Govt under wrong advisers

THE Somare-Temu Government must be very careful with the advice they are getting and who they are getting it from.
I am surprised that the Government was quick to amend the act on the Environment Bill to please the project developers. The Government should rather protect its citizens and worry about making amends to Acts that protect the politicians and public servants stealing from the public purse.
So many trust accounts and very few developments in the health, education and other vital departments. Why are heart patients going overseas when we have the money to improve our hospital for referral cases?
It seems that the Government is going in the wrong direction. The LNG project is another issue. It is a pity the locals are not given adequate opportunity to participate in the project.
People will cause a lot of headaches for the Government and will pass the buck to the police to quell the uprising because of the stupid discussions made by the Government.
Our agriculture sector is dying and the focus is on the mining sector. History informed us that agriculture was one of the sectors that enabled people to survive. The National Government of Somare/Temu should rectify their acts before it’s too late.

Inap nau
Lae
Morobe Province

Post Courier, June 21, 2010

Ramu nickel a must - PM

‘Closure could be a fatal investment blow’

PAPUA New Guinea will be liable to repay the Chinese Metallurgical Construction Company (MCC) and its partners if the Ramu nickel/cobalt project does not proceed as scheduled.
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said yesterday that the Ramu project was important for Papua New Guinea and if it did not move forward, the country’s reputation as an investment destination would be at stake.
He also said that Parliament passed the law on environment to ensure that the project proceeded while the courts dealt with the opposition by non-government organisations on the deep sea tailings.
He said he got advice from all legal experts including the Chief Secretary to Government Manasupe Zurenuoc and Attorney General Ano Pala. The Government even got advice from a Scottish firm that advised that the deep sea tailings would not have any impact on the marine environment.
The Ramu project is being developed at a cost of $US800 million (K2.4 billion) and the major partners include Highlands Pacific Limited and Mineral Resources Development Company Ltd. The Ramu landowners are also partners in the project.
“We had to make changes to get speedy process to carry out the project,” Sir Michael said.
“If delayed, it is going to cost us money. We cannot get mining going while this is in court.”
He did not reveal how much it would cost the State but he said “the Government will lose (lot of money)”.
And on top of this he said, “Our reputation will also be at stake. So it is in the best interest of the country.”
He said there had been no other company that was interested in developing the Ramu project at a time when no investor wanted to enter the country and the Chinese Government offered to do it.
“I went and talked with the Chinese and they freely offered to come in and invest their money in the Ramu project,” he said.

Post Courier June 9, 2010