Come out clear on advice, PM urged

 SIR Mekere Morauta has challenged Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to disclose to the public the advice and recommendations given to him by the Eminent Persons Group.

O’Neill had set up the group to negotiate with Sir Mekere and the PNG Sustainable Development Programme Ltd on the Ok Tedi mine issue.

O’Neill said last week that the group had failed to reach an amicable solution to the problem after the negotiations. He  blamed Sir Mekere and the PNGSDP for the failure of the talks.

The State has engaged a lawyer in Singapore to fight a case filed in court in that country by the PNGSDP.  

Sir Mekere said: “The prime minister’s comments about the failure of the EPG are not correct. He should now disclose the advice and recommendations given to him by the EPG.

“Since the prime minister expropriated Ok Tedi from PNGSDP without compensation, social and economic developments have all but ceased throughout the province.

“I am advised that the decision to go against fair, common-sense recommendations developed in a spirit of compromise and in the interest of everyone concerned was the prime minister’s alone.

“It is a slap in the face for the people of Western.

“It leaves 200,000 people without the development assistance they need, simply to satisfy the prime minister’s political agenda and self-interest. 

“It is a very bad, selfish and counter-productive decision.”