When will the project start?

MY comment follows a recent media article on the forestry sector and its K1.3 billion contribution to the national economy (The National, Feb 12).
Forest Minister Douglas Tomuriesa said there were 25 forest management areas (FMAs) in PNG with 2000 incorporated land groups (ILGs) in these project areas.
One such FMA project is East Collingwood in Milne Bay on the border between Northern and Milne Bay.
This part of the Alotau district is the least-developed area in the whole of Milne Bay, according to the development index of PNG.
Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel is the Alotau Open MP and this is part of his electorate.
I am from East Collingwood.
The memorandum-of-agreement (MOA) was signed in 1998 and has been stagnant for 20 years.
This is due to non-action and non-compliance with the terms of the agreement by the National Forest Authority.
Unfortunately, landowners cannot derive any benefits in terms of royalties and other forms of development from their forestry resources.
They have waited for over 20 years for this development to take place. The landowners have also allocated over 10,000ha for tree plantations under the ‘painim graun na planim diwai programme’.
Ten ILGs have signed their consent for the land, but still nothing has taken place by the state authority in terms of survey and acquisition.
Could the minister and the MD (who is also from Milne Bay) tell the people of East Collingwood FMA and Milne Bay as to when this project will commence?

Concerned Observer
Member ILG-East Collingwood
Bay FMA