Manus affected by low cash flows, Kulwaum says

 A FORMER public servant in Manus says the province is being affected by low cash flows that have affected its development and growth.

Dr Gabriel Kulwaum, a former provincial administrator, said low cash flows brought about by the influx of foreign businesses has seen money being taken back out of the province instead of being invested locally to help with the development of various sectors.

Kulwaum said there was so much money coming into the province, especially with the presence of the regional processing centre, but these were being invested in businesses from out of the province. He said while a majority of the locals were employed at the centre, money being earned was going back to the foreign businesses.

He said a lack of government support and control has seen other foreign companies take over from locals, putting a stress on locals to compete.  Kulwaum said the province’s economy was small but its remoteness, compounded by the high prices of goods and services, made it difficult for development and growth.

He said this was despite the fact that there were current developments in infrastructures through the regional processing centre. “The impacts of the processing centre in the province is an issue that revolves around who is benefiting from it,” Kulwaum said.

“We have seen businesses being left out of some of the opportunities and even our people from the rural sector are struggling.”