PROPOSED EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY COMMISSION LAW WILL KEEP ALL IN-CHECK: SIR JULIUS CHAN
KAVIENG, 13 JULY, 2021: New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chain says a proposed law to promote transparency and accountability in the mining and petroleum space will keep everyone honest in the long run.
Sir Julius Chan made this remark when he opened the Extractive industries Transparency Commission Bill consultation for the New Guinea Island Region in Kavieng yesterday.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Commission Bill aims to establish the PNGEITI National Secretariat as a statutory body charged with the responsibility of promoting transparency and accountability in the mining and petroleum space.
The former Prime Minister, who is vocal on extractive industries benefits for local people said now is the time for all stakeholders to act in the best interest of deriving best value from PNG’s rich natural resource endowment is now.
A State Technical working group comprising the Department of Petroleum, State Solicitor, Internal Revenue Commission, Department of Personnel Management, Department of Treasury are in the New Ireland capital, Kavieng for a four days consultation for the New Guinea Islands region.
“Your coming to New Ireland is an honour for us to air our little experiences. The Extractive Industries Transparency Commission will go a long way to keep everyone honest. This is a world to share – if we do it right, there will be enough to go around.
Now it is my honour to declare this gathering of important people charting the future of our Extractive Industries Transparency Commission Consultation Forum Open,” Sir Julius Chan said.
Head of the PNGEITI National Secretariat Mr. Lucas Alkan thanked the Sir J for opening the workshop which is the first of regional consultations rolled out in the three other regions this year.
“On behalf of the State Working Group on this piece of legislation, I thank Sir Julius Chan, one of our prominent statesmen for the support and for the welcome that we’ve received in his home, New Ireland province where the consultation covering the New Guinea Islands Region is being held this week.
“The PNGEITI is a state initiative and it’s only fitting and a delightful moment for the state working group on the proposed legislation and the instrumentalities involved in the process to have one of our founding statemen to show his support for this cause.
“PNGEIT has been in operations since 2014, established effected by a NEC Decision and now we are moving into the next step in anchoring this extractive industry implementation and reporting process into PNG’s legal and administrative system.
PNGEITI published 7 annual EITI reports detailing activities taking place in the PNG mining and petroleum space.
“We thank the New Ireland Governor with its hardworking administration team for the support and the welcome that we have received from New Ireland.
We look forward to a meaningful consultation in the coming days with all stakeholders from Government, Civil Societies and representatives from the resource companies host,’’ Mr. Alkan said.
Image Caption: New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan, officially opens the NGI regional consultation, Head of the PNGEITI National Secretariat Lucas Alkan (middle) and New Ireland Provincial Administrator.
