NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

130524 Anaemia is caused by shortage of white blood cells
New Dawn FM News

Anaemia is the diagnosis of shortage for white blood cell or haemoglobin. It is the supply of oxygen and food around the body.
Chief Executive officer of Buka General Hospital Dr Tommy Wotsia says Anaemia is an end process of something that had occurred over a period of time.
According to Dr Wotsia there are numerous factors which could cause Anaemia.
“It could be nutritional cause which is not harmful and can be fixed by good nutrition,” he says.
In the case of Leukemia, Anaemia can still be experienced.
He says Anaemia can cause a person to experience dizziness, shortness of breath, weakness, slow thinking and vision impaired.
Meanwhile, in relation to stroke, there are multiple causes of stroke.
Infections can also cause one side of the brain to be affected signalling a brain tumours.
Dr Wotsia says stroke is commonly caused by our lifestyle.
“High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke,” he adds.
Stroke usually occurs where there is internal bleeding in the body or when the blood vessels burst that supplies blood to the brain.
He added that in other instances when there is no flow of blood due to a blockage.
ENDS///AK

Launching of the Bougainville Tuna Industry Development Project

100524 Wilful murder case adjourned
New Dawn FM News

The National Court today in Buka heard the adjournment of the wilful murder case against Paul Hengana, Gordon Paru, Hosea Banik Baneu, Bernard Sali Samuel, Edward Kaia Garea, Nathaniel Nelson Letenge, Steven Nabua Augustine, Mathias Hengana Tarea, Gerard Nippon Lup, Robert Bennet for a pre-trial hearing and to allow state to receive copies of file inorder to prosecute the case.
Presiding Judge, Justice Auka told the remandees that the pre-trial conference will be made on the Thursday 16th of May 2024 whereby both counsels will examine the evidence.
Also in court the case against Jonathan Manu charged with unlawful use of motor vehicle the court has granted an order to the Correctional Service to provide information on the suspects whereabouts.
A similar order was given to Chris Sabu Revin charged under the criminal code act having not appearing before the court.
Justice Auka added that the number of warrants of arrests had been increasing and court cannot continue to issue warrants.
“This is becoming a trend in the court,” he says.
Auka is adamant to get the Correctional Service and Police to notify the remandees and make proper arrests of offenders who escape from CS custody.
Meanwhile, lawyer assisting the Public Solicitor requested if toksave can be made on local radio station but Auka says if a remandee is on bail he or she has to comply with necessary orders.
Most criminal cases pertaining to sentencing by the National Court has been adjourned to 16th of May 2024. Civil cases however proceeds from 13th to 17th of May, next week. ENDS///ak

100524 Tuna considered high impact project
New Dawn FM News

Bougainville Tuna considered high impact project the latest in the ABG governments efforts in raising the par of internal revenue in the region. The launching of the Bougainville Tuna Industry Development Project Feasibility was witnessed at Bel Isi Park, today.
According to Minister for Commerce, Economic Development and Trade Relations Hon Patrick Nisira the ground work for the project began in 2018.
He says the project was made by late Hon Mr Joseph Watawi when he was Minister for Economic Services under President John Momis government in 2018.
“The ABG government was responding to wishes of the people of Teop Tinputs (Sibunata Coastal Fishing Association) to establish a fishing company in Tuna industry.
“The Bougainville Economic Council (BEC) decision no 33 was a stepping stone to allow the department to progress the concept,” he adds.
Nisira says the current Toroama/ Nisira Government is committed to the eight (8) point strategy of fulfilling the aspirations of all Bougainvilleans.
“This project is of high impact status destined to bring Fiscal Reliance to our Government and people of Bougainville,” he adds.
Nisira added that PNG will also benefit in our Tuna Operations if the cannery plant is established with processing facilities as a willing partner in our marketing strategies.
He further added that the participation of National Fisheries Authority (NFA) is highly commendable to point as the Authority who can provide technical support as a regulatory body in the fishing industry. MR Nisira's speech was delivered by the Minister for Community Development HON OPETI .ENDS////ak

100524 Bougainville Tuna Project launched
New Dawn FM News
The Bougainville Tuna Project was launched at the Bel Isi Park today.
The people of Bougainville witnessed an historical and the first ever Public Investment Program (PIP) project for the people of Tinputz and Bougainville as a whole.
This project will kick-start its feasibility studies and said to be the biggest internal revenue earner for the region.
According to National Fisheries Authority Provincial Manager Support Program Bolton Towok the feasibility studies will include three phases of the project.
He says the tuna project was mutually agreed upon and stipulated in the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) as key component to compliment the Peace process and aid Bougainvilles pursuit to independence.
He says phase one will include ABG government approach not limited to creation of BTIDP fact finding trips, staging of ABG Northern Bloc leaders forum, and consultation with North Bougainville District Development Authority.
Towok adds phase two will include local content which is consultation with Principal Land-owners for Land undertakings on propose impacted land areas, facilitate partnership arrangements with interested local association, and established MOU with principal land owners.
He further deliberated on phase three the PNG Governments component with ongoing consultations through NFA, Department of National Planning & Monitoring, Department of Rural Development & Implementation and the National Department of Trade & Industry and National Department of Finance & Treasury.

Witnessing the occasion leader of the Member for Selau Constituency and Chairman of Northern Block Hon Paul Cheung, Minister for Community Development Hon Morris Opeti, National Fisheries Authority (NFA) Manager, Provincial Support Programs and his team, Acting Chief Secretary and Health Secretary Clement Totavun on behalf of ABG administration and Chairman of Bougainville Council of Churches Ps Albert Magoi. ENDS/////ak

090524 Population increase affecting service delivery
New Dawn FM News
A former nursing officer is concerned over the growing population in the region.
She says the increase in number of people is affecting service delivery in sectors such as health, law and order and education.
‘Family planning is important to enable the government to plan and deliver service to centres in the region,” she says.
She is urging the maternal child health sector in health centres across the region to increase awareness and trainings to ensure people are made aware of how important is family planning.
“We are facing challenges across the health centres, schools and jail in the region due to the increase in population in these decade.
“Families can be well educated to be able to make best practices in order to assist the government to plan ahead for the best interest of our people,” she added.
The nursing officer is well aware of the current problems faced by the ailing health care in Bougainville.
She told New Dawn FM that it is high time the government must fund and support our local hospitals and health centres especially in terms of equipment to enable service.
New Dawn understands the Buka General Hospital has been made aware of the ABGs stance on funding the hospital to better serve the people.
The ABG Government has committed K20 million to assist the refurbishment of the Buka General Hospital.
The office of the North Bougainville MP Hon Francesca has shown commitment in assisting the hospital. ENDS////ak

090524 Overcrowding of patients
New Dawn FM News

Over crowding of patients is affecting the Buka General Hospital due to a number of factors as explained by Chief Executive officer of the hospital Dr Tommy Wotsia.
According to Dr Wotsia there are a number of factors that contribute to this increase and may include presence of a doctor, referrals from other health centres and availability of medication.
He says the holding capacity of the hospital is unable to cater for more than a hundred admitted patients at a time.
However, being bound by strict rules and regulations it is important to limit the number of admissions and make satisfactory discharges early.
He adds that for persons who need critical medical care cannot easily be discharged at the same time.
“We have high influx of life style diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and respiratory illness and communicable diseases like Tuberculosis.
“At the moment we have a high number of injuries sustained through accidents, violence, self inflicted wounds which poses a challenge,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Dr Wotsia also added personal development of staff and education is ongoing to add capacity to assist each staff to perform to the best of their ability to benefit our people.
“Five nurses are studying to the needs of the hospital in relation to management, clinical practices such as accidents and emergencies and mental health,” he says.
The current infrastructure and buildings of the Buka General Hospital is a level four district level. ENDS////ak

090524 Resolutions on JSB
New Dawn FM News

The Autonomous Bougainville Government and Government of PNG ended the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) on high note with agreed resolutions.
The discussions were held on the Sessional Order, Moderator, Joint Report on Post Referendum Consultation and Bi-Partisan Committee for Parliamentary Awareness consistent with dispute resolution procedures in S.333 & 334 of the National Constitution.
The JSB resolves to endorse the engagement of a moderator, Co-Chairs of the JSB to seek United Nations support for the moderator and functions of moderator to support both governments in;
1. Resolve outstanding issues relating to the Sessional Order and related matters to bring the results of the 2019 Referendum for Independence to the National Government
2. Facilitate and provide oversight in preparing the Joint Consultation Report and other matters, as legally required under S342 (1)
3. Assist the Bi-Partisan Committee in joint awareness messaging into Members of the 11th National Parliament.
The resolution also directs the Joint Technical Team to develop the Moderators mandate, terms of reference, timeline, joint consultation report and joint key messaging.
It also work in consultation with the Department of Prime Minister and NEC, NCOBA, Department of President and BEC, Department of Independence Mission Implementation, Minister for Bougainville Affairs and Minister for Independence Mission and deliver the Moderators Terms of Reference (TOR) within a week of the signing of this JSB resolutions. ENDS///

080524 Other agendas on JSB
New Dawn FM News

Bougainville’s President Hon Ishmael Toroama has also highlighted other important issues to the Government of PNG’s Prime Minister Hon James Marape.
He has firmly requested to discontinue PM Hon Marape’s commitment of K100 million per annum to the ABG post 2024 and convert the PM’s commitment in the 2024 national budget and 2024 annual RDG for 2024 and arrears.
Toroama also brought the attention on the cocoa levy which is currently collected by the PNG Government.
It is understood the ABG Department of Primary Industries has passed the Bougainville Agriculture Commodities Regulatory Authority (BACRA) bill mandated to regulate commodities in the region.
He says the advice provided by the State Solicitor stating BACRA had no legal authority to collect cocoa levy fees on cocoa transship out of Bougainville misleading.
Toroama added that section 296 of the National Constitution clearly states that national laws cease to apply in Bougainville once ABG enact its own laws. ENDS/////

050824 Majority of sentencing cases moved to Friday
New Dawn FM News

The majority of criminal cases currently before the Buka National Court registry for April circuit has been adjourned to Friday 10th of May.
Most outstanding cases from 2021, 2022 and 2023 requiring sentencing has found that offenders have either escaped from Correctional Service Rehabilitation facility in Bekut or simply vanished.
Lawyer Prosecuting the cases Linda Maru has filed several applications for the court to grant warrant of arrests to ensure these offenders are brought to attend their court cases.
Justice Ravunama Auka presiding over the national court cases expressed disappointment as he described it as a ‘trend’ occurring in the region.
He said the continued absence of offenders is a total disrespect to the justice system in the country.
Auka has also grant the order to move cases committed in Arawa to be heard in Arawa when the national court circuit moves to Central Bougainville on the 3rd of June 2024.
Meanwhile, the piracy case has been moved to Friday 10th of May, when submissions on verdict will be made. ENDS/////AK