Minister for National Planning

Focus on people’s empowerment

Member for Namatanai, Walter Schnaubelt, handed over the plan that charts a new course of direction for all involved in the development of the district, including all government stakeholders, civil society, churches and private sector partners.

Strengthened PNG-World Bank engagement

The visit yesterday (Aug 5) was part of the Energy and Extractives sector high level mission led by Ranjit Lamech, World Bank Director for Infrastructure in the East Asia Region.

The aim of the visit was to discuss key priorities of the new government in the energy and extractives sector. This is ongoing support to GoPNG for these particular sectors and the expected outcome is strengthened World Bank-GoPNG engagement.

Criminal justice system needs radical overhaul

Minister for National Planning and Chairman of the Consultative Implementation & Monitoring Council (CIMC), Richard Maru, said this during the National Capital District Law & Order Summit recently in Port Moresby.

He urged all stakeholders and participants to come up with recommendations for radical overhaul to deal with what he calls a “very weak criminal justice system”.

Minister Maru said one of the factors is tolerance with people not reporting crime, even when committed in broad daylight and in front of people.

EU financing agreement countersigned

This is between the European Union and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

The signing concludes the higher level technical and financial commitment of the project, using his powers as the National Authorising Officer of PNG under Article 35 of Annex 4 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement. 

The NAO is the direct counterpart of the European Commission delegation and responsible within ACP governments for the cooperation with the European Commission.

PNG to source education materials from India

Minister for National Planning, Richard Maru, said this during a meeting with the Director of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Professor Hrushikesh Senpaty, and his administration in New Delhi on March 26th.

High hopes for Baiyer-Madang Road

Minister for National Planning, Richard Maru, said this during a recent visit to Madang to see the progress of the work being carried out on the Baiyer-Madang road link by the PNG Defence Force Engineering Battalion.

Also with him was the Minister for Defence, Solan Mirisim.

“The Baiyer to Madang National Highway Road Link is a critical missing link with huge economic potential,” stated Maru. “The Government is therefore focused on ensuring that this road project gets the funding support it needs to be completed before the end of this year.”

PNG needs world-class laboratory: Maru

He made the comments in Lae last week following the commissioning of the newly installed laboratory equipment for the National Analytical and Testing Service Laboratory (NATSL) at the PNG University of Technology (UNITECH).

“The current building is not suitable. This country needs a world-class laboratory. One that is purpose-built and well laid out. We need the system, we need the training and we need maintenance. We must always have cutting edge technology,” Minister Maru said.

Minister appalled at state of Aiome Station

Together with the Minister for Defence, Solan Mirisim, both leaders were at Aiome on March 14th to see the progress of the work being carried out on the Baiyer-Madang road link.

They saw first-hand the urgent need for change in the area, starting with the vital road link that will open up the area for vital services and economic activity.

Delegation prepares for Post-Cotonou Dialogue

The purpose of the meeting is to engage with the EU on further discussions and dialogue in the lead up to finalising a new Agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, or ACP Countries.

The Dialogue is convened as part of the process of political consultations between the different ACP regions and the EU on the negotiations for a Post-Cotonou Treaty in line with the processes endorsed to by ACP Group and EU at the launching of the negotiations in November 2018.

National Immunisation Plan urgently needed: Minister

Minister Maru has formally written to the Minister for Health & HIV/AIDS, Sir Puka Temu, requesting the National Department of Health to immediately complete a four-year plan for launching and implementing from 31st March 2019 in addition to the ongoing public immunisation work, which has progressed very well to date.

He said this was essential to meet the national target of achieving an 80 percent immunisation coverage by December 2022. Currently, the national coverage is at 40 percent from 2018 as the base-year.