Agiru wants support deal to sharing scheme

 HELA Governor Anderson Agiru has called on the Government to draw up a supplementary agreement to the Umbrella Benefits Sharing Agreement signed in Kokopo in 2009. 

It follows this week’s consultative meeting with leaders and landowners of hydrocarbon provinces by Petroleum and Energy Minister Ben Micah.

“The UBSA was concluded after six weeks of marathon negotiations between the Government and the four provincial governments and landowning groups affected by the first liquefied natural gas project,” Agiru said.

“At the time, Hela was yet a district of the Southern Highlands provincial government. But moves were advanced for Hela to attain province status following a political commitment by Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare in 2007.

“Subsequently, a provision was made at Clause 24 of the UBSA for a supplementary agreement to be drawn up to include Hela when it became a province.

“Hela was established by Parliament along with Jiwaka in 2012, but four years on, Clause 24 has not been evoked. I must stress that Clause 24 is consequential and mandatory.”