Marape visits province

PRIME Minister James Marape involved himself in a series of heart-to-heart conversations with the people of New Ireland during his three-day visit to Kavieng, Lihir and Namatanai.
He was in Kavieng on Tuesday, Lihir and Namatanai yesterday.
“Development is a shared responsibility between the national government, provincial governments, district development authorities, local level governments and our people,” Marape told Governor Sir Julius Chan and his provincial executive council on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, while addressing the Nimamar LLG on Lihir Island, Marape encouraged ward members and presidents to continue being the “face, arms and feet of Government” on service delivery.
He said this while commending the LLG on its effective functioning. Marape offered his government’s help through their DDA for the betterment of Lihir islanders.
He told thousands of local people who gathered outside the LLG chamber, that the Government was all about “economic empowerment”.
“The Government is making funding available for micro small to medium enterprises available for people to start businesses.”
Marape expressed special appreciation to an emerging agriculture partnership between the Namatanai district and Newcrest Mine.
The district mobilises people into agriculture, partnering with PNG Micro Bank with produce sold to the mine.
“Every day, about K10,000 worth of vegetables is bought by the district company and sold to the mine,” Marape said.
“This is a classic case of people starting in business that they are comfortable with.”
The prime minister travelled from Lihir to Namatanai, where he was to overnight.
He flies to Bougainville today to address the people in Arawa after an overwhelming vote for independence this week.
“This will be the longest regional tour I have undertaken.
“We will visit more rural areas of PNG as my focus is to economically empower and connect the country.”