LOs’ K200m parked in Central Bank, reveals O’Neill

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill revealed on Tuesday in Parliament that about K200 million belonging to PNG LNG Project landowners is parked in the Central Bank.

He said various orders issued by Courts by various landowners have put a stop to the disbursement of the funds.

Until those cases are resolved, the Government will not be paying the landowners, explained the PM.

He said the Government has been in close discussion with all the landowners to resolve the issues amicably before the funds are disbursed.

“We are not in the business of withholding the benefits of the landowners that was signed in the UBS agreement by the previous government and landowners in Kokopo, but working to disburse the funds.”

O’Neill said as soon as all these cases are resolved, the Government will be making the payments to the landowners.

The Government has also been working closely with the developers and the Justice Department to resolve the issues.

O’Neill was responding to Lagaip-Porgera MP Nixon Mangape during Questions without Notice in Parliament.

Mangape questioned the Prime Minister about the landowners’ benefit signed in the UBS agreement in Kokopo.

Meanwhile, Parliament has been adjourned to 10am today.

(File picture of LNG landowners.)

 

Author: 
Freddy Mou