John Rosso

Lae MP and Deputy Prime Minister, John Rosso, launched the bicycle event on Saturday, July 8th, at the Lae Yacht Club. 

Popularly known as the ‘Rosso Cup’, this is the biggest family event in Lae since its inception in 2020.

Over 600 riders registered in the 2020 inaugural Rosso Cup while 800 participated in 2022.

The Lae City Authority anticipates a bigger turnout this year.

“Lae was known as the bicycle city before. It wasn’t ‘Rainy Lae’,” said Rosso.

On behalf of Lae residents and the Board of the Lae City Authority and the Office of Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Rosso paid tribute to the longtime Lae resident, saying she was an outstanding female officer in the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

“She was committed, disciplined and hardworking and has served our nation diligently for 39 years,” said the Lae MP and Deputy PM.

“She was serving in the Lae Metropolitan Command as the Superintendent Administration until her passing.

Rosso outlined that out of 426 high and secondary schools throughout PNG, Digicel Foundation chose Busu because of its discipline and high academic performance.

When officiating at the opening of the new 4-in-1 double classroom on Monday, March 13th, Rosso told the students: “It always blesses my heart when I come here and see all those beautiful smiles on your faces and the cleanliness of Busu and everything else. I should say, this reflects on your staff, your principal, your board of management, na yupla yet.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Lands, John Rosso, said they are working with the Morobe Governor, Luther Wenge, and his administration to establish the planning of Morobe’s new provincial headquarters at Nadzab.

“Eighty per cent of the work is already done and it’s just a matter of finalising the relocation of our provincial headquarters and building a brand new township at Nadzab,” said Rosso.

“This will also help alleviate housing issues for our people in Morobe Province.

“Lae has experienced some very fundamental changes that have impacted on our community, including administrative changes to fix the way Lae city is run,” he stated.

“It’s run by a proper board, something similar to NCDC."

“Now I sit as the chairman of the Lae City Authority board and we’re making certain the bureaucratic machinery is run a lot better.”

Alluding to the Lae Urban Local Level Government, Rosso said the manpower of 800 people who used to run the city has been reduced to less than 100, saving millions in Kina.

Minister for Lands & Physical Planning, and Deputy Prime Minister, John Rosso stated this during Parliament sitting on Tuesday 10 January 2023, when responding to questions posed by Member for Rai Coast, Kessy Sawang.

“We have a budget of K150 million for land expansion in our country. The government in its wisdom has decided that we should acquire more land to increase what we currently have as alienated land.  Alienated land in the country is around 3 percent-4 percent out of the total land banking in the country.”

Minister Rosso said, “Because a lot of investors coming into the country, what they are scared of is dealing directly with landowners, we have to give them that confidence, that security, and that’s by acquiring the land.”

Alienated land in the country is approximately 4 percent of the total land banking in Papua New Guinea.

“Some of the land, 50 percent will be acquired to put in areas where like police stations, government centers, which we will outright acquire.

Yesterday, he spent the whole day engaging with the community at Buimo, shared Christmas gifts with over 830 inmates, 130 CS officers and their families, and kicked off a soccer game between male prisoners.

DPM Rosso has been visiting Buimo every Christmas for over 20 years, saying it has always been a special experience for him.

“It’s a very special thing for me because planti blo yumi, yumi raun – me included – wanpla taim bai yumi end up lo haus sik o wanpla taim bai yumi end up lo haus karabus.

He made this statement during a briefing in Lae on Friday, the 19^th of August, at the Morobe provincial disaster centre.

Rosso was accompanied to Lae on Friday by Huon Gulf district’s new MP, Jason Peter.

The Lae MP and Huon Gulf MP were given a grand reception at Nadzab Airport before they convoyed to the Morobe provincial disaster centre in Lae.

“Ol pipol blo Lae ol no longlong mo. Yumi stap lo siti.” (The people of Lae know better now. We’re in the city.)

Rosso, who was declared with 26,864 primary votes, is returning to serve his second term in the 11^th House of Parliament.

Speaking at the Sir Ignatius Kilage indoor complex, he stressed that the people know which leader is performing, and they will vote accordingly.

“I want to say thank you,” he continued.