Post Courier
Grace Tiden
12 September 2012
Some of the country’s natural resources should be left aside for future generations says senior statesman Sir Ronald Tovue.
He said much of Papua New Guinea’s financial activities such as mining projects and most recently the LNG and Sea Bed projects were all happening at the same time.
He said the future generation will be left with nothing if PNG exploits its natural resources in only a small space of time.
The former East New Britain premier and current chairman of the East New Britain Autonomy Committee said the committee had raised its objections to sea bed mining.
“It was not a matter of stopping the project but it is too early for another mining project to be developed and especially when it has not been done anywhere else,” he added.
He said the project should eventuate much later because there were currently a lot of mines in PNG.
Sir Ronald said the current government should withdraw the license that was issued to Canadian firm Nautilus Minerals.
He further said the company will benefit more from the project in the next 20 years and the people will be left with nothing.
“They will become rich from our resources…our children will be left with nothing,” he said.
Sir Ronald said those people from PNG who were assisting the company to mine the sea bed have hidden agendas and should be more careful.
“We have had the experience of Bougainville. That experience should teach us a lesson,” he said.
“It is the people who have spoken. The government should withdraw that license,” he added.
