THREE new buildings at the Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct were opened by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and visiting Australia’s Foreign Affair Minister Julie Bishop in Port Moresby yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel, Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato and Minister for Public Service Elias Kapavore, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Pila Niningi, Health Minister Sir Puka Temu and Grade Chief Sir Michael Somare were among guests and at the event.
The buildings were described as symbolic of Australia and PNG partnership. The Precinct has an impact beyond Port Moresby, training public servants in provinces and districts to have an opportunity in education, training and mentoring in leadership skills, ethics and values.
The Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct at Institute of Public Administration is built on the foundation of the original Bully Beef Club. The club trained aspiring public servants who shared intellectual thought that created the foundation for PNG’s independence. It is named Sir Sere Pitoi Rumana.
“The new facilities will increase the resources and capabilities of the institutions based at the Precinct as they train the next generation of ethical and high performing public sector leaders,” Bishop said.
The Precinct now includes an administration building at the Institute of Public Administration and a lecture theatre and student services building at the University of Papua New Guinea. The new buildings will provide staff and students with modern spaces for tuition, learning and research. The new student services building is named after the Student Services Director late Garoa Peni.
Ms Bishop said more than 2,250 Papua New Guineans have participated in Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct courses and events since 2015. Almost half of all participants in these short courses are women.