International firms influencing politics

THE role of the multinational companies operating in Papua New Guinea and the Organic Law on Local Level and Provincial Governments 1998 (OLLLPG) is a significant factor in the current political turmoil.
The multinational companies are major players in the current political crisis.
Barrick (Niugini) Ltd deliberately took the Government to court in its bid to delay the recommencement of the Porgera Mine.
Oil Search Ltd, ExxonMobil, Total and others have deliberately delayed the development of the Papua LNG project and P’nyang LNG project.
The delay tactics to secure much better project terms for their shareholders abroad is ruining our economy from loss of potential employment, economic activity and tax revenues.
These companies have engaged a number of former politicians to lobby for their interest, who are in the opposition camp.
The autonomy of provincial, district and local level governments from the national government ensured effective delivery of development and services after independence.
Approval by Parliament and implementation of the OLLLG in 1998 re-centralised political control and administrative power in Waigani, and abolished the provincial assemblies.
The implementation of the OLLLPG has enabled the elected MPs to dominate and control both the national, provincial, and local level governments since 1998 to the detriment of PNG.
It resulted in the loss of effective management, governance and accountability, and separation of powers at all levels of Government in the management of our country.
The current political turmoil is a clear manifestation of these problems which resulted from the OLLLPG.
That is destroying our economy and the future.
The Government should introduce a new organic law on production sharing arrangement and nationalise all the mineral, oil, and gas companies in PNG to stop multinational corporations from interfering in the domestic politics.
The Government should abolish the OLLLPG and re-introduce the independent provincial assemblies, and divest power and control back to the provincial, district and local level governments.
It will give them autonomy and accountability to address the development needs in the provinces.

Concern citizen,
Pom