Consider dealing with landowners

THE NBC TV 6pm news bulletin on Monday made me very angry as well as doubting the Government, under Prime Minister James Marape.
I doubt the “Take Back PNG” slogan.
State Enterprises Minister William Duma signed an agreement with a consortium at Government House to supply electricity to Wafi-Golpu using Ramu Hydro-power.
However, last Friday special mining lease 10 (SML 10) principal landowners of Wafi Golpu signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Gas Corporation Ltd (NGCL) too to supply electricity to Wafi-Golpu mine using gas from Hides petroleum development licenses 1 of which NGCL has around four per cent equity.
NGCL is truly a locally-owned company, having its shareholders being the 22 provincial governments, project area landowners, which is mandated by the Oil & Gas Act 1998 to downstream process products of petroleum/gas in Papua New Guinea, including gas-fired electricity to meet domestic market obligation.
By virtue of last Friday’s signing, NGCL and SML 10 landowners have expressed their intention and interest clearly – it is them who will supply gas-fired electricity to the mine and that should not be undermined by their own Government.
Is Marape serious about Taking Back PNG?
If so, landowners should be given the highest priority to participate in multimillion projects such as Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture instead of being spectators.
This country has been sold to foreigners and consortiums who collaborated with a few ill-fated Papua New Guineans in position of power to continue to sell PNG until it’s no more.

Cyril Gare, Via email