Dede Sophie

 PNG Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says he told Puma Energy bluntly in Singapore on Sunday (January 8, 2023) that he does not “tolerate the country being held to ransom”. He said this in Parliament on Tuesday (January 10, 2023) when answering a series of questions from Southern Highlands Governor Hon. William Powi in relation to the standoff between Puma and Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) last Thursday (January 5, 2023) over foreign exchange (FX) issues that resulted in all Air Niugini flights being cancelled. The Prime Minister also informed Parliament that: • The country had K13 billion in foreign reserves at BPNG which was the highest ever since 1975, so lack of FX was not an issue; • Government had directed Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd and Mineral Resources Development Company to look at downstream processing of PNG oil and gas resources; and  • Puma had been directed to buy Kutubu crude oil from Southern Highlands from Santos in PNG Kina and be processed in-country at its Napa...

Even in the cold depths of winter January has forced us from our heated blankets to do some  time-sensitive work in the garden. However if we don’t do it now we risk damaging the emerging bulbs planted last year as well as lose an opportunity to move some ill-placed plants while they are still dormant. We also made an Avatar tree! The opportunities where soil conditions are reasonable and its not too cold to work in are rare, so it makes sense to create a hierarchy of jobs that can be actioned quickly when conditions allow. Dipsite still technically being winter, walking around the local area we can see daffodils, snowdrops and a few crocus coming into bloom so you have to be really careful about not damaging the emerging bulbs when you are walking on what looks to be baron plant borders. If you would like to see more content like this then check out our YouTube channel ‘Walking Talking Gardener’. It is free to subscribe and you can unsubscribe whenever you like instan...