Prime Minister James Marape says law-and-order remains a challenge to Government.
He said this when addressing students, staff and the community at University of Technology in Lae last Thursday (Oct 3, 2019).
Prime Minister James Marape has announced a major loan scheme for tertiary students.
He made the announcement in front of hundreds of students, staff and the community of University of Technology in Lae on Thursday (Oct 3, 2019).
Prime Minister James Marape addressing students at University of Technology.
Prime Minister Marape meeting hundreds of students at University of Technology after an inspiring speech.
There is, however, one catch: Parents of students must be involved in agriculture.
Marape said the loan scheme was a “signature policy” of the 2020 Budget to be handed down next month.
“I know many of you, just like me, come from family backgrounds where parents are struggling to ensure you have school fees to support you through your tertiary education,” he said.
Marape said 99 per cent of parents in the country were struggling to pay tertiary school fees for their children.
“We want to embark on a loan scheme that is that is interest-free and will take your lifetime to be paid,” he said.
“You don’t need to burden your parents.
“From existing resource envelope, we will rearrange.
“Help me to lobby parents nationwide.
“The burden that is most felt is not really school fee of elementary school kids, it’s not really school fee of primary school, I’m sure parents can afford K100.
“When I was going through school, my parents put me through the Seventh Day Adventist system, they paid a lot to send me to school as simple villager, it came out of mother selling her buns and working her gardens.
“Mother selling in the market put me through grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12.
“Fortunately, at university, I received a K13 allowance from Government.
“It’s not so burdensome at elementary school, primary school and high school.”
Marape said the Government would shift some of the resources allocated to free education to tertiary level.
“Those of you formally engaged in universities and colleges, those who are doing external programmes to earn meaningful engagement in life, those who want to go for further education overseas, will have a loan programme to ensure that students can come to Government, go to school,” he said.
“In the course of your life, if you are living for 100 years you pay off over 100 years, if you live for 20 years you pay off over 20 years, if you live for 30-40 years you can repay the money the Government lent you through the endowment fund programme we will set up to assist Papua New Guinea kids carry on in education.”
There is, however, an agriculture catch.
“The catch is this: In the context of growing the economy, Government will work with the commodity boards and the districts and provinces, to ensure seedlings are accessible to parents right across our country,” Marape said.
“Last time I went to the Sogeri mountains, they grow a lot of good produce, and I’m telling all Koiaris up there in the Sogeri mountains: For goodness’ sake, don’t only sell buai to Port Moresby City.
“Port Moresby City is a city of a million people, a million people eat every day, grow the cabbages and everything else and supply to Port Moresby City.
“Next year, we will engage in a partnership: You want to come to the loan centre and pick up a loan for your school fee, your parents or guardians must go to a district somewhere and pick up seedlings of coffee, cocoa, copra and go and work their land in the agriculture space.
“That is the partnership we want: Everyone must contribute to the economy.
“That parent who is picking up a coffee seedling somewhere is not to repay the money you’re getting for your school fee: It’s their money, we’re just telling them to contribute to the economy.”
Marape said as the policy unfolded leading up to the 2020 Budget, students would know more about it, “and I look forward to a better 2020 that will start or cement the direction in which our country will travel in the 2020s”.
He urged students to register themselves with the National Identification programme to benefit from the loan scheme.
ZURICH — FIFA banned an ally of disgraced former vice president David Chung for financial wrongdoing linked to Papua New Guinea hosting the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in 2016.
John Wesley Gonjuan was banned for two years, eight months on Friday and fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($50,250).
John Wesley Gonjuan
Gonjuan was investigated after an audit “revealed a conflict of interest with a company owned by Mr. Gonjuan and the receipt of an unjustified amount” linked to the 2016 FIFA tournament. The amount of money was not specified.
The FIFA executive committee, including Chung and chaired by Sepp Blatter, awarded the women’s tournament to Papua New Guinea in March 2015.
FIFA said Gonjuan was charged with conflict of interest and accepting gifts _ the same charges which last year removed Chung from his FIFA role and as Oceania Football Confederation president.
Chung, who lead Oceania from 2010-18, was banned by FIFA for 6½ years for financial wrongdoing linked to a $20 million project to build its new headquarters in New Zealand.
After Chung left his soccer positions in 2018, Gonjuan stepped up as interim president of Papua New Guinea’s soccer federation.
Prime Minister James Marape lays out his roadmap for agriculture at the South Pacific Institute of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SPISARD) seminar at the University of Technology in Lae on Thursday, Oct 3, 2019
The Marape-Steven Government is repositioning all Government policies and laws towards ensuring Papua New Guinea becomes economically independent.
University of Technology students welcoming Prime Minister James Marape to the Lae campus on Thursday morning.
PMJM receiving a gift from University of Technology Chancellor Jean Kekedo after addressing the SPISARD seminar on Thursday morning.
For what good is political independence if we aren’t economically strong?
Our citizens must have money and be self-sufficient and self-sustaining , our provinces and Bougainville must be financially strong, our National Government must have the resource envelope to ensure we not borrowers or beggars.
This is what I mean by economically independent.
In a country that is so richly endowed with natural resources, how come poverty is prevalent, how come borrowing from loans and financial plus technical grants continues to be the modus operandi to fill in the revenue gaps to support our country’s development needs?
As I look at the rich endowments of our Papua New Guinea, I see our minerals and hydro carbon industries must be harvested and processed in an optimum manner;
I see our forestry and fisheries sectors must be harvested sustainably and downstream processing must start in these sectors;
I see our tourism sector must grow to ensure our diverse culture and ecology yields dividend to our economy.
I also see agriculture as "mother of all industries" that our country has the greatest strength, and in agriculture lays the safety and security of our nation.
Agriculture will feed a family and the nation and agriculture will generate income for the family and the nation.
The greatest individual , country and global need is not oil, gas, gold, iron, timber, etc but food and oxygen.
We have both here in abundance PNG.
Oxygen aside and just on food, if eighr million citizens of our country are burning their kinetic energy for sustainable agriculture or spending money equivalent to K1 on food a day, it will add up to about K2.92 billion business and industry opportunity in our country alone.
That’s the most conservative estimate.
Food is a big industry and business both globally and locally.
For instance, our Government’s policy to be rice and beef sufficient by 2025 will mean that we are retaining almost $1 billion of capital flight every year offshore.
When I look at our trading partners in our APEC and ASEAN neighborhood, I see a mighty big population of 110 million Filipinos, 260 million Indonesians, 1.4 billion Chinese , and a balance of around a billion people in the Asia-Pacific region who all need to eat food every day.
Whether it’s organic food for the health conscious affluent or just food for the masses, in a world of unpredictable wether patterns, climate change and declining arable land, Papua New Guinea will be the food basket of Asia Pacific in the first instance.
Agriculture can be an economic powerhouse for PNG.
We have good quality arable land, we have water available all year round, we have sunshine all year round, and best of all our citizens own 95 percent of all our nation’s 462,840 square kilometres of land.
Our Government will endeavor to unlock our potentials in agriculture business by doing the following:
*Do an agriculture map to know which part of our country has what potentials;
*Build enabling infrastructures systematically so we not only develop agriculture but enable efficient delivery of produces to the markets;
*Structure our families into SMEs and corporatives that can be linked to SME and business support facilities Government will establish with financial institutions;
*Linking Government tertiary student loan schemes to parents and guidance who must be involved in agriculture;
*Put price stabilisation facility to ensure our people earn respectable income for their investments in agriculture;
*Migrate family agribusiness into SMEs, migrate SMEs into bigger business and ensure that agriculture has finished products (secondary industry) of world standard that is exported;
*Link agriculture businesses to special economic zones we designating nationwide to ensure agriculture industries grows; and
*Lastly but not the least amongst other things we will do, increase our support to research and science and study facilities to provide data, statistics and studies for further improvement in Agriculture and economy or our country in general.
Challenges before us as a nation remains so big and against a backdrop of growing population above 3% every year, with dilapidated infrastructure and non-expanded economic base, where revenue remains small against growing expenditure demands;
I am here to lobby for imagination, innovation and invigoration of talents that are found in the pool intellects in our country.
I visited University of Goroka on 17th of September after the 44th flagraising to ring home a point that country is not grown only from Waigani and Port Moresby and politicians.
Work for us must go on all time.
I commended UOG for their dedication to the course of training teachers and I lobbied for them to train quality teachers and offer better recommendations as to how we improve least-costly but top-quality education to our country.
I am again here at Unitech not by coincidence but by choice.
Unitech is an institution that has contributed immensely to our country.
Borrowing from Chancellor Dame Kekedo’s words, you train mostly "blue collar" workforce that contributes directly to the economy, as employees or a growing number of employers gained their education, training or experiences here.
I thank Chancellor, Pro VCs, Vice Chancellor, council members, faculty members past and present , auxiliary staff past and present, and all friends of Unitech.
I also thank institutions like SPISARD and others who continue to collaborate with Unitech to offer program and solutions to many inherent needs we have in PNG.
I thank SPISARD and Unitech for this partnership, especially when iam an advocate on the propensity of our country in agriculture.
In world of eight billion people growing into 10 billion into the future, in a country of eight million people growing into 10 million soon, agriculture means food security and food security is economic security.
Just like the then known world running to Egypt 4000 years ago due to famine, just like agriculture revolution nations transformed into industrialisation in the 1900s.
Contemporary global issues like population increase, climate change and unpredictable catastrophic weather in our Asia-Pacific region will mean we are not short of markets for agriculture produces both locally and offshore.
This university is one of the foundational cornerstones of our country.
As Government, we are here to give you our best endeavors in the context of equitable budget support to all our key economic enabling sectors that we will support 2020 and beyond.
But I lobby your support, you have the intelligence and talent to be innovative.
Look for ways to use resources you have in your schools and the university to be self-sustaining and what Government gives you can be complementary.
We can be the richest black Christian nation on earth where no child is left behind.
I believe agriculture holds the key to the economic and social formula we searching for.
It’s time we take back our country by all of us working together from where ever God has placed us, deploying our time and talent to the best of our abilities and ceasing from corruption and complacency.
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, MP, will support his Treasurer Ian Ling Stuckey, MP, in the delivery of correct economic numbers that has been debated as of lately in preparation for 2019 supplementary budget and 2020 budget.
The Prime Minister made this statement in response to former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s criticism lately of the numbers that Treasurer is now putting out.
Prime Minister Marape said the numbers are based on works that the Government's due diligence team has been working on openly, in collaboration with IMF and whole of treasury, including the World Bank and others.
“The former Prime Minister cannot deny that many of us including me as the then Finance Minister, protested not only on the budget policies but on expenditure priorities of budgets under his Prime Ministership starting 2015, when his priorities shifted away from greater coalition interest," the Prime Minister said.
"The latest was my protest last November when I had no knowledge of budget frameworks, yet I was forced to support that budget," he said.
The Prime Minister said these were some of the issues that contributed to his resignation as the Finance Minister.
"What the present Treasurer is currently doing is to fully ascertain our present economic conditions for us to offer solutions to take our country out of the present conditions," Prime Minister Marape said.
"When I was Finance Minister previously, I was part of the government that deliberately entered into debt financing so we could do economic projects, but along the way, the areas of investments influenced by the then Prime Minister differed against some of our opinions, and these investments now add up to our present debts.
"Whether it is at K27 billion or above K30 billion the fact is that it is still very high and possibly trends above requirements of Fiscal Responsibility Act.
"Government under my leadership want to establish where the true economic position of our country is and then put forward policies and programs in both 2019 and 2020 that should take us out of this mess.” Prime Minister Marape said.
He said today is not the time to continue the blame game but to accept the status quo the country is faced with and to mitigate to rescue the country.
“Our Government will initiate immediate cost cutting on projects and expenditures of no significance to the economy, invest in economic stimulant projects, and source lower cost loans in the immediate to refinance our debts as well as provide budget support," Prime Minister Marape revealed of the Government's plan of action.
“In the medium term, we will look to gain better from our resources by unbundling resources through resource law changes and policy and regime shifts, including policing better our tax collection systems."
In the meantime, Prime Minister encourages the country to have positive view on our future, and look into how every citizens and every national businesses can venture into businesses to help contribute to the country’s future.
The Prime Minister said the Government will endeavour to make public sector and its state businesses effective and productive, and encourage the private sector to grow in business to support our economy.
His Excellency Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae, Governor-General of Papua New Guinea,
Speaker of Parliament, Hon Job Pomat and all National Parliament staff,
Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea Sir Gibs Salika and all our Judges, Chief Magistrate, Magistrates and staff of the third and important arm of Government, our Judiciary.
Hon Dr John Momis, President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and our people of Bougainville,
Hon Powes Parkop, Governor of NCD and all Governors of the other 20 provinces and our people honouring our country in provinces and districts,
Ministers of State and Members of Parliament,
High Commissioners and Ambassadors of countries who have been friends of PNG since 1975,
Important dignitaries and invited guests to our 44 years of Independence Flag Raising Ceremony,
Our Chief Secretary and all our public servants,
Commander and Commissioners of our three discipline forces,
Leaders of different faiths including our Christian Church leaders and your church members, People of my country, Ladies and Gentlemen
Today, 16th of September 2019, marks 44 years since our Sovereign Flag was hoisted for the first time in 1975.
Since then, seven Prime Ministers stood before me, all of them and leaders who served with them that I remember today.
I now stand here before you all people and friends of Papua New Guinea as your chief servant to rally the country under the rise of our unifying flag once again.
One hundred and ten days ago, my group leaders were conferred high privilege to serve all parts of our country and not for a selected few.
For we are nation of over a thousand tribes, who speak over 830 different languages, from highlands to lowlands, from mountains to seas, from square kilometres of land blends unity in diversity, we are the most diversed nation on the face of earth.
Despite being so diverse yet, we continue to survive the test of time as a nation thus far.
Yes, I am the first to admit that we still have our short comings as a young nation and to name a few.
Uneven distribution of resources, lack of quality development, under performance of resource harvest, squandering of resources through corruption and complacency, non functional systems of government, etc , etc.
But Iam not here to dwell on the past but to learn from past mistakes and improve for a better future.
Hindsight sets the foresight as they say and my Government’s foresight is set and fixed.
In my mind, the first and foremost is to ensure that we not only celebrate political independence during September 16s but full economic independence as well.
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Our nation is endowed with all forms of tropical fisheries and marine resources, all forms of tropical agricultural resources, abundance sunshine and water, mineral and petroleum resources.
We also have talented Human Resources.
We are closer to the Asia Pacific market then most and with our membership to APEC, our association with ASEAN.
Our healthy bilateral relationship with nations like Australia, China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Great Britain, USA and EU nations.
All of the above gives us good opportunities to do well.
Proper harvest of our natural resources and equitable sharing with our investors plus better redistribution to our land owners and provincial governments will ensure we move towards economic independence.
Economic independence is my government’s first and foremost priority born of Pangu Party’s dogma of complimenting the political independence Pangu Party led PNG into in 1975.
By 2025, when our nation celebrates 50 years of independence, I want to look back to today in 2019 as the year in which my generation of reformist leaders changed legislative gears for truly better harvest of our God given natural resources.
In this, I envisage economic independence to liberate our citizens off poor health services, low quality of education, poverty lifestyle, dilapidated infrastructures and unsafe lawless society to one of;
Top quality education and health services accessible to all citizens and residents, peace and harmonious society, connectivity of all hamlets villages, towns, cities and provinces through roads, bridges, ports, airports, electricity and digital communications.
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In a nutshell, our people must benefit from resources in their own land, ocean and airspace.
Working to give full economic independence is the reason why I am sure within 10 years, this country of a thousand tribes can become the richest black Christian nation where no child is left behind.
To make this happen we must all pledge in unison that where ever we are placed in PNG, we will rise and shine to do our outmost best for our country.
Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, USA and all nations that have progressed were not built by machines and robots but by human beings like us.
Today on the anniversary of 44 years of independence, I as your eighth Prime Minister pledge to you my firm commitment that I will not be bought or sold to corporate and individual greed but stand resolved for the greater good of my PNG.
I ask you all, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, every public servants and all citizens of this country, no magic or dreams with no efforts will get us out of present poverty into rich and fullness of life.
It starts with each and every citizens living as Christians must live, in harmony with one another, do unto others what you want others to do to you and working productively with your brains and hands.
First thing first, my government will amend laws to give back to you resource owners and provinces including our Bougainville regional government your fair share of resources revenue but I call on you all to give back to PNG a good law and order environment.
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Let us work together to secure our country’s future by joining hands irrespective of our colors of our provincial flags but under our national flag, let us blend our diversified tribal songs into a united nation anthem,
For our strength and security is in a united future where we are not only politically independent but truly independent economically.
In next year’s budget and onwards we will have some innovative avenues to help tertiary students and PNG business women and men so keep your heads high and assist your nation by being law abiding.
Together we can, divide we fall, united we stand, as united tribes of PNG.
As John Kennedy asked of America to not ask what the country can do for them but them doing for their United States of America, JF Kennedy also uttered an impossible dream in 1961 he said in 10 years USA will put men on moon and they did it in 8 years.
We can do it too, whilst we may not put men to moon in years, we can make PNG better in 10 years if we all start now.
May the God of our Ancestors, the same God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel bless you all citizens and friends of PNG now and forever.
Happy 44 years of my Papua New Guinea, looking forward for the next 44 years in which you will truly be the richest black Christian nation on earth.
Let us start this by taking back PNG in our mind and actions.
St John’s Lutheran Church in West Goroka, one of the pioneer urban churches in Papua New Guinea, celebrated its 50th anniversary in style on Sunday.
The church had three days of celebrations starting from Friday until Sunday, when it had its 50th anniversary service, which was attended by pioneer pastor Rev Brian Schwarz of Australia and his two sons Nick and Ben, as well as another former Australian pastor Murray Thomas and wife Edith.
Pioneer Pastor Brian Schwarz (centre) with sons Nick and Ben.
Former Pastor Murray Thomas and wife Edith catching up with old friends.
The celebrations included a one-day seminar on Friday, cultural show on Saturday and 50th anniversary service on Sunday.
Dancers from the Siassi Islands of Morobe performing on Sunday.
Goroka MP Henry Ame unveiled the 50th anniversary plaque on Sunday in front of a fullhouse crowd including former congregation members from around the country.
Goroka MP Henry Ame unveils the 50th anniversary plaque at St John’s on Sunday.
A fullhouse crowd at St John’s on Sunday.
“It really was a joyful occasion,” said Schwarz, who came to Goroka in 1969 as a 23-year-old fresh out of seminary and left the country in 1985.
“Today was a wonderful service.
“It was the best service I’ve ever been to at St John’s, better than any of the ones I’ve conducted.
“It was a lovely time, everyone welcomed me and I was very honoured, I’m very thankful to God.”
Schwartz said under the leadership of current pastor, Grahamme Baital of Siassi in Morobe, “St John’s might be able to play and important role in furthering ministry in urban centres, take a leading role to help train pastors, and other leaders in working more effectively in urban centres”.
Murray, who was at St John’s from 1993-2003, said it was heartening to see the church still continuing its work in Goroka.
“It was great to come back and catch up with people we knew as friends, and to see that the church is still going,” he said.
“We have many faithful pastors, and many faithful church members, who are following God’s way and growing.
With guests outside St John's after the unveiling of the 50th Anniversary plaque.From left are Finkewe Zurenuoc, Nick Schwarz, Pastor Grahamme Baital, Ricky Mitio, former Governor Peti Lafanama, former Pastor Murray Thomas, Goroka MP Henry Ame, founding Pastor Brian Schwarz, Church elder, Church elder, Chairman Himony Lapiso and me.
“It was good to see all the people here, the energy in getting all the celebrations and preparations.”
