Prime Minister James Marape

The Prime Minister was responding to questions from Kairuku Hiri MP Peter Isoaimo.

"Kairuku Hiri is a huge electorate (with) a population of close to 200,000 people.

"Service delivery is lacking in my district because I cannot be doing everything given the huge land mass and population in my district.

"Now that the Boundaries Commission has completed their awareness, when will the Parliament deliberate on the report?

"Are we going to split the electorate in this term of Parliament?" Isoaimo asked.

According to the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, the Prime Minister’s address on the Conference theme, “Resource Industry – Making it Work for PNG”, comes at a challenging time following last year’s sharp K6 billion fall in export revenues from the sector, which has experienced solid growth since exports commenced in 2014 from the PNG LNG Project.

“My dream to fully connect PNG by roads is soon to be realized by 2040.

“I am very excited that my Government has made a historical and momentous decision and got the approval of 78 Members of Parliament to pass an important piece of legislation which is called Connect PNG (Implementation and Funding) Bill 2021. 

“I acknowledge the support of the Opposition in the passage of this Bill,” PM Marape added.

He said this yesterday, November 24 after receiving a call from Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, on protests and vandalism by protestors in Papua New Guinea’s closest Melanesian neighbour.

PM Marape in February 2020, signed bilateral agreements with PM Sogavare to strengthen relations between the two countries during an official visit to Honiara.

“The Solomon Islands has helped PNG during the Bougainville Crisis, something for which we are grateful to this day,” he said.

He assured landowners that they would be paid the K5 million they asked for, for use of their land and water.

Rehabilitation of the project was made possible through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of PNG co-funded Town Electrification Investment Programme. Project contractors are Dongfang Electric Corp and AG Investments JV.

He says the country’s partnership with Dr Andrew Forrest and his company FFI is bigger than just hydro in Purari River and will encompass a huge set of projects worth billions of kina that Papua New Guineans must appreciate.

Prime Minister Marape said the Fortescue Metals Group through its subsidiary FFI is seriously moving into futuristic clean energy and its scope is broader than just the Purari River systems but covering Kikori and Strickland systems, and the geothermal sites throughout PNG beginning in West New Britain Province.

The Prime Minister was responding to a recent article in the press that brought to light the costs involved in sending the officials to Glasgow. He said everyone who is at the summit, is attending to related meetings sanctioned by the National Executive Council, given that PNG’s climate change agenda is different than most nations. The Prime Minister said PNG is targeting an economic return for our forest and oceans in not just the main COP 26 meeting, but other high-level meetings which are running alongside the main summit.

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, is being held in Scotland between October 31 and November 12.

In a letter to the PM, the head bishop raised concerns pertaining to the Wafi-Golpu mine’s proposed deep-sea tailings placement (DSTP) method.

“It is indeed telling that less than 20 of the world’s 2,500 mines use the DSTP waste disposal method,” wrote Rev Dr Urame.

He said this after learning of the passing of Beni, 70, who passed away suddenly in Port Moresby on Wednesday night, October 27.

“I am saddened and pass my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and fans of the late great Martin Beni on his passing,” Prime Minister Marape said.

“He was one of those young Papua New Guineans who put PNG on the world map in the period leading up to Independence in 1975.

“Exactly 12 months before we gained Independence from Australia, Martin Beni put PNG on the world map by beating an Australian champion.

He made this call after Prime Minister Marape issued threats to PHA CEOs to perform or be sacked.

“I find the Prime Minister's threats to the Provincial Health Authorities to produce plans within a fortnight or get the sack to be without foundation and a reflection of poor management of the affairs of our nation.”

He said PHAs need policy direction, strategies and objectives.