PNG Forestry Minister Schnaubelt Warns Timber Companies
FORESTRY MINISTER WARNS TIMBER COMPANIES
Timber Operating Companies in Papua New Guinea have been warned to immediately pay up their outstanding levies and royalty payments to both the landowners and the government.
The warning was issued by Forestry Minister Walter Schnaubelt.
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| Loading Logs in PNG. Photo by Kipan |
Minister Schnaubelt sounded the warning following failure by most companies and operations to meet their obligations under various agreements.
The Minister said they are fully aware of the legal ramifications associated with non-compliance with their legal obligations as stipulated under the agreements and the underlying laws of the country governing the forestry sector.
He said the companies were engaged to pay up on time in compliance with the legal requirements in which they are a party.
He said many of these companies are not new to the fact that they have to abide by the legal requirements of the operating and export sales agreements.
The Minister added that companies have signed agreements with the landowners and the state to pay up on time.
He said many have not complied with the provisions of their respective agreements under which they operate and therefore have outstanding payments.
He said as minister responsible for the industry he has called on them to immediately undertake serious actions and pay up their outstanding amounts.
He added that this is critical to the economy that’s why the government cannot allow such serious fiscal anomalies to undermine the revenue flow and foreign exchange earnings.
Schnaubelt said landowners and communities need to be remunerated for their outstanding payments considering they were mostly rural and remotely based and had difficulty accessing the government’s vital services.
The minister reiterated his warning for the companies to fully cooperate with his call to seriously consider paying up now without any further delays.
NBC News / PNG Today
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