By MALUM NALU
A landowner clan on Manus has called on the
government to clearly spell out what specific benefits they will receive out of
the asylum seekers agreements signed between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Kohonaleng clan spokesmen, Ali Panpan Pinakohon and
Abraham Kia, told reporters that while they supported the project,
Manus was getting a raw deal out of it.
 |
Pinakohn
and Kia speaking to reporters: ‘What benefits will we
receive?’-Picture by MALUM NALU
|
“Just where do we as landowners and Manus people fit
into the equation?” Pinakohon said.
“If the agreement between the two governments
involves spending up to K500 million for the Angau hospital in the Morobe province,
and hundreds of millions for infrastructure development in other centres of the
country, what exactly is in it for Manus itself as host province?
“Physically the rest of the country, except for
areas earmarked for resettlement, will be immune to the psychological strain,
cultural and religious differences, unknown health-threatening inbound
diseases, and other traumatic effects associated with people resettlement
problems/”
Pinakohon called on the government to seriously
address the impending issue of specific benefits for Manus, and not having the
courtesy to involve its leaders, administrators, and landowners in the agreed
terms for asylum seeker processing in the province.
He also called for K20 million to be set aside as
seed capital for Manus to kick start businesses that would over the long term
supporting the asylum processing facility.
Kia said: “We do not oppose this project.
“Since July 19, when they signed the agreement, we
have not heard anything from our two MPs, Governor Charlie Benjamin and Ronnie
Knight.
“Since the signing, we have not heard anything about
what benefits we landowners, and all of Manus, will receive.”
Kia also expressed concern about job opportunities
for the people of Manus.
“Since the signing of the agreement, we have all
these Australian engineers on the island,” he said.
“We have engineers too.
“Are we talking about building a rocket?”
No comments:
Post a Comment