Prime Minister James Marape has honoured a longstanding commitment to Niue by stopping over in the island country to announce the transfer of the outstanding K5 million to the Niue Government. Accompanied by his wife, Mrs Rachael Marape, they made a stop over at Nuie on Sunda, August 25th, after departing from Port Moresby enroute to Tonga for the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting in Nuku’alofa, the capital of Tonga which convened today, Monday August 26th. In a statement today, he said he was received by the Premier of Niue, Dalton Tagelagi in a ceremonial welcome showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the island, and later was hosted to a welcome reception held in his honour, where he announced that the PNG Government was fulfilling an unmet K5 million promise from 10 years ago. He said he it was his duty to ensure it was met, explaining that, “We owe it to early Niuean Christian missionaries who came to Hanuabada and Pari villages which has led us to this special bond of kinship with Niue." Marape also acknowledged the PNG diaspora in Niue, which he said was a big community of people, with 10 percent of the Niue population owing their heritage to PNG through the early missionary connections with the Motuan people of Port Moresby. “I appreciate Premier Tagelagi for Niue’s warm welcome to me and my wife, Rachael, as we try to entrench our two people’s relationship." Prime Minister and his wife also engaged with local representatives and community members, further solidifying the bonds between Papua New Guinea and Niue.