Rights and Resources of Western Province Signed Away: North Fly MP

North Fly MP James Donald has been joined by Middle Fly MP, Maso Hewabi and members of the People's Reform Party criticizing the government for "signing away the rights and resources of Western Province".

The People's Reform Party Leader says the K4.8 billion pipedream project agreement signed recently between the Government, Western Provincial Government, and the company known as Independent Timbers & Stevedoring Limited [IT&S], is outrageous and amounts to legalized land grabbing.

Mr Donald says he's not privy to the details of this agreement and has never been a supporter or advocator of this project, now as a member of parliament, and as a private citizen before politics.

“I unequivocally stand firm against this project and express my disgust and doubt over the authenticity of this agreement. It is nothing more than a glorified logging operation to have a monopoly over Western Province’s pristine rainforests.

He says this grand scheme has been promoted and pushed by foreign businessmen over the years, but the only difference is the name tag.

“10 years ago, under the guise and mischief of the Special Agriculture Business Leases [SABLs], IT&S allegedly conspired to take over two million hectares of Western Province land using SABLs.

“Luckily, the land grab was stopped after SABLs were discontinued, however the Commission of Inquiry did recommend further investigation given the substantial evidence that landowners were bypassed and tricked – something that I am afraid appears to have happened yet again".

Mr Donald adds he was also a landowner along the proposed road corridor of the project, which proposed to come through his Giakom clan on the footprints of the Ketu-Elevala river, yet his clan was not included in any consultation whatsoever.

However, Western Governor Toboi Toto says this project is something that his people have been waiting for long and is a dream come through for his people.

"It is really a historic and joyous achievement," Yoto said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister James Marape says the K4.8 billion project will benefit the people of Western Province.

“This project will benefit over 300 kilometers of a sealed, all-weather road that will run from Kiunga to Nomad to the borders of gulf province and later we will push this highway to Kikori in Gulf Province,” Mr Marape said.

He's assured that Western Province stands to gain 70% of project benefits, particularly to the infrastructure provided at no cost to the state.

He adds that it will benefit the country a lot when PNG moves into downstream processing of timber in 2028 going forward.