The newly renovated ANZ branch in Lae went down in flames after marking over 100 years anniversary this year and a further K4-million renovation earlier this year.

Right side of ANZ Lae branch starts to burnt as by-standers look on. Pic by Rueben MeteFire fighters in Lae attempting to put out the flames that guttered ANZ branch top town. Pic by Samuel Toposona

Faulty wire cables are believed to be the main cause of the fire which saw the fourth floor guttered down. Local residents and workers rushing to get to work witnessed the ANZ burning down before them.

Fire fighters could not save most properties and did their best to hose down the flames. The fire started around 5 in the morning and continued until 8 am.

Police and the fire services are investigating what may have caused the fire while to date I have been following up to find out but all attempts have not been positive.

Fire fighters in Lae attempting to put out the flames that guttered ANZ branch top town. Pic by Samuel Toposona

However, a newly built ANZ branch had been completed in one other part of Lae City but offices which rented in the burnt down branch lost extensive number of properties.

This picture was taken by a young man when he was passing by using his mobile. Amazing what mobiles can do this days.

Mothers selling fresh produce at NADZAB market. Pic by Samuel Toposona

Situated about forty-five minutes from Lae, the second capital city of Papua New Guinea is a fresh food market called the Nadzab market.

This local market provides a good business and revenue for the local villagers around this area to earn what is enough to sustain their daily needs. Continue reading →

With an aim to support the development of Junior Hockey in Papua New Guinea, one the the major mobile phone companies in PNG Digicel PNG offered a K10-thousand sponsorship in July this year.

Papua New Guinea became the first country in the Pacific to host the Under 18 Junior Hockey Championships in the country’s second capital, Lae while other hockey-playing centres in the country also took part.

Participating teams lining up to collect medals and merchandise from major sponsor Digicel PNG. Pic by Samuel Toposona

This now puts PNG ahead of other countries in the region and in a better position to select a team to take part in the Youth Olympics in 2015. Continue reading →

Individual committment and determination are important aspects in order for rural communities to progress and help create

Fish farmers after management training in Sambio village, Bulolo District in Morobe Province. Pic by MMJV Media Unit

development.

Forty-one fish farmers in a rural village of Sambio of Bulolo District in Papua New Guinea were proud recepients of a two-week training in Small Business Development Corporation funded by the Morobe Mining Joint Venture through its Hidden Valley Mine. Continue reading →

Special dance by Bougainville students of Polytechnic Institute of Lae during the 6th anniversary this in June this year. Picture by Samuel Toposona

Marking six years of political autonomy was milestone for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. This historic event also saw a colourful display of contemporary dances from different areas in the

Pitalan Five Key group performing. Picture by Samuel Toposona

region.

Despite walking six years across on its own, Bougainville has also enjoyed significant support by the national government of Papua New Guinea through funding and other forms of support.

With the new autonomous government development is slowly taking place for the people of Bougainville. There are plans to reopen the Copper Mine in Panguna with just over ten years remaining.

Caption: Title of the dance is ‘Pik i brukim banis’ ( fence broken into by pigs) as illustrated by the students in the top left picture.

It was worth the celebrations for these Bougainvillean community in Lae while other Bougainvilleans in Papua New Guinea also joined in a similar fashion to mark six years in working towards full political and economical autonomy in the region.

With the growing HIV and AIDS epidemic in Papua New Guinea numerous efforts and millions of kina have been spent to ensure the spread is at a minimal state.

And one very effective way is through debate which had been part of a three-day National Youth HIV and AIDS debate which was held at the University of Technology from the 21st to the 23rd of June this year.

Divine Word University debate team 2011 and also 2011 champion unversity for the National Youth HIV/AIDS debate. Picture by Samuel Toposona 

This was a collective effort by the National AIDS Council Secretariat with University of Technology amongst six major universities in the country.

A total of twenty topics were selected while they went head to head and put their skills and knowledge to the test. Continue reading →

Communication plays a very vital role in the delivery of information to most people. And this was the case when FM 100 launched

Rodger Hau’Ofa giving a live talk prominent figure at Finschaffen during launch of FM 100.3 signal and district projects. Pic by Samuel Toposona.

its 100.3 radio signal in Finschaffen District of Morobe Province.

This part of Papua New Guinea was fortunate to benefit through the District Services Improvement Program under the leadership of its current member Theodore Zurenuoc.

Well not to mention the journey it took there was a little of a rough and tumble but got there in time with a traditional welcome by the local performing dance group. Continue reading →

Talking about what’s hot in PNG! Well of course there are so many issues that are hot or becoming the talk of the day in the country.

For my case, the issue of roads in Lae City is currently the “hot” issue. Mind you the province is currently undergoing a major road rehabilitation transformation. Yes! A mouthful of words to put it. Continue reading →

Right to Left: Lt Zachari Harrell(Advance Team Pub Affairs), Katie Walther (Hope volunteer), Kristopher Radder (Public Affairs Hope Proj.) and Commander Mike ( Dir operations Medical Services)

Well stories of people helping people is not new while there are very few people who devote their to help others.

Well for my case, it was my second opportunity to meet up with the United States Navy when they arrived in Papua New Guinea for on the second leg of their Pacific Partnership 2011 Humanitarian Program. It was amazing what they did.

And I tell you people from all parts of Papua New Guinea poured into Morobe Province to receive much need health services. Continue reading →

Participants of the IFJ Media Rights Monitoring and Reporting Workshop. Photo by Belinda Kora.

“What are the rights of a journalist”?

That was a question posed to me and 8 of my colleagues who attended a workshop recently in Port Moresby, based on the International Federation of Journalists Media Rights Monitoring and Reporting.

Rights? Most of us in the room never really thought we had any rights as practicing journalists in the mainstream media.

Maybe rights as a citizen and a human being, but as a journalist?

Our facilitator Ms. Titi Gabi a veteran journalist in PNG took us through the workshop, explaining the rights we have as per the Constitution on the Freedom to Information and the Freedom of Expression.

Continue reading →