INTEROIL should not use the services it provided to convince the people and the Government to accept its fuel price increase.
It is not a matter of the company providing service such as helicopter to transport food supply to the flood-stricken Oro province or create employment. To some extent, we appreciate InterOil’s role as genuine service provider.
What we are very concern is fuel price increase which is hurting the poor people. It is daylight robbery, especially since the company is reaping so much from our land.
We are not only talking about the price surge but the snowball effect it has caused. For example, Air Niugini has increased its airfare due to InterOil’s decision.
We are aware InterOil built the Napanapa oil refinery, which is the first of its kind in PNG and we credit it for job well done.
However, it should have come up with an acceptable rate. It is a no-brainer that once fuel prices go up, the prices of goods and services will follow suit, hurting the grassroots people.
The Government must address this issue promptly without further delay.

Joe Ryangao
Port Moresby