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Marape Calls on Papua New Guineans to take Pope’s Message of Service, Peace and Unity into Independence

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Prime Minister James Marape Meets Pope Francis

Prime Minister James Marape and his wife, Rachel Marape today joined hundreds of Catholics in the country to celebrate the Holy Mass with Pope Francis.

Flanked by his deputy, John Rosso, the Prime Minister, a Seventh Day Adventist, including other members of the parliament sat through the three hour service.

Before departing for Vanimo, the Pontiff met with Marape and his wife.

Marape personally acknowledged Pope Francis on his delivery of messages of service, unity and peace to the people of Papua New Guinea.

“This is a great message our people need in our land of so much diversity. Our country is very ethnically, linguistically and culturally diverse, and the Pontiff’s message of unity, love and care, is very relevant to us today. It must be amplified throughout our country.

“Our different Christian churches may read the Bible from different perspectives, but the fundamental tenet of Christianity is the embrace of each other in love, forgiveness, respect and humble service of each other.

“This weekend was quiet and peaceful. It is exemplary of the goodness that can come from our people. It reflects the soul and innermost character of Papua New Guineans.

“We are good people, capable of embracing each other in love, unity and peace.

Marape called on Papua New Guineans to carry the Pope’s message to heart as the country approaches its 49th Independence Anniversary.

“As we approach our 49th Independence anniversary in a week’s time, I appeal to our people to take Pope Francis’ message with us – to continue to respect each other, to respect our country, and respect our God.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the Pope on his decision to continue his visit to Vanimo considering his advanced age, adding that this is reflective of the character of Christ in serving others.

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PIF Agendas: Climate Change & Regional Security

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Pacific Island Leaders group photo against a backdrop of Pacific Island Flags

THE Pacific Islands Forum or PIF leaders meeting this week in Nukualofa, Tonga will discuss key issues on climate change and forest conservation.

Before departing Port Moresby on Sunday (25 August 2024),  Prime Minister James Marape said “Pacific Island countries will continue our advocacy on the impact of climate change at established countries who are big carbon emitters to ensure climate change relief funds are made available to Small Island State for climate mitigation.”

He said, “Papua New Guinea is not a Small Island State. We are a big nation but we also have small island communities amongst us who face these climate changes.”

The PIF summit will also grace the presence of United Nations Secretary General, Mr Antonia Guterres. 

PM Marape and UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres at PIF leaders meeting in Tonga.
PM Marape and UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres at PIF leaders meeting in Tonga.

PM Marape said Mr Guterres has requested specifically for Papua New Guinea to have a bilateral meeting with him.

Both leaders will discuss the progress of the Bougainville Peace Agreement; what is happening in Bougainville and PNG’s views on Forestry.

On the issue of West Papua’s ongoing struggle for independence, Prime Minister Marape said it is within the sovereignty of Indonesia to address issues relating to West Papua. 

PM Marape met with Indonesian President Elect Prabowo Subianto in Port Moresby before departing for Nukualofa. 

Prior to departure PM Marape was asked whether West Papua will be discussed openly at the summit, he responded saying just as PNG would not want its neighboring countries talking about sovereignty issues within its borders, Indonesia would not want its neighbors talking about West Papua and its sovereignty.

However, Mr Marape said all other areas of its relationship with Indonesia such as economy will be open for discussion.  Indonesia’s incoming president indicated preservation and greater respect to indigenous views on customs, culture, land rights and indigenous heritages.  But his visit was tainted when Indonesian Embassy officials banned Journalist and Benar News correspondent, Harlyne Joku from covering a joint press conference of both leaders.  

The PNG Media Council condemned the action of Indonesian Embassy officials saying it was also shameful that PNG Government officials allowed this to happen to a PNG Journalist.

Over in Tonga, Benar News has reported that the 18 member Pacific Island Forum Leaders is underway with top diplomats from key partners including China and the United States gathered for a week of talks on decolonization of New Caledonia, climate change and regional security and cohesion.

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US-PIC Progress So Far

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US-PIC

PNG Prime Minister, James Marape says there has to be a practical measurement of progress being made between the United States and Pacific Island nations, including PNG, since the first US-PIC Forum Dialogue in 2022.

Marape encouraged the US to consolidate its place as a true and significant partner in the Pacific. By means of increasing its presence in the area of people-to-people and business-to-business exchanges between the two countries. As well as the greater South Pacific (Blue Pacific Continent).

He raised these comments in his opening Statement at the US-PIC Dialogue, chaired by US President, Joe Biden, at the Whitehouse in Washington.

“We are here today to measure how much we have progressed since our inaugural summit in September last year. Papua New Guinea comes to this Summit in 2023 from a much-improved relationship with the United States but that is mostly from the Security perspective, which we must step up on all other fronts,” said Marape.

He said in 2022, PNG’s trade volume with the USA did not exceed $300million.

“As PNG is closer and has more access to the Asian market, we know that the depth of any nation-to-nation relationship is usually anchored and balanced when there is more commerce and trade relationships,” Marape said.

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Prime Minister Calls for Reform of Provincial Government System

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Prime Minister James Marape has urged the government and public service bureaucracy to hasten the reform process of the provincial government system in order to improve service delivery to the people. He made this call during the opening of the Provincial Governors Conference in Port Moresby, which is themed ‘Continuing Dialogue to empower Provinces for Improved Service Delivery, Economic Growth and Self Reliance’.

“Provincial governments are the anchor posts of our country and we must empower them with clarity. We must bring reforms that will allow for positive change that translate to actual delivery of goods and services,” said Marape.

He also acknowledged the struggles and weaknesses faced in delivering services to the people, but reassured governors that the government is not seeking to dilute or remove their powers. Instead, the goal is to empower them to function better in providing services that translate policies to the people.

“The vision and the rationale of establishing the provincial governments is correct because in a land of so much diversity, a centralised form of government in Waigani has no complete answer for our people. The government closest to our people must be functioning better to provide services to our people,” the Prime Minister.added.

The conference brings together the leaders of each of Papua New Guinea’s 22 provinces to discuss issues related to provincial government and service delivery. The conference will continue for the next two days and is expected to cover topics such as funding, governance, and decentralized decision-making.

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Marape offers condolences to Indian PM after rail accident in India

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PHOTO FILE: People look at the mangled wreckage of the two passenger trains that derailed Friday in Balasore district, in the eastern state of Orissa, India, Sunday, June 4, 2023. The derailment in eastern India that killed 275 people and injured hundreds was caused by an error in the electronic signaling system that led a train to wrongly change tracks and crash into a freight train, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape has offered his condolences to the Prime Minister and people of India following a tragic rail accident that claimed close to 300 lives on Friday 2nd June 2023. The accident reportedly occurred in the Indian state of Odisha, and is believed to be the worst rail crash in 20 years in the country.

PNG Prime Minister, James Marape.

In a statement, Marape expressed sympathy to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, as well as to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives in the tragic accident. The accident occurred when a passenger train collided with a stationary freight train, resulting in the pile-up of another passenger train travelling in the opposite direction.

Several world leaders have also expressed their condolences to India following the accident. The tragedy has sparked concerns about the safety of the country’s railways, which are said to be outdated and in dire need of an overhaul.

The Indian government has since pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the accident and take steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The country’s railway network is one of the largest and busiest in the world, with thousands of passengers using it daily to travel across the country.

As the world continues to mourn the tragic loss of lives in the Odisha rail accident, the Indian government has assured its citizens that it will leave no stone unturned in finding out the cause of the accident, and in ensuring the safety of the country’s railways.

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