Bus operators told to respect rules

By SAMUEL BARIASI
NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has warned bus operators who flout health and safety rules that they will be arrested.
The Government announced last Friday that buses would be allowed to resume operation on the condition that operators reduce the number of passengers by five, practise social distancing and provide passengers hand sanitisers.
“We will arrest the drivers, owners and the crew (who disobey the rules),” he said.
He said bus owners and drivers needed to earn money.
“(But) the lives and welfare of our people are more important than your need to make money,” he said.
“We value your service but at this time it’s important that you cooperate with us. If we die tomorrow, the buses will still be here.”
NCD PMV Association president Jack Wasu told The National on Saturday that buses would resume operation although practising social distancing was impossible.
“Even if we encourage physical distancing, buses will still be filled because people will not listen and we do not have enough security personnel to monitor bus operations,” Wasu said.
“Buses cannot make enough with 15 passengers charging K1 because a trip from Gerehu to 4-Mile costs about K20 and they have to consider paying drivers and the crew as well.”

Teachers call for options to classes at home

THE PNG Teachers’ Association has urged the Government to consider options to conduct classes if schools cannot reopen as planned on April 27.
Association secretary Ugwalulu Mowana said teaching and learning must resume with stringent checks on students and teachers on a daily basis.
“However, if the situation does not allow the schools to resume, we ask the government to release funds to improve resources and innovative models for teaching and learning during the crisis.
“We support the extension of school closure by the government on the basis that education institutions are highly interactive.
“Consistent with (our) code of ethics concerning values of our children’s education, we are calling on the Department of Education to lay down some protocols to allow teaching and learning to continue after April 27 – for the sake of our children.”
One way is to improve provincial radio stations and television programmes and to release church grants to assist the education of our children.
“In most schools, water, sanitation and toilets are big problems,” Mowana said.
“We must ensure that before schools resume, every school water taps used for washing hands or faces must not be used for drinking as well. There has to be different taps for drinking to practise good health programme.”
He also called on the Department of Education not to put teachers off the payroll for failing to submit resumptions forms during the coronavirus pandemic.

Evacuation plan, budget on card

By GYNNIE KERO
THE Foreign Affairs Department has been tasked to come up with an evacuation plan and budget for about 70,000 Papua New Guineans currently abroad, says Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Patrick Pruaitch.
“It is estimated that there are over 70,000 Papua New Guineans living abroad,” he said.
“Our diplomatic missions have to be resourced and supported in this battle against Covid-19,” he said.
“PNG has closed its entry points in response to the Covid-19 to prevent the importation of the disease to the country.
“PNG is in need of upgrading its border facilities to respond to the influx of cross-border movement of goods and people along borders, especially with Indonesia.
“My ministry is assisting with data collection on mobility restrictions such as border closures, requirements for medical checks, changes in visa requirements, possible evacuation of PNG nationals.
“Many of our citizens are currently stranded in various countries due to the lockdown.”
He said 24 were stranded in Australia, two students in China, a sick person in Malaysia awaiting approval from PNG Government to be evacuated with two family members, and 12 stranded in Singapore.
“There is a deceased PNG citizen in Bangkok awaiting repatriation to PNG. Two Papua New Guineans are stranded in Europe, one in Spain and one in France.
“We have the responsibility to look after our citizens abroad and to bring them home in times of emergency.
We simply cannot absolve our responsibility and obligation and shift the burden to another country.” PNG has 21 diplomatic missions and consular posts in Australia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, India, China, South Korea, Japan and United States, Belgium, and United Kingdom.
Consuls are located in the cities of Jayapura in Indonesia, and in Cairns, Brisbane, and Sydney in Australia.

State trying to get major projects started

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
THE Government is trying to get off the ground as soon as possible major multi-million kina resource projects around the country to boost the economy, says Prime Minister James Marape.
“We are progressing our discussions in getting the P’nyang LNG project in Western, Wafi Golpu gold mine project in Morobe up and running this month,” he said.
“We are also renewing the agreement for the Porgera gold mine project in Enga.”
Economists and heads of financial institutions such as banks have recently been urging the Government to get those big projects going quickly to help prop up the national economy at this time. Marape also urged public servants to maintain quality service and productivity.
“We must not slow down service delivery in this time of need. Department heads are ensuring that their staff are at work. This is not a time for public servants to go on holiday.”
He also said the Superfunds had been approached to release K10,000 to any member who recently lost jobs.
“We have talked to Nasfund and Nambawan Super funds to allow their members who have been laid off from their work to withdraw at least K10,000 from their contributions to keep them going through this state of emergency,” he said.
“(It is) important for us to assist individuals laid off from work to make sure their cupboard is stocked with food. But superfunds are independent from us. We only make policy.”

Betel nut trading still banned in Port Moresby, says Parkop

By SAMUEL BARIASI
BETEL nut trading is banned in Port Moresby during the two-month extension of the State of Emergency, Governor Powes Parkop says. He said chewing betel nut was the easiest way in which Covid-19 could spread quickly.
“I know a lot of people depend on betel nut trading to generate income but our practice of chewing and spitting total contradicts the way in which we are trying to stop the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
“Our security personnel have been directed to enforce this ban, so let us all cooperate.”
He urged betel nut traders to find other means of earning income. Let’s all take this as an opportunity to venture into other forms of income generation.”
He said betel nut trading was an easy money-making scheme that put lives at risk.
“Let’s not depend on this easy money-making scheme,” he said. He said the Covid-19 pandemic provided an opportunity for everyone to change their lifestyles, practise good hygiene and live healthy lives.
“Covid-19 is probably telling us and the rest of the world that we all have not been practising good hygiene.”
Parkop urged Port Moresby residents to follow instructions to prevent a potential Covid-19 outbreak.
“There is no cure for Covid-19 in the world but the only Covid-19 cure in PNG is listening and following instructions,” Parkop said.