PNG needs auditing of its resources

Letters, Normal
Source:

The National, Friday August 2nd, 2013

 SO much has been talked about the natural resources development boom and the level of economic growth whose impacts have yet to filter down to the people.

PNG still has the the lowest social indicators in the region,  if not the world. 

PNG’s economy is a commodity-based economy and relies  on the extraction of natural resources which are described as “exploitative extractive natural resources developments”. 

The word “development” itself implies to 

“events” leading to “growth” which also include “training” of human resources.

But what are the im-pacts?

The fourth goal of our national Constitution has been iteratively used in the extraction of our natural resources without real im-pacts of sustainably managed natural resources and environments.  

Sustainable development means to meet the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This means meeting current human needs without undermining the  capacity of the environment  to provide for those needs over the long term.  

But how is our non-renewable resources being managed on a sustainable basis to meet the needs of the future generations of this country? 

Sustainable management of non-renewable re-sources means extracting these resources  at a rate in which the renewable re-sources will eventually re-place these non-renewable resources when they are depleted. 

Are our renewable non-renewable resources sectors working in harmony towards this ultimate goal of sustainable resource management in the country?

I strongly urge the government to undertake full auditing of our natural resources to ensure that we are on track with the fourth goal of the national Constitution. 

 

G Gowae

NCD