O’Neill slams Marape’s resource update statement

IALIBU-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill has slammed a statement by Prime Minister James Marape that was supposed to be an update on key resources projects, as being an empty and clear demonstration that there is no real plan in place to get major projects moving by the Government.
O’Neill said in a statement yesterday: “We all agree on seeking greater benefits for our country and landowners from our resources, but the long delays by this Government and their failure to deliver on promises, is instead bringing about an economic collapse.
“We have an economy that is now in recession, which started well before the Covid-19, with the steep downturn in business confidence that happened when this Government halted major resources projects.
“This resulted in business closures and job losses last year that became so much worse when they shut the economy down for two months under a state of emergency. Now he’s back to resources sweet talk, but the statement today was simply more of nothing, more talk and no action, more slogans and more false hope,” said O’Neill.
“On the five projects mentioned, we heard excuses and blame, and for each of these projects there was no detail on how or when a single job will be created.
“ There was just the usual empty use of the word ‘hope’ over and over.
“On re-opening Porgera, he (Marape) said he is hopeful that it will be soon,” he said.
“On P’nyang he is hopeful to find a pathway with the parties, on Pasca he hopes to commence formal negotiations soon, while on Wafi-Golpu he simply said he has a view to signing, and on Papua LNG he said he is talking with lawyers.
“No country can live on hope when this is proven time and time again to be false hope.”