MPs urged to take neutral stand on project row

 By DOROTHY MARK

MADANG Governor Jim Kas has appealed to Madang MPs to refrain from taking sides with landowners in the current row over the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) project.

He said the Government has made the decision to develop the project, which the Madang provincial government had no choice but to support the project.

“I represent the provincial government and said the Madang provincial government will support the provincial government to make PMIZ grow,” Kas said. He urged all ward councillors to work within the government decisions when addressing the PMIZ issue with their people.

Kas challenged the people to vote him out in the next election if the decision he made to support the project did not go down well with the people.

“I made the decision to support the national government decision for the benefit of the whole province,” he said.

He said environment issues would be addressed by appropriate authorities. He added that the provincial government would not support the project impact people them to stop the project.

He said Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather was raising concerns based on his people’s view and Madang MP Nixon Duban had to say something on behalf of Madang electorate.

“We are not short of words on what needs to be done on a win-win situation. I appeal to the landowners not to take PMIZ to court,” Kas said.

“I fully support the project and I’ve done it for the majority of the people of Madang.”