Praise for new authority

 MEMBERS of Parliament have praised Minister for Environment and Conservation John Pundari for converting the department into an authority.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop was the first to comment during debate in Parliament last Thursday, saying it was a significant move made by the minister and the government.

Parkop was speaking after Parliament passed the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority Bill 2014 on Wednesday. 

He said for too long ordinary people had paid a high price for the damage to the environment which they depended on for their livelihood. 

He said it was one thing for Parliament to make and pass laws but it was another thing to implement those laws.

“What we need is the capacity to enforce those laws,” he said. 

Sports and Pacific Games Minister Justin Tkatchenko joined Parkop in congratulating Pundari.

Tkatchenko stressed the importance of conserving and preserving the flora and fauna of PNG.

He said the country needed to embrace different species of animals and plants that it had that were unique. 

Northern Governor Garry Juffa said with changes in the government agency, qualified people should be taken on board to run the organisation and that it should be free of political influence and interference. 

He agreed with Parkop that the agency did not do enough to enforce the laws to help protect the environment and the people. 

Juffa said PNG was the easiest place where people from outside could come and do business and activities illegally or legally under dubious deals.