James Marape

Finance Minister James Marape revealed this today in Parliament in response to Deputy Opposition Leader and Wau-Bulolo MP Sam Basil claims.

Marape said the claims of Opposition MPs not getting their PSIP and DSIP are utterly lies and not true.

“This government has been fair to all district allocation and the indifferences raised by Opposition MPs claiming that they were not getting their funds were utterly nonsense and rubbish.”

The statistic was revealed by Marape on Tuesday at the launch of ‘Reach Inc’ which do charity work in Port Moresby, and now branching out to Lae and Madang.

The group is made up of former members of the UPNG Adventist Students Association, many below the age of 30 years.     

Marape, who was the key note speaker said, he had to attend the night launching and sacrificing his son’s birthday because what the young people are doing is a missionary work.

He challenged them to make a change because they are the privilege few in the country.  

He said the Government has also been looking into the use of illegal firearms in the country and increase the period of imprisonment of those convicted.

Marape made those comments after receiving a series of threats to his life and his family  from unknown people.

He said the Government will be looking into the reports by former Commander of Defence Jerry Singirok and Bire Kimisopa on the guns report in the next Parliament session early next month.

Marape in a press conference today said he had been receiving threats from unknown people threatening to assassinate him and destroy his family for the past two weeks.

He said he had received at least 13 life threatening messages to him and his family over on-going politics in Hela and the PNG LNG benefits funds.

“I cannot be intimidated by any threats to carry out my responsibilities as an elected parliamentary leader of Hela Province and the country as a whole.”

He said police have been notified about the threats and the perpetrators will be caught soon.

The discussion will be on how best the process of accessing their royalties and the 2 per cent free carry equity can be fast tracked.

This is after negotiations yesterday reached a dead end with landowners taking a concrete stand on their demands that their outstanding LBBSA and UBBSA commitments be paid as well.

After a whole day of discussions which turned rowdy at some stage, Minister for Petroleum and Energy Nixon Duban and Finance Minister James Marape put forward the option of meeting again with the landowners after parliament sitting next week.

Marape said his statement was one of the most reckless statements by a Member of Parliament in the history of the nation.

“He is telling investors to wait until next year to create new jobs.

“How could any Member of Parliament actively campaign against the creation of new jobs for our country?"

Marape said the investment climate in Papua New Guinea remains positive and the economic fundamentals of the economy are sound.

“We are facing global economic headwinds with depressed commodity prices, but the market is returning to better pricing levels.”

However, before the matter could go into whether the opposition had standing in the case, preliminary issues were brought before the court by lawyers representing Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Leader of Government Business James Marape and a member of the Parliamentary Committee on private business, William Powi.

The three leaders, through their lawyers, moved an application seeking to be added as additional parties in the case, saying they are directly affected in the motion filed by the opposition.

The body was handed over to the immediate families on Monday by the provincial government.

Enga governor Peter Ipatas while paying his last respect to the late governor was given the honor to hand over the body.

However, late Agiru’s media advisor Frank Kolma told Loop PNG from Tari that relatives from both parents of the late governor are still in discussion as to where the body should be buried.

Kolma said they will  most likely bury him at Tapanda (mother’s village) in Dauli sometimes this week.

When paying his tribute on Wednesday at the funeral service in Port Moresby, Marape said late Agiru was a champion in Hela and will be treasured in the hearts of the Hela people forever.

Marape said it was very hard to find the right words to describe a man who he thinks is the greatest contemporary orator and writer of his days.

"You were born a star, you lived a star and this star will shine in the archives of memory forever.

Finance Minister and Tari-Pori MP James Marape revealed this when conveying his condolences to the family of Hela Governor late Anderson Pawa Agiru.

Late Agiru passed away on Thursday morning after succumbing to a heart attack. 

In a statement Marape stated: “I have been with Late Agiru since 1991 when he first contested for the Southern Highlands by election and today to see his demise leaves me and his people profound sadness.

“Hela is in mourning and I request our people to be in peace, harmony and unity as we mourn the loss of the Leader of Hela people.