Universal declaration of human rights

ARTICLE 48 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations clearly stipulates that “Every human being irrespective of race, gender, social status, religious, political or economic affiliation etc has a right to information”.
That statement resonates well with the sentiment expressed by Sir John Pundari regarding the right of citizens to be fully informed by resource development investors and State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) about the extraction and marketing of their natural resources in Papua New Guinea.
We totally concur with Sir John’s concern and demand that all SOEs and foreign multinational investors provide factual and realistic information on monetary acquisition and spending’s regarding extraction, marketing and profits generated by our natural resources.
We the resource owners of this country have every right to know what is happening to our resources and we must be rightfully informed of how these resources are being sold abroad including the profits.
Public consumption of information is critical as it enables a conducive environment for transparency, accountability, honesty and prudently.
On this same note; what is the role and function of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative?
Is this agency alive and is it performing its duty to inform the general populace of this country through aggressive advocacy and dissemination of information?
We await the response of the government’s notice served to SOEs and foreign investors regarding this issue within 14 days and hope that this notice is adhered to with positive outcomes.

John Mangua Yoga
Goroka – EHP