Douglas Tomuriesa, Pope Francis and James Marape

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  Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa said he is disappointed and embarrassed over the way His Holiness Pope Francis was treated by Prime Minister James Marape over the last three-days during the Papal visit, and the lack of courtesy and respect shown by the Prime Minister. He said the Prime Minister continuously declares PNG as a ‘Christian country’ and prides himself on being a religious individual but he was surprised when the Pope was continuously snubbed by the PM over the weekend since the Pope’s arrival on Friday. “The Pope is the head of the Catholic church, the largest Christian church in the world and he is also a head of state. “PNG not only being a Christian country, but a country that prides itself as a ‘friend to all, enemy to none’, the PM should be according the Pope with the highest level of respect,” Tomuriesa said. The Opposition Leader pointed out that on Friday, the Prime Minister did not welcome the Pope at the airport, a tradition he had accorded to many other wo
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MARAPE: INCORRECT WORDING ON WARRANT

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 MARAPE: INCORRECT WORDING ON WARRANT


Post Courier 

24th July 2024 


PRIME Minister James Marape has assured the Gulf people that no funds meant for them including the Papua LNG project, have been diverted elsewhere.


And Treasurer Ian Ling Stuckey on Friday also announced that Gulf funds were intact and the earlier warrants were withdrawn and that the issue has been rectified due to an incorrect wording. But yesterday an irate Gulf Governor Sir Chris Haiveta said his position still stands – that he will file the court proceedings today and allow the courts to correct the system and get to the bottom of this.


This is over the K60 million IDG and Business Development Grants of which K20 million is supposedly for Gulf Province that Sir Chris is now taking to court.


Marape said the Pangu-led government is committed to allocating development funds to all resource areas, including Ramu and Lihir, and will uphold fairness in all resource projects.


This comes after an incorrect wording on a warrant instrument was discovered, which prompted Treasurer Ling-Stuckey to take immediate action by ceasing the warrant and informing all departments and provinces.


“When it surfaced that there was an incorrect wording on a warrant instrument, Treasurer took action right away ceasing the warrant and all departments and provinces were informed today (Monday),” Marape said.


“This Pangu led Government is allocating development funds to all resource areas including Ramu and Lihir and so I want to assure all PGs and people that we will not use what is budgeted for one area over another area. All resources projects are equal and fairness would be upheld,” Marape said.


Stuckey on the other hand in a social media said: “Let me assure Governor Havieta that any concerns he may have had are now fully dealt with. No Business Development Grants (his legal note incorrectly refers to Budget Development Grants) or Infrastructure Development Grants from other Provinces or Districts are being used to support the re-opening of Porgera. In light of this, I do hope his concerns have been addressed and that we all can move forward together to continue addressing PNG’s development challenges.


“Revised warrants have been issued to cover this funding support. These revised warrants are all drawn from funding sources that do not affect other Provinces or Districts. The earlier warrant, which was based on advice, has been withdrawn. The priority has been ensuring that funds for the Porgera re-opening were provided in a timely fashion.


“The Prime Minister was clear he wanted a successful ine re-opening. Treasury, Finance and Planning are all working together to ensure that the funding is provided from the appropriate source. The revised warrant is drawing from sources that have no impact on the Business Development Grants or Infrastructure Development Grants provided to support other resource projects such as PNG LNG, Papua LNG or Wafi Golpu.”


An irate Haiveta however said: “Until they prove it, I am saying that I have filed the proceedings against Ian Ling Stuckey and the State. The evidence is there, it is in black and white, it’s no mis spelling, let the court decide. I have settled all the documents today (yesterday) and I am filing tomorrow (today electronically, you see the situation is more than just the money. It is doing the right thing, the issue is the warrant, do you have the power as per the budget to warrant money that is for another project.”


“My stand is that if this is one case where they have done it silently, how many projects are being abused and are not being implemented, so its not just me, the issue is the system, does he have the power to do this or not. As far as I am concerned, if you want to spend my money, you talk to me.”

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