Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has commended Porgera-Paiela Member of Parliament Hon. Gideon Maso Karipe for his leadership and commitment to delivering Development Projects and Essential Services to remote parts of Porgera-Paiela District in Enga Province.
During his Visit to the District today, Prime Minister Marape praised the young MP for investing in Infrastructure and Road Connectivity to improve the lives of local people, particularly those living in isolated communities. “I was impressed with the young Member for Porgera-Paiela, Hon. Gideon Karipe, who is now delivering earth-moving machinery and equipment to open up Roads into remote areas like Paiela, Lower Porgera, and towards Mt Kare,” Prime Minister Marape said. “This is a Member who is working for his people, and when leaders are genuinely working to deliver services, we as a Government must support them.”
Prime Minister Marape highlighted the growing strategic and economic importance of the Porgera-Paiela District, particularly with the reopening and future expansion of Mining activities in the area. “Porgera is very important, especially with the new Mining opportunities emerging. It presents a major opportunity for Government services to expand and for development to accelerate in the District and throughout Enga Province,” the Prime Minister stated. Prime Minister Marape said the National Government remained committed to partnering with the Porgera-Paiela District and the Enga Provincial Government to restore and improve critical Infrastructure and Services in the area.
He outlined several Priority Commitments discussed during the visit, including improving the Porgera to Wabag Road Connection, Restoration Works on key transport routes, increasing Police Housing, and reopening and strengthening Porgera Hospital services. “I have committed Government support towards connecting Porgera to Wabag with improved Roads, restoring important Infrastructure, building more Police Housing, and ensuring Porgera Hospital is properly reopened and strengthened to serve our people,” Prime Minister Marape said.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the importance of ensuring local communities directly benefit from Mining developments in their area. “We must make sure our people benefit meaningfully from the New Porgera Mining operations. The people of Enga and Porgera have ownership interests in the Project, and development must translate into real opportunities for our communities,” he said. Prime Minister Marape further indicated that he would return to the District in the future to witness continued progress and development outcomes. “I will return again when more of these Projects are completed because I want to see Porgera and Paiela transformed into a stronger economic and service hub for Enga Province and our country,” he added. The Prime Minister reaffirmed that the Marape-Rosso Government remained focused on taking development into rural and resource-producing areas across Papua New Guinea so that local communities receive direct and lasting benefits from the nation’s economic growth.