Prime Minister

Welcoming the Governor and the other two MPs, Maprik MP, John Simon and Usino-Bundi MP, Jimmy Uguro, Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, said their move to the government shows that the Government is intact and stable.

In a small ceremony this afternoon at the Sir Manasupe Haus in Port Moresby,  the Prime Ministersaid the MPs move shows that PNC led government is intact and confident to remain in power for the remaining parliament terms.

PM O’Neill made this statement after meeting with the President of New Caledonia, Phillipe Germain, on Tuesday.

President Germain and his delegation left the country this afternoon after his three-day official visit.

PM O’Neill, when welcoming President Germain and his delegation on Tuesday, said both countries must create new pathways for economic cooperation in trade and investment, business, economic co-operation, capacity building.

He said partnership in important social and cultural areas and people-to-people links are vital to enhance friendship.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill made this undertaking when responding to Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch and Shadow Minister for Attorney General, Kerenga Kua’s calls.

Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch released a statement recently calling on PM O’Neill to honour his commitment in Mendi to investigate concerns on the election for the Southern Highlands Regional seat.

In his capacity as a Sports Minister, O'Neill expressed interest in setting up more comprehensive tertiary education courses in areas such as sports medicine and physical training.

He said there is huge benefits, not only for high performance athletes, but also for school sports programs and sporting codes around the country in this regard.

He said it would be an avenue for our young and athletic Papua New Guineans to show case their enthusiasm in sports.

“This is exactly what our young sports men and women need in Papua New Guinea.

Kerenga Kua had claimed that Peter O’Neill had been frequently attending various overseas meetings without addressing issues affecting the country.

Kua said the Prime Minister should return home and take a hard look at the sufferings of our people and tighten the government belt on wanton spending.

However, Prime Minister O’Neill responded and told this newsroom that Kua’s statement is just cheap politics.

He said this during the handing over of the International Convention Centre and the launch of the China-Aid APEC Road Projects.

O’Neill said since the country’s birth, PNG has remained committed to the One China Policy.

It was a colourful event with song and dance as the Chinese Ambassador to PNG, Xue Bing, and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill arrived for the ceremony, accompanied by Ministers and senior Government officials.

According to statements circulating on social media, the plane was provided by HH Sheikh Mohammed, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.

It further stated that the plane left from Dubai’s International Humanitarian City, which is the UN World Food Programme’s largest humanitarian hub on Monday.

Among those supplies were the nutrient-dense disaster relief biscuits.

However, PM O’Neill told this newsroom that he have not been advised on this arrangement.

The Disaster Emergency Controller was also not aware of such arrangements.

Despite these challenges, he said the Government is making continuous headways in the relief effort to most affected areas.

When giving his speech in the special Parliament session today, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said the Government is committed in serving the people and will do everything to help bring back normalcy to the disaster stricken provinces.

Pruaitch in a statement called on O’Neill to go to Western Province and not only Hela and Southern Highlands Province.

However, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said these claims are all ‘rubbish’ and misleading.

He said the Disaster Committee have provided relief supplies and medicines to affected communities in Western Province, Gulf and parts of Telefomin district.

The PM said our country is resourceful rich but yet so poor.

He said most agreements that past leaders signed in resources are not favorable to our country.

“Parking all these revenues exports overseas and not bringing foreign exchange back into the country.”

He further added that most decisions allowed for more tax concessions that are favorable to resource companies where they are making billions of kina while we are getting very little from our very own resources.