LOOPPNG (04.11.2015)
The O’Neill government had not progressed payments to LNG landowners since it took office in 2011, former prime minister Sir Michael Somare says.
He referred to the 2009 contract between landowners and the State in the PNGLNG project and said it was “sad’’.
Sir Michael said, “It has been six years since the Somare government and the Beneficiary group landowners signed off on the Umbrella Benefits Sharing Agreement (UBSA) yet Mr O’Neill sees fit to treat them, Provincial government and Local Level Governments (LLGs) with contempt by using delay tactics and misinforming them on their benefits.”
Sir Michael said Mr O’Neill’s recent ‘assurances’ to LNG Landowners of a ‘better deal’ were mischievous and designed to mislead landowners.
He said “The Prime Minister should start delivering the benefit packages in the 2009 Kokopo Umbrella Benefits Sharing Agreement before offering more of his renowned empty promises.
“The 2009 Kokopo UBSA’s total benefits sharing package represents absolute value that stands at a staggering USD11Billion over 25 years - this could hardly be considered as ‘a raw deal’ as suggested by Mr O’Neill.