Akoitai calls on govt to give back to resource provinces

TAX credit scheme funds are specifically designed for project-impacted areas and not for Waigani, Central Bougainville MP Sam Akoitai says.
He said this when debating the Ok Tedi Environment Bill in Parliament on Wednesday.
He said many people did not understand the purpose and reason for creation of the tax credit scheme funds, which were now being pumped into Waigani while turning a blind eye on project areas.
He said Western would be a forgotten province when the Ok Tedi mine was closed, with Government only interested in revenue and not considering the future of the people.
Akoitai, a former mining minister, said while the Government was only interested in profit, the future of the people of Western was at stake with most funds like tax credit continuing to be used in Waigani. He said the people of Western were also hugely impacted by pollution of the Fly River.
“If the mine closes, I don’t think Waigani will know where Western is,” Akoitai said.
“In my view, the resources of the resource provinces are pumped into Waigani but Waigani is not seen to be putting back into the resource provinces.
“You must all be aware that the tax credit scheme came about in Papua New Guinea when Porgera (mine) stated operating.
“That tax credit scheme came about when Bougainvilleans were fighting among themselves that resources or revenue were generated in Bougainville, but nothing was going back into Bougainville.
“That is how the tax credit scheme was born.”