Peter O'Neill

"Defence Force personnel in Hela, Southern Highlands and Western Highlands provinces are preparing to deploy when the extent of the damage has been confirmed and targeted relief operations initiated,” stated the PM in a statement.

"There are communities that have suffered from this natural disaster, and we are sending our soldiers and other Government agencies to support our people in their time of need.

"We know that there have been houses lost, roads cut by land slips and a disruption to services.

The conference began on Thursday, Sept 1, with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill Chairing a Special Meeting Of The Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders Standing Committee where key issues on the agenda were finalised.

The number one issue on the minds of Pacific Leaders is climate change,” O’Neill said.

“People and communities in the Pacific are in grave danger and countless lives threatened by extreme weather brought about by climate change and our Leaders are demanding action,” O’Neill said, as the Chair of the Conference.

After a battle of words from both sides of the House the Speaker Theo Zurenuoc called for the vote to be taken.

The Opposition argued that the Speaker did not give them the chance to debate on the issues but moved quickly to vote for the motion.

O’Neill now remains the Prime minister until the 2017 National elections.

The Prime Minister said it is the decision of the UPNG Council, which the Government could not interfere with but it is doing all it can to ensure the academic year is saved so students can continue on with their studies.

“Government officials are now negotiating with the UPNG Council to find an amicable way to save the academic year and if it means schooling until December, we will do everything possible for the students to continue,” said O’Neill.

He said that education is the top priority of the government and it cannot see it being jeopardised.

ACP president and host Prime Minister Peter O’Neill revealed this in his closing remarks to the 8^th ACP heads of states and government meeting in Port Moresby.

 “This summit has been fruitful and insightful. The decision we have taken today are to take us forward in the repositioning the ACP group.

In thanking the government of PNG for the successful hosting of the Summit, Sierre Leonie Vice President Dr Victor Bockarie Foh said Papua New Guinea can be seen as very far on the map but it is so close to the ACP member countries.

 “I think the people of PNG are very friendly and their hospitality and behaviour for keeping the city clean and looking after us.

” He said it is not easy to host such summits but PNG have shown the true development in the country by hosting this successful gathering.

In 2014, the then opposition leader Belden Namah challenged the deal between Australia and PNG to open the Manus centre for offshore processing of asylum seekers who had tried to reach Australia.

PNG's Supreme Court last month ruled that the Manus arrangement was illegal.

Belden Namah said the ruling nearly three weeks ago showed that Mr O'Neill attempted to vandalise and compromise PNG's constitution to serve the policy interests of a foreign government.

This announcement was made today after a meeting with Prime Minister of Tonga Akilishi Pohiva.

O’Neill says PNG will help build the main stadium that will host track and field events and also help build the High Performance Centre.

He says PNG has experience in in hosting such events in difficult circumstances.

“Our experts will be available if they require assistance,” O’Neill says.

To emphasise PNG’s promise to assist the Sports and Tourism Minister Justin Tkatchenko will lead a delegation to Tonga to assess areas in which PNG can provide help.

Prime Minister of Tonga Akilishi Pohiva arrived today in Port Moresby to discuss the preparations of the games with the big brother, PNG.

 Pohiva admitted that the commitment was made  by the previous government and  it was not his dealings but he would honour it and make it happen.

In a brief media conference at the Jacksons International press room after his arrival, Pohiva said his delegation is here for bilateral talks with the PNG government on what will be the next step in terms of the games preparations.

The lawyers, Greg Egan and Terence Lambert, were preparing to represent PNG investigators in a major fraud case against the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill.

But they were blocked from entering the country, apparently on instruction from Chief Migration Officer Mataio Rabura.

An executive member for the Law Council of Australia, Morry Bailes, says he is disturbed by the reports.