Improve project negotiations

DEVELOPMENT brings joy and happiness to people, but it comes with expenses, pain, sorrow and regret.
These are challenges we are facing today and we will still continue to face them because Papua New Guinea is a developing country.
Whether we like it or not, we have no choice as we have to exploit resources to develop our own country.
Our leaders maybe right about making decisions to move this nation forward but the problem we have now is not investment, development or projects, it is negotiation with investors.
Leaders ignorantly overlook important areas when allowing developers to exploit our resources.
They overlook areas such as benefit-sharing agreements, environmental safety, food security, relocation and resettlement of affected communities and life after mine.
There is no guarantee.
What safety massage does the State has for the people if they go ahead to cut the deal and allow projects to start?
The overall damage mines and other projects will bring to host people is always out of our leaders mind.
The State really has no time to put its people’s interest and welfare first by sparing some time to listen to public views or carry out public consultation and awareness before allowing developers to start operations.
That’s the biggest problem we have right now.
We depend on garden food and marine resources to survive.
While we appreciate changes and developments, the Government should hear people’s views.
The State sees public consultation and awareness as treats and hindrances to development so our leaders do not spare time hearing people’s views during negotiations of projects.
The State, through our leaders, always rush things and bypass landowners and host communities without proper consultations.
Sometimes, leaders sign memorandum of agreements behind closed doors.
They do that in isolated locations without people’s knowledge.
The negotiation processes should be better.

Hanam Bill Sandu
Concerned Citizen
Lae