Basil told to share PNG Forest equity

NATIONAL Planning and Monitoring Minister and Bulolo MP Sam Basil has been urged to share the 20% equity from PNG Forest Products with local landowner entities to ensure fair and equal participation in socio-economic activities.
“If shared the money will enable local investment companies and entrepreneurs to become involved meaningfully as landowners to improve their communities and district,” Nauti Investment Inc chairman Nathan Kupa said.
Kupa, who heads the landowner company from Upper Watut, said over the years, governments and companies took over landownership titles from locals.
He said such land was used to make money without providing any opportunity for locals to take part equally in economic activities to sustain and improve living standards.
“We were deprived from participating meaningfully or just used as labourers, although companies and government agencies operate on our land that was sold cheaply to
them by our fore fathers.”
At the Bulolo rugby league field last Sunday, Kupa called on Basil to share the 20% equity that would be paid to the district among all concerned landowner entities to empower them
to improve their capacities to take part meaningfully and equally in socio-economic activities.
Basil assured people from the district that he had yet to set up a mechanism on how the monies would be used to benefit the six local level governments in the district.
“But I have a vision to set in place a sustainable development foundation, of which the committee members will comprise of representatives from reputable companies, government officers, churches, youths, women’s and non-governmental organisations that will decide and do the planning and spending of the equity on desired projects in the district,” Basil said.
He said all six LLGs would benefit equally and fairly from the equity from PNG Forest Products.