Prime Minister James Marape

He said this in Parliament when responding to Regional Member for Bougainville, Peter Tsiamalili Jr, who inquired on the kind of help the National Government will give to those people on the Atolls affected by the recent King Tides.

Prime Minister informed Parliament that villagers on many of the Atolls on Bougainville have no land to go to as their islands have been damaged by King Tides and the rising sea level caused by global warming and climate change.

During that time, he reaffirmed the company’s deep commitment to Papua New Guinea through its operations.

“Newcrest is pleased that it has been able to continue to make a significant contribution to the PNG economy throughout the challenges of the global pandemic. To date, we have had no material disruptions to production, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the PNG Government for its support throughout a very challenging time,” said Biswas following his meeting with the Prime Minister.

The upgrade of the A&E department is part of the return investment into the province by Oil Search and continued by Santos after the recent companies’ merger, and is demonstrative of the value of great public-private partnership in service delivery to the local people.

Santos Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Gallagher revealed that they have invested K8 million into the upgrade of the facility.

Manning said, the Prime Minister was cleared after completing 14 days in isolation and seven days of being asymptomatic.

He highlighted that the National Control Centre medical team ensured that the PM’s situation was handled professionally and he was cleared to return to work in accordance with the set clinical and isolation guidelines.

Manning was responding to clarify medical reports concerning the situation with the PM since he went into isolation after returning from his trip to the People’s Republic of China.

The cost of the construction is K10 million.

At the official opening of the facility in Tari, PM Marape thanked partners who made this come to fruition. 

He said this is the kind of partnership the country needed. 

He also thanked the Australian Government, Santos and Oil Search for its kind donations in ensuring the construction of the emergency wing of the hospital. 

The opening was witnessed by people of Hela as well as Kevin Gallagher, CEO of Santos, Oil Search MD Leon Buskins, Australian High Commissioner Jon Philp and Minister for Health Jelta Wong.

Marape said Lt-Col Wii's achievement is an inspiration to all PNG women to aim for the skies.

“Lieutenant-Colonel Wii is the first female military officer to be promoted to Commanding Officer in the force’s rank-and-file,” he said.

“She has broken all barriers in the PNGDF - which has been male dominated all along - when she got promoted to Commanding Officer of the Air Transport Wing.

“Her promotion is a landmark and a call for young women and girls to aim for the skies.

The Prime Minister said today he is doing well and working in self-isolation from home. 

He gave credit to God’s continued care over his life and his double vaccination, while urging citizens to give their bodies a fighting chance against the virus by going in for vaccination themselves, like him.

He said: “There is nothing seriously wrong with me. I am physically up and about. I have asked Deputy Prime Minister, Sam Basil to continue to stand in for me to represent me as Prime Minister on occasions where I am needed.

"Prime Minister Marape will now abort the French leg of this trip due to COVID-19 restrictions, having returned a positive test result upon arrival in Beijing last Thursday evening," the prime minister's office said in statement on its Facebook page.

The office added Marape was due to return to PNG on Sunday but would not disclose any further details about his condition.

According to a statement posted on the website of the PNG's National Control Centre for COVID-19, Marape received his booster vaccination against the coronavirus on Jan. 24th.

The Prime Minister returned a positive test result for COVID-19 upon arrival in Beijing on Thursday 3^rd January, 2022.

Nonetheless, he has hailed the visit to the People’s Republic of China, a successful one.

The Prime Minister met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in an historic Saturday evening virtual meeting.

During this meeting the two leaders reaffirmed and announced a significant list of deliverables which included:

The Prime Minister will attend the One Ocean Summit in Brest, Western France, chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron where he will discuss conservation and sustainable management of Papua New Guinea’s vast oceans including the Pacific.

In addition, he will also meet President Macron for high-level bilateral discussions.