Dede Sophie

All Papua New Guinea Government Departments and Statutory bodies, who have been engaging advisors within their respective departments, must terminate all of them before 2023. PNG Public Service Minister Joe Sungi, said this when explaining the National Government’s decision to bring back the Chief Secretary’s Office and position. PNG Public Service Minister Joe Sungi [Parliament photo] Minister Sungi says his Ministry will ensure all Government Departments, statutory bodies as well as Provincial Administrators, stop recruiting advisors because it’s a duplication of their roles and responsibilities. The Minister for Public Service, says departments and agencies have been instructed to terminate the advisors before the new year. ”You are the head of the departments, you are the secretaries, the administrators that were appointed by the NEC,  we do not want to see you carrying around an advisor to do your job and provide you advice. ”You do not need an advisor...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has on Friday (09.12.22) launched his government’s policy on coffee which includes a target of 2,500 trees per family that aims to return interest to Papua New Guinea’s hallmark commodity that once was the highest agriculture revenue earner in the country.  He also announced that the Marape-Rosso Government would make sure that the price of coffee remains constant between K7 and K13 per kilogram for growers throughout the year beginning next year 2023.  PNG PM Marape launches Coffee Policy in Jiwaka  [Photo by PM’s Media Unit] The Prime Minister was speaking in Banz, Jiwaka Province on Friday where he travelled to officiate at the launch of the Coffee policy and opening of the coffee festival where thousands of people gathered to witness and participate in the event.  “Do not listen to critics on Facebook and in newspapers. There are political and corporate critics who are against what we are doing and saying because there is now a tect...

A Nissan Ariya crossover electric car will take on a 27,000 kilometres journey from the North Pole to the South Pole next month, in an attempt to show the capability of an EV in long journeys and extreme conditions, writes Brian Byrne. It will be driven by a husband and wife team, Chris and Julie Ramsey, and the expedition will take about 10 months. The pair previously completed the 17,000kms Mongol Rally in a Nissan Leaf. Modifications to the Ariya are mainly the addition of 39-inch BF Goodrich tyres, with associated changes to the wheel arches to accommodate them. The 389hp powertrain for the AWD version of the car remains as standard. The car will also have a built-in espresso coffee machine, a drone launchpad on the roof box, and it will tow a trailer with portable solar panels and and wind turbines to help recharge the car when it is stopped. 

A final edition of the Mini Clubman is being produced in a limited number to mark the end of a model that was first launched in 1969, writes Brian Byrne. Adding a wagon to the iconic Mini two-door saloon of the time, it had split rear doors, a feature which was retained when the ‘modern’ Mini version was introduced in 2007. At that point it also got a rear-hinged single extra door so passengers could more easily access the rear seats. In 2015 the car got a further stretched wheelbase, allowing for two rear passenger doors. The Final Edition will be limited to 1,969 units globally, reflecting the model’s year of introduction. Just 100 of those will be RHD for the UK, and presumably the Irish, market. Just one specification — a Cooper S engine, ‘Exclusive’ trim, and choice of Black, White or Silver exterior paint colours. If you’re in the UK, you can pre-order one for £37,000 OTR.