Foundation sues PNGSDP over funds
A FOUNDATION representing mine-affected communities in Western has filed court proceedings against the PNG Sustainable Development Programme (PNG SDP) Ltd and others in regards to their funds in their care kept off-shore.
Those named as defendants are the PNG SDP Ltd, Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML), Sir Mekere Morauta, the State and the TMF Trustees Singapore Ltd.
The lawyer representing the Ok Tedi Fly River Development Foundation Greg Sheppard, of Young and William’s Lawyers, said the purpose of the case in the Singapore high court was to mitigate the return of long-term funds from OTML in the care of PNG SDP Ltd.
Sheppard said there were also other applications made to the high court of Singapore.
“The main issue is that the (PNG SDP Ltd) is in breach of its duties under its programme, and under the common law and the law of PNG to the affected communities of the Fly River,” he said.
“We are seeking a declaration that the affected communities are beneficiary entitled to the long-term fund and for it to be brought back onshore and put into the control of the Ok Tedi Fly River Development Foundation – that is, into the control of the affected people. When the arrangement was made to allow PNGSDP to take the money, it was done on the basis of that it was for the benefit of the people of Western and PNG and that is something that is simply hasn’t happened.”
4 comments
I hope it is not Greg Shepherd & his cohorts (the usual corrupt ones every PNG knows) trying to access this money belonging to PNGSDP safely kept in Singapore to use for their corrupt deals as usual. This dodgy lawyer should be kicked out of PNG when he confessed to do money laundering, why are we continuing to keep him there? He has drained the coffers of the country enough, get rid of him PNG law society.
Law firms will walk away with million of kina for legal fees..Why is Mekere holding back billions of kina in a trust account in Singapore? The State already lost in Singapore court so why is Mekere holding funds aboard rather than diverting them to PNGSDP to carry out its mandate task.
Jeffrey Read and understand
20/05/05 Singapore Court dismisses Govt’s appeal finds for PNG Sustainable Development Programme Ltd (PNGSDP) 6 year court case – The National
THE Singapore Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the PNG Sustainable Development Programme Ltd (PNGSDP) by dismissing the State of Papua New Guinea’s appeal against the High Court judgment which was handed down in April 2019, when it ruled that the PNG Government had “failed entirely” in its claim over PNGSDP.
PNGSDP announced this yesterday, confirming that it (PNGSDP), a company, limited by guarantee, was independent and not subject to oversight or control by the PNG Government.
PNGSDP was set up for the people of western province and funds should be used for the province alone. Western province is the least developed and the last from the list of every measured indicators. How then are we seeing pngsdp projects around the country?? Who gave the authority?
The mine lease was supposed to expire in 2013 and that should be the date when funds are diverted back to the province, in this country to be used for various development projects in the province. With the project life extension, the funds gets pushed further away from the people currently living (alive) and suffering from all forms of diseases, etc.
Lets not play politics. We need the funds now then ever! These funds should be brought back to the country and used in the province to cater for every needs we have. We need to catch up with Enga, WNB, ENB, the highlands and rest of the country.
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