Manus first to have 3D map of province

Manus, has become the first to have a three dimensional map, which would help in its planning process.

The Nature Conservancy, which spearheaded the project, handed over the completed map to the Provincial Administration on Friday, at the closing of a two-week workshop on the project.

Among the 3D map's geographical features include information on demography, location of government services down to the L-L-G level, as well as old and present development like logging sites, besides the physical aspects of the map.

The initiative by Manus is in response to the government's policy on climate change, which the province is piloting.

Australia announces $1.1 million for TB

The government of Australia has announced a further 1-point-1 million Australian dollars to help Papua New Guinea fight tuberculosis.

This comes after Queensland Premier Anna Bligh pledged last month to push the federal government, to continue funding TB clinics in the Torres Strait islands.

Australia's Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, says P-N-G nationals have been crossing the border into Australia, to receive treatment for TB in Torres Strait clinics.

She says there's been some concerns raised about the prevalence of TB in P-N-G, and of course, the treatment in Queensland when people cross the border.

She says, they are clearly of the view that, the best way to treat TB in the situation is to build up capacity in PNG.

A further 631-thousand-Dollars will be used to temporarily support Queensland government TB clinics in Torres Strait, while P-N-G health services are improved.

PNG to benefit from $14million EU Pacific Fund

Papua New Guinea is set to benefit from the 14-million-US-Dollar European Union Pacific Fund to deal with climate change issues.

The European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, announced the package at the just concluded 42nd Pacific Island Leaders' Forum, in Auckland, New Zealand.

Mr. Barroso announced the E-U will make17-million-New Zealand-Dollars, or about 14-million-US-Dollars, available to Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste, to help combat climate change, as E-U looks to renew its engagement with the Pacific region.

He says the E-U's solidarity with the Pacific was growing and real.Mr. Barroso, who met New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, in Auckland last week, also called for urgent action on climate change.

Call for tougher laws on homebrew

A community leader in Wewak is calling on the National Government to come up with tougher laws to deal with the production and consumption of homebrew, or steam.

In East Sepik the production and consumption of homebrew and police in the province has described it as the main catalyst for social ills currently experienced in the province.

Provincial Police Commander, Senior Inspector, Vincent Pokas in a recent interview with NBC East Sepik says it is an ongoing problem and police will be doing all it can to address the issue.

However, the community leader from the Wariman area says the National Government should implement a tough law to deal with people producing or consuming homebrew.

The community leader who wishes to remain anonymous says that the West Coast road, especially between the Kaindi and Wom junction has become notorious for youths under the influence of homebrew who attack innocent people.

Yesterday an instructor at the Yawasoro vocational school became the latest victim, when he was attacked on his way to the school.

The community leader who was personally contacted by the instructor after the attack and told him what happened to him.

The source was concerned that innocent people had fallen victim to such people and wants the police to carry out more random raids to crack down on homebrew in the province.

He said homebrew has already caused a lot of disharmony in communities throughout the province and something drastic has to be done.

Sir Michael sacked after being welcomed

SOURCE: NBC News - 

Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare was unceremoniously dumped from office in another dramatic move in Parliament yesterday afternoon. 

This was the result of Speaker, Jeffrey Nape, declaring Sir Michael's East Sepik Regional Seat, vacant. 

Nape informed Parliament that he wrote to Sir Michael, advising that he cease to hold office as of yesterday.

The Speaker said the Seat automatically became vacant by operation of Section 104, Sub-section 2 (d) of the Constitution in that Sir Michael did not attend three consecutive meetings of Parliament. 

Mr Nape said he will advise the Governor General of his decision, and wish Sir Michael a full and speedy recovery. 

Parliament agreed on voices to accept the Speaker's decision. 

Meantime, remnants of the ousted coalition government are incensed over parliament's decision to declare a vacancy in the East Sepik regional seat. 

Among them, suspended Angoram M-P Arthur Somare, Wabag's Sam Abal, Sir Arnold Amet and Aitape's Patrick Pruaitch. 

The M-P's decried the move, saying that while assurance had been given by the Clerk of Parliament that Sir Michael's attendance today, safeguarded his seat, parliament had gone ahead to declare it vacant. 

Sir Arnold says the matter will be pursued in the courts, while East Sepik Governor, Peter Wararu warned he and his people's patience, was being sorely tested. 

Arthur Somare meantime, insists Sir Michael has not been removed from office. 

In a related development, Political analyst Doctor Alphonse Gelu says, the Speaker's action in pronouncing a vacancy in the East Sepik Regional seat in Parliament yesterday afternoon, effectively means Sir Michael is dismissed as a Member of Parliament. 

Parliament rose after the brief meeting yesterday and will next meet on September 20th.

Sir Michael will attend sitting today

Parliament resumes this afternoon and the country will be watching with great interest, the return of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.

He is expected to be joined by remnants of the former coalition, who initially boycotted sitting following their ousting last month.

Sir Michael and what's left of the NA and partners, return to the chambers, however sitting arrangements are yet to be made known. 

A check with Parliament, revealed advice on this would come from Leader of Government Business, Moses Maladina. 

Sir Michael returns to the floor some five months after his initial two-week suspension and subsequent medical treatment in Singapore. 

Fireworks are expected, indications of which came upon his arrival in the country on Sunday, when he referred to his ousted colleagues as Ministers. 

The O'Neill Government announced the early recall, saying the bill for the 22 reserved women seats, Electoral Boundaries and the expiration of provincial seats, needed to be addressed.

Sir Michael's medical report will be presented to Supreme Court

The East Sepik Provincial Government is expected to make available all medical reports and records of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, to the Supreme Court in Waigai by tomorrow.

The High Court presided by Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, his deputy Gibbs Salika and three other senior judges had last week had ordered this be done, before hearing on the Special Supreme Court Reference resumes later this month. 

The court had also directed the East Sepik Provincial Government to file documents by tomorrow, proving that it had the authority of its Executive Council, to bring a Special Reference before it. 

Lawyer representing the provincial government Ian Molloy, had argued about the tendering of the documents relating to the health of Sir Michael, would be intruding his privacy. 

However, lawyers representing Prime Minister Peter O'Neil, his deputy Belden Namah, and Speaker of Parliament Jeffery Nape, have insisted, and had been allowed leave, for these documents be made available.