From PMIZ Watcher
Community leaders from the site of the troubled proposed Pacific Marine Industrial Zone have reacted angrily to newspaper stories that their communities have agreed to allow the project to procede, as reported on Monday.
Ebert Kaing who is the Program Manager-Education at Sumkar District living in Rempi village and a landowner said, "there are more issues which needs to be addressed before the PMIZ agreement signing".
Concerned Officer
The Secretary for Commerce and Industry, Steven Mera, should be commended for putting his reputation on the line to call for a full financial audit of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone project from 2008 to 2011.
This period effectively covers the administration of former secretary Anton Kulit and acting secretary John Andrias. We know very well that this project was politically hijacked by a former minister.
By PMIZ Watcher
Landowners in Madang are fighting over the crumbs rather than worrying about their futures once their land is gone, their environment polluted and thousands of low paid jobs bring myriad social problems....
PMIZ Watcher
In a major boost to their campaign against the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone and Special Economic Zone laws, local communities from Madang have had their complaint to the World Bank accepted by the official Ombudsman in Washington.
The Ombudsman has written to the communities confirming their complaint meets three strict eligibility criteria and an investigation team will be sent to PNG to look into the complaint.
PMIZ Watcher
Landowners from the villages of Rempi, Kananam and Karkar Island in Madang have applied to the National court in Madang for an immediate injunction stopping any further construction of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone.
The government recently announced a $72 million loan from the Chinese ExIm Bank to fund the construction of the PMIZ but landholders oppose the project which they say is a 'con job' and they are asking the court to stop any loan funds being drawn down by the government.
PMIZ Watcher
Local communities affected by the proposed Pacific Marine Industrial Zone in Madang have filed a formal complaint in Washington about the role of the International Finance Corporation in promoting the project and in developing Special Economic Zone laws in PNG.
The communities have filed their complaint with the International Finance Corporation Ombudsman. The IFC is a part of the World Bank Group which is based in the United States.
