Official: Consider transparency mechanisms in projects deals

TRANSPARENCY mechanisms must be considered in agreements for major projects such as Wafi-Golpu, says an official from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
Head of national secretariat Lucas Alkan made the comment as the Government prepares for negotiations on the Wafi-Golpu project, Woodlark and Kainantu gold mines memorandum of agreement reviews.
“In these project development process, transparency mechanisms must be considered and built into these project agreements and the reviews,” Alkan said.
Alkan said the Government’s commitment to implementing EITI would not increase transparency overnight. But it will assist the government to manage the extractive sector in a more inclusive and transparent manner.
He said highlighting transparency would also assist in minimising public speculations and distrust towards the Government.
“The EITI framework works to assist in bringing various sectors of the economy together and builds trust among them and creates a platform for these issues to be discussed so that solutions could be found together for better management of the sector,” he said.
“Now that Papua New Guinea is an EITI implementing country, the Government should not lose traction on EITI implementation.
“It stands to gain from implementing extractive industries transparency initiative because of the potential governance gains associated with it.”
Alkan said PNG still had a lot of work to do on citizen engagement.
“According to the World Bank’s World Governance Index 2018 edition, PNG scored very low on the voice-and-accountability indicator which indicates weak performance,” he said.
“As an EITI implementing country, mining and petroleum impacted communities and civil societies have a platform to access information and constructively engage with companies and the government on resource governance issues.”