K90M owed to Oro and Milne Bay people ‘disappears’
01 November 2015
GARY JUFFA | Facebook | Edited extracts
MEMBERS of Parliament of Milne Bay, since you are all in government, ask your beloved prime minister and Minister for the Independent Public Business Corporation this question.
Why have they failed to remit proceeds worth nearly K90 million from the recent (2015) sale of Sime Darby shares owned by our respective Oro and Milne Bay provincial governments to our governments.
These funds would be used to address our deteriorating oil palm feeder roads and assist our efforts to increase internal revenue. Our provinces have received nothing in dividends for almost 35 years while contributing to the PNG economy.
I have been passionately fighting for these shares since I entered parliament and have heard promises and lies.
I have been finally told by Ben Micah that these shares are no longer available for our provinces. So we have lost K45 million each which was due to be spent in our provinces.
Why? Why are the people of Oro and Milne Bay being treated this way?
Planning Minister Charles Abel, perhaps you know and can explain.
I can announce that I am taking this matter to court on behalf of the people of Oro and Milne Bay. Ben Micah and this Government must pay what is due to our people!
Oro oil palm growers are suffering poor fruit prices and miserable roads while the Minister for the Independent Public Business Corporation does not level with me.
Good questioning, Gov Juffa.
Hon Charles Abel - you strike me as a good man playing in the devil's band.
Posted by: Michael Dom | 01 November 2015 at 09:02 AM
The oil palm industry is the single biggest contributor to the economy in terms of agricultural exports. It is also the single biggest employer in agro industries and is responsible for the sustenance and livelihoods of thousands of Papua New Guineans in oil palm producing provinces such as Oro and WNB.
Currently, the price per ton for FFB that supports small holder growers has dropped affecting thousands of families who depend on this industry. Feeder roads to access FFB from the growers are also deteriorating coupled with the El Nino droughts, some growers are losing their palm trees to fires causing drop in production and earning power.
The government has to come good to Oro and all the other oil palm producing provinces in what is rightfully theirs whether it be shares or revenue dividends in this time of need for these provinces to provide needed basic government services.
Posted by: Raymond Sigimet | 01 November 2015 at 05:33 AM