Prime Minister

Student loan misconception clarified

Prime Minister James Marape clarified this misconception in a public statement on Monday.

He said H-E-L-P is a facility made available by the government for students who need help to pay tuition fees this year and onwards.

The HECAS and AES students will continue to receive this government incentive, while HELP is intended for the many students who remain outside of this formal government assistance.

Also, there is no limit to the repayment time, nor interest for the HELP assistance.

Tertiary loan program to commence in second semester

This is to commence in the second semester of 2020.

The objective of the Higher Education Loan Program is to assist as many students as possible to gain entry to universities and colleges offering high quality education, and helping students to succeed.

This concept will provide support for multiple years of study as long as students continue to meet the required academic/non-academic criteria.

As of May 2020, the Tertiary Education Study Assistance Scheme or TESAS will be ceased and the HELP financing will commence.

NID to control urban drift: PM

The PM stated that to control the living environment in Port Moresby and to reduce lawlessness in the nation’s capital, the government will ensure everyone has NID to travel to main urban centres.

“Those who want to come into Port Moresby must have NID to travel into Port Moresby and those who live in Port Moresby must have NID to live in Port Moresby,” stressed Marape.

Prime Minister Marape said the urbanisation minister and lands minister will be working towards converting settlements into proper suburbs in Port Moresby.

Firms invited to apply for exploration licences

The Prime Minister announced that PNG’s economy in the next decade will triple, and invited companies to partake in that predicted growth.

Marape mentioned that the government was looking forward to creating a substantial reform for the sector to better the transparency between the government and the sector, and the reform will provide a fair and equal opportunity for the government and the investors to have a say.

“We are looking to restructure our own departments and hopefully, our Petroleum Minister and Mining Minister on the work that they are doing,” the PM said.

K2m tertiary loan scheme to be introduced

He said this when addressing attendees at the Pacific Adventist University’s 35th graduation at its Koiari Park Campus outside Port Moresby on Sunday (Dec 1).

“Next year onward, we will have the students’ loan program,” said the PM.

“No more will you pay (tertiary) school fees.

“As long as you have NID (national identification) and residency as a Papua New Guinean, you will go and get money for your school fees.”

PM vows to clean up electoral process

He made this comment while giving his keynote address at the first ever PNG Political Parties and Women in Political Leadership Forum in Port Moresby recently.

Marape said although there are no women in Parliament in this term, women’s participation in political leadership in the country is not bleak.

However, there is still room for improvement – without infringing on the rights of the citizens of Papua New Guinea – to choose the leaders they believe can serve the interest of the people and the country best.

Investors reassured following Ramu mine decision

The Prime Minister also gave his firm commitment that the government will not harm the country’s reputation as a safe investment destination.

The Prime Minister made this statement when responding to former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on the shutdown of Ramu Mine.

O’Neill had said the decision to close the mine was not economical.

PNG, SI look at increasing partnership

Prime Minister James Marape on October 14th met with his Solomon Islands counterpart, Manasseh Damukana Sogavare, in Port Moresby.

Economic trade and investment was among areas of mutual interest both leaders discussed during their meet in Port Moresby yesterday.

Border Security, the Bougainville Referendum, labour mobility and employment opportunities and issues surrounding the Melanesian Spearhead Group were among those high on the agenda.

Be part of PNG’s story, PM tells corporate bodies

He expressed this sentiment at the 44th Independence dinner on the evening of September 16th outside the House of Parliament.

The 44th Independence dinner, or the Prime Minister’s dinner, was a first of its kind that saw executives of corporate bodies, heads of missions and commissions as well as Members of Parliament in attendance.

Prime Minister James Marape said the main objective of the event was to acknowledge and commend the private sector, as well as establish a rapport.

PM concerned on climate change effects

Marape raised this at the recent Pacific Island Forum (PIF) in Tuvalu where he presented Papua New Guinea’s view of the PIF Leaders’ meeting to marshal up the entire Pacific Islanders to remain as one family and solid, instead of fragmenting.

Marape has raised concerns that climate change is a crisis in the Pacific region.

He said he would be vocal about the issue when he attends the United Nations General Assembly Meeting in September.

Marape urged the PIF leaders to unite as one bloc so their voices can be heard globally.