Govt to review Act before polls

PRIME Minister James Marape says the review of the Oil Palm Act will be tabled in Parliament before the General Election next year.
Marape said this during the opening of the K140 million West New Britain (WNB) Haus in Port Moresby on Friday that the country would benefit more from the oil palm industry which was a major revenue earner in agriculture sector for the country.
He said Talasea MP Francis Maneke had been driving the review.
“In January or March next year, before we go to the elections, just like the many laws that we are delivering, we will ensure that the Oil Palm Act is legalised, the Oil Palm industry is legalised and more benefits is flowing back to the resource owners, harvesters, the local economy and investment partners also,” Marape said.
Maneke said the WNB oil palm generated more than K1.5 billion annually to the national purse.
“The story of this occasion of the WNB Haus started in the late 60’s by the founding fathers when they decided to grow oil palm in West New Britain,” he said.
“Families from other provinces, especially East Sepik and East New Britain were relocated to West New Britain and thereafter from all over Papua New Guinea to work in the oil palm industry.
“Since then the oil palm industry has grown and today more than 80 per cent of the land of Talasea is covered with oil palm, with the two milling companies operating – the New Britain Palm Oil Limited and Hargy Oil Palm.”