Papua New Guinea Government Accused of Rushing Projects

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WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

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1/8/99

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Title: Govt accused of rushing projects

Source: Post Courier

Date: January 6, 1999

MAJOR forest industry sources have accused Prime Minister Bill Skate

and Forest Minister Peter Arul of trying to fast-track multi-million

kina timber projects in the country.

They say it was practically impossible to get developers to develop

the 14 major timber areas in a hurry without following proper legal

procedures and set forestry guidelines.

They were referring to a letter by Mr Arul dated December 9, 1998,

titled ``Prime Minister's Directives'', addressed to the chairman of

Provincial Forest Management Committees (PFMC) and copied to Mr Skate,

National Forest Board Chairman Gabriel Samol and PNG Forestry

Authority managing director Thomas Nen.

In the letter, Mr Arul threatens to have the National Executive

Council approve the timber projects if the PFMC couldn't find a

developer by this week.

The Forest Minister issued the warning while reminding them of the

Prime Minister's concern on the continuous delay of getting some of

the major timber projects off the ground.

``The Prime Minister has emphasised the importance of getting these

projects moving at this crucial economical situation in the country,''

Mr Arul said in the letter.

``He (Mr Skate) has emphasised the fact that downstream processing and

export of logs will create 50,000 jobs and boost infrastructure and

other development taking momentum in the rural areas.

``The kick-off of the projects will also bring in much needed foreign

currency to further boost the weak Papua New Guinea currency.''

``As per the Prime Minister's direction, you are directed to

immediately facilitate PFMC meetings to select a developer and

recommend to me, through the National Forest Board, a developer of

your choice who will fulfil all Timber Permit Requirements before

December, 20, 1998, so that the developer will start operating in the

first week of January 1999.

``I must warn you all that failure to comply with this instruction

will make me have no choice but to have all these projects approved by

the National Executive Council.''

Forestry sources said the directives cannot be met without by-passing

set guidelines and laws, which involves consultation and approval of

landowners.

A PNG Forestry Authority source confirmed yesterday that the task was

impossible but meetings have been held with PFMCs. ``I don't think we

can be able to meet the deadline,'' the source said.

A meeting was held in Alotau before Christmas to discuss Collingwood

Bay timber area in Northern Province, which will be joined with parts

of Milne Bay.

A second meeting will be held in Popondetta next week to discuss the

proposed concession areas of Gora-Itokama, Ioma Block 5 and Musa-

Pongani, which will be a model FMA.

Ioma Block 5, which has been a controversial project for the last 25

years, is the only area in PNG apart from Morobe Province which

contains the most valuable and sought after Mersawa timber species.

The timber areas in the Northern Province are rainforest habitat areas

for the endangered Queen Alexander Butterfly the largest butterfly in

the world.

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