A facility that Australia used to detain refugees on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island will reportedly be turned into a technical college.
PNG's new prime minister James Marape visited Manus Island this week and the East Lorengau Transit Centre, one of three facilities once used to detain refugees in the island's main town.
The East Lorengau Transit Centre. Photo: Shaminda Kanapathi
NBC Manus reported Australia's High Commissioner to PNG, Bruce Davis, was also on the island and told Mr Marape the Australian government would support the centre's conversion into a school.
PNG Education Minister Nick Kuman was part of Mr Marape's delegation and said he was ready to send technical teams to start groundwork.
While on Manus, Mr Marape also announced a $US2.3 million funding package for Manus province, with $US1.4 million going towards repairing the Manus highway ring-road, $US600,000 for a water supply project on remote Manus atolls, and $US300,000 for existing schools.
After more than six years on the island, the remaining 300 refugees were transferred to Port Moresby last month.