Leaders urged to support, contribute to project

 LEADERS of East New Britain have been challenged to contribute positively and meaningfully to the oil palm project development adapted by the Qaqet (Baining) people on their customary land. 

Qaqet Stewardship Council Inc chairman Nicholaus Remise Leo was responding to recent media claims by leaders and settlers living near the leased land challenging the oil palm project development. 

“We challenge leaders – politicians and or patriots of this province – not to negate this oil palm project and its developments unless an alternative tangible strategy be provided to build new access roads and improve on the current state of the main provincial ring roads linking the northern and southern rural population,” Leo said.

“This oil palm project is already resolving issues of unemployment in East New Britain and complimenting the provincial medium and long term plans which stipulates 

growing the local economy and seeing the Private Public Partnership (PPP) concept in play.”

He said since pre-independence ethnic groups from in East New Britain and all over PNG and retired public servants and the forced Sikut/Talvat settlement package, had settled in comfortably  on parcels of Qaqet customary land at Warangoi/Rieit  Plains,  the Gaulim/Kerevat plains, and on tracts of land parcels at Vunapalading towards Lassul Bay. 

“They are enjoying the comforts of our friendly attitudes and cultivating for economics and sustenance of our rich lands but at the cost of our future Baining generation’s security,” Leo said when calling on the settlers affected by the oil palm project development to resolve matters positively with the Qaqet (Baining) ILGs authorities. 

“This development is already reaching new levels of economic growth and developments through the first phase of the oil palm project in Wide Bay for our people of the Simbali and Mali clans and everyone in Wide Bay in the South Coast. 

“As the oil palm project continues in its second phase, anticipating a second mill servicing Kairak oil palm plantations, it will realise an intensive economic growth impacting into the northern end of Gazelle 

peninsula and rest of East New Britain people.”