by Bridgette Komatep – EM TV, Port Moresby
Tuguba landowner spokesman, Simon Ekanda has lashed out at chief secretary to government, Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc.
Mr Ekanda blamed the chief secretary for failing to ensure that competent heads of department are holding top positions. Mr Ekanda was referring to recent calls made by Sir Manasupe for department heads, chief executive officers and managing directors to submit their performance reports before the 16th of January.
He branded himself a victim because of the Department of Petroleum and Energy’s (DPE) failure to execute provisions in the Oil and Gas Act (1998) while dealing with project landowners in the PNG LNG Project. Mr Ekanda said if Sir Manasupe fails to discipline and sack incompetent department heads, CEOs and managing directors then he himself should be sacked as well.
The outspoken resource activist said DPE was a classic example of a failed department headed by an incompetent secretary.
He said the LNG construction was over but resource owners have yet to benefit as the government responsible for facilitating the process through so-called landowner identification studies and social mapping has failed in its part.
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