Prime Minister (PM) James Marape on Sunday 1st September, officially announced the return of Elias Kapavore, the Member for Pomio, to the Pangu Pati and the Pangu-led government. Kapavore had previously joined the Opposition but decided to return after realizing that the Opposition lacked concrete plans to take over the government and ensure the development of his district. Kapavore explained that his decision to rejoin the government was driven by the need for continuity and stability to support development in his isolated district. He emphasized the importance of continuing the implementation of the Medium Term Development Plan IV, which had been launched in 2023, stating that it was crucial for the progress of his district. "I want to thank the Prime Minister for allowing me to come back." "It was not my intention to leave Pangu Pati." "It was a confusion that we went through," Kapavore said. He further stressed that the isolation of Pomio requires ongoing government support to ensure impactful development. Prime Minister Marape welcomed Kapavore back to the government, acknowledging the significance of his decision. Marape praised Kapavore's dedication to his electorate, noting that Pomio is a large and predominantly rural district that has been historically neglected. "Pomio is large in size. So, as a member of Pomio he's been doing a lot of work, and I've been privileged to visit this electorate more than two times in my recollections." "I'm happy that he's made it on his own free will, at least to come back and join them," Marape stated. The Prime Minister also addressed the political turmoil that had occurred earlier, explaining that many leaders were 'caught unaware' by the events that led to the split in the government. He mentioned that the former finance minister had mobilized members of parliament without fully informing them of the political undercurrents, which led to confusion and division within the government. However, Marape emphasized that Kapavore's return was a conscious choice, made after considering the importance of the government's focus on rural development. "Our focus, it's no secret, our greater focus is always on our rural PNG, where 80%, if not higher, of our people right across remain still in those rural enclaves. Pomio being one, predominantly, has been a district that has been left behind, and I am happy Governor Michale Marum is sitting also on the head table." "Their combination on the ground has been to really bring Pomio in touch with the rest of East New Britain as we work to unbundle all our rural areas of our potential," Marape said. The Prime Minister highlighted the government's ongoing projects in Pomio, including road connectivity, bridge construction, and investments in transport vessels like the MV Pomio 1 and MV Pomio 2. These projects are part of the government's broader strategy to unlock the potential of rural areas and improve the lives of people living in these regions. Marape also claimed that the Opposition lacks a clear leader and strategy, which may have influenced Kapavore's decision to return to the government. He suggested that the Opposition is still rotating the position of alternate prime minister, which has led to uncertainty and a lack of direction within their ranks. "In this September sitting, I expect some to go to the other side, and I expect also some to come up on this side." "It is totally dependent on their line of thinking in terms of the team that is involved to maintain government or form government going forward," Marape said, referring to the upcoming parliamentary session. Marape when welcoming Kapavore back to the Pangu-led government, acknowledging the importance of his decision in the context of the challenges facing the country. He emphasized that the government's focus on rural development, particularly in neglected areas like Pomio, is crucial for the progress of the nation. Marape expressed his appreciation for Kapavore's commitment to his electorate and his decision to rejoin the government to continue working towards the betterment of Papua New Guinea. The announcement was witnessed by various Cabinet Ministers and MPs in government at the Hilton Hotel on Sunday. East New Britain Governor Michael Marum also thanked Kapavore for returning, thus cementing the East New Britain block in government. Leader of the New Guinea Islands Pangu Pati block, Kavieng MP and Treasury Minister Ian Lingstuckey also passed on his acknowledgement of Kapavore's return.