Richard Maru

Planning Minister Richard Maru gave the task to Peter Numu after responding to his questions in Parliament yesterday.

Maru pointed out that the current concern of the government in regards to the issue with the Goroka water system is in light of APEC meets earmarked for the Eastern Highlands provincial town.

He said Goroka is the only town in the country that has its water supply controlled by the town council.

“I have written to the Governor to convince the town council and hand over the management of the water supply to Water PNG,” stated Maru.

National Planning Minister, Richard Maru, said the funding will be used to attract investors to partner the Government in key projects.

The initiative is to see more Public-Private Partnership (PPP) involvement in economic growth.

Minister Maru announced during the Inaugural National Agriculture Summit yesterday that the ‘State Equity Fund’ is one of the strategies undertaken by the Government to partner private investors.

Justice Collin Makail on Thursday granted the order, restraining second term MP, Richard Maru, and his supporters from interfering, intimidating, threatening and assaulting the witnesses Waranaka intends to use in the petition.

Richard Maru, Minister for National Planning & Monitoring, on behalf of the Government today gave the funds.

This effort by the Government complements the K45 million investment by the National Airports Corporation in upgrading Girua Airport in the Northern Province.

This support is to make Girua, which is the only airport in the country with no power connection to the PNG Power grid, to see the light of day.

The government is funding the 15 kilometre powerline from Popondetta to Girua Airport to the tune of K3.5 million.

To be led by Minister for Planning and Monitoring, Richard Maru, the delegation will explore cooperation in education, health, agriculture, the SME sector and the National Identity project.

The visit will also open dialogue for investments in business and trade, mobilisation of resources targeted at economic growth and harnessing positive pathways India has undertaken.

During the announcement, Minister Maru said it was important to engage with India, which was an emerging superpower in the world.

Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Richard Maru, says he has heard that citizens have been charged to be issued their NID cards; this practice has to stop.

Maru bluntly informed the acting registrar of the PNG Civil and Identity Registry, Tumbo Kumung, to weed out the practice of charging fees.

“At the moment I’m hearing that staff are charging people all kinds of fees. The ID cards are free.

“So Mr Kumung, one of the things you’ve got to make sure doesn’t happen anymore is people being charged for getting cards.

National Planning and Monitoring Minister, Richard Maru, revealed this when announcing the appointment of Tumbo Kumung as the acting registrar general of the Civil and Identity Registry.

Maru said a detailed report with findings and recommendations will be presented to Government to chart a way forward in progressing the NID project as well as ridding the registry of malpractice.