THE acting managing director for the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) Jude Tukuliya has expressed satisfaction on how the authority has performed over the past six months since his appointment.
He said these following the instillation of Environment Council members by the authority last week.
Tukuliya said the authority has operated without an environment council for the past two years and that is an issue of concern, not only for itself as an organisation but PNG as a nation.
“The role of the environment council is crucial to ensuring environmental best practices and standards are upheld in the major investments and development projects taking place in the country and ensure compliance to acceptable environmental quality and standards,” he said.
Tukuliya said the council plays a key role in ensuring transparency, accountability and good governance at the authority.
“I am happy to announce to our investors, people and the country that the government now has in place the best environment council members,” he said.
“They are qualified experts and professionals, who together as a team, can deliver the best for PNG in terms of guiding and achieving environment protection and conservation.”
He said PNG as a nation was going through a critical time, where many new mega economic and social advancement projects were being undertaken and pursued.
Tukuliya said projects such as Wafi-Golpu, Frieda River, Papua LNG, and projects under the Connect PNG Programme and others required qualified professionals and experts to assess in terms of their impacts on the environment and make decisions that should better serve the interests of parties concerned regarding environment protection, economic growth and social advancement.
“It is for this and others in terms of ensuring transparency, accountability and good governance at CEPA that I have pursued the appointment of environment council members.”
The council members include PNG University of Technology Pro Vice Chancellor (administration) Professor Kaul Gena, National Judiciary Staff Services Secretary Jack Kariko, sustainable resource use and economic management expert Tom Pringel, University of Papua New Guinea Professor Simon Saulei, social-economic and social impact assessment expert and advisor to Prime Minister’s Department Dr Eric Omuru, and Tukuliya, ex-officio as chairman of the council.
