Tuesday 13 February 2024
Cabinet is set to decide this week on the assistance package for businesses affected in the riots of 10 January this year.
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape revealed this as he provided an update on measures the Government is putting in place to address the effects of the Port Moresby riots, in response to a series of questions raised by Member for Moresby North-East Hon. John Kaupa in Parliament today.
PM Marape said a paper is being put to the National Executive Council for its deliberation to ask the Government for assistance, and that the NEC is looking likely to approve it on Wednesday.
Although the Prime Minister did not disclose the nature of the package, he revealed that reports received state a total loss to the sum of K480 million.
“I want to apologise to the business community for the loss of employment and business, as I did this morning at the Back-to-Business breakfast.
“I want to assure them that there is a paper prepared coming to Cabinet. We were in Cabinet this morning but time ran out and the meeting had to be concluded.
“We moved the meeting to Wednesday. At that meeting, we will be announcing the package, subject to approval,” said PM Marape.
He also revealed that administrative investigations have also been completed with a report on the way to Cabinet, to also be presented at the Wednesday sitting.
PM Marape said a Commission of Inquiry, to be headed by a sitting judge, has also been mounted by Government to look into the entire police operation in the country.
“This is in addition to the Royal PNG Constabulary’s Criminal Investigation Division conducting its own investigations into the riots and its underlying causes. .
“We are not taking this lightly,” he said.