NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

300523 Immigration and citizens Authority office in Arawa to provide visa and passport services
New Dawn FM News

Deputy Migration Officer (Border Division) Mr Winis Map says Immigration is a border authority responsible for protecting and securing our international borders.
He says immigrations concern is to makes-sure the movement of people is monitored and controlled.
“NAQIA is responsible for the movement of our plants and animals moving across the border, to ensure it is properly checked,” he said.
The immigrations opened its Buka office in 2018, and then in February last year in Buin. Today, we will be opening our third office in Arawa.
“Peoples movement is very critical and opening offices in Central and South Bougainville is crucial,” added Map.
He said there is also an officer stationed in Manus and recently to Kiunga.
“Our presence in Arawa is to facilitate our core business which is visa and passport.
“We want to make these services available to you. Last year, we had migrated the functions of the work permit into our function,” Map added.
He also acknowledged the presence of Member for North Nasioi and Minister for Finance and Treasury Hon Mathias Salas, Member for Kokoda,Hon Rodney Osioco, Commander for Arawa Police Station,Inspector Lyne Bomai, Lands Secretary Lynette Baratai, Acting Health Secretary Dr Rulin Pokote.
Deputy Chief Immigration Passports, Visas & Work Permit and Manager in-charge of Jacksons International Airport Dominic Ampoai. ENDS///AK

020623 Parents are encouraged to bring your children 0-5 years to get immunization for next 5 weeks
New Dawn FM News

Parents are encouraged to bring their children to get immunized under the Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA).
The vaccination will be rolled out for the next 5-6 weeks, in the region to ensure children under the age of 0 to 5 years of age is immunized against measles, rubella and polio.
This was the call made by Acting Secretary for Department of Health Dr Ruling Pokete during the official launch of SIA, today.
She said the service will be provided to every household to ensure the children receive their injections throughout the region.
“Parents do not worry about bringing your child to the clinics or health centers as the health vaccine teams will visit every constituency,” she added. ENDS///AK

020623 Minister for Public Service Supports efforts by SIA program
New Dawn FM News

Minister for Public Service Hon Amanda Masono says immunizing our children will ensure a bright and vibrant community.
She says in her capacity as minister for public service, the aim of her team is to ensure the machinery of the public service sees tangible changes in communities.
She said such programs such as the Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA) 2023 is similar to the ABG governments effort to ensure a conducive environment for Bougainville to transit into Independence.
“She said from more than a thousand babies born every year only a few make it alive. This could be one of the reasons, maybe because us as parents fail to bring our babies to get immunized,” she said.
Masono says this immunization acts as a shield against unwanted diseases which may affect them as they grow into maturity.
She added according to the health department we still have a low coverage meaning more children in the remote areas become vulnerable to diseases.
“The only way to protect our children is to get immunization so that they are able to be protected against vulnerable diseases,” she added.
Masono also reminded the gathering as a way forward, the recent ABG government department, and transition phase by improving and strengthening private institutions, to provide a conducive environment. ENDS////AK

020623 Minister for Health officially launched the Supplementation Immunization Activity (SIA) 2023
New Dawn FM News

The Member for Bolave Constituency and Minister for Health Hon Dennis Lokonai officially launched the Supplementation Immunization Activity (SIA) 2023, at Bel Isi Park today.
Also present at the launch Acting Secretary for Health Dr Ruling Pokote, Member for North Womens Regional and Minister for Public Service Hon Amanda Masono and Catholic Diocese Health Manageress Michaelyne Pau, National Department of Health and donor partners WHO and UNICEF.
During his keynote address, Hon Lokonai this launch the SIA campaign to highlight the critical importance of the Measles, Rubella vaccine, the oral Poliomyelitis vaccine and the power of vitamin A.
He said in June 2018, the National Government declared national emergency following an outbreak of polio in a number of provinces.
“Immunization campaigns were conducted throughout the country in an effort to control the spread of infection. A nation-wide vaccination campaign was launched and was successfully conducted achieving very high coverage,” he said.
Lokonai added as we launch the MP-Polio campaign today, I would like to put on record that we have successfully implemented SIA campaign in 2018 and 2019, and we have not reported any confirmed case as yet in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
However, preventive measures such as vaccinations and surveillance activities are being undertaken by the department of health to prevent the disease re-emerging in our region. ENDS///AK

020623 In Bougainville’s pursuit of a healthier and brighter future for Bougainville
New Dawn FM News

In Bougainville’s pursuit of a healthier and brighter future for Bougainville, we must acknowledge that our children are the most precious and valuable assets.
According to Minister for Health Hon Dennis Lokonai our children are the heart and soul of our communities, embodying our hopes and dreams.
He said the health team had carried out a mass vaccination campaign vaccinating more than 90% of children aged 0-15 years including school children.
The objective of the mass vaccinations is to ensure complete interruption of the transmission by increasing the vaccination coverage. We achieved very high coverage in the last two campaigns and we aim to achieve the same result in this next campaign and vaccinate all children 0- 59 months with polio vaccine and all children 6- 59 months with measles and rubella vaccine, regardless of their previous immunization status. ENDS///AK

010623 Colorful display of song, music and dance by Manal Cultural group
New Dawn FM News

A Colorful display of display of song, music and dance by the Manal Cultural group from New Hanover Island, New Ireland Province.
The Manal group originates from a small village called Pwas.
The group has been residing at Malasang with the family of Paramount Chief of Malasang John Sile.
ABG Deputy Chief Secretary Operations Esther Usurup said the traditional ties between Bougainville and New Ireland has spanned over many years.
The evidence has seen the arrival of Bougainvillean clay pots in her village, Pwas brought by Mona canoe voyages years ago.
Usurup says we need to re-establish the ties and now, it is important with the reconciliation process and continuous peace process in the region.
“It’s important to me as a New Irelander, to ensure that I come in peace.
“So, this public ceremony is affirming a lot of work done by our former leaders where Late President Joseph Kabui travelled to Kaiveng and Sir Julius Chan to Bougainville.
“This is important to us as Melanesians to strengthen our ties and relationships.
“To me as an individual and my identity is important to bring part of that aspect of what I have learnt from ‘haus meri’-Rangaman Siri-Aina, to show my requirements as a woman and what I bring from that culture and perspective in-terms of how I must respect my leaders, I must be loyal to my leaders, and to listen to advise as I now work in the ABG,” she stated
Esther’s late fathers name is Gila Passinghan Galusin Magarap from Gila clan, and her mother is Aila Bosap Tirpup Leia Usurup . ENDS///AK

010623 ABG shows commitment to gender-equity
New Dawn News

The Autonomous Bougainville Government in its commitment to gender-equity has appointed a new breed of qualified Bougainvillean in the space of heading government departments here in the region.
Among these women includes the appointment of the ABG Deputy Chief Secretary Operations Esther Usurup.
Today, in a ritual brought back to life, the understanding of Peace, Respect, Reverence and Appreciation for the land, was shown by the Manal Cultural group.
According to Usurup this ritual is part of her Ali-swai cultural requirement as a New Irelander appointed to work and live in Bougainville.
“I originate from New Hanover and I will now work in Bougainville,” she said.
She said this ceremony is basically the people of Lavongai, giving a child of home to be taken care of by the people of Bougainville and to have reverence to the mother land.
“We are here to pay respect to our mother land to pay our respect.
“The feet washing ritual, to go wash our feet in the sea, signifies the first step of me walking on new land.
“So, we must sing and pay respect to the land.
“This is important as we pay respect to the mother land. This is very important as we each have our own identity and these rituals and etiquette that is required customarily where we come from to ensure we are well received,” Usurup added.
Usurup joins other intelligent Bougainvillean women, heading the administration of the ABG government and government departments. This has seen several women include the Secretary of Department of Lands & Physical Planning, Environment and Climate Change Lynette Baratai, Department of Community Development Mana Kakarouts and Deputy Chief Secretary Policy Stephanie Elijah. ENDS///AK

310523 A NEW ENTITY CALLED HELI BOUGAINVILLE WAS FORMED IN CENTRAL BOUGAINVILLE TODAY.
NEW DAWN FM NEWS
The people of South Nasioi Constituency today created history by signing an 50-50 PERCENT company to provide Helicopter air charter services in Bougainville.
The agreement signed was between HELI NIUGINI LIMITED and DAKENATU DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIVE LIMITED which was established in the late 1960s as the DAKENATU GROWERS COOPERATIVE SOCIETY.
The company has some remaining assets from the previous operations in which old directors were still operating today.
After the signing there was also a Ground Breaking ceremony at the site in which company hangar will be built with Pilot and Engineers accommodation.
According to the Managing Director of this new Company, HELI BOUGAINVILLE, PETER HICKEY a lot of training will be provided under this arrangement in Pilot Training, Engineering,Load master in which the Community around South Nasioi will benefit from.
Negotiations for this new service was made between Kieta District Administration and the ABG member for South Nasioi Hon JUSTIN BORGIA.Directors of Dakenatu Development Cooperative were taken for a ride after the signing ceremony this afternoon.
The Helicopter started Hire Services with the Immigration and Citizenship Authority Office Opening in Arawa yesterday and is ready for Hire.
Ends

310523 Embrace preservation of our cultural diversity
New Dawn FM News

Embracing the preservation of the diversity in our cultures as people from different clans and societies can help build a better tomorrow.
According to Deputy Chief Operations Esther in a developing stage of who we are as a people we must ensure that some of the influences gaining momentum in our very own culture, we must ensure it is protected.
Usurup says with the theme “cultural diversity and preservation of diversity’ what does it mean.
“Our clan leaders must stand up to ensure the preservation of our cultures in our societies especially the preservation of our house-man and house-meri.
“Bougainville is rich in embracing its cultural diversity and is a wonder to see and learn from,” added Usurup.
“Cultural diversity and working with others to ensure you work as a team, and be collaborative in-terms of the modern working space in an organization is fundermental.
“It is key to work with different ideas, different perspectives that you get from different people working in your organization because you gain good ideas to focus and build a better tomorrow,” she adds.
Usurup further reiterated that ABG’s Arts and Culture Policy is a working progress and to ensure management promotion of our cultural heritage. ENDS///AK

310523 North Bougainville Amateur Boxing Association needs K15,000 to repair and maintenance of the Olympic Boxing Ring
New Dawn FM News

The President of the North Bougainville Amateur Boxing Association needs K15,000 to repair and do maintenance on the olympic boxing ring.
According to Alexander Rihatta the olympic boxing ring was used to stage a tournament back in Bekut and was not looked after.
He says 70percent of the parts were the remains when he brought the equipment back.
“I appeal to business houses to assist with the repair and maintenance to the cost of K10 to K15,000,” he said.
Rihatta said many new clubs are showing interests to register under the North Amateur Boxing Association.
“Registration fee is K500.00 from three clubs to Atolls, Tsitalato and Halia boxing clubs which enabled him to retrieve the olymic boxing ring.
Rihatta says he will also need K10,000 to assist in staging the North Amateur Boxing Tournament.
This budget caters for judges and referees and other utilities to make the show become a reality. ENDS///AK