By RAYMOND POPNA | UPNG Journalism Student
MEMBER for Moresby North-East and Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change, Hon. John Kaupa, has challenged small and medium enterprise (SME) participants in his electorate to take their funding seriously and use it wisely to improve their livelihoods.
Mr Kaupa made the call during the presentation of certificates to more than 6,000 financial literacy graduates at the Sir John Guise Stadium Indoor Complex in Port Moresby on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
“SME people must be serious about it,” he said, repeatedly emphasising the importance of commitment and responsibility in managing the support they receive.
He said seriousness, discipline and commitment would determine who succeeded and who failed in their business ventures.
Mr Kaupa reminded the graduates that once financial support was provided, the responsibility for managing the funds rested entirely with them.
He said there would be no one monitoring their spending daily, adding that their success would depend on how wisely they invested the money.
“I will not see how you use the funds. That responsibility is now yours,” he said.
He stressed that the Government had placed its trust in the participants and urged them to respect that trust by using the funds for their intended purpose.
Mr Kaupa said the SME programme was not new, explaining that it had existed for many years. However, he acknowledged that many people had not fully understood how to access and benefit from the opportunities available.
“SME was there a long time, and under my government, we are just empowering people to start up businesses in order to live a better lifestyle in the city,” he said.
He said the Government’s role was to create opportunities and provide the necessary support, but individuals must take responsibility for turning those opportunities into successful businesses.
Under his leadership, he said, the focus in Moresby North-East was to empower ordinary people, particularly mothers, youths and small traders in settlements and suburbs, to establish businesses and improve their living standards.
He acknowledged that many families in Port Moresby were struggling with the rising cost of living, settlement evictions and the daily challenges of urban life.
He said small businesses could provide a means for families to earn an income, put food on the table, pay school fees and reduce their dependence on others.
Mr Kaupa further urged the graduates to exercise discipline in managing their funds, invest in their businesses and avoid spending the financial support on short-term personal wants.
He said every kina invested wisely today had the potential to grow into a sustainable source of income in the future.
He added that while the Government could provide training, vouchers and other forms of assistance, lasting change would ultimately depend on the honesty, discipline and hard work of individual SME participants.
Mr Kaupa emphasised that training alone would not guarantee success, urging the graduates to put their knowledge into practice and remain committed to developing their businesses.
He said the future of each participant’s business would depend on the decisions they made and the actions they took from that point forward.