Kevin Rudd born in EHP
By ZACHERY PER
A BABY, born at the Goroka Base Hospital five minutes after the Australian prime minister visited, was name after Kevin Rudd.
The 4.5kg baby boy was born to Lina and Esau Kitigi from Red Top village in Lufa district, Eastern Highlands province.
Nurses at the hospital’s maternity ward said the parents of baby were thrilled to name their son after the Australian prime minister. The baby is their fourth child.
Mother and child were doing well, and were discharged last Saturday.
The parents said they hoped the Australian prime minister could visit again in the future, so the boy could meet his namesake.
Chief executive officer Dr Joseph Apa thanked Mr Rudd for all the assistance the hospital had received from Australia over the years.
Mr Rudd thanked the hospital management and board for the warm welcome and pledged to continue the support in terms of providing more volunteers to come and help.
He also acknowledged the Australian Inter-Plast team who were working at the hospital when he visited.

30 nurses to W. Australia
THIRTY Papua New Guinean nurses have been given the green light to go and work in Western Australia.
This follows co-operation between Western Australian recruitment firm Millennium Card (MC) and the Melanesian Chamber of Commerce in Lae.
The 30 are the first batch of MC recruitment to supply skilled labor to Western Australia.

3 armed hold-ups in NCD up to weekend
A TOTAL of 68 criminal offences were reported to the southern command leading up to the weekend, with three separate armed robberies in the National Capital District (NCD) alone.
The three robberies were reported to have taken place at Six Mile, Tokarara and Air Nuigini village Six Mile.
Armed gangsters held up victims and took their personal belongings, including motor vehicles.
Police are investigating.

Puana case to be heard today
By PILA WASU
THE petition challenging the election of Tony Puana as MP for Kandrian/Gloucester will go to trial.
A challenge to the competency of the petition was dismissed last Friday by the National Court.
The petition was filed by Bob Lisio, who lost by 13 votes.
Witnesses would be called to give evidence when the trial starts at 9:30 today.
Mr Lisio, represented by Greg Manda Lawyers is alleging omissions and discrepancies during the final elimination count by election officials.
He is also alleging that his scrutineers were kept away from the ballot papers by the counting officials and counting was done at such a fast rate that the scrutineers could not observe or scrutinise counting properly.
However, Mr Puana and Electoral Commission lawyers deny the allegations.

Suspect walks out of cells
By ANDREW ALPHONSE
POLICE in the Southern Highlands have been urged to institute an immediate investigation into the escape of a murder suspect from Ialibu police station cells last week.
The highly suspicious escape has angered relatives of a murdered woman.
The man was wanted by police for the alleged torture and brutal murder of his wife last month at Lama village in Ialibu.
Relatives said police, despite knowing the identity of the suspect, did not make any attempt to have him arrested until local leaders and relatives from both sides pressured the suspect to surrender.
They said after only a few hours in the jail, the suspect “just walked out” of Ialibu police cell last Monday afternoon.
Walupape 2 councillor Paulus Irele said the relatives are not happy with the performance of the local Ialibu police and are calling on the provincial police commander Chief Supt Samson Mapi to investigate.
When contacted, Supt Mapi said he had only received reports that the suspect was behind bars and said the “escape story is news to me”.
However, he said the identity of the suspect was known and police would still have him arrested.

Chan invites Doulos to set up in Kavieng
By ELIZABETH VUVU
NEW Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan has invited mv Doulos to set up service in the province, after it is decommissioned in 2010.
He made the request last Thursday at the opening of the book fair and ministry programmes of the ship in Kavieng, attended by over 200 guests and crew.
Sir Julius said with over 100 beds and an engine with a capacity to power Kavieng, the ship could be floated to provide backpacker accommodation.
“New Ireland could have a floating accommodation with restaurants, adding new commercial alternatives to the province,” he said.
“We want you, your crew and this ship to continue charting our destiny with faith and hope for a better and more satisfying world,” Sir Julias said.

Woman charged with alleged murder of husband
By ELIZABETH VUVU
KOKOPO police have charged a 45-year-old East New Britain woman with wilful murder in connection with the killing of her expatriate husband.
The woman was charged last Friday and is now in police custody.
She has been refused bail and will appear in court tomorrow.
The victim was identified as James Arthur Farley, 53, of New Zealand, who was the site manager of the Niugini Gold mine in the Sinivit area in ENB.
It was reported that following an argument, the woman allegedly kicked him and hit him with a heavy object, causing his death.
This happened on Nov 23 last year.
Kokopo police station commander David Yapu said after a post mortem conducted by police and doctors at the Nonga Base General Hospital, it was discovered that Mr Farley had died from seven broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and a broken testicle.

Child Fund funds classrooms in Rigo
A NON-GOVERNMENT organisation has come to the aid of a school in Central province recently by constructing a building, three classrooms and a staffroom.
The Child Fund (PNG) funded the project at the coast of K100,000 at Ibunatou village, Rigo.
When handing over the building last Feb 19, provincial education superintendent (operation) Victor Tsinabi thanked the group for the building and challenged the community to look after the facilities.
Over 20 pupils are enrolled at the school.
Previously, they endured four hours walk daily to Diguarobu school, about 6km away.
Most of them stopped going to school and commenced their schooling at the age of 10 and over when they were old enough to endure the distance.
Officials at the occasion included PNG Child Fund manager Tracey Shields, Bandula Gonsalkorale, Momoro Kini and Samuel Siwi.

Children immunised
THE training programme of village health volunteering (VHV) service has brought on board 34 Porebada villagers to train them to help their people.
The VHV programme is an initiative of the Moroi government, which was first launched in Boregaina village, Rigo, in 2006.
Master trainer Sr Singut Bieb and her team, coordinator Philip Vagi, trainers Marineth Amos and Itai Malau, preceptors Elizabeth Verave and Joe Robona and co-trainers Musky Malo and Philip Noah, conducted the programme in the Hiri district.
Sr Bieb said the team trained 34 volunteers, of which, 11 were female.
About 8,284 Porebada villagers would benefit from the programme.
The volunteers will work with health workers and the trainers to serve the village and neighbours.
The volunteers would link up communities with the health workers and implement the national department’s strategic direction to immunise all chidren under the age of one.
The programme covers Porebada, Boera, Lealea, Kouderika, Roku and Papa villages.

Church confab in Lae
THE Apostolic Church of PNG in Lae will be the host of an international leaders conference (ILC) from March 10 to 14. Delegates from all around the world including the Asia Pacific region are expected to turn up for the ILC, which will be held at the Okari campus. Organising committee chairman Pastor Lucas Waip said guest speakers for the conference are high profile evangelists and prophetic teachers from Australia and New Zealand. Speakers will highlight the importance of leadership, not only in the church but also in civil society and Government organisations.

Aron is Menyama’s DA
MENYAMA district in Morobe province has a new district administration. He is Samson Aron who served the district for over 20 years in the Narima/Kariba and Aseki local level government councils. He replaces former administrator Buds Botike, who served the district for the past 10 years. Menyamya MP Benjamin Philip said the joint district planning committee and budget priorities committee approved the changes. Mr Aron has vast administration experience and has proven that he is the most suitable candidate to take over the job, he said.

AIDS training in Wewak ends
THIRTY young men and women successfully ended a week-long training on gender and basic introduction to HIV/AIDS training in Wewak. Organised at the Sepik centre of hope in Wewak, facilitator Naomi Paime said the workshop was conducted at night due to work and other commitment during the day. Though many attended at the beginning of the session, the number decreased towards the end because of the misinterpretation of information. She added that their aim was to educate the young people so that they can bring the message to their own peers.

Police tough on collectors
KUNDIAWA police are getting tough on locals charging motorists for fixing small deteriorating sections of the Okuk Highway in Simbu province. Provincial police commander Chief Insp Joseph Tondop said whoever is arrested for collecting fees from motorists on the road would face full force of the law. Mr Tondop urged the people not to fill a pothole with gravel and collect fees. He said it’s a national road and asked the people to allow the Works Department or any companies that won the contract to work on the road.

NZ to permit guest workers
THE Melanesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) have commended the move by New Zealand in allowing guest workers from Pacific Island nations to work there. New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark in recent media reports also encouraged Australia to consider allowing Pacific Island workers into Australia to fill seasonal labour shortages. Chamber president Gabriel Miriye said the move was overdue and would cement the friendship between the three countries especially that between PNG and Australia, which had recently been at an all-time low following the Moti affair.

Fruit pickers to Australia
THE Australian Prime Minister’s visit is a good chance for PNG to talk on sending our youths down to Australia as seasonal labourers for fruit picking. Woman activist Matilda Pilacapio said she was in full support to what opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta said about our school dropouts. Human resource and man-power are very important for our development and the children and youths of today have to be nurtured, trained and raised in such a way that they can bring more into the country, she said.

Aimo lauds media role
CORRECTIONAL Services Minister and Ambunti/Dreikikir MP has applauded the efforts by media in promoting his district during his first term in parliament. He said media plays a very important role in disseminating vital information to the people. Be it print or electronic, the media has contributed immensely to my district of Ambunti/Dreikikir, he said. The media has the power to “make or break” either a person or a community through its reporting. A linguist by profession, Mr Aimo, however emphasised that all media organisations must strive to do more positive reporting than being negative.