NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

150221 BLACK PUSSY TO MAKE PEACE WITH JODASH TOMORROW
NEW DAWN FM

The famous Aita black Pussy will finally make peace with Jodash Hire car Company in AITA tomorrow.
The incident was triggered after some misunderstanding concerning one Jodash vehicle that was mistook as owned by a mining company.
Because of these misunderstanding a vehicle was take off a Jodash driver resulting in some incidents that occurred on the highway concerning Police and the Aita group.
All these will be a thing of the past after they reconcile tomorrow.

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020321 HAHELA PRIMARY SCHOOL CLOSE FOR 14 DAYS
NEW DAWN FM NEWS

Hahela Primary School becomes the first Education institution to suspend classes amidst the rising covid 19 cases in Buka.
The Headteacher, FABIAN ANISIA told New Dawn FM that classes will be suspended for the next 14 days due to the covid 19.
He said this is to make sure his teachers and students stay at home and be safe with their families.
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Health, CLEMENT TOTAVUN reported that as of today the total positive cases have risen to 41 and is rising everyday.
He has called on the people of Bougainville to stay at home and not to come to town unnecessarily .
The Health Secretary has also called on the people to wear mask in public places and also practice social distancing.

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260221COVID 19 CASES INCREASE TO SIX TONIGHT
NEW DAWN FM NEWS
The number of Covid 19 Positive cases in Bougainville has increased this afternoon to six and they are people living in Buka town.
This was revealed by the Bougainville Health Secretary, CLEMENT TOTAVUN live on New Dawn FM this evening.
He said that from a total of 90 samples six has been confirmed and contact tracing has begun.
MR. TOTAVUN appealed to people who are sick with Covid 19 symptoms to immediately come for test at the Buka hospital.
He also called on the people not to unnecessarily come into town at this time because transmission travels fast when people move around too much.
MR. TOTAVUN said many people were against him and Police Commissioner TOKURA when they were very strict on the movement of people when the Covid 19 pandemic was just announced last year.

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260221 MOMIS PAYS TRIBUTE TO LATE SIR MICHAEL SOMARE
NEW DAWN FM NEWS

Former ABG President CHIEF DR JOHN LAWRENCE MOMIS has paid tribute to his former colleague the late GRAND CHIEF SIR MICHAEL SOMARE with whom they chartered PAPUA NEW GUINEA to independence in 1975.
He called New Dawn FM from Buin that he was saddened to hear the news of his passing this morning.
He said on behalf of himself and his wife ELIZABETH he would like to join all leaders and their people in PNG in expressing our sorrow and sadness in the passing of one and only icon of PNG, the GRAND CHIEF SIR MICHAEL SOMARE the founding father and the first Prime Minister of PNG.
We send our heartfelt condolences and prayers to Lady Veronica, their sons and daughters and all their grand-children and all members of the Somare family.
Grand Chief SOMARE was a charismatic leader, he had faith and courage, he led a highly diversified people of a thousand tribes into a community of peoples who adapted their own home grown constitution and adapted a decentralized system of government rather than a highly centralized and bureaucratized- government centred in KONEDOBU.
He believed in the people’s right to participate in how they would want development in their areas.
His vision is enshrined in the National Goals and Directive Principles of the constitution.
He was a great man, He was a man of the people, He was a humble man,
He was fearless and stood up for the marginalized and led that nation when many people did not believe that they would be successful.
My his Soul Rest in Eternal Peace, CHIEF DR JOHN MOMIS

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270221 BOUGAINVILLE RECORDS 3RD CASE OVERNIGHT
NEW DAWN FM NEWS

Bougainville has recorded a third positive COVID19 case in the region as of last night.

Chairman of the Bougainville Public Health Committee and Health Secretary, Clement Totavun, announced this today in a media conference.

As of last night we now have three cases in Bougainville. On Tuesday we confirmed one female case and yesterday we confirmed another male case, Totavun said.

The Health teams have up scaled sample collection and testing in a coordinated effort to verify the extent of transmission.

More samples are being collected by our team and they will be tested here and we will be able to give an update to our people here in the region.

Mr Totavun said the Clinical Team has confirmed that two positive cases are currently stable and are being kept in isolation and are being monitored daily.

Contact tracing has commenced for the immediate family members and others that have been identified.

Mr Totavun appealed to the public to come forward for voluntary testing if you are not feeling well or are displaying the symptoms of fever, dry cough, sore throat or shortness of breath. Voluntary testing is free and is being conducted at the Triage Center located at the Buka General Hospital.

Meantime, Chief of the Bougainville Police Service Francis Tokura says the Bougainville Police Service stands ready to support the Bougainville Public Health Committee in enforcing the basic public health measures that are also part of basic policing.

He announced that police will be monitoring the number of passengers on PMVs, and other travelling vehicles including boats across the region, and crowd control in public places.

The State of Emergency had lapsed in December 2020, however, the possibility of having another emergency declared on Bougainville will be determined by the ABG upon advice from the health authorities.

The public is again urged to adhere to the Niupela Pasin preventive measures which include frequent washing of hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, wear a facemask in public places and keep at least 1.5meters distance, cough or sneeze into your bent elbow and avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose.

If you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, call the Toll Free number on 74460830 or visit your nearest Health Facility.

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260221 MARAPE ANNOUNCES A PERIOD OF NATIONAL MOURNING
NEW DAWN FM NEWS

Prime Minister JAMES MARAPE has announced a period of national mourning for the death of Papua New Guinea’s founding Prime Minister, GRAND CHIEF MICHAEL THOMAS SOMARE.
He said Our nation honours this great leader, the founding and longest serving Prime Minister of our country and I appeal to all citizens for a week of silence, peace and calm as we in sober pay respect to this one person whom our country owes much.
He is un-match by anyone of us who come after him, and he deserves our unified respect now too at passing and forever into our future as a nation.
And there will be two weeks of mourning for this great leader.

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250221 BUIN HEALTH CENTRE TO HAVE A DOCTOR SOON
NEW DAWN FM NEWS
Buin health Centre will have a Doctor soon according to the Minister for Health, RAYMOND MASONO.
He revealed this when answering questions from the member for BAUBAKE, JACOB TOOKE who wanted to know why a Doctor in Buin is continuously refused by the management of Buin Health Centre to see patients there.
Member Tooke said that the Buin Health Centre must have a Doctor to see patients because it was very expensive to hire cars to see the only Doctor in Arawa and Doctors in Buka.
He said Buin has been without Doctor for a long time and something must be done about it quickly.
On the question of a Doctor is not allowed to see patients in Buin, the Minister said he will talk to his officers in Buin and respond to him later.

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250221 SECOND COVID19 CASE ANNOUNCED FOR BOUGAINVILLE
NEW DAWN FM NEWS

The Bougainville Public Health Committee would like to inform the public that there has been a second confirmed positive COVID-19 case in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

The case is that of a female, who displayed symptoms of the virus and went in for voluntary testing this week.

Her sample was tested at the Buka Triage Center using the Gene Xpert machine and brought back a positive result.

The ABG Health Clinical Team confirmed that her condition is stable and she is currently being treated and is in self-isolation at home.

Contact tracing and sample collection has already commenced for close contacts of the positive case, and those currently being tested.

These samples will be tested to determine the status of the contacts and inform intervention to prevent any further spread of the virus.

While the COVID-19 Response Team is engaged in its quick response efforts, the general public is urged to remain calm and to strictly adhere to Covid-19 protocols to prevent spread of the virus.

This includes the Niupela Pasin preventive measures which are:

Wear a facemask or face covering in public places to protect yourself and others

Keep at least 1.5 meters distance between yourself and others. Limited social gathering and times spent in crowded places.

Greet each other without touching. No handshake, no fist or elbow bumps. Greet with a smile, bow, nod or a simple hello.

Clean hands frequently, wash with soap and water or use alcohol-based sanitizer

Cough or sneeze into your bent elbow not your hands. Avoid touching your mouth eyes and nose

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

If you have Covid-19 symptoms such as fever, dry cough, sore throat or shortness of breath, call toll-free #: 74460830 or visit your nearest health facility.

The Triage Center located at the Buka General Hospital is operational and has the capacity to conduct assessment of clients and collection of samples for testing. The public is urged to visit the Center and get tested if you are not feeling well.

While Bougainville is no longer in an emergency period, the ABG through the Bougainville Public Health Committee, will take immediate action to implement necessary precautionary containment measures to prevent any further transmission.

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250221 ABG PARLIAMENT RISES AFTER SETTING COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUIONAL LAW

NEW DAWN FM NEWS

The Bougainville House of Representatives rose this afternoon after setting a Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional law that will report to Parliament in two months of their consultations with various interest groups in Bougainville.
The committee is chaired by the Parliament Speaker, SIMON PENTANU with committee members selected from members of Parliament from NORTH, CENTRAL and South Bougainville.
The details of their consultation will be announced by the Committee once they are ready to meet the people.
The sitting which began on Tuesday discussed many issues including the COVID 19 pandemic that is on the rise again in Papua New Guinea.
Ministerial presentations were also done by many Ministers including the ABG President ISHMAEL TOROAMA.

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250221 SOLOMON ISLANDS POLICE APPEAL TO BOUGAINVILLEANS NOT TO CROSS THE COMMON BORDER
NEW DAWN FM NEWS

The Solomon islands Police are appealing to the people of Bougainville not to cross the common border between Solomon Islands and Bougainville as the border is crossed at this time because of the Corona Virus pandemic.
The appeal was made by the Deputy Police Commissioner, IAN VAEVASO in a press conference with Journalists in Honiara yesterday.
This was after some Bougainvilleans ambushed a border patrol team from Kariki Police Post and their drone taken off them.
The Bougainvilleans said they were fishing on the PNG side of the border and refused to listen to the Police.
The Deputy Police Commissioner also denied Post Courier report that Solomon Police man handled some Bougainvilleans recently on the border.
Meanwhile, Bougainville Police Commander, Deputy Police Commissioner, FRANCIS TOKURA when contacted said that he will get reports from the Commanders in Central and South Bougainville before he can respond.

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240221 MINISTER SAYS PARENTS MUST BE RESPONSIBLE
NEW DAWN FM NEWS
The Minister for Education, THEONILA ROKA MATBOB says parents must be responsible for the education of their children.
The Minister made this comment when responding to the member for Motuna Huyono Tokunutui, ZACHARY NUNGNUNG who wanted to know why the ABG was not supporting parents with school fee assistance.
The Minister said that the Education officers in the districts are not providing the information required by the Department to be able to work out the kind of support that the ABG can give.

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