela Beach APEC HAUS. The event, hosted by the National Capital District Commission, led by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Hon James Marape MP, and Governor Hon. Powes Parkop marked the beginning of a two-day gathering of ICT ministers and heads of delegations from across the Pacific region. The evening was inaugurated by the Prime Minister himself, accompanied by Governor Parkop, Member for Moresby North West, Hon. Lohia Boe Samuel MP, and Hon. Timothy Masiu MP, Minister for Information and Communications Technology. Master of Ceremony, Douglas Dimagi of NBC, opened the proceedings, setting the stage for an evening of meaningful discussions and camaraderie. Hon. Lohia Boe Samuel, Member for Moresby North West, extended a warm welcome to all the Pacific Ministers of ICT and Heads of Delegations from the Pacific countries. He commended PNG’s Minister for ICT, Hon. Timothy Masiu, for his efforts in bringing together the leaders of the Pacific to collaborate on technological advancements that could shape the future of the region. ![]() The government of Papua New Guinea through the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology will be hosting two prestigious events in the field of ICT next week. The inaugural Pacific ICT Ministers’ Dialogue will take place from 28 – 29 August 2023 whilst the 16th Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Policy and Regulatory Forum (PRFP-16) will run from 30 August to 1September 2023. According to the Minister for ICT Hon Timothy Masiu this marks the will of Pacific countries and Territories to work together to promote a unified plan for the strategic growth and strengthening of the region via the coordinated use and advancement of ICT. Minister Masiu said this gathering will play a crucial role in determining the Pacific region’s ICT landscape. ![]() While the focus on the government now is on promoting national participation for sustainable communities, there has always been the risk of political interference causing land owner projects to fail in terms of equitable benefits sharing and management structures. "Everything that politicians in Papua New Guinea (PNG) touch fail" and this is the stern warning Larry Andagali, the CEO of Trans Wonderland issued to government yesterday during the PNG Community Affairs & National Content Conference & Expo (Canconex 2023) in Lae. Land Owner Companies (LOCs) are entities established to represent the interests of customary landowners in PNG in business dealings related to their land, particularly in the extractive industries. These companies play a crucial role in ensuring that the benefits of resource development projects are distributed equitably among landowners. They also serve as intermediaries between the government, corporations, and local communities, helping to minimize potential conflicts and environmental damage. ![]() Port Vila, Vanuatu: The 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit opened today (23.08.23) in Port Vila, Vanuatu as leaders from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji, and French territory New Caledonia, begin discussions on issues common to Melanesia. After a welcome ceremony held at the Vanuatu Convention Centre and a resounding welcome by Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Hon. Ishmael Kalsakau, the 22nd MSG continued at one of Port Vila’s premier hotel, Warwick Le Lagon, opening with a plenary session where each leader made their statements. Prime Minister Hon. James Marape immediately returned to his usual stand on Climate Change mitigation, interceding on behalf of the Small Island Nations of the Pacific, including those of Melanesia, by calling on industrialised nations of the region to make real interventions to assist these Pacific nations. ![]() FORMER Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has accused Prime Minister James Marape of promising government caucus members increased amounts in the district service improvement programme (DSIP) and provincial service improvement programme (PSIP) funds to more than budgeted amounts. O’Neill said a Government internal WhatsApp message he intercepted revealed that members had been promised K20 million and ministers up to K15 million. Every open member is entitled to K10 million in district service improvement programme funds and every governor is entitled to K5 million per electorate in a province. ![]() Black Swan becomes 100% PNG-owned- Black Swan acquired by PNG’s TrueNorth Capital. Black Swan International, PNG’s leading security services company, has been sold by its international owners to Papua New Guinea’s TrueNorth Capital, concluding several months of negotiations. On 17 August 2023, Sentinel Global Holdings Pte Ltd (Sentinel) confirmed the sale of Black Swan to TrueNorth Services Limited, a subsidiary of Papua New Guinean investment firm TrueNorth Capital owned in turn by leading Papua New Guinean businessman Mr Anthony Smaré. In the last five years Black Swan has undertaken significant changes in its operating model. This included a diversification of its customer base, enhancement of its head office and development of support bases in both Port Moresby and Lae to improve its capabilities and performance as PNG’s leading top-tier security services company. The sale also included the affiliated training company, Pacific Development & Training Institute (PDTI). Sentinel plans to focus on other investments and operations in the Asia Pacific. ![]() Papua New Guinea ICT Minister Timothy Masiu has presented 5 satellite phones to the AROB Disaster and Emergency office for communications purposes for the Mount Bagana volcanic eruptions and effects of strong wind and rain. Mr Masiu presented the phones to the Controller of the Bagana State Of Emergency response Esther Usurup at the AROB Disaster office at Kubu in Buka on Sunday 20th August 2023. The 5 Satellite phones given on loan by NICTA with support from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will be funded by NICTA for 3 months and pending on requests from AROB will be returned to NICTA for other emergency use nationwide as and when there is an emergency happening any where. ![]() FORMER Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has made an urgent request to the Government to review the minimum wage. “The last minimum wage review was in 2014 and resulted in a progressive increase to the minimum wage in 2015 and 2016 to the current K3.50 per hour,” O’Neill said. “There has been no increase to the minimum wage since 2016.” He said that in late 2018, the then Labour Minister told Parliament that the minimum wages board would be formed to review the minimum wage in 2019. |
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