Paga Hill developer slams Minister Tkatchenko

Minister contradicts Cabinet decisions: PHDC

PAGA Hill Development Company (PHDC) has challenged the minister responsible for APEC, Justin Tkatchenko’s, statements regarding the Paga Hill redevelopment project as not being a part of APEC preparations as contradictory to the National Government’s decisions.

They claim citing various decisions and declarations from the government on the role the project will play.

“Minister Tkatchenko raises issues that are in stark contradiction to Cabinet decisions which he himself is party to. Namely, the 2012 declaration of Paga Hill Estate as a ‘Project of National Significance’, the declaration in October 2015 of Paga Hill Estate as a preferred location for the hosting of APEC 2018,” PHDC stated.

“The December 2016 recognition of Paga Hill ‘Tourism City’ and approval of fiscal incentives for Paga Hill Estate in an attempt to attract foreign direct investment. Furthermore, the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, during his visit to China July 2016, presented Paga Hill Estate to the Chinese state-owned company China Harbour Engineering Corporation.”

“The NCD Governor Powes Parkop similarly launched the project in Shenzhen, China in May 2016. Finally, as recently as 26th January 2017, Tobias Kulang, Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture launched an international Expression of Interest process at National Parliament House. All of these actions are clear demonstrations of government support for the Paga Hill Estate project, as well as its diverse range of benefits to the country.”

He added that PHDC has spent tens of millions of Kina to date, as is evidenced from designs, approvals and civil works already carried out, and is now pursuing approximately K3 billion funding to pursue a transformative vision for Port Moresby, one that will create thousands of jobs, uplift the city’s tourist infrastructure and trigger a more diversified local economy.

“Minister Tkatchenko’s bizarre and defamatory statements are without basis and are in contradiction to Cabinet decisions which he himself was party to,” it added.

“The vision for Paga Hill Estate is one of truly national significance, and is far bigger than any one electorate, or any one summit.”

“We have been working closely with the PNG Government through Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Hon Tobias Kulang, and Minister Richard Maru, Minister for Trade, Commerce & Industry, progressing a whole-of-PNG strategy for Paga Hill Estate to sustainably boost the nation’s tourism industry, as well as trigger a more diversified local economy.”