Landowners’ doubts have been put to rest today when they were shown copies of bank statements from the Bank of PNG, confirming that their royalties are sitting in their accounts.
Bank statements from BSP and ANZ were also presented to them by the Mineral Resource Development Company to confirm their 2 percent free carry equities are kept there.
Landowner representative and businessman Larry Andagali thanked the government and MRDC for proving to them that their funds are being kept safe.
He said they have remained as ‘doubting Thomas’ after being misled by people with vested interests and they are now happy to reopen the gates to the well heads and the conditioning plant.
With proof that landowner benefits are being kept onshore, the task now is to complete the clan vetting process within 30 days, as agreed in the MoU that was signed today.
Only this will determine how soon these funds can be paid.
(Hides landowners signing the MoU with the government today in Hela Province.)