Briefs

District leads awareness
GAZELLE administration in East New Britain has taken the lead in combating Covid-19 pandemic by doing a massive awareness to its five local level governments (LLGs). Gazelle administrator Allan Balbal said the district’s administration, together with its five LLGs, started its awareness programme on the coronavirus before the nationwide state of emergency had been declared by the government last month.

Province to pay outstanding
AS a stimulus to local businesses in the province, the East Sepik administration will endeavour to pay out all outstanding monies to businesses who have not been paid for supplying goods and services. Governor Allan Bird said: “We will also look at paying advances to businesses who supply services to the East Sepik government every year and which we have a record of regular business transactions. For instance, Air Niugini, Puma Energy, Water PNG and others.”

East Sepik allows markets
THE East Sepik government has decided to allow markets to commence and businesses to operate following a recent meeting. “Last Friday, we made a decision to allow markets to commence again and business to operate while our people continue to practice social distancing, hand washing and good hygiene practices,” Governor Allan Bird said.

District bans gatherings
THE Nipa-Kutubu development authority in Southern Highlands has banned all public gatherings that would attract people in the villages. District planner Robin Tuna said customary obligations such as moka or compensations, bride price ceremonies, village court mediations and funerals have been banned as per the state of emergency orders to avoid the coronavirus from spreading.

Suburb under threat
HUMAN health in the West Taraka suburb in Lae, Morobe, is under threat to any infectious diseases should the coronavirus outbreak occur due to lack of water supply for almost three years. Former lord mayor Koim Trilue said the water woes in West Taraka affected an estimated 45,000 people during 14-day lockdown period.

Police monitor movements
POLICE in Northern are strictly monitoring the movement of people going in and out of the province during the lockdown period. Northern police commander Supt Michael Welly said they had stopped all boats coming in from Morobe and Milne Bay and warned that if people were caught, they would be arrested and charged.

MP presents K32,000
TAMBUL-NEBILYER MP Win Daki has presented a cheque for K32,000 towards supporting health workers and police personnel in Western Highlands to carry out awareness and stop Covid-19. The Western Highlands health authority will receive K20,000 and the balance of K12,000 will go to police.

Cinema pauses operations
THE country’s only multiplex cinema (Paradise Cinemas) has paused operations since March 23, in order to mitigate the risks of Covid-19. This is in compliance with the Quarantine Act 1953 which was issued by the Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS Jelta Wong on March 20.

MP: Involvement not illegal
MADANG Governor Peter Yama claims that the involvement of PNG Defence Force engineering battalion with the provincial Covid-19 response team was not “illegal”. He said the engineers were in Madang for a government-sanctioned project.

Authorities to contact people
LOCAL authorities in East Sepik are trying to contact several persons of interest in Wewak, Maprik, Dreikikier and Wosera. This was according to Governor Allan Bird.