PM’s wife helps female prisoners open passbook accounts

The National National
Rachel Marape (right) presenting a K10,000 cheque to officers and inmates at the Bihute jail in Goroka, Eastern Highlands. – Picture supplied

RACHEL Marape has helped 19 female detainees and inmates of the Bihute jail open their passbook accounts with the Women’s Microbank.
The wife of Prime Minister James Marape first met the inmates and detainees when she was invited to have lunch with them while on a private visit last month.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Rachael found that the female inmates were interested in acquiring sewing machines and fabric to sew meri blouses for marketing.
However, seeing the need for training in small-to-medium enterprise (SME), she opened savings accounts for the women with the Women’s Microbank and partnered with wife of Goroka MP Aiye Tambua to open market access in Port Moresby.
“When you sew the meri blouse, we will also help you to bring them to Port Moresby to sell for you,” she said. “The wife of Goroka open MP will be calling around to see how you are doing with your sewing and collect the completed products to be sold in Port Moresby.”