Breaking: Adventist named PNG Prime Minister

By Jarrod Stackelroth - Adventist Record

Seventh-day Adventist James Marape was today (May 30) elected Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The appointment comes after weeks of turmoil that rocked the PNG government and eventually led to the resignation of former PM Peter O’Neill.

Mr Marape, the country’s former finance minister, is the Member for the Tari Pori electorate in the Southern Highlands. He is an elder of Korobosea Seventh-day Adventist Church and attended Kabiufa Adventist Secondary School in the Easter Highlands Province.

“The South Pacific Division congratulates the Honorable James Marape on becoming the eighth Papua New Guinean Prime Minister,” said Pastor Glenn Townend, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific.

“We pray that James will continue to receive guidance from God as he leads this significant country. His Seventh-day Adventist values and heritage will hold him in good standing.”

Go to this link for more: https://record.adventistchurch.com/2019/05/30/breaking-adventist-named-png-prime-minister/?fbclid=IwAR0xiTxdvugoD9Mr6BlvLCMqqi1Ka1B4jiiImsPVdQmQiHtq6AQTuybL_sc

Pruaitch thanks Opposition for support, role

Posted on The National

OPPOSITION Leader Patrick Pruaitch has thanked his Opposition members for their support and role that led to the resignation of Peter O’Neill yesterday as the prime minister.
Pruaitch said: “I take this opportunity to thank the leaders of various parties that came together in the Opposition camp to force Peter O’Neill to resign. We could not have done it without the serious efforts and sacrifices from everyone.
“I therefore thank James Marape, Sir Puka Temu, William Duma and others in government who joined forces to oust O’Neill. As members of parliament, we cannot be complacent while the O’Neill government causes our people to suffer in our towns and rural communities.
“The people of Papua New Guinea have witnessed the huge expenditure levels of the O’Neill Government and the gradual shrinkage in our economy. Despite the huge increases in revenue between 2014 and 2017, employment opportunities were diminishing as businesses began to shut their doors.
“Forcing the resignation of O’Neill gives the people of Papua New Guinea comfort that our members of parliament truly understand the hardships our people are going through and will nominate a prime minister and a team tomorrow that will do its best to deliver on the promises of better economic management, restoring confidence into our system of government, committing itself to improving law and order and reforming and resetting service delivery to our people.
“I thank the public in Port Moresby today (yesterday) for keeping calm and following the important event take place in Parliament.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/pruaitch-thanks-opposition-for-support-role/

Duma thanks O’Neill for courage to resign as PM

Posted on The National

HAGEN MP William Duma thanked Peter O’Neill for his courageous action to step down as the prime minster and wished him the best on behalf of his people.
Duma made the statement following O’Neill’s resignation, announced in Parliament yesterday.
He recalled that in 2011, when they first formed the O’Neill-Government, and said that they had archieved many things for the country.
“In 2011, O’Neill, myself and five others formed the new Government,” Duma said.
“We all had served under Sir Michael Somare, we were ministers in his government and helped to govern the country, We learned from him but when our time came in 2011, we took the chance and one of us (O’Neill) made it to the highest office.
“We first started this Government (O’Neill) with many plans and dreams for our country and the party I led became one of the greatest coalition partners of the People’s National Congress party.”
Duma said though there were many challenges, ups and downs, they stood together and under O’Neill’s leadership achieved many things.
“But unfortunately as they say, when you stay longer, resentment builds up.
“And when everyone left. When the other five left, I was the last man standing with him.
“I was waiting for the Prime Minister (O’Neill) to come to me and say what should we do? He didn’t.
“So I left without informing him and joined the Laguna team (Opposition), but as I said at that time, ‘nobody is perfect’ and I can never blame O’Neill,” Duma said.
“Maybe you were waiting for me to leave too and then you’d resign.”
Duma said that despite everything, he still had respect for O’Neill.
“And on behalf of my family and my people of Hagen open, we wish you all the best.”
A new prime minister is expected to be elected today when Parliament resumes at 10am.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/duma-thanks-oneill-for-courage-to-resign-as-pm/

Marape, 31 MPs break away from Laguna camp

Posted on The National

TARI-Pori MP James Marape and 31 MPs yesterday left the Opposition camp and held talks with the Government MPs on a candidate to succeed Peter O’Neill as prime minister.
The election of a new MP is the first order of business when Parliament sits today.
The Government MPs are camping at the Crowne Plaza. Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch’s group remains at the Laguna Hotel.
Marape’s group booked into the Grand Papua next to the Crown Plaza.
After Peter O’Neill announced in Parliament his resignation as prime minister, Abau MP Sir Puka Temu walked back to the Government side saying it was something he had promised if O’Neill resigned. He was followed by Ijivitari MP Richard Masare.
After Parliament was adjourned, Marape, Southern Highlands Governor William Powi, Pangu Party leader Ginson Saonu, Sir Peter Ipatas and 28 MPs jump on a bus and went to the Grand Papua.
O’Neill and his group also left through the same door for their Crown Plaza camp.
Later, Marape, Powi, Sir Peter and Renbo Paita left for the Crown Plaza and were met by Works Minister Michael Nali.
There was a big cheer when they walked into the Government camp. O’Neill and his team hugged them.
After about 45 minutes, Marape and his group left for their hotel.
About an hour later, O’Neill, Sam Basil and Sir Julius Chan left the Crowne Plaza to meet Marape and his group at the Grand Papua.
At 3.15pm, everyone returned to the Crown Plaza – a total of 76 MPs together.

Go this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/marape-31-mps-break-away-from-laguna-camp/

New PM on card

By HELEN TARAWA - The National

PARLIAMENT is expected to elect a new prime minister today following the resignation of Peter O’Neill yesterday, with the 111 MPs divided on who should replace him.
Parliament’s first order of business when it resumes at 10am today is the election of the new national leader, says Acting Clerk to Parliament Kala Aufa.
He told The National that O’Neill’s resignation had nullified the motion of no confidence filed by the Opposition yesterday morning.
“O’Neill has resigned and Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae has written to the Speaker (Job Pomat).”
“We received that letter at 9.45am,” he said.
“The Speaker announced in Parliament that we had received the letter and that a vacancy (existed) for the prime minister’s seat, and that an election would take place.
“The motion that was filed would be disregarded. It dies a natural death because they do not have a prime minister to change.
“It (resignation) has nullified the motion.”
Pomat will call for nominations soon after the prayer is said.
“The maximum number of nomination allowed is three,” he said.
“If there is only one nominee, voting will still take place and the prime minister will be declared by an absolute majority.
“If there are two nominees, the candidate that has the biggest number (56 or more) will be declared prime minister.
“If there are three nominees, the one with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated.
“Then the normal voting process takes place (again) between the two remaining candidates.
“The one with the majority wins.” “The elected prime minister then goes to Government House to be sworn in.”
Meanwhile, straight after Parliament, a group led by Tari-Pori MP James Marape did not return to the Laguna Hotel where the Opposition group was camping but set up a new camp at the Grand Papua.
They met the Government side including O’Neill camping at the Crowne Plaza next door.
The outcome of their meeting was not revealed.
But Marape said in a social media posting late yesterday his group was talking to both the Government camp and Laguna camp over who should replace O’Neill.
It is understood that his group wants his name put forward.
Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel is the acting prime minister.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/new-pm-on-card/

O’Neill’s resignation letter to governor-general

Posted on The National

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s resignation letter to Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae delivered to Government House yesterday morning:

“ My dear Governor General,
I hereby tender my resignation as the Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, effective immediately.
It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve this Nation and lead the Government for almost eight years.
We have delivered profound accomplishments during out Government, through a policy agenda that has transformed our nation. The most important of these achievements are the issues that improve the lives of the children, women and men of our country.
We have enabled more than a million more children to attend school through free education, most of them girls, and we have expanded universal healthcare that has saved many lives.
We have delivered more critical infrastructure than at any time in the history of our country, particularly in remote and rural areas.
This includes the construction of many new teachers training colleges, new nurses training colleges, as well as new airports, jetties, and roads across the country.
This has created greater freedoms and opportunities for our people to travel, to expand business, and it has attracted billions of Kina in international investment that is creating more jobs. Our Government has further transformed our country’s global engagement. We have strengthened relations with our traditional trading partners and built new friendships.
Five years ago when the leaders of APEC member countries awarded the hosting of APEC 2018 to PNG, there were a number of critics who said PNG could never deliver a summit of this magnitude. We proved them all wrong.
Through 2018, and culminating with the APEC Leaders’ Summit and APEC CEO Summit in November last year, the eyes of the world were on our country.
The investment opportunities in our economy, and the tourism potential of our great country was seen around the world. The benefits of hosting APEC will continue to be delivered for many years through increased investment and job creation.
We will further experience the benefits of the electrification project that we have on as the next Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea is elected by the National Parliament.
In the interests of ongoing political stability in our country, and the effect this has on economic confidence and social unity, I leave my position with pride in my heart and gratitude to the people of our nation.
God Bless Papua New Guinea.

Your sincerely

Hon Peter O’Neill, CMG, MP
Prime Minister

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/oneills-resignation-letter-to-governor-general/

A brief of Hon. James Marape - Newly elected Prime Minister

Posted on Kaulga's Travel Diary

James Marape, born 24 April 1971 has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Tari-Pori Open.

On 30 May 2019, he was nominated and elected as the 8th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea by the National Parliament.

Marape attended Minj Primary School and Kabiufa Adventist Secondary School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Papua New Guinea in 1993, and a postgraduate Honours Degree in Environmental Science in 2000. 

He was Acting Assistant Secretary of Policy with the Department of Personnel Management from 2001 to 2006.

Marape first contested the Tari-Pori seat at the 2002 election for the People's Progress Party, when voting in the Southern Highlands Province was cancelled due to widespread violence.
He contested the supplementary election in 2003, but lost to incumbent MP Tom Tomiape in a contest marred by the bashing of a polling official by his supporters.

 He challenged the result in the Court of Disputed Returns, but both his initial petition and a subsequent appeal were rejected.

He contested the seat for a second time at the 2007 election as a National Alliance candidate and defeated Tomiape. He was subsequently appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Works, Transport and Civil Aviation by Prime Minister Michael Somare. 

He was also given additional responsibilities as Deputy Chair of the Privileges Committee and member of the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Inter-Government Relations. 

He was Minister for Education from 16 December 2008 to 2 August 2011. In February 2012, he left the National Alliance Party and joined People's National Congress.

He was re-elected at the 2012 election in the Tari-Pori District. He was then appointed as Finance Minister under the O’Neill Government.

He was re-elected at the 2017 election, representing People's National Congress.

On 11 April 2019, he resigned as Minister for Finance, but remained a member of People's National Congress and the Government.

However, he resigned from the party on 29 April 2019. Sam Basil was appointed as Minister for Finance on 18 April 2019..

In May 2019 he was named as a potential candidate for replacing Peter O'Neill as Prime Minister.

Go to this link for more: https://kaulga.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-brief-of-hon-james-marape-newly.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR06RpJU72tjAZoq0l8zobQurwRao4HnYLd7fLrzaJ-oSSenMeH8EYAcUlE