The people of Western Province should know by September if they can have access to the US$1.4 billion funds, parked under the PNG Sustainable Development (PNGSDP) in Singapore.
Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill told Parliament yesterday that there was one more issue before the Singapore Courts to be settled before the people of Western Province could have access to the funds. He has assured the people of Western Province that as soon as a resolution to the National Court on a landowner case against the State is settled they could have access to more than K350 million held in the Court Trust. Western Province Governor Ati Wobiro queried if there was a way Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill could assist with funds parked under PNGSDP and the National Courts. "The funds that are normally held by the Mining Department are now locked up in a court case, if there is anyway the Prime Minister can help us access these funds so we can address the many problems confronting the Province, especially in the North Fly areas resulting from the no rainfall and the impact it is having on the river," Governor Wobiro said. Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill responded: "I want to inform the House that the matters before the Courts and issues relating to the PNGSDP has been in dispute for sometime because of the unwillingness of BHP to come and discuss this matter in a mature manner with Government, so that the people of Western Province can have access to funds that are being parked in Singapore, close to over US$1.4 billion. "As we all know, the international arbitration has decided that on the application by PNG Sustainable, trying to get judgment against the Government, that matter was ruled in our favour and as a result we only have one more outstanding case before the Courts in Singapore. "We would know by September as the Courts make their ruling, our lawyers in Singapore is working hard at trying to have a resolution to this issue," the Prime Minister said. Related Post
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