James Marape

Their approach would include placing people in strategic places and amending and creating laws and policies to enable the public services mechanism to flow freely.

At the recent launch of the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index Report by Transparency International PNG, Prime Minister James Marape stressed on the importance of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Whistle Blowers Act.

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.

He recently announced this in front of thousands of Lutheran faithful at the 32nd Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG Synod at Boana in Nawaeb, Morobe.

He urged the synod to continue working on the concept of the Lutheran university and not to stop.

Marape said the Government will be working on the university this year and hopefully by 2025, when the nation celebrates 50 years of Independence, the Lutheran university will be established.

He also supported a call by Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu for the establishment of a Lutheran elementary teachers college.

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.

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.

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.

He said this when addressing attendees at the Pacific Adventist University’s 35^th 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.”

Prime Minister Marape and Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey agreed to the Landmark Funding Package with Australia.

The PM has conveyed his gratitude to the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Minister Alex Hawke and the people of Australia.

The funding assistance comes after PM Marape’s first state visit to Australia where he had discussions with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morison about the challenges facing the country.

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.

They include Charles Abel, Alfred Manase, Petrus Thomas and Elias Kapavore.

This was announced following the swearing in of National Alliance Party Leader, Patrick Pruaitch, and his Deputy, Timothy Masiu, as Ministers as well as United Resources Party Parliamentary Leader, William Duma, and his Deputy Jelta Wong.

Pruaitch now takes on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade portfolio, Masiu as Communication and Information Minister, while Duma has been allocated the Commerce and Industry Portfolio, and Wong as Health & HIV/AIDS Minister.