Baby galore in NGI region
By LUTHER SCAT LAMANG
FOUR hospitals in the New Guinea Islands region recorded a total of 28 deliveries on Christmas Day.
St Mary’s Vunapope Hospital in Kokopo, East New Britain, recorded 12 deliveries including a set of twins.
Nine of them were girls, the heaviest among them, weighing a massive 4.4kg, was born to proud mother Rakap Dion of Vunamami village.
Lorengau Hospital in Manus province recorded three deliveries on Christmas eve, but none on Christmas Day.
Nonga had four – all of them girls.
Kavieng General Hospital recorded three, but one, a boy, sadly died soon after delivery.
Kimbe General Hospital had nine babies delivered on Christmas Day, four of them boys.

Christmas Day was quiet and peaceful
The people of Simbu province celebrated Christmas peacefully, thanks to the police for their tireless work.
According to provincial police commander Supt Joseph Tondop, the province was quiet and peaceful.
He said that he had engaged all his policemen and women for the Christmas and New Year operation.
Mr Tondop said that policemen and women working in criminal investigation division and prosecution were assisting the general duties and mobile squad to carry out operation by ensuring that people in the province celebrated the Christmas peacefully.
He said that police highway patrol made sure that public were not inconvenienced when travelling to and from the province.
He said that many people especially those after liquor, were arrested for behaving disorderly in public places.
Mr Tondop said that a licensed liquor dealer in Kundiawa town was arrested by police for selling alcohol and breaching the ban during the festive period.

Another boost for Red Cross
THE Papua New Guinea Red Cross has been given yet another boost to carry out its operations when it was visited by the China Friendship Association (CFA) over the weekend.
The association presented the humanitarian organisation a cash donation K30,000 and 300 cartons of baked beans ready to be shipped out to the flood affected areas in Oro province.
This donation was primarily to assist the Red Cross in carrying out its humanitarian work.
The humanitarian organisation works on a system where it puts up appeals depending on the needs and donors respond by putting up pledges.
The Papua New Guinea Red Cross was grateful for the assistance and time taken by the Chinese delegates to go down to the office at three mile to look into their needs.

Firm donates as Christmas present
THE Kiddies and Associates registered accounting firm in Port Moresby hosted an ‘Oro appeal’ get together over the weekend.
The event involved staff of the firm, their families and former employees. The event was also attended by senior government officials.
The gathering was to bring the families together and to raise funds to go towards the disaster-stricken area of the Oro province.
The event was not only to celebrate the festive season but to remember those who were directly affected by the disaster.
This activity was initiated by the managing director and principal accountant Matt Kiddie.
Mr Kiddie said Christmas was a time to celebrate and also reflect on life and what we must do to assist those who need it the most.
“We try to develop that spirit of giving here so that our children can learn and do the same,” he said.
The firm pledged K2,000 while the chairman for the Public Accounts Committee Timothy Bonga pledged K10,000 and Allied Enterprise pledged K200.
The separate donation was made during the event whereby anybody could donate any amount to go to the oro disaster appeal.

Be careful: Tamanabae
Governor for Oro province Suckling Tamanabae has warned the public to be careful where they put their donations for the relief for disaster-stricken Oro.
“There are so many people collecting donations in cash and kind everywhere, even in Australia, but people who are donating must be careful and donate to the right people so that their donation really goes to the people of Oro and can be accounted for,” he said.
He was speaking at a presentation with deputy speaker and member for Talasea Francis Marus at the Gateway Hotel.

Baki to stand trial
THE Committal Court in Kimbe has committed the director of Disaster and Emergencies Services in West New Britain province Col Peter Baki to stand trial in the Kimbe National Court.
Senior District Court magistrate Madik Kapon while handing down his decision said there was enough evidence for the court to commit Baki to stand trial in the National Court.
Baki, 45, of Namova village in the Talasea district, was charged for raping a 14-year-old student from Dire, also from Talasea district.
Baki was represented by a private law frim but his lawyers did not turn up in court during the hearing.
Baki, who was the director of the disaster and emergency services in WNB at that time, picked up the girl who was waiting for PMV to go home.
He offered to drop the girl off but instead took her to the disaster office where he allegedly raped her.
The girl was dropped off at the Kimbe market after spending a night at the disaster office.
His K500 bail was extended until the National Court hearing next year.

Coffee Industry Corporation officials pass out as reserve cops
ELEVEN officials from the Coffee Industry Corporation, including its chief executive officer Ricky Mitio, last Thursday passed out as reserve police constables after completing a two-week intensive training in Goroka.
The officials held a parade witnessed by the Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Supt Philip Solala, who later proceeded to say their oath in the presence of Goroka District Court chief magistrate Felix Terra.
Mr Mitio and the CIC general manager Ellison Pidik completed the training which covered basic duties of a police constable.
They included the powers of arrest and arrest procedures, community relations, liquor licensing, dangerous drugs and police station duties.
The police reserves were also introduced to using firearms when they were taken to Fimito shooting range near Goroka.
Mr Mitio said being reserve police now gives them the power to arrest law breakers, especially those who continuously violate coffee industry rules and regulations.
One of the main areas they would be policing was the coffee cherry theft, he said.

Angau receives Christmas present
By BONNIE ABOLA
ANGAU Memorial Hospital administration in Lae, Morobe province yesterday got a Christmas present.
It was a new 10-seater Toyota landcruiser.
The hospital’s last vehicle was stolen in 2002, leaving hospital administration staff and doctors with transportation woes.
Angau’s chief executive officer Dr Polapoi Chalau said now they would be able to do runs effectively with the new vehicle.
He said hospital facilities, especially vehicles, were among the most expensive to purchase and maintain so every effort must be made to use the vehicle responsibly.
He urged the hospital staff to take care of the new vehicle and look after it.
The stolen vehicle has not been recovered.

Fined for illegal entry
A PNG woman was among four people fined FJ$4,400 for illegal entry into the Solomon Islands. Daisy Elaih pleaded guilty to entering Solomon Islands illegally on Nov 3. The four entered Shortland Islands on a boat to snorkel and dive. Police and the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (Ramsi) were alerted to their presence, and arrested them. They told the magistrate that there were no immigration officials around the area to sign their papers, so they went ahead to dive in an area known for its World War Two relics.

Basic introduction to HIV/AIDS
Tambul district AIDS committee in the Western Highlands province conducted three training classes on basic introduction to HIV/AIDS and home base care to help people to understand the epidemic and look after those living with the virus. District AIDS coordinator Michael Panowa urged churches and other organisation to help in the awareness to minimise the spread of the virus in the district.

Telikom donates K1,500
Telikom PNG donated K1,500 to the Truka Memka people in Mt Hagen to carry out awareness on HIV/AIDS. Telikom Highlands regional manager Bonnie Talis, while donating the money said because Telikom belonged to Papua New Guineans, they were happy to assist the group to carry out awareness on social issues affecting the people during the festive period. He said that Christmas was a time for people to be together and celebrate the festive season peacefully.