Air Niugini has proudly supported the attendance of the head of PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) Air Transport Wing Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col), Nancy Wii at a Women in Aviation rally in Hamilton, New Zealand as this prestigious events guest speaker.

The national airline has provided Port Moresby/Brisbane return tickets for Lt. Col Wii. 

Lt. Col Wii climbed the ranks of the PNGDF and was promoted to Commanding Officer in February 2022, and is the first female PNGDF commanding officer, heading the forces Air Transport Wing, as well as being a pilot. 

Air Niuginis Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gary Seddon in presenting the tickets said As the national airline, Air Niugini is pleased to support the Lt. Cols opportunity to represent Papua New Guinea, the PNGDF and PNG women pilots at this event. "

Lt. Col Wiis story is one that should be widely told, as a shining example of how PNG women can reach and break a glass ceiling in not only aviation, but also leadership in the defence force.  Mr Seddon said 

Lt. Col Wii also acknowledged Air Niugini for the support in ensuring she attended the women aviators event where she was invited to share her personal experience of becoming PNGs first female commercial pilot at 21 and to where she is now, first female PNG Defence Force Commanding Officer. 

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The post US Military Gets Unimpeded Access in Papua New Guinea Under New Deal appeared first on Global Research.

By Dave DeCamp The US military has gained unimpeded access to sites in Papua New Guinea under a new military pact Secretary of State Antony...

US Military Gets Unimpeded Access in Papua New Guinea Under New Deal

Press TV June 15, 2023

A recently inked defense agreement has granted the US military an unimpeded access to Papua New Guinea (PNG) military bases, as part of Washingtons push to increase its military footprints in the Pacific to counter the influence of China.

The full text of the 15-year agreement was tabled in Papua New Guineas parliament on Wednesday evening and obtained by AFP for the first time, elucidating the details that have been closely guarded since the pact was signed in May.

The defense cooperation was drafted by the United States and Papua New Guinea as equals and sovereign partners, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the signing ceremony last month.

With Papua New Guineas agreement, the United States will be able to station troops and vessels at six key ports and airports, including Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island and facilities in the capital Port Moresby, PNGs capital.

Access to Lombrum could be used to reinforce US facilities on Guam to the north, which could be a key base in the event of a conflict over Taiwan.

The agreement grants Washington unimpeded access to the sites to pre-position equipment, supplies and materiel, and have exclusive use of some base zones, where development and construction activities could be carried out.

Another contentious section of the agreement gives US authorities the exclusive right to exercise criminal jurisdiction over US personnel. however Papua New Guinea officials have denied this section in the contract.

Prime Minister James Marape has been forced to defend the deal against a wave of protests and criticism in the countrys universities, with some opponents questioning whether Papua New Guinea was signing away its sovereignty.

We have allowed our military to be eroded in the last 48 years, Marape said to the parliament on Wednesday evening. Sovereignty is defined by the robustness and strength of your military.

Former Prime Minister Peter ONeill slammed the deal with the Americans and warned that the United States is only considering their own interests, which do not align with PNGs security as it will become stuck in the middle of a war between two superpowers.

America is doing it for the protection of its own national interest, we all understand the geopolitics happening within our region, he said.

The Oceania country, which sits on an abundance of natural resources, is located in a key geopolitical zone near critical shipping routes and now is set at the center of a diplomatic tug-of-war between Washington and Beijing. PNG was the site of fierce battles during World War II.

China has repeatedly warned...

New York City is famous for its fashion runways. Amid the oohs and ahhs and camera flashes, men and women sashay past the clothing cognoscenti hoping for approving reviews. With a little help from Star Trek technology, the Big Apple was the site of a most extraordinary apparel show just last week. Several people from the past were teleported to a runway in Soho so they could strut their stuff: Cicero from ancient Rome was there. So was Joan of Arc from the 15th Century; medieval Russia's Ivan the Terrible; and Tastiguy, a cannibal from Papua New Guinea. Even Thag the Bohemian caveman showed up. Judges in the audience represented some of the world's most famous fashion houses: Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Prada, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, and Max Mara, among others. The show, unfortunately, was an unmitigated disaster from start to finish. The critics were merciless, their worst epithets so distasteful I cannot repeat them here. But here's a sample of the less offensive remarks:...

 Commissioner of Police Mr David Manning said the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary is currently investigating and prosecuting a number of transnational economic crimes allegations involving Papua New Guineans and foreigners.

Mr Manning said, Among the other on-going fraud cases, Police has formally commenced criminal investigation last month into the allegations of fraud and official corruption jointly reported on various local and international media platforms by ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.

Commissioner of Police Mr David Manning [Photo supplied]

ABC News and OCCRP allege that former Chief Executive Officers of PNG Ports Corporation, Late Fego Kiniafa and Stanley Alphonse, were bribed by International Container Terminal Services Inc through an Australian, Don Matheson, to win the contract to operate Lae and Motukea Wharfs.

PNG Ports Corporation awarded the contract to operate the two major wharfs for a term of 25 years to ICTSI at the conclusion of the tedious Public International Tendering Process.

Prime Minister Hon James Marape, MP, publicly distanced himself and his government from any involvement in the reported allegations and ordered an independent investigation to verify their truthfulness.

Among other objectives, Police is conducting the investigation to establish if Late Fego Kiniafa, Stanley Alphonse, Don Matheson, ICTSI and any other interested parties committed any offences contravening PNG criminal laws.

This is a complex transnational economic crime investigation. PNG Ports Corporation awarded the contract to operate the two major container wharfs after undergoing a lengthy public international procurement process to the operator which is alleged of official corruption including foreign bribery.

This circumstance requires Police to also independently review the entire public tendering process undertaken by PNG Ports Corporation to determine whether the contract awarded to ICTSI was done...