MRA act

IT is distasteful to read in the newspapers of a senior statesman like Sir Julius Chan making a statement of celebration on the change to an Act.
An Act based on personal achievement rather than for the good of an organisation, the mining industry, the Government and the country.
Statements such as “amendments passed to the MRA Act is a start on the road to changing the mining sector” clearly shows the motive of this amendment.
This is to fulfil a personal and political party agenda of changing mining policies like mineral ownership, increased royalty and other fiscal provisions which will do more harm than good to the mining industry.
Forcing a change without considering the negative impacts is quite irresponsible, to say the least.
It is also unbecoming of a senior citizen to suggest a change
to the PNG Constitution that enables equal sharing of mineral wealth.
The Constitution has enabled taxes collected from Lihir mine to be used in the budget for every citizen.
This is instead of Lihir being owned and benefiting only the landowners, and maybe the New Ireland under his autonomous endeavours.
I assert that this country will not be where it is now without the mining industry.
It is under this sector’s umbrella that the hydrocarbon sector was developed and together form the biggest revenue-earner for the country.
Therefore, the mining industry ought to be given due credit and not be given the cold shoulder and ultimately destroyed, through irresponsible public policy formulation.
As an example of a change in the Act, there is an increase in the levy paid by mining companies in order to fund the operations of the Department of Mineral Policy.
This department will now have cash that would be available for use by the minister, no doubt because the MRA budget does not have surplus cash for unbudgeted expenditure.
I am a nationalist, but my conscience simply cannot agree on this manner of Government policy and legislative changes that are done for reasons other than in the best interest of the country.
Where is this country going?

Lomux
Port Moresby