By Michelle Steven – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The signing of the 13 billion US Dollar Papua LNG project that has allocated only two percent for landowners, has raised concerns on how landowners will benefit from this share. In an interview with EMTV News today, Member for Kerema, Richard Mendani, pointed out that this percentage is not enough for the people of Gulf Province. When interviewed, Mendani stated that as the Member for Kerema, he was not aware of what has happened to date.
Mendani says this is a major resource development project that everyone has been talking about, but the signing had none of his contributions. Mendani says he doesn’t want to be part of the agreement and also be blamed for any issues that arise during the future development of the project. He says this project cost billions, and the share local landowners will receive is just not enough further stating that the Government has to identify the rightful landowners of the project before allocating shares.
Mendani says there should be more major development in the Gulf Province when the project rolls out.
