The Post Courier newspaper reported the preamble to the Constitution said PNG was founded on two basic principles – of cultural heritage and Christianity. Prime Minister James Marape said PNG had more than 20 different Christian churches. “Many who claim to be Christian integrate their Christian faith with some indigenous beliefs and practices,” he said. Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Papua New Guinea’
Call for action over contentious new PNG emergency Act
Monday, June 22nd, 2020Paul Harricknen, from the Catholic Professionals’ Society, said the Public Health Emergency Act was rushed through parliament without proper consultation and debate. He said he wants the Ombudsman to either speak directly to the government or challenge the new law in the Supreme Court. “In many respects the act was unconstitutional,” Mr Harricknen said. Read Read more
PNG urged to discuss Manus Island refugees with NZ govt
Monday, February 24th, 2020
Papua New Guinea (PNG) should discuss resettling Manus Island refugees in New Zealand, says the Catholic Church in PNG. The general secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG, Giorgio Licini, wrote to PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape in January about this. In the letter Licini reminded Marape of New Zealand’s long standing offer to Read more
Six PNG men jailed for abusing women accused of sorcery
Monday, July 8th, 2019Six men in Papua New Guinea who tortured three women they claimed had practised sorcery have been sentenced to eight years each in jail. Justice David Susame told a National Court hearing in New Ireland, that it is becoming a practice in some parts of the country to round up people, accuse them of sorcery, Read more
Bishops attack government over corruption
Thursday, March 14th, 2019Catholic bishops of Papua New Guinea have attacked the government for failing to take action on corruption. They have also attacked it for what they call its general incompetence. Read more Related Posts:Archbishop Charles Balvo, condemns ‘scourge of corruption’Catholic bishops welcome ‘realistic’ new measures…China leaves Pope without power to choose bishopsDefrocked Greek priest charged over Read more
Bishops tell government to do more for refugees, asylum seekers
Monday, February 25th, 2019
Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) bishops are urging the government to do more to help resettle the country’s refugees and asylum seekers. Besides pushing for a definitive end to the detention of refugees on Manus Island, the bishops are also highlighting the plight of various groups in the country who have not gained refugee status. In Read more
Manus Island detainees – depression, self-harm, suicide attempts
Monday, February 11th, 2019
Manus Island detainees must be released. Mental illness among those incarcerated on the island are rife, says the bishops conference of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The general secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG, Giorgio Licini, has written to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill saying PNG leaders should negotiate a deadline with Australia to release Read more
Poor medical care kills thousands
Thursday, November 15th, 2018Poor medical care is causing thousands of Papuans to die needlessly. Many die in government-owned hospitals. Three months ago a document on patients who have passed away at Jayapura Public Hospital was circulated among journalists in Papua. It recorded 1,275 deaths from 2008 to 2012. Read more Related Posts:No room for COVID patients in India’s Read more
PNG Catholic Bishops concerned about APEC spending
Monday, November 12th, 2018The expenses involved in hosting this week’s APEC conference is of concern, says Papua New Guinea’s bishops’ conference. APEC discussions will include investment and trade opportunities. The bishops say they are concerned about the PNG government’s high spending and what they see as being an unequal distribution of wealth. Read more Related Posts:Virtual bishops’ meeting: Read more
New study reveals Papua New Guinea’s alarming HIV epidemic
Thursday, May 31st, 2018
Researchers from the Papua New Guinea Institute for Medical Research and the Kirby Institute at the University of NSW say expanded health services are needed to tackle high rates of HIV, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infection among key populations in Papua New Guinea. The study, Kauntim mi tu (“Count me too”) was released on 16 May in Read more