LIAM FOX | ABC
PAPUA NEW GUINEA's prime minister Peter O’Neill says he won't extend the lease for the Ok Tedi mine unless there is more government oversight of its major shareholder.
Mr O'Neill has long criticised Ok Tedi's major shareholder, the Singapore-based charitable trust PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGDSP).
He has accused the trust of failing to live up to its mandate to use the mine's dividends to promote development in PNG.
The mine's lease is due to expire later this year and Mr O'Neill has told parliament he won't agree to extend it to 2022 under the current arrangements.
"This partnership is not working. Like any marriage that is not working there must be a time for divorce," he said.
Mr O'Neill says the government should have more oversight of PNGSDP, and he wants to restructure its board to include more Papua New Guineans.
Our prime minister is absolutely correct in what he said.
All major foreign projects carried out in PNG and mining companies needs to put their focus on developing this nation.
They harvest our resources and our country will have nothing for it to run like it did before the mining companies invaded it.
If the mining companies cannot give what they owe the country then what is the point of them still being here?
All they will do is take what belongs to the people and then leave them with nothing because we all know that money does not stay in one place too long.
Posted by: Sharlene Kendo | 26 March 2013 at 11:50 AM
I support what the prime minister wants to do because the company cannot stand and work togather with the government to develop PNG.
It is time to make the right decision and include more Papua New Guineans into the workforce to devolop this nation.
Posted by: Neil Yamelu | 23 March 2013 at 07:58 PM