Saturday January 30th 2021
From FIRMIN NANOL in Jiwaka
Prime Minister Hon.James Marape launched construction of the K200 million Jiwaka provincial headquarters building at Kurumul in Jiwaka yesterday (Friday January 29th 2021).
Kurumul will now be Jiwaka’s provincial capital.
PM Marape also announced the National Government’s commitment of K20 million as initial funding to contractor, Essar Projects of India, which will do preparatory earthworks and lay the foundations of the project.
Thousands of people, some adorned in traditional attire, from Jiwaka, Western Highlands, Chimbu, Enga and Southern Highlands witnessed the momentous occasion.
PM Marape told Jiwaka leaders – Governor Hon. Dr William Tongamp, North Wahgi MP Hon. Dr Fabian Pok, Anglimp-South Wahgi MP Hon. Joe Kuli, and Jimi MP and Minister for Religion Youth and Community Development Hon. Wake Goi to work together for their new province.
He said Jiwaka is located in the fertile Wahgi Valley, through which the Highlands Highway passes through, and has great potential for progress.
“I want to appeal to you, my good people of Jiwaka, that you have places like Mt Hagen and the Kagamuga International airport, the highway running through your province and above all the fertile Waghi Valley land,” PM Marape said.
“I urge you to go into and revive the good old agricultural activities: Reehabilitate the coffee and tea plantations to support your local provincial economy.
“The National Government is looking at bringing services, including markets, into the districts and wants to improve and stabilise prices of agricultural commodities and improve freight subsidies.
“We want to work with coffee, tea and other agriculture commodity -producing provinces like Jiwaka with better prices so farmers can get a good return for your produce.”
PM Marape told the people of Jiwaka that in order for a province to fully function well, and to support the national and district programmes and service delivery, it must have a proper provincial administration.
” That is why myself, as the Prime Minister, came to Kurumul here in Jiwaka with nearly half of my senior Cabinet ministers to support the official ground breaking and launching of the Jiwaka Provincial Government administration building and capital.
” Your National Government has committed itself to the building of your headquarters and will support your Governor and leaders towards securing the K200 million funding to complete it.
“Today, your Government is proud to announce an initial funding of K20million to the contractor to start work.”
PM Marape told the people of Jiwaka that the National Government would honour its financial commitment through annual Budget funding support over the next four to five years.
PM Marape was accompanied by:
- Enga Governor Hon. Sir Peter Ipatas;
- Finance and Rural Development Minister Hon. Sir John Pundari;
- Public Service Minister Hon. Joe Sungi;
- Energy Minister Hon. Saki Soloma;
- Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Minister Hon. Pila Niningi;
- Agriculture and Livestock Minister Hon. John Simon;
- Fisheries Minister Hon. Dr Lino Tom;
- Civil Aviation Minister Hon. Seki Agisa;
- Works and Implementation Minister Hon. Michael Nali;
- National Planning and Monitoring Minister Hon. Rainbo Paita;
- Finance Minister Hon. John Pundari;
- Transport Minister Hon. William Samb;
- Education Minister Hon. Jimmy Uguro;
- Forests Minister Hon. Walter Schnaubelt;
- Culture and Tourism Minister Hon. Isi Henry Leonard;
- Labour and Industrial Relations Minister Hon. Tomait Kapili;
- Lands and Physical Planning Minister Hon. John Rosso;
- State Enterprises Minister Hon.William Duma;
- Information Communication and Technology Minister Minister Hon. Timothy Masiu; and
- Higher Education Research Science Technology and Sports Minister Hon. Wesley Raminai.
Agriculture Vice-Minister and Daulo MP Hon. Pogio Ghate and Goroka MP Hon. Aiye Tambua joined the governors and ministers.
Several department heads also accompanied their ministers.