Author: ngewakl

The reforms to superannuation spearheaded by Sir Mekere Morauta in 2000 are regarded as among the most important in Papua New Guinea’s history. Certainly, those reforms succeeded in stabilising the sector and ending the mismanagement and scams that were a feature in the 1990s. But how have the superannuation funds performed since those reforms? That is a question that has received very little attention. In this article, we provide some initial analysis. To do so, we use the annual reports and published figures from 2008 to 2025 of the two superannuation funds that dominate the PNG market, Nambawan Super (NSL),…

On April 27, 2026, as Palau’s dry season peaks, the Rock Islands Palau emerge as a UNESCO-listed paradise of limestone pinnacles and turquoise lagoons near Koror. American travelers can reach this untouched wonder via direct connections from LAX in under 15 hours. Discover why these Rock Islands captivate divers, kayakers, and nature lovers worldwide. On April 27, 2026, the Rock Islands Palau stand out as one of the world’s most breathtaking natural wonders, drawing adventurers to Palau’s southern lagoon just as the dry season peaks for optimal exploration. Nestled near Koror, these 450 limestone islands, cloaked in emerald rainforest and…

Overview: Twenty-four finance personnel from Palau’s state governments have completed a certified QuickBooks Desktop 2024 course, equipping them with updated tools and skills to improve financial management and accountability across the states. Course boosts financial management capacity, efficiency across state governments By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau (April 21, 2026) — “I found the class to be very helpful and useful… this course helped us learn the new features of the 2024 version that make our jobs so much easier,” said Sharleen Nicholas of the Peleliu State Government, of the practical impact of a recent financial training aimed at strengthening state-level…

The Fiji Police has confirmed that a person of interest with alleged links to the illicit drug trade in Fiji is currently under interrogation. The arrest has been made as the police are cracking down on the illicit drug trade in the country. The suspect is believed to have close links to the late Jone Vakarisi, who died in military custody during an investigation. The person of interest was arrested in Suva.Article continues after advertisement Source link

The search for the missing crew of the cargo vessel Mariana off Saipan has turned fatal, with rescuers recovering one body from the overturned ship. Photo: US Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard and partner agencies have now logged more than 85 hours searching for the missing crew of the cargo vessel Mariana, sweeping over 127,900 square nautical miles across waters and remote islands near the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Despite the scale of the operation, five crew members remain unaccounted for. Authorities say one body has been recovered, though the identity has not been publicly…

“Leaders” and “leadership” are a key focus of Australia’s engagement in the Pacific. Our regional diplomacy emphasises deepening engagement with Pacific leaders and leadership institutions, and our development program has a strong focus on supporting leadership as a key driver of change. In both diplomacy and development, the focus has often been on formal spaces. Yet much of the leadership that drives change in the Pacific happens in the everyday — in churches, civil society organisations, businesses and government departments — and women are often at the centre of it. Across the region, women improve patient care in hospitals, help…

PALAU – The manta rays glide overhead, their dark bodies and tremendous wingspan for a moment blocking out the sunlight. Another swims towards us, mouth open, feeding in the plankton-rich waters of this island nation in the Philippine Sea.The rays are not the only ones feeding. Reef sharks weave among schools of wrasse and snapper, the odd fish winding up in their jaws. A school of barracuda zips past. Within my field of vision, there are more fish than ocean. This is the sort of scene that divers dream of witnessing – befitting the archipelago’s reputation as one of the…

Overview: Koror lawmakers have approved a major land reform bill that could change how leaseholders use and transfer their property, potentially unlocking access to loans and new development opportunities. Lawmakers target development gaps while raising questions on oversight and residency rules By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau — The Koror State Legislature has passed a bill aimed at giving land leaseholders greater control over their leases, potentially opening the door to easier access to loans, property transfers and long-delayed development projects. Koror State Legislature Bill No. 13-02, LD1 — known as the “Leaseholder Empowerment Act” — now awaits action by Gov.…

[Photo: FILE] Police are investigating claims by a security officer that he saw a driver of a vehicle with a firearm and reported the matter to the Nabua Police Station. The security officer says he was collecting trolleys when he came across a vehicle being driven by an iTaukei male. He claims the driver had a pistol on his lap, without causing any alarm, and he reported the matter. Source link

Jelta Wong, the MP for Gazelle Open in East New Britain said Starlink should be allowed to operate since not all of PNG can get service. Photo: 123RF / Thomas Dutour A Papua New Guinea National Court ruling to overturn a ban on Starlink has been widely welcomed, fresh off the back of a natural disaster which highlighted the need for low-orbit satellite services in the country. Last December, the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) announced that the Starlink network’s parent company, SpaceX, had been instructed to cease all services in PNG due to a directive from the…