Briefs

Call to patrol Western’s border
Indonesian rebel leader Jeffery Bomai wants PNG security forces to patrol the Fly River in Western to prevent villagers from crossing the border. Bomai, who was the Operassi Papua Merdeka (OPM) commander, said border villages of Dome, Yogi and Yungi in the Ningerum local level government in North Fly were vulnerable to the Covid-19.

District receives K200,000
THE Komo-Margarima development authority in Hela was recently presented a cheque for K200,000 for training and awareness on the Covid-19 at the Margarima rural hospital. Chief executive Mark Mendeai said the district had the Komo Airport that could take international and domestic flights into Hela.

Sohe buys trucks, dinghies
The Sohe development authority has purchased two trucks and nine dinghies at a cost of K500,000 to help with the coronavirus awareness programme. Sohe MP Henry Amuli said the trucks would be given to the Kokoda and Higaturu local level government to support the communities with their logistics in carrying out awareness.

Hospital receives food supplies
Doctors and medical officers at the Nonga Hospital in Rabaul, East New Britain, received food supplies on Wednesday from Tropicana managing director Dame Sandra Lau. Director of medical services at the hospital Dr Patrick Kiromat thanked Dame Sandra for the donation and said the hospital couldn’t stop work because patients were seeking medical assistance every day.

Company donates masks
The China Railway Construction Group, building the new-look New Ireland Legislative Assembly, donated 2,000 face masks to the New Ireland government on Wednesday. The masks will be distributed to aid posts and health workers throughout the province to help with the Covid-19 prevention.

Manning assures public
State of emergency (SOE) Controller David Manning has reassured the people that they are taking note of concerns raised by the public during the SOE and would address them. “We are committed to your safety and wellbeing,” Manning said.

Urgent need for budget: Lelang
Shadow Treasurer Joseph Lelang says the reasons for an urgent need for Government to introduce a Supplementary Budget is overwhelming. Lelang said the impact of the Covid-19 on the global economy had affected world demand and exponential loss of lives. He said trade had suffered as a result and PNG, which had a highly open economy, faced significant loss in export earnings, declining world LNG and oil prices and supply chain networks grinding to a halt.

Hela conducts awareness
Hela Governor Philip Undialu says the provincial health authority is conducting awareness on the coronavirus pandemic. He said that personal protective equipment was being made available and more was expected to arrive in the province next week.