Akoita justifies his move to the PNG Opposition

Papua New Guinea's People’s National Congress Party Leader, Peter O’Neill, has taken serious issue with false-hope comments by James Marape to the workers, contractors and landowners of Porgera, whose lives have been ruined by the government’s attempt to nationalize the mine.

“The people of Porgera, Enga and the Nation, are losing around K100 million Kina each month because of Marape’s miscalculated decision,” Mr. O’Neill said.

“While more than 2,600 PNG staff are losing their jobs, Marape, perhaps gripped by guilt over what he has done to them, has been on Facebook saying the government has them covered if Barrick does not pay.

“As a global company listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges, there is no doubt that Barrick will adhere to the law and meet retrenchment payouts.

“So this is nonsense about the government having them covered, because there is no plan by Marape to replace the wages of workers. Marape has no plan to replace contracts for small businesses who are now suffering, and he has no plan to provide money for schools and healthcare that was funded by the mine for the people.”

Peter O’Neill said the failure of the government to complete a single successful negotiation with the global investment community comes down to inexperience and incompetence.

“Marape thought he was being smart by announcing he would not renew the Porgera lease, but because of his lack of foresight, he has ruined the lives of thousands of people who have now lost their jobs and lost small businesses.

“As a sovereign government, in a country the size of Papua New Guinea, you must only ever engage major global companies when you have a clear strategy that will deliver a positive outcome.

“So when Marape went to the Porgera Joint Venture with his cargo cult mentality, they slammed the door in his face and said ‘see you in court.’

“Now, as these court proceedings are underway, Marape has exposed our country to billions of dollars in potential damages payouts.

“This inexperience and immaturity is why Marape has failed to get Papua LNG moving, why he has failed to negotiate P’nyang, and why Wafi-Golpu is now bogged down in an endless period of consultations.

“The management of government and the National economy is serious, it is not something to play around with though empty sermons and sweet talk on Facebook, because this only leads to more of the pain our country is experiencing right now because of bad decisions.”

Statement

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Akoita justifies his move to the PNG Opposition