Miss Samoa crowned Pacific queen

By BOURA GORU-KILA - The National

MISS Samoa Fonoifafo Nancy McFarland Seumanu was crowned Miss Pacific Islands on Saturday, succeeding Miss PNG Leoshina Kariha who was crowned last year at Nukualofa in Tonga.
The one-week annual pageant featuring 12 beauty queens from Pacific islands ended with the crowning at the Stanley Hotel & Suites in Port Moresby.
Seumanu, 24, who won US$3,000 (K10,200) with the crown was earlier judged the queen with the best traditional wear and best interview. She will represent the Pacific region at various regional and international events.
Seumanu is a public health nurse by profession and is a dance and music enthusiast.
“I am happy to connect with my sister contestants and, in the Pacific spirit, use our roles to make a difference, however small, to the lives of Pacific youth,” she said.
“Our every action, opinion or statement matters and can leave a lasting impression on our Pacific people.”
Miss Solomon Islands Gladys Habu, 24, was first runner-up and won US$2,000 (K6,800). Miss Papua New Guinea Lucy Maino, 24, was second runner-up and won US$1,500 (K5,100).
Miss Tahiti Herevai Hoata, 22, was third runner-up. She won US$1,000 (K3,400).
The fourth runner-up was Miss Tonga Yehenara Soukop, 20 with US$700 (K2,380) prize money.
MPIP chairperson Molly O’Rourke said the pageant recognised Pacific island women, their contributions to regional affairs and ability to advance in diverse fields with the common goal to empower each other.

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3 dead, 20 houses razed in POM

By MALINDA KALE - The National

A POTENT mix of alcohol and ethnicity has left three people dead and more than 20 houses razed in the National Capital District’s 8-Mile settlement over the weekend.
Ethnic fighting started on Friday night after David Dew Kendiyo, who graduated from the University of PNG (UPNG) recently, was slashed to death in a drunken brawl.
The fighting and burning of houses continued until the next morning between Hela and Southern Highlands groups until police stepped in to quell the violence.
Kendiyo, from Southern Highlands’ Nipa, died at the Port Moresby General Hospital at midnight.
Police commander for the National Capital District and Central Acting Asst Comm Anthony Wagambie Jnr said police reinforcements under the command of Chief Insp Tapp Opai and Gordon police station commander Insp Mark Mosinakave were deployed to quell the violence.
He said several people were also injured and more than 20 houses were set ablaze in the early morning riot.
“Many innocent residents have been jolted by the violence”, he said.
“Police units from the Gordon police station, the Forensic Unit, CID and Mobile Squad personnel from McGregor Barracks were at the scene to control the violence and to conduct investigations.”
Wagambie appealed to the warring groups to abstain from further violence and allow police to investigate the deaths, injuries and destruction.
He also appealed to community leaders at the settlement to support police by identifying the perpetrators
“We will maintain a high police presence in the area.
“All must cease fighting,” he said.
Wagambi said such violence resulting in the loss of lives and properties could be easily avoided if everyone resorted to peaceful means to resolve differences.
Police have ordered bottle shops in the area to be closed indefinitely.
“We are also appealing to ethnic groups in other parts of the city not to take part in this feud,” he said.
“Just leave it to us to handle it.”

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PM describes budget as ‘hard’

Posted on The National

PRIME Minister James Marape has described the 2020 Budget as “hard”, in view of the current economic climate.
Marape said the K4.6 billion deficit, projected to be the largest ever, “is not something we should be fearful about”.
“This is so long that, as custodians of the budget, what we plan to implement is geared towards resuscitating the economy,” he said.
“What we borrow must come in to resuscitate the economy.”
Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey tabled the 2020 money plan in Parliament last Thursday, forecasting a total expenditure of around K18.7 billion against a revenue of K14.1 billion.
“It’s a hard budget in view of the fact that our revenue environment was not certain,” Marape said.
“Some of our big-ticket projects like Wafi-Golpu mine, Porgera mine, P’nyang and Papua LNG projects are still in discussion stage.
“Revenue is not certain. But I am comforted that Treasury was able to model next year’s budget, and for the next three to four years, out of our own sweat component – sweat meaning what we invest in.
“We are using this budget as a tool to restimulate and diversify our economy.”
Marape said the US$330 million (K1billion) loan from Australia was incorporated in the plan.
“The Treasury will look at better financing options in the market to ensure that our deficit is totally financed,” he said.
“We tried our best to be balanced and as fair as possible, right across the country.
“So, overall, the budget is not bad but it’s going to be a hard year. We have to stick to the core fundamentals, be conservative.
“This is all to ensure that we get back on the right track by 2025, by which time, we should be cascading back to a lower deficit. We should have a lower debt-to-GDP ratio by the mid-2020s.”
Marape said the K14 billion revenue would be the “highest ever” for the country.
“That’s a strong indication of our own commitment to work hard next year at all levels.
“That’s why we’re sharing the burden right across all parts of our country.”

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UAE to sponsor PNG

Posted on The National

THE Government has thanked the United Arab Emirates government for sponsoring PNG’s participation in the Dubai Expo 2020 starting October next year.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Patrick Pruaitch met UAE Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Sultan Al Shamsi last Saturday at the Expo 2020 international participants’ meeting in Dubai.
Pruaitch said the UAE government would fund the construction and fitting out of the PNG pavilion.
It will also provide two apartments free of charge for PNG delegates during the six months of the expo.
It will also pay for cleaning and maintenance costs.
The expo takes place in Dubai from Oct 20 to April 10, 2021. It will be attended by millions of people, most of whom are building their own multi-million-dollar pavilions. Seventy countries have completed ground-breaking ceremonies.
Pruaitch advised the UAE government that PNG would soon appoint a commissioner-general for Expo2020, a task currently carried out in an acting capacity by Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union Joshua Kalinoe.
Pruaitch told the UAE Vice-Minster he had a good exchange on bilateral issues with the UAE ambassador to PNG, Dr Mohamed Omar A Balfaqeeh, during a stopover in Singapore.
Al Shamsi said the UAE government would assist PNG to profile its development potential and to connect PNG to the rest of the world through Expo2020.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/uae-to-sponsor-png/