Border development authority abolished

PARLIAMENT has unanimously passed a bill to abolish the Border Development Authority (BDA) which was established by an Act of Parliament in 2008.
Immigration and Border Security Minister Petrus Thomas, in his statement to Parliament on Wednesday, said BDA had not been effective and the Government had decided to abolish the organisation.
Thomas said the bill repealed the Border Development Authority Act 2008 enabling its abolishment.
He said the BDA was established in 2008 with the intention to promote economic growth investment and training in the five border provinces.
“Unfortunately, over the years, the authority had lost its focus and had not been able to carry out its mandated functions,” Thomas said.
“The Authority had been mismanaged and had become a liability to the State and the people of this nation.
“The BDA lost its way and it was time for us to take action,” he said.
Thomas said the Government had taken appropriate steps to transfer all functions relating to the BDA administration back to the Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Department.
He said Cabinet had directed the Finance Department to conduct an audit of the BDA assets and liabilities including PNG Maritime Ltd.
The PNG Maritime Ltd is a subsidiary company established by the Authority under the Company’s Act where the BDA was the sole shareholder.
Cabinet directed Thomas to immediately facilitate the dissolving of the BDA board and its subsidiary company.
Thomas said the Personnel Management Department would deal with the human resource matters in relation to BDA staff.