Industrial relocation welcomed

 PEOPLE in Open Bay, East New Britain, have welcomed the recent announcement by regional MP Leo Dion for the possible shifting of an industrial park.

It will be consistent with a Baia communique signed in 2010 with the provincial government and West New Britain provincial government for the development of a 44km trans-island road and an economic road between Open Bay at Watu area and Wide Bay at Karlai area.

The Open Bay people, through their landowner company Simakade Holdings Limited and its development partners, took up the initiative in 2011 to begin constructing at no cost to the State the Watu-Karlai Road.

Chairman of the board of directors, Peter Maue, said about 38km of the road was completed with less than 6km to go. He said given their long-term goals for the Open and Wide Bay area, they wanted Dion and ENB leaders to stop the influx of people into the area, including suspicious investors to enter Open Bay without consultation.

“A number of investors have promised our people but after they log out our forest, they left nothing for us,” he said.