Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill

He said this after receiving a courtesy call from New Zealand’s High Commissioner, Tony Fautuam, in Port Moresby yesterday.

They met to discuss ongoing cooperation with Papua New Guinea, and the visit by New Zealand’s outgoing Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, in February.

The PM and High Commissioner also discussed engagement in the areas of customs and quarantine procedures, advancing the air services agreement between the two countries and support for APEC Papua New Guinea 2018.

Following a meeting yesterday, Prime Minister O’Neill said he looked forward to Rielo advancing the Papua LNG project led by TOTAL.

“The Papua LNG project is the next major resources project for our nation and will deliver around 13,000 Papua New Guinean jobs in the construction phase alone,” the Prime Minister said.

“This will be around 10,000 working in production areas close to Port Moresby and 3,000 working in on-site areas.

“We thank TOTAL for its ongoing confidence through its investment in Papua New Guinea.

As part of this, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said one of the most pressing issues before the JSTF is to enhance border security and he expects a high-level workshop to be hosted in the coming weeks.

“The safety and security of leaders, ministers, delegates, staff and members of the public is of primary importance to ensuring the successful delivery of Papua New Guinea’s APEC year,” the Prime Minister said.

“NEC has approved the establishment of the APEC PNG Joint Security Task Force, under the Command of the Commissioner of the RPNGC.

This is to cover one of the important elements to APEC Security, says Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

"Under the Joint Security Task Force, a Border Security Workshop will convene that will bring together relevant Government agencies to assess concerns and gaps, and set the way forward, not only for APEC but the longer-term border security of the nation,” the Prime Minister said.

"We have ongoing border security concerns that are being addressed, and we must increase the pace of these activities.

“I am concerned about individuals blocking roads and demanding unnecessary compensation, and not allowing Government officials to attend to urgent work,” said the PM.

“This is causing serious public inconvenience, and we cannot afford to have individuals holding the public and the Government to ransom.

“The law clearly states that there is a 40-metre corridor for national highways, and this is public land that should not be obstructed.

“These corridors will now be strictly enforced through the introduction of laws with strong penalties.

O'Neill said he was delighted Papua New Guinea would have a "very good and genuine friend" in the Donald Trump administration in one of the most important offices in the US Government.

"Our nation is privileged to know Mr Tillerson as a person with a genuine interest in economic development in our nation,” PM O’Neill said.

“In my discussions with Mr Tillerson on ExxonMobil's substantial and long term investment in Papua New Guinea's energy sector, I have been impressed by his understanding of the potential our nation holds.

The tournament will take place over a period of three weeks at four venues in Moresby.

O'Neill joined NCD Governor Powes Parkop last night, during the host city's reception, in extending a very warm welcome to Oceania and PNG Football Association president David Chung and all the other FIFA officials who are in Moresby over the next few days.

"PNG is a very unique country and you will find that our people are very warm and they will continue to support each of the teams over the next few days."

He is accompanied by government ministers and other MPs.

Late Ganasi collapsed this morning and was pronounced dead at the hospital, at around 8.05am.

The hospital is yet to release the cause of his death.

After the viewing, late Ganasi’s body will be taken to his home at Waigani Heights before leaving for the funeral home.

In an email to Loop PNG, Juffa said those figures, K600m, was from APEC Minister Justin Tkatchenko, and not from the Opposition.

“The PM has accused the Opposition, or namely me, of plucking figures from thin air regarding hosting of APEC 2018.

“He has claimed that the Opposition has suddenly created a figure of K600m, which he says is not the true cost,” responds Juffa.

“However, these figures originate from the APEC Minister’s Office and was reported by media outlets.

“I do not deny we should host major events but at what cost and what benefit?

Prime Minister O’Neill made the comments after Opposition member, Northern Governor Gary Juffa, stated that the K600 million can be used to fund crucial government services.

“The budget for APEC in 2017 will be significantly less than the false K600 million that the Opposition has taken out of thin air,” PM O’Neill said in a statement.

“Figures are being worked through now by our budget teams and will be further revised for the 2018 budget.

“Half of the expenditure on APEC next year will be an investment in the military and security of our nation.