Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has called on suspended Kumul Petroleum Holdings Managing-Director Wapu Sonk to step aside and allow the process to clear his name of the allegations against him.
Prime Minister Marape made the appeal at his press conference on Saturday evening before departing for New York, United States of America for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting.
The Prime Minister said Kumul Petroleum Holdings is the country’s national petroleum company which is bigger than Mr Sonk and himself as Prime Minister.
“Your name has to be cleared in the process of allegations made against you. Just like Minister William Duma, who had an allegation against him. He went through the courts and got himself cleared. Eventually, a court in Australia found him innocent.
“So I’m asking respectfully that you leave the acting managing-director to hold the fort as the office belongs to our people. You have to clear your name,” he said.
The Prime Minister also appealed to the people of Semin in Nipa, Southern High- lands Province to be sensible and lift the blockade of the road.
“I want to inform my people in Nipa, especially Semin villagers, that I’ve had the opportunity to talk to Mr Sonk.
“I was informed by Mr Sonk that he had released a press statement on Friday (19.09.25) condemning the roadblocks and those who are using his name,” he said.
Mr Marape said a similar statement has been released by Southern Highlands Governor Hon. William Powi.
“No individual tribe will hold this country to ransom. As the Prime Minister, James Marape is above personal interests.
“Mr Sonk was educated in Hela Province. I have a good relationship with him and nothing against him, so I’m asking Mr Sonk to clear your name as the country is bigger than you and me,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape said the Highlands Highway cannot be distrupted as it is the lifeline to major national economic projects in the Highlands region, and disgruntled tribes must seek better solutions than trying to hold the whole country to ransom by blocking the highway.
He gave the undertaking that Government will make sure that the road is opened to give insurance to the other access into Hela, Hides Gasfield, and PNG LNG areas.
The road will be passable so the Hela people and business community have access to other roads and not be sabotaged by the Nipa stretch of the Highlands Highway.
PM Marape also revealed long-term plans with ExxonMobil and OK Tedi to open up back roads as access.
“There’s a roadway running from Kiunga to Nomad and also from Nomad to Komo that will give a back access to the potential project areas of Juha, P’nyang, Hides and Muruk gas field areas.
“The road need to run, and OK Tedi tax credit has picked up from Kiunga to No- mad and ExxonMobil tax credit to pick up Komo down to Nomad. We will also be linking at that to go past Bosavi.
“Government will be working with companies there to also run the road from Bosavi into Kutubu, a road that will run from Kutubu into Kikori, and Kutubu back to Poroma. These will open up access in these areas,” he explained.
In the meantime, work on the Magarima-Mendi and Magarima-Laigam roads will be ramped up so Hela is not disadvantaged by only one highway access, he said.
Prime Minister Marape further called on all citizens to defend the country through lawful living and not demonstrate their frustrations unlawfully.