Dede Sophie

Over five million people are expected to cast their votes throughout Papua New Guinea  this and next week in the 2022 polls. The PNG Electoral Commission has reported a generally good turnout on day one of polling day throughout the country. Ballot boxes prepared for polling in PNG Simon Sinai told the NBC Government Talkback Show, that all provinces with scheduled polling days today started, except for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. He said, “In general, at least there are one or two electorates that have started their polling in all the provinces which is a good sign.” Mr. Sinai said the other issues of the late start to polls, names missing on the rolls, among others, are common issues in every election. He was responding to questions about certain provinces whose polling didn’t commence as planned for today. Mr. Sinai said “Some issues if you like you know it’s on the roll and people waiting on the line and some they don’t find their names...

PANGU Pati leder and PNG Prime Minister James Marape has welcomed Kokopo MP Ereman ToBaining into the Government, saying the door is open to other MPs to join. “We will always welcome them. It is the MP’s individual choice and we welcome him,” he said. ToBaining said he made the decision on behalf of the people of Kokopo. “My electorate (has) one of the biggest cities in the country. I made the choice to join Government so that my people can be a part of the Government’s great plans. “I look forward to working with the Government in building my electorate, province and country,” Prime Minister said. “I also hope to work with the provincial government and be a part of the many programmes that the government is (carrying out).” ToBaining was first elected into Parliament in 2012 under the People’s National Congress banner. PM Marape said all MPs were free to choose whether they should join the Government or the Opposition. Prime Minister Marape currently has 17 political parties in the c...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Justin Tkatchenko has apologised to the people of Papua New Guinea for remarks he made on Australian Broadcasting Corporation. PM Marape said he was also offended by Tkatchenko’s remarks, labelling social media critics of his daughter as “primitive animals”, but had accepted the minister’s apology and asked all Papua New Guineans to do likewise and forgive him. PM Marape  “We should not be labelling our citizens as ‘primitive animals’ even if they have wronged us” he said. “Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso and I summoned Minister Tkatchenko today to explain the circumstances behind the public outburst, especially against his use of the words ‘primitive animals’ on ABC. “DPM Rosso and I expressed concern about the use of these words, to which he responded that it was not directed at all Papua New Guineans, but a spur-of-moment response to social media attacks on his daughter. “Minister Tkatchenko apolog...

Today I’m happy to welcome Benjamin Kane Ethridge , the Bram Stoker Award winning author of BLACK & ORANGE (Bad Moon Books, 2010), who’s guest blogging here today. {scroll down for the giveaway} In his latest book, BOTTLED ABYSS,   Herman and Janet Erikson are going through a crisis of grief and suffering after losing their daughter in a hit and run. They’ve given up on each other. One afternoon their dog goes missing in the coyote-infested badlands behind their property. Herman goes to find the dog, completely unaware he’s on a hike to the River Styx, the border between the Living world and the world of the dead. What Herman discovers about the dark power contained in those waters will change his and Janet’s lives forever… ———————————————————————————————————...