Prime Minister James Marape

PM Marape expressed his appreciation for Governor Sia's remarkable achievements at during the launch of the Lufa District Five-Year Development Plan 2023-2027 at rural Lufa Station, on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

Among his notable accomplishments is the successful consolidation of all Eastern Highlands MPs, which had never been accomplished before, in a collaborative effort for the betterment of the province.

Eastern Highlands MPs now convene regular meetings to address significant challenges facing the province, overcoming political differences that once hindered progress.

An expansion of 194% in scheme’s generation capacity.

However, at present, a state guarantee is yet to be signed. Member for Kainantu, William Hagahuno, brought up this matter.

In response, Prime Minister James Marape said, “It’s a no brainer we support this project, but the project economics and the numbers must take up. We don’t want to have a state guarantee, sovereign guarantee that is burdensome on PNG Power, burdensome on our national government…”

When posed questions regarding Japan’s dumping of nuclear waste water by Vanimo Green MP Belden Namah, the Prime Minister assured that the government of PNG does not want nuclear discharge in its waters.

“My statement was misplaced in a sense that there’s no unilateral clearance for them (Japan) to discharge any nuclear waste but it was stated that the test done, if it proved that it is compliant with the highest test ever and the discharge is clean and safe for discharge then they can discharge into the water.”

Since it opened for signature on 24th of September 1996, Papua New Guinea was amongst the first states to sign the comprehensive test ban treaty, but remains to date one of the only 10 states that have yet to ratify it.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a multilateral treaty opened for signature in 1996 by which states agree to ban all nuclear explosions in all environments, for military or civilian purposes.

“Within the region, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Island and Tonga are the only Pacific Island Forum nations yet to ratify the treaty,” said PM Marape.

In response to the widely circulated allegations made by self-proclaimed 'Think Tank', Samson Komati on social media, PM Marape stated, "I will be filing a complaint with the Police to initiate an inquiry into the serious allegations he has made against the Police and the Government."

Marape further questioned Komati's credentials as a 'Think Tank' by asking if he had reviewed the 15-volume Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) Commission of Inquiry (COI) report, which was presented to him by Chief Commissioner Sir Salamo Injia on April 5, 2022.

The invitation was extended during a meeting between PM Marape and Walid Fouque, Special Advisor for Asia and the Pacific to President Macron, held in Port Moresby on Monday.

Marape and President Macron previously met in Gabon, Central Africa, in March of this year on the sidelines of the One Forest Summit.

While discussing the potential visit, PM Marape stated: "There is a possibility that President Macron may visit PNG, however, this is subject to continued dialogue between France and PNG," expressing optimism about the potential visit.

PM Marape in a statement responded to the calls from certain organisations planning to gather outside Parliament today to prevent Moresby-South MP Tkatchenko from entering.

"The relevant authorities are currently investigating the Justin Tkatchenko issue, and it is important to note that he has already stepped aside as Foreign Affairs Minister. Therefore, there is no need to further burden the public with unnecessary stress," Marape emphasised.

“On behalf of the Government and People of Papua New Guinea, I would like to take this time to express our sincere condolences and sympathies to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and his people.”

Close to 300 people have lost their lives and over 1000 injured in the Indian state of Odisha in what is believed to be India’s worst rail crash in 20 years.

A passenger train hit a stationary freight train which then resulted in the pile-up of another passenger train travelling in the opposite direction of the first train.

The Prime Minister made the call as he opened the two-day Provincial Governors Conference in Port Moresby on Sunday afternoon.

The conference is themed ‘Continuing Dialogue to empower Provinces for Improved Service Delivery, Economic Growth and Self Reliance’.

Prime Minister James Marape told the Governors during the opening of the two-day Provincial Governors Conference in Port Moresby on Sunday afternoon.

“In the last four years, we have averaged about 30 percent of our total government expenditure to you at the provincial level. That is the indication that we are committed to assisting provincial governments.

“The conversation today is contemporary, it is relevant. What is decentralization in 2023?

“What are the functions of the National Government, the functions of provincial governments, and the districts?