Dede Sophie

 PNG Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has thanked all 118 MPs for their support over the last two weeks, culminating in yesterday’s (December 2, 2022) marathon session in which the 2023 Budget was overwhelmingly passed. He also announced that he is leaving for Sydney, Australia, today (December 3, 2022) to attend the 16th PNG Mining and Petroleum Investment Conference. PNG PM Marape [Left] Minister Duma [right] PM Marape said Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso was out of the country on duty travel in Europe and Africa, and in their absence, United Resource Party Leader and State Enterprises Minister Hon. William Duma would be Acting Prime Minister. “I will be out for the country for three days and will be back next Tuesday (December 6, 2022) afternoon,” he said. “I ask our people to give their support to Hon. Duma, who has been an MP since 2002, while he is Acting Prime Minister.” PM Marape appealed to everyone in Papua New Guinea for peace and calm during the Christmas and New Year...

 PNG Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has asked both Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) and Puma Energy to find solutions to the strenuous business relationship they have that is now becoming a national security issue and a cause for concern about functioning of the economy.  He said the case of Puma being unable to maintain the supply of fuel products to its customers was because of ongoing issues with BPNG, for which the country was being held to ransom. PM Marape has asked BPNG, immediately after an urgent National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) today (January 5, 2023), to find a short-term solution by lifting restrictions on Puma so that their supply of fuel products continue without compromising Central Bank’s fiduciary requirements. “I want to also inform the country and business that today, the Bank has the highest-ever level of foreign reserves (FX) of more than K13 billion – more than enough for a year,” he said. “That’s because my Government’s fiscal policies assisted in rai...