Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has been highly acknowledged for his government’s initiative to bring development to Abau District in Central Province.

The people gave Prime Minister Marape a warm welcome, appreciating the development efforts by his government for Abau District.

These initiatives include the construction of a road that will, for the first time, connect Magore in Magarida, Milne Bay, and Amazon Bay in Central.

Abau MP Hon. Sir Puka Temu, a long-serving MP, expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister today in Paramana village, where he witnessed the opening of an early-learning classroom built by the local community with their own resources.

Sir Puka highlighted that the road, being constructed from Magore in Magarida in Milne Bay to Amazon Bay, is expected to be completed and operational by December.

Sir Puka, although a member of the Opposition, is a strong supporter of the ‘Connect PNG’ Programme, which he says was initiated during his tenure with the National Executive Council.

“Right now, as we are speaking, bulldozers are heading towards Magore in Amazon Bay,” he said.

“For over 48 years, Amazon Bay was never connected by road, so our people of Amazon Bay would always use double-hull canoes to travel long hours to Port Moresby.”

Sir Puka acknowledged Prime Minister Marape for taking time from his busy schedule to attend the opening of the early-learning classroom for children aged four to seven years.

He also mentioned that the K5 million allocated by the Prime Minister during the opening of the Kupiano District Hospital in May 2023 has facilitated the rehabilitation of the Kupiano Town Grid, the purchase of solar panels to complement the hospital generator for 24/7 electricity, as well as the acquisition of an X-ray unit and an incinerator.

Prime Minister Marape was also thanked for the 10 newly-built houses for public servants in Kupiano Town, which were launched last week. The fully-furnished houses will be occupied by senior public servants, including the two serving doctors at Kupiano Hospital.

These houses come at a time when the Department of Personnel Management has approved the structure for the Central Provincial Health Authority, endorsing the recruitment of four medical officers for Kupiano Hospital.

Sir Puka expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Marape, noting that this will ensure the people of Abau will have access to doctors’ services for the first time, significantly improving healthcare at the district level, in line with the Marape Government’s objectives.

“The policies you have pronounced are being rolled out on the ground,” he said.

Sir Puka also thanked the Prime Minister for his personal support in establishing the Cocolands Sugar Project in Abau District.

“Thank you very much for the important initiatives that you are providing,” he said.