INTRODUCTION
They SUN of Papua New Guinea, the country reputable and news leader online, ahsgov reported that
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| Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and Opposition MP and former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta. |
However, I will try to unpack the various issues for the readers to understand so that they can make an INFORMED DECISION.
The public need to, first of all, understand these FACTS whilst reading through this article:
1. Mekere Morauta was the Prime Minister (State) when the deal was signed with BHP Billiton(the company);
2. The DEAL was that the company forfeited or gifted its shareholding (63%) in the OK TEDI Mining Limited to the State in exchange for State guarantee and warranty, and indemnity against ALL current and future environmental claims against the company;
3.The State and BHP agreed at that time that rather than State holding in trust the 63% shareholding on behalf of people of Western Province, decided to setup PNGSDP as a Trust in Singapore and place the shareholding on behalf of people of Western Province. NOTE THAT WHETHER PNGSDP OR STATE HOLDS IT, THE SHARES BELONG TO THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN PROVINCE;
4. The State and BHP are the Principal signatories to the initial Agreement, not PNGSDP. PNGSDP is a creation of the Agreement. People of Western Province are beneficiaries of the Agreement that established PNGSDP and the Long Term Fund;
Attempts have been made by BHP and State to review the current Agreement after 10 years but talks have broken down;
Therefore, the only two parties that can RESOLVE THE CURRENT IMPASSE between State and PNGSDP-on behalf of people of Western Province-are none other than the State and BHP.
Currently, BHP is masking itself behind PNGSDP in the court cases in Singapore.
Click on the links for more reading:
1. https://pngexposed.wordpress.com/2018/04/
2. http://www.pngecho.com/2018/05/02/theft-and-skulduggery-in-the-pngsdp/
3. http://www.pngblogs.com/2017/04/peter-oneill-told-to-check-facts-before.html
4. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-05/australian-company-in-png-denies-terrorist-links/5722498
5. http://www.devpolicy.org/ok-tedi-sdp-20130924/
6. https://ramumine.wordpress.com/tag/mekere-morauta/page/1/
7. https://postcourier.com.pg/commission-inquiry-ok-tedi/
THE PAST
The problem (sometimes turned into tug of war in media and on the floor of Parliament) between the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Mekere started when BHP appointed Mekere as an “A” Director and a Chairman of PNGSDP without consulting O’Neill, which BHP was legally entitled to do under the RULES.
However, the biggest mistake the company made was to appoint a politician, a former Prime Minister who was the architect of the DEAL. Not only that, he was the number-one enemy of Mr O’Neill because of NPF saga and other past political matters. THIS IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE BHP HAS MADE. BHP HAS APPOINTED A POLITICAL RIVAL OF PRIME MINISTER. Hence, BHP and its shareholders must fix it.
THE PRESENT
Since the appointment of Mekere, things have gone from bad to worse at PNGSDP, especially when he did not have a good working relationship with O’Neill to the point where Mekere has decided to enter politics to fight against O’Neill as witnessed in the General Elections. O’Neill is in Government and the Parliamentary Opposition is fighting Mekere’s fight. PNGSDP has gone from the frying pan into the fire since Mekere became a Member of Parliament. He is still a MEMBER OF PNGSDP WHICH GIVES HIM TOTAL CONTROL OVER THE APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS AND, FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL AFFAIRS OF THE MINI SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND. MEKERE CLEVERLY REMOVED DAVID SODE AS CEO AND APPOINTED HIS PUPPET JOHN WYLIE AS THE NEW CEO under the watch of BHP AND SHAREHOLDERS. Mekere has not done the right thing ethically in resigning as a Member or Chairman of PNGSDP before running for a political office.
Hence, whether it is Cloudy Bay Investigations and/or the Commission of Inquiry or the Singapore Courts, PM O’Neil’s focus is to get Mekere out of PNGSDP and take control of the Long Term Funds by targeting and pressuring BHP. BHP and State need to resolve the standoff.
Cloudy Bay allegations levelled at Mr Rex Paki and/or John Wylie can be dealt with in a competent judicial or quasi-judicial process which will be dealing with FACTS, not hearsays and gossips characterized by biases and prejudices.
Both man are entitled to innocence until proven guilty by a competent court. Australian and American Government authorities and BHP shareholders will be interested in knowing why PNGSDP is doing business with the proven Arab terrorists and criminals.
Directors of PNGSDP need to decide at some stage, how long they will replicate BHP’s fight and allow John Wylie to continue to deal with terrorists with or without their knowledge? BHP is not even a party to the Singaporean courts. What are these learned men thinking? Rex Paki is a representative of the State, Wilson Kamit is a representative of Central Bank, Don Manoa for PNG Chamber of Commerce and David Sode as Community Representative on the PNGSDP Board in addition to Phil Bainbridge, John Wylie and Mekere (former Chairman) who are representatives of BHP. Peter O’Neill is NOT RECOGNISING some of the changes in the Rules of Governance that BHP and MEKERE DID WITHOUT GETTING THE CONSENT OF THE STATE; hence, the Singaporean court cases.
We will not go into the details of the case as it is before the court.
THE FUTURE or THE WAY FOWARD
Therefore, given the above facts by way of background, ONLY BHP and STATE can resolve the issues in the interest of the people of Western Province and the country as a whole.
Mekere and Peter O’Neill are the PROBLEM themselves and they are also the SOLUTION. Mekere must be the first to pick up the phone and call BHP to talk to the STATE (Mr O’Neill) to review the existing Agreement which was done more than 12 years ago.
Dynamics-that existed at that time-no longer do now; hence, a review is warranted that MUST INCLUDE THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN PROVINCE AS SIGNATORIES TO THE NEW AGREEMENT.
There is no need for expensive Commission of Inquiries as announced and done before, and Singapore court battles. The nation is waiting for the Board of Directors of PNGSDP to counsel and guide the TWO BIG MEN into resolving this IMPASSE in the best interest of the country.
We, as the country’s ONLY reputable and leading Facebook news and website page, will discuss Cloudy Bay Saga and all others in our next edition and beyond.
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