by Bridgette Komatep – EM TV, Port Moresby
A faction representing a clan in the Stanley Gas Project in Kiunga, Western Province, is calling on the government to fast–track the clan vetting process.
They claim the previous clan vetting and the Benefit Sharing Agreement signing were hijacked overnight by paper landowners, and they want proper clan vetting.
They have objected to demands by Stanley Resource Holdings; the umbrella company which they claim doesn’t represent genuine landowners.
The other group is represented by Betty Wine from Hore Diasu Clan of Grehosore Village. She was accompanied by Wasa Sowati, of Horeloknai village, both from PDL 10 area and Principal Landowner of Stanley Gas Pipeline, Deiya Aunip.
They are opposing the Stanley Resources Holdings, the company that’s said to be the umbrella company representing all landowners and people in the impact areas.
They have demanded that the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry must not release any Business Development Grants until a proper clan vetting is conducted.
Meanwhile, Executives of Stanley Resource Holdings, Chairman Rex Aipe and Imen Papa have refuted this, claiming they have followed all the right procedures and now await the release of the K15 million Business Development Grants.
Recently, Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru called a meeting with his Secretary and the Petroleum & Energy Secretary to resolve the issue because he didn’t want the landowner company to miss out on business spin-offs and contracts with developer of Stanley Gas Project, Talisman Energy Limited.
Details of the meeting are yet to be disclosed however, in a statement, Secretary for Trade Commerce & Industry John Andrias clarified that to-date, there is no recognised umbrella company.
He urged all landowners to work together with the developer, the State and realign where necessary.
He says the Business Development Grants for Stanley Gas will not be released until landowners and their companies are organised well.
Secretary Andrias warned that any misleading and false claims by any landowner relating to BDG’s for Stanley Gas Condensate Project will be dealt with by appropriate authorities.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=SkqQ8d7NLtY%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
