PNG Sustainable Development Program

The five second-chance FODE Colleges and Satellite hubs have been established across the Western Province as part of SDP’s education program. The graduation ceremonies were held across Balimo, Lake Murray, Morehead and Kiunga, graduating 408 Grade 10 and 12 students - the largest-ever graduating cohort - and hundred more Grade 9 and 11 students progressing to their next year of studies.

The State of Emergency (SOE) lockdown has been difficult for the people of Papua New Guinea, and for Gash Yamata, this was certainly the case.

Yamata lives in a Morehead community located on the far side of Western Province near the Indonesian border where accessibility is a challenge. There are few roads, and people such as Yamata walk long distances to get to the health centre, through difficult terrain and dangerous tracks, and snake bite is common during wet season.   

In a statement, Pruaitch said he fully supported the united call by all Western Province Members of Parliament, including Governor Taboi Awi Yoto, that the recent Singapore High Court decision should prevent PNGSDP from coming under political interference or outside control.

“The joint letter from the Western MPs cautions Government not to interfere with PNGSDP programs,” said the Opposition Leader.

“PNGSDP is a model entity that operates like a sovereign wealth fund and has done an excellent job in nurturing its long-term fund which now stands at over K4 billion.

A frustrated Deputy Head Teacher of Rumginae Primary School said the province hosts the Ok Tedi Mine however, there is nothing to show for it on ground.

The deputy head teacher aired his grievances on the unfair distribution of wealth and benefits received by PNG Sustainable Development Program through the Ok Tedi Mine. 

He pointed out that although the province prides itself in hosting the Ok Tedi Mine, the health and education facilities are still sub-standard.

Chairman Sir Mekere Morauta says PNGSDP is happy to participate as the PNG-based member of a consortium of overseas financiers to provide a facility totaling K725 million ($US 230 million). This is to allow the landowners pay the State their 4.27 percent interest that was agreed under the Umbrella Benefit Sharing Agreement (UBSA), reached in 2009 between the Somare Government and the landowners.

One significant case that got dismissed by the Supreme Court this week was the one involving the PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP).

The case got dismissed today (Friday) after Sir Mekere Morauta filed an application challenging the government’s decision to acquire shares belonging to the PNGSDP.

The court found that Sir Mekere did not have standing to bring such applications in court as a private citizen, and the correct party that should be in a court of law seeking relief in the application should the company, SDP, and not its chairman, Sir Mekere.

The court found that Sir Mekere did not have standing to bring such applications in court as a private citizen, describing it as an incompetent application and an abuse of the process of the court.

The correct party that should be in a court of law seeking relief in the application should be the company, SDP, and not its chairman, Sir Mekere.

The three-man Supreme Court bench found that Sir Mekere, a well-known Papua New Guinean, was being used to come to court in this case for the benefit of a foreign registered company – the PNG Sustainable Development Program.