PNG NEWS BLOG

The people of Kumbuhun 1, 2 and 3 in the Yangoru-Saussia District of East Sepik Province celebrated the opening of a new road on Tuesday after 48 years of walking through the bushes to access basic services. PRESS STATEMENT Hon. Richard Maru, MP Kumbuhun Welcomes New Road The people of Kumbuhun 1, 2 and 3 in the Yangoru-Saussia District of East Sepik Province celebrated the opening of a new road on Tuesday after 48 years of walking through the bushes to access basic services. The local MP and Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru officially opened this new 35km road which cost the Yangoru-Saussia District Development Authority (DDA) almost K400, 000 to complete.  “The last time I came to Kumbuhun 2, I arrived in a helicopter because there was no road. I promised the people of Kumbun 2 and 3 that day that I would return in a vehicle. I kept that promise and came by vehicle to Kumbuhun on a brand-new road,” said Minister Maru while giving his speech. “We reco

DPM JOHN ROSSO: PNG GOVERNMENT IS IN NO WAY WILL SELL THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE COUNTRY  DPM John Rosso addressing PNG Unitech students last night regarding DCA signing.  Whilst commending students for exercising their democratic rights peacefully, he also urged them to collect enough facts to back their views as intellectuals.  DPM Rosso says government doesn’t sign any documents brought to their table without proper vetting by mandatory bodies.  These mandatory bodies make sure all documents are in compliance with our Constitution. There are due processes involved.  Doesn’t take a day or week. He further says Government is in no way will sell the sovereignty of this country. Video and post by: Charlie Clyde Tikaro

PRIME MINISTER OPENS 6 HIGH QUALITY BRIDGES ALONG RAMU MADANG HIGHWAY by  Hon. Kessy Sawang, MP I take this time to thank the Marape-Rosso Government for its flagship “Connect PNG 2022 - 2040 Program”.  “Connect PNG” is a priority development agenda embarking on the monumental task of reaching the unreached and connecting the unconnected in a geographically challenging country. Today, I was honoured to be invited by our hardworking Minister for Works & Highways, Hon. Solan Mirisim to witness the Prime Minister’s official opening of the Tapo Bridge in Ward 14, Astrolabe Bay LLG, Rai Coast District, along the Lae-Madang Highway. The opening of Tapo Bridge also signifies the opening of 5 other bridges along the Ramu-Madang section of the Lae-Madang Highway.  I am profoundly grateful that 4 of the 6 modern & fortified bridges are in the section of the highway that passes through my District. Tapo is the only wet crossing on the highway.  Many lives have been lost there.  I am profo

PNG-AUSSIE VISA ISSUE A BREAKTHROUGH NBC News 17 February 2023. There's been a breakthrough in discussions between Papua New Guinea and Australia in relation to ease of travel down south. A new Australian Visa Processing Facility will be set up in Port Moresby immediately, which will process visas within a 14-day period. That's captured in the 29th Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum Joint Communique, released after the forum in Canberra today- Friday 17th February 2023. Ministers agreed to establish a joint ministerial working group to oversee this work. The working group will include Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, as well as PNG's Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso and Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko. Photo: Supplied

"We have great potential for large scale Agriculture to create jobs for the future" Hon. Allen Bird, MP. Allan Bird Monday, 13 February 2023. Thank you Sepik people for the Prayers As many of you have heard, I had to have surgery which I had delayed for about 4 years due to COVID19, the recent elections and a fairly busy work schedule. I am back on deck as of Thursday last week. This week we will tidy up our provincial budget and pass it. Our provincial budget will focus on the following agenda:     1. Land Mobilization to create jobs     2. Mengar International Port     3. Building LLG capacity     4. Labor Mobility to Australia     5. Continue to restore core services We have great potential for large scale Agriculture to create jobs for the future. Minister Maru and I have had positive discussions with potential investors but we need to get our people and our land sorted out. Minister Maru will make the announcement when he is ready. On my side, I combined my work trip wit

LANDOWNER COMPANY  SETTLES K120 MILLION LEGACY TAX LIABILITY  Internal Revenue Commission PNG Wednesday, 08 February 2023. Petroleum Resource Kutubu (PRK) presented a mock cheque of K120 million today to mark the completion of its legacy taxes.  PRK’s had tax disputes since 2011, and in 2019, all of these issues were resolved, resulting in a total tax liability of K120,758,504. Given that this was a considerable amount to pay, the Commissioner General placed them on a structured payment plan based on their cash flow. The final monthly repayment was made in January 2023, marking the complete settlement of the debt.  PRK is a subsidiary of Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC). It was incorporated in 1989 under the Companies Act to hold the landowners and provincial government equity interest in the Kutubu Petroleum Project. PRK currently holds a 6.75% stake in Petroleum Development License 2 (PDL2) and 1% of PNG LNG.  At a small but significant press conference held today at the

PM MARAPE ANNOUNCES ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL MONITORING AUTHORITY Den Norman  - TAKE BACK PNG PMJM APPROVED FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 1, 2022 Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has announced to the people of Papua New Guinea that a National Monitoring Authority (NMA) will be set up next year to ensure that the National Budget is implemented and that the Government’s visions and aspirations are realised. He said today (December 1, 2022), fresh from delivery of the 2023 Budget on Tuesday (November 29, 2022), that the NMA would be comprised of bodies like National Research Institute, National Economic and Fiscal Commission, Transparency International, National Council of Churches and others. “We will also have representation of the Provincial Governors, Inter-Government Relations Department, and Central Agencies,” PM Marape said. “We will check and ensure that all intentions of the Budget are delivered to expectations. “We have just delivered the biggest-ever K24.5 billion Budget and we want