Sir Michael tells govt to honour commitments

East Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare is calling on Prime Minister O’Neill to honour his government’s commitment and accept the landowners’ offer to cover their 4.27 per cent share in the PNG LNG project.
“I am pleased to see that landowners have gone out  on their own and have sourced independent funding to pay for their equity in the PNG LNG project,” Sir Michael said.
“This move is in line with the agreement reached in Kokopo in 2009 between the previous government and the beneficiary groups.
“While government has not completed its part in the clan vetting process, this has not stopped these particular Hela groups from doing their part in ensuring their people participate in benefit sharing in the PNG LNG project.
“I, therefore, call on Peter O’Neill to hear the cries of these Hela people. You look after Hela and Hela will continue to look after the rest of Papua New Guinea.
“Their free carry payments and royalty payments are still outstanding. Your appropriate action further guarantees project security and I urge you to follow convention by honouring the agreement reached by my government that allows the beneficiary groups to pay the same price that the government paid when it acquired its 19.6 per cent in the gas project.
“I commend the initiative taken by these landowners and agree that they should not be made to pay a higher price than the government, ExxonMobil or Oil Search.
“The K725 million price offer for 4.27 per cent in the project is significant and can at this time address some of the financial difficulties the Government is facing.”