OSL comes good after 12 years

Letters, Normal
Source:

The National – Tuesday, December 7, 2010

DO not be a flying fox in Madang but come home to witness the many changes taking place in Southern Highlands.
I write in respond to the author of the letter “OSL did well to aid Erave High School” (The National, Dec 1).
For the record, in 1998, Erave High School and Erave health centre were to be funded under a tax credit scheme.
The approving authority for tax credit scheme before the Oil and Gas Act was enacted in 1998 comprised Internal Revenue Commissioner David Sode, Petroleum and Energy secretary Joseph Gabut and I, as SHP governor.
The approving authority agreed to funding for Erave High and Erave health centre under the tax credit programme under Chevron Niugini Ltd.
The project was approved for funding but when Oil Search Ltd took over, nothing materialised.
I am happy that after 12 years, Oil Search finally made an initial funding of K3 million to Erave High.
The provincial government has released K560,000 for four double classrooms to be built by Treid Pacific Ltd.
Work was completed on Mapuanda School in Kagua and will commence at Kero top-up school in Ialibu.
In the New Year, work will commence on Erave High.
The recurrent cost of infrastructure for all schools will be carried by the provincial government.
Project design, tendering and procurement processes take time.
Materials are not manufactured in SHP.
We are at the end of the supply line.
So we need to be patient.
Oil Search must also take note that tax credit must conform to the provincial plans and the medium term development plan.
They are state funds chaired by the secretary for National Planning under the Oil and Gas Act.
We have turned the corner and are on the home stretch.

 

Anderson Agiru
SHP governor