By DALCY LULUA
PETROLEUM Minister Jimmy Maladina has sought to reassure communities in Gulf and Central provinces that they will have a voice at the upcoming Papua LNG Development Forum, saying the government has expanded district representation to ensure broader participation in discussions on the Papua LNG Project.
Speaking at a press conference, Maladina dismissed claims that some affected communities would be excluded from the forum, stressing that while the law limits the number of participants he can formally invite, recent legislative amendments and additional representation measures have broadened participation.
“I do not want misleading information to be circulated suggesting that people do not have a voice in this forum,” he said.
Maladina explained that the law governing development forums allows only a prescribed number of participants to be invited. However, he acknowledged that the Papua LNG Project affects a wider population beyond landowners within the project footprint.
To address this, he said the Marape-Rosso Government amended the Organic Law on Provincial and Local-level
Governments to provide districts with representation at development forums for major resource projects.
“The main reason why the government did that was because we are aware that not everybody is going to be invited into the forum to discuss resource development projects in their districts,” he said.
Under the amended law, districts now have mandated representation at the Papua LNG Development Forum through their elected leaders.
Maladina also announced an additional measure to further broaden participation. He said District Development Authorities (DDAs) would be allowed to nominate two additional representatives from their respective districts. The representatives do not have to come from within the project footprint but can represent communities that believe they have not previously had adequate representation.
He said the move was intended to ensure communities outside the immediate project area also have an opportunity to contribute to discussions on the proposed development benefits and agreements associated with the Papua LNG Project.
The minister specifically assured people in Gulf Province, including the districts of Kikori and Kerema, as well as Kairuku and Hiri-Koiari districts in Central Province, that their interests would be represented during the forum.
“I have increased the representation in your district to come to this forum, and you will be heard,” Maladina said. “We will listen to your voices in considering the developer’s proposal and your interests through the government.”
He said the purpose of the press conference was to clarify the government’s position and dispel misconceptions surrounding participation in the Papua LNG Development Forum, emphasising that the expanded representation would ensure affected communities have a fair opportunity to be heard as negotiations on the Papua LNG Project progress.