Update from Tari-Pori MP James Marape

By JAMES MARAPE
May 24, 2018

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill today directed ExxonMobil, Works and Implementation Minister Michael Nali and Secretary David Wereh, and contractor Curtain Brothers  to start on the Hela 1, 2 and 3 buildings in Tari as well as start sealing Wabia to Nipa and Halimbu to Komo roads.
This was in the presence of Hela Governor Philip Undialu, Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP and Immigration Minister Petrus Thomas, Southern Highlands Governor William Powi and myself.
ExxonMobil has committed to draw down K150 million tax credit of which the first  K70 million  will be made available this month for work to start.
We are also getting Chinese Exim Bank to fund the high-voltage power line into Hides from Mt Hagen.
Kumul Petroleum has been asked to finance the smaller 22 kva distribution lines in and around Hela and Southern Highlands.
Prime Minister O'Neill has also directed Oil Search to provide tax credit funding to complete Gulf-Southern Highlands- Hela Highway as well as getting Poroma-Kutubu Highway sealed.
My people , I know many problems face us. Worst of all is lack of development in our areas.
 I admit we have not done much in terms of large-scale impact projects.
However,  just because these have not started yet does not mean we,  your leaders,  aren’t fighting for you.
As your leaders, we dream the same dream you have.
Many times, our own differences of opinion, tribal fights or political fights cause  delay work we can achieve for our home province if we all work together.
My dream remains for a better Hela: Educated, healthy and industrious people.
I want sealed roads to run from Komo to Tari , Tari to Kopiago, Tari to Mendi, Tari to Kikori, Tari to the wharf in Kikori.
I want functioning sealed airports in both Tari and Komo, electricity from Hides with getting fibre optics from Hides to the whole of Hela.
These are but a few dreams but we can’t advance much with law-and-order problems.
I am coming home next week to consolidate on the present peace programme my district peace team has started.
I ask my people to try our best to resolve our differences in a peaceful manner.
Let us show the country we are people with the ability to forgive and care for each other.
Next week, when I come,  I hope to bring planners from PNG Defence Force who will look at possible sites for a 1000-soldier barracks in my district.
I am also dreaming of a military base in Tari for the long-term.
Many things are possible for our district and province.
We are in Government not to waste time.
If in difficult times our Government can change Port Moresby, Lae and Mt Hagen, we can do likewise for Tari.
All I request is PEACE.
My people, be rest assured I am still at work for you.
By the time I am finished as your MP, I want to leave Tari a better district then what I took over from.
Thank you and God Bless.

Marape: Taris not to blame for all troubles in city

Tari-Pori MP James Marape says it's unfortunate people from his district are blamed for troubles in Port Moresby.

Marape was addressing hundreds of Tari-Pori people at Nature Park in Port Moresby last Sunday (April 29).

Tari-Pori MP James Marape addressing his people last Sunday.

He said any time there was trouble, Taris would inevitably be blamed, although these were caused by people from other parts of the country.

"Any time something happens at Gordon Market, they say it's Tari," Marape said.
"Any time something happens at Malaoro (Market), they say it's Tari.
"At 9-Mile,  they say it's Tari.
"Many times, other people cause trouble, and they say it's caused by Taris.
"I recently had an argument with a Papuan lady on Facebook who said Taris had caused trouble at Kila-Mahuru.
"I found out that it was not caused by someone from Tari."
Marape said "Tari" covered a large area.
There are three electorates in Hela:Tari-Pori, Koroba-Lake Kopiago and Komo-Margarima .
Tari people are also related to the Nipas of Southern Highlands, Kandeps and Porgerans in Enga.
"Recently , a Chimbu youth was caught pick-pocketing in Garden Hills," Marape said.
"He was telling everyone that he was a Tari.

" I want to tell the rest of the country that we do fight sometimes, but I am proud to say that my people are very hardworking people
"I have been an MP for more than 10 years but no one comes and disturbs me at my house at Boroko-East.
" They sell buai, work as security guards or sell at tucker boxes.
"We only get together when there is a haus krai or other trouble.
" I'm proud to say my people are hardworking people, my people are Industrious people, my people are good people.
"It's sad that Government has not delivered services for a long time, which has seen our people looking for schools and hospitals all over PNG, including Port Mores by.
" Every time I meet them, I talk to them about good ways of living, how we can relate to Papuans, Tolais, Keremas and the rest of the country.
"When the earthquake disaster occurred, people from all corners of Papua New Guinea helped us.
" They brought food, clothing, water and money.
"That is why we have to learn to live together and respect each other.
" If you chew buai, spit the buai where it is supposed to be spat.
"If you have rubbish, throw it in the rubbish bin.
" If a woman wants to get on the bus, let her get on first.
"We Huli people are traditionally very good people, but in between, some of us have gone off a bit."

Tari-Pori MP James Marape appeals for peace after winning court petition

Audio and pictures by TONY MABBEN

Tari-Pori MP James Marape has appealed for peace after winning yesterday's Court of Disputed Returns case filed against him by candidate Johnny Phillip Pokaya.

The court ruled yesterday that there was no evidence of bribery as alleged by Pokaya.

Man-of-the-moment James Marape surrounded by jubilant supporters after yesterday's court decision.-Pictures by TONY MABBEN
 

"First of all, I would like to thank everyone" Marape said outside court.
" During the course of this trial, we have been very peaceful.
"All candidates have the right to go to court.
" This is nothing personal.
"Johnny Phillip has take his petition to court and the court has dismissed them as baseless allegations.
" The court has made its ruling and I appeal to you, my people, not to take things personal.
"What people say can make things go wrong.
" The court has made its decision.
"The court ruled today that there was no evidence whatsoever against me."
Marape said he would travel to Tari today (Friday, May 4) where there were problems associated with tribal fighting and the earthquake disaster still going on.

James Marape addressing supporters outside court.

"I have been in Port Moresby for one month attending to the court petition," he said.
"Tomorrow (today) I will return home."
Marape said Philip owed him huge legal costs including K1.6 million from the 2012 election, and would have to pay as directed by the court.
"He has the right to go to court, and I also have the right to ask him to repay the money I spent in court," he said.
"I appeal to people to respect the decision of the court, and not to unnecessarily fight and  argue.
" I appeal to everyone to be agents got peace in Hela.
"Let us all thank God for today's court decision."
Marape said he saw yesterday as his "personal Judgement Day".
" I held the Bible and said, 'if I have done anything wrong to my people of Tari-Pori, let the court get rid of me today'.
"I am happy that the court today passed judgement that I have done nothing wrong as per the petition."

Tari-Pori MP James Marape buys K150,000 roofing iron for district

Tari-Pori MP James Marape last Sunday (April 29) presented K150, 000 from district funds to Atlas Steel to supply roofing iron to people affected by the earthquake disaster.
Marape presented the money to Allan Fleay, general-manager of the industrial division of Kenmore Group of Companies, in front of hundreds of Tari-Pori people at the Nature Park.

Tari-Pori MP James Marape with Allan Fleay, general-manager of the industrial division of Kenmore Group of Companies, in front of hundreds of people at the Nature Park last Sunday.

Atlas Steel will produce the roofing iron at its factory in Tari which was opened last year.
Marape said the K150, 000 would enable the company to start producing roofing iron for distribution to those affected.

Tari-Pori MP James Marape addressing hundreds of people from his district at the Nature Park last Sunday.

He said more money would be paid to the company as the need arose.
“We have already started rolling out rural electrification,” Marape said.
“With the roofing iron and roads to be fixed, we will get Tari moving.”
Marape said it was his dream that within the next five years everyone in Tari-Pori would have roofing iron over their heads.
He said priority would be given to those peace and law-abiding citizens as incentive to stop the fighting.
Fleay said Atlas Steel had a lot of faith in Tari-Pori despite its negative perceptions and would continue to help in its development.