Mine’s closure costing businesses about K24mil
MORE than 500 businesses in Porgera, Enga, have lost about K24 million over the last four months due to the suspension of the Porgera gold mine and want the Government’s decision to control the mine to be fast tracked for business resumption.
Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nickson Pakea told The National that most local contractors and SME (small and medium enterprise) bank loans had built up.
“Most of the MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) in the district especially in retail markets, livestock and vegetable farmers were abandoned while restaurants have closed for none payments of rental bills and other services associated with the business,” Pakea said.
“Business houses, women’s groups and third parties who have been benefiting from Porgera are indebted with loans and commitments.”
He said local SMEs and MSMEs of 500-plus needed K30 million in relief funding.
“If the Government can afford Covid-19 funding of K200 million, our businesses are affected by Government’s decision and we are qualified for the relief package of K30 million.”
He said Prime Minister James Marape’s slogan of “short term pain for long term gain” was having an impact on the people of Porgera and something needed to be done about the situation.
6 comments
Mr. Nickson Pakea. It is the delay of the Landowners not uniting to welcome the new Mining operator to Operat.
You have to call on all landowners to unit and let KPH ltd to take over.
I am not a fan of the Prime Minister but in this case he has my full support. Our ancestors existed without gold, money and business, so have a little more patience. Gold is a non-renewable resource, when it comes out of the ground it is gone forever, so when you have the chance you must maximize your benefits. If can’t maximize, might as well leave it in the ground (better than selling it very cheaply).
I am not a fan of the Prime Minister but in this case he has my full support. Our ancestors existed without gold, money and business, so have a little more patience. Gold is a non-renewable resource, when it comes out of the ground it is gone forever, so when you have the chance you must maximize your benefits. If can’t maximize, might as well leave it in the ground (better than selling it very cheaply).
Agree with Charles.
If the landowners are divided, that can be more costly in the long run and detrimental to the survival of the local businesses in Porgera.
Mr Pakea.
Look at a bigger picture. Its good to get small pain for a greater good. A sharp pain during an injection but for a greater good.
The opportunity cost for loss incurred will be far outweighed by the likely benefits the Government decision under PMJM is going to trigger. Be patient a new dawn for PNG has begun.
The silent majority of PNG citizens see the move taken by the State is primarily for the benefit of all stakeholders. Self-centered small-minded fellow full of ego in the likes of Mr Pakea to come out from the cave and make noise in the media is damaging in the public domain. Pakea needs to listen to his own words carefully: Where are you getting all this numbers from? Wondering how Pakea punches the numbers in the air and comes up with nothing but rubbish. It is high time to stop speaking the language of someone else. Pakea and his cohorts need to speak their own language and that language is the one PMJM and his coalition government is speaking.
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