Briefs

Plan to restore monument
WESTERN Highlands Governor Wai Rapa says work will be done to restore the Independence Hill in Mt Hagen. Rapa said the hill used to have the eagle statue which was the provincial emblem and a monument to provincial pride and identity, however, it had been missing for a while now and was a sign that the province needed to regain that pride, belief and unity.

Firm helps NGOs
A FIRM in Lae, Morobe, has donated K1,000 each to Femili PNG and Marie-Stopes PNG to support positive change these non-government organisations bring to communities. Super Value Store marketing manager Maria Gaufo said gender-based violence was an issue in the country and the company wanted do its part to help address it.

Nurses given bus, funds
THE Papua New Guinea Nurses Association (PNGNA) received a new 40-seater bus and K20,000 from the National Airports Corporation recently to help its National Capital District members. Association president Frederick Kebai said the vehicle and funding would greatly alleviate their transportation costs.

K500,000 dividend paid
PNG Directories Ltd (PNGPDL) paid a dividend of K500,000 to Telikom Ltd in Port Moresby yesterday. Telikom took over PNGPDL two years ago after O’Briens Ltd sold off its shares in PNGPDL. According to Telikom, the company’s financial performance had deteriorated over the years and O’Briens sold its shareholding interest to Telikom. PNGPDL chief executive Jessie Pendene said the improved profitability of the company was due to cost-saving initiatives and the elimination of financial leakages while also maintaining a steady revenue position.

‘No peace in PNG’
PAPUA New Guinea Peace and Gutpela Sidaun Foundation founder Watt Kiddie says there is a need for peace and contentment in the country as lawlessness continues to rise. During the World Peace Day celebration in Port Moresby this week, he said the cause of lawlessness was due to a lack of contentment and peace. Kiddie said violence during the general election was a clear example of discontent, mistrust and frustration in communities.

Hagen group connects road
A GROUP of people in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, has taken the initiative to connect a road into their villages by buying a new excavator and dump truck. Koma Kalina Community Development Association chairman Steven James said they had already built a bridge across the Kum River earlier this year connecting people from Ramba Rot to Dobel and Tega areas.

School marks anniversary
A PRIMARY school on Karkar Island, Madang, joined others in marking the country’s 47th Independence anniversary last Friday. According to Narer Primary School head teacher Gideon Wazami, their four-day programme involved staff, students and the community on the island.

Education transformation
EDUCATION Minister Jimmy Uguro and two senior officials will attend a conference in New York, United States. Expected outcomes of a United Nations meeting there are to transform education through the national and international levels, greater public engagement around and supporting education.

Dept to look at rural students
ABOUT 150 senior education officials are expected to meet in New Ireland to discuss issues, challenges and share achievements to develop strategies to move education forward. Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra said: “We can’t talk about impartiality when there are many issues and challenges within our education system that drastically need urgent attention.” He said the meet would also discuss children in remote parts of PNG, where schools face a number of problems.