James Marape

Prime Minister James Marape says this assurance has been made to stakeholders in the mining and petroleum sectors.

The Prime Ministers revealed this when announcing the non-renewal of the Porgera Gold Mine Special Mining Lease.

Marape said the announcement of the non-renewal of the SML should not scare investors and stakeholders in the mining and petroleum sectors.  

PLOA Negotiation Team Chairman, Maso Mangape, says the decision announced by the Prime Minister, James Marape, was made on ill advise.

Mangape, told this newsroom that the announcement came as a surprise to the landowners, claiming several letters to the Government to discuss the future of the mine were not acknowledged.

Mangape said the uncertainty clouding the future of the mine has heightened after Barricks announcement to temporarily suspend operations.

Prime Minister, James Marape, said this recently in response to the massive drop in oil prices.

The drop-in oil will affect revenue sales from oil and LNG, major export commodities for PNG.

Prime Minister James Marape said they will be in a better place in June to see by how much PNG’s revenue has gone off track.

In the meantime, the Government will implement its current budget plan.

The Prime Minister issued this challenge, urging citizens to stop expecting things to be given to them for free.

During the handover of food supplies from the Central Governor to the Prime Minister’s Sapotim Wantok Foundation to feed the less fortunate in the city, James Marape urged citizens to cultivate their land and to go into small business.

He gave an example of how someone can earn money and be able to survive through the sale of garden food.

Prime Minister James Marape made the announcement following a National Executive Council decision based on the recommendation of the Mining Advisory Council.

The Prime Minister said in light of long standing environmental and resettlement issues, the Special Mining Lease will not be renewed.

“The Mining Advisory Committee is an independent committee under the Mining Act and they have thoroughly and carefully gone through the application and came up with the recommendation to reject the application for extension,” said Marape.

Prime Minister James Marape says the government will be introducing a repatriation package to send home especially those who are squatting in settlements.

“Husat lain yu pilim laif i had lo siti, na yu nogat wok na stap lo hia, afta yumi kamaut lo COVID-19 taim ba mipla rejistarim neim blo yupla olgeta – right throughout our country.” (Those of you who are finding life difficult in the city and are jobless, after we come out from the COVID-19 situation, we will register all your names – right throughout our country.)

“The 125 samples collected included 1 sample from the Manus Province, 3 samples from Gulf and 121 samples from the National Capital District,” the Prime Minister said.

An additional 12 samples taken from East New Britain also returned negative.

“Samples from the NCD includes samples from myself, the Minister for Health & HIV/AIDS Hon. Jelta Wong, Minister for Police Hon. Bryan Kramer, the State of Emergency (SOE) Controller and Police Commissioner David Manning and the Deputy SOE Controller Acting Secretary for the National Department of Health Dr. Paison Dakulala.

Making the announcement on his Facebook page yesterday, Marape said: “For those of us employed, I am initiating a PM’s ‘Helpim Wantok’ charity for this effort so please join me if you can afford.

“I am directing half my salary and allowances into that account to help those who are in need in these trying times,” he stated.

“I will start by buying food from farmers and growers in Central Province and those in Morobe for Port Moresby and Lae cities as first urban areas to assist and help.

Take ownership of your own health, refrain from moving around unnecessarily.

When announcing the five new cases in the country, Prime Minister James Marape stressed on the need to follow instructions, especially when it comes to limiting movement as it is people who move the virus around.

Prime Minister James Marape revealed that his Government is working with the governors of Central and NCD, as well as their respective members of parliament, to ensure residents have access to fresh produce.

With COVID-19 restrictions being put in place, access to fresh garden food, especially for city residents, has proven to be quite a challenge.

Marape said as a response to this, they will buy food from Central Province and store them in a warehouse inside the city.