Western trust fund to remain closed: PM

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill told Parliament yesterday that Western Province Development Trust Fund will remain closed and he will not lift the ban to avoid abuse of thefunds.
Responding to North Fly MP James Donald’s query, O’Neill said he had put a stop to the drawdown of Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) and non-CMCA funds that were being managed by the Department of Mining with Finance Department.
“It’s true that I have put a stop to the drawdown of the CMCA and non-CMCA funds spending on projects,” he said.
“For many years, huge abuses had taken place in the management of that fund. It’s quite shameful, that is why I have instructed that there be an audit,” O’Neill said.
He said there was about K300 million in the trust account and for the first time the fund had some money put away.
“I have not received a full report of the audit and I know that’ it’s difficult to the non-CMCA and CMCA areas but I will not lift the ban.
“I don’t receive the audit, I will expand the enquiry that is currently underway on Ok Tedi, PNG Sustainable Development Programme and the non-CMCA and CMCA programmes.
“The truth must be told where hundreds of millions of kina from successive governments have been stolen without any evidence of projects on the ground.”