Rosso is DPM

Main Stories

PRIME Minister James Marape has announced the appointment of Lae MP and Lands and Physical Planning Minister John Rosso as Deputy Prime Minister before departing for Australia yesterday.
Marape said it was fitting for a senior politician from Morobe to be appointed as deputy prime minister in honour of the late Bulolo MP Sam Basil.
Marape said formalities to confirm Rosso’s appointment would be made upon his return from Brisbane tomorrow.
Marape is expected to open the 37th Papua New Guinea-Australia business forum which begins today in Brisbane.
He said the forum would help promote the country as an ideal trade and investment destination for Australian and other investors.
Marape said Hagen MP and State Enterprises Minister William Duma would be acting prime minister during his absence.
“I am leaving the country for few days,” he said.
“I’ve been asked to open the seminar in Brisbane (today) that talks about promoting trade and investments for our country.
“There are a lot of Australian businesses in the country, making Australia a large investor in businesses in the country, therefore, it is important for us to go and give the right impression of the economic and political situation we currently have in the country.”
Rosso was elected as an independent candidate to the 10th National Parliament in the 2017 general election and later joined the Pangu Pati.
He was appointed Minister for Lands and Physical Planning on the June 7, 2019.
Meanwhile, Marape congratulated Australia’s Prime Minister-elect Anthony Albanese saying he looked forward to meeting him to discuss issues of mutual concern.
He also thanked former prime minister Scott Morrison for his support to PNG and the Pacific.
Besides the forum and trade exposition, Marape and state negotiation team would engage with joint venture partners of the K18.5 billion (about US$5.4 billion) Wafi Golpu project in Morobe.
Earlier this month, Mineral Resources Authority told The National that the Government and project developers were yet to agree on equity and royalty shares.
Newcrest Mining Ltd and Harmony Gold are 50:50 participants in the Wafi Golpu project.