National Government

These issues were raised in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by tenement landholders, relocated family groups and surrounding communities in December 21, 2020.

The parties involved in this collaboration include the New Ireland Provincial Government, the Namatanai District Administration, Nimamar Local Level Government, as well as the United and Catholic Churches (who are also Tenement landholders).

Governor Ramsey Pariwa who was part of Minister Maru’s delegation to Thailand last week expressed concern at the lack of infrastructures such as road accessibility, electricity problem and lack of water supply in the country.

“Thai companies have expressed interest to invest in PNG, if we are able to provide land, electricity, bridges, roads wharfs and enabling infrastructures,” he said.  

The Governor expressed confidence at Thai Investors to help PNG in its endeavor to develop Special Economic Zones including the failed PMIZ project in Madang.

Prime Minister James Marape said PNG Defence Force and the National Volunteer Service are being engaged in this intervention programme.

They will be advertising this month for young unemployed people out of schools and colleges to link them back into continuing their education, and employment and/or self-employment in agriculture, livestock, forestry, fisheries, tourism and SMEs.

Along with strengthening production from the mine, the change will see a significant increase in annual tax credits, where the funds will be used to develop essential projects in Health, Education, Law & Justice and Transport Infrastructure & Utilities, in the Western and neighboring Sandaun Provinces.

Time is of the essence as the people of Bougainville have only six months left before they go to the polls on October 12^th.

Though the Government has pledged K30 million to BRC – which was to be paid in three tranches – the Commission has only received K8.7 million of the funding.

Chief Referendum Officer, Mauricio Claudio, said April 11^th was the deadline for the second tranche. The third K10 million is expected no later than May 11^th.

Tkatchenko made this statement today after it was reported in the media that Tonga is currently processing its withdrawal documents to be submitted to the 2019 Pacific Games Council.

 “Our commitment and assessment that we did for Tonga to host the Pacific Games has basically stalled and will not continue. We had not paid them any funding whatsoever.

“We had offered them assistance through our own personal staff to go to Tonga and train their staff in that regard.

That is the guarantee from Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Richard Maru.

Maru is the local Member for Yangoru-Saussia Electorate, the location of the SEZ Project in East Sepik Province.

He said the project will start at Kanuki, which is a State land.

“Government is not interested in buying your land; we want to empower you to engage in business opportunities,” Maru said.

He appealed to his people not to believe rumours on social media that the government will take all their land.  

The warning was delivered during the delivery of the petition to Chief Secretary Isacc Lupari yesterday by PNGCWU.

The PNGCWU have urged the Government to address pointers in its nine page petition or return with a response with a week or else a secret ballot will be carried out on whether strike action is taken.

The warning follows three day sit-in protest over several government announcements recently.

The National Government has intervened in setting up a national body known as the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) to create a sustainable future for our young people in the country.     

NYDA Director Norit Luio says schools on NCD will be visited to talk about the immediate effects of the use of illegal substances like drugs and alcohol, underage pregnancy, bullying as well as school fights.

“The program will commence by the end of October and a good number of high schools are expected to get a visit from is in NYDA,” he said.

Epo spokesperson Moiu Koaru told Loop PNG this following the celebration of the final sealing of the Malalaua-Epo road in Gulf Province on Thursday.

Dekenai Construction Ltd started work on the 57km road in 2014, under project manager Jim Taparu, who is also from Gulf. Koaru stressed that based on the successful implementation of the project, it can be concluded that local contractors have a sense of ownership.