Dede Sophie

PNG Prime Minister and Pangu Pati Leader Hon. James Marape has congratulated Pangu’s  Graham Piniau Rumet on winning the Rabaul Open seat in East New Britain.  Mr Rumet’s win brings to six the number of Pangu MPs declared so far, others being PM Marape (Tari-Pori), Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso (Lae), Treasurer Hon. Ian Ling-Stuckey (Kavieng), Governor Hon. Phillip Undialu (Hela) and Minister Hon. Manasseh Makiba (Magarima).  In a media statement, PM Marape also commended long-serving Rabaul MP, Dr Allan Marat, for his services to Rabaul, East New Britain and Papua New Guinea since first being elected into Parliament in 2002. He said this after Mr Rumet was declared as new Rabaul MP this afternoon.  Mr Rumet polled 5192 votes to finish ahead of Dr Marat with 5189 votes.  “I congratulate Mr Rumet on his win,” PM Marape said.  “A few weeks ago, when campaigning for my East New Britain Pangu candidates at Kalabond Oval in Kokopo, there was a huge turnout of people – which shows th

 National Alliance Party Leader, Patrick Pruaitch, who has held Aitape-Lumi’s seat for the last twenty years has lost his seat to the new PNC Party Candidate Anderson Mise this afternoon. Mr Pruaitch who scored 9,924 votes lost his seat to Anderson Mise who scored 16,629 votes past the Absolute Majority of 13,277. Total exhausted votes: 10,610.  National Alliance Party Leader, Patrick Pruaitch lost his seat [Parliament photo] Despite Mr Pruaitch not being present during the declaration at 6.05pm this afternoon, Mise thanked Pruaitch for representing Aitape-Lumi in the Parliament over the last twenty years. Mr Pruaitch is known as one of National Alliance’s powerhouse leaders across the country. Mise thanked him for putting Aitape-Lumi on the World map and for being a leader that is well known throughout the country. He (Mise) said Pruaitch did not only represent Aitape-Lumi but Papua New Guinea as a whole and he has held great respect for him. Supporters of Mr Mise gathered around town

It was an important trading center for pepper, cassia and nutmeg between the 16th and the 19th century. It has stood the test of time in spite of countless battles. While there are many theories regarding its exact history, it is clear that it has seen the rule of Vijayanagara kings, Bijapur sultans, Keladi kings, the Marathas and the British. I am talking about the laterite rock structure called Mirjan Fort that is located by the banks of the Aghanashini river between Kumta and Gokarna in the Uttara Kannada region of Karnataka. While this 16th century monument enjoys a rich past, I like it for its vibrant green colour that it dons during the monsoon season. The high humidity, the bright sunshine and the consistent heavy showers ensures that moss takes over this reddish brown laterite rock structure and turns it into a green paradise that is surrounded by even more greenery. The swaying coconut palms, the tropical forests and the Western Ghats in the background complete this magical gr