THE National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has announced the creation of a Community Consultation Taskforce that has the core function of taking in important perspectives on gaming and then putting in place action-plans that will have positive social outcomes.
Chief Executive Officer for the NGCB, Imelda Agon said, “Gaming provides an enjoyable pastime for a lot of people and funds important community projects, but at the same time it has recognized that for some people, gaming can lead to social problems.”
“The Community Consultation Taskforce will meet to identify ways in which the gaming sector must allocate resources to assist with projects that strengthen social cohesion around the country,” Mrs. Agon said.
“First and foremost, we have invited our Churches to be represented together with other key stakeholders.
“Our churches are committed to ensuring that the welfare of our people is their first priority when it comes to gambling.
“The National Gaming Control Board expresses its gratitude to the Council of Churches for meeting with our team to share their concerns in relation to social impact issues and future plans for the gaming sector.
“Churches are a key partner for the government in so many areas of community development, including education, healthcare and overcoming poverty with particularly in remote and rural communities.
“There have been some unfortunate comments in the Media and I apologize for those misrepresentations. To be very clear, the Church partnership is directly with the government towards the Churches participation in education, health, sports, agriculture and the SME Sectors respectively, to name a few.
“When the NGCB is called upon, we step in and work with local leaders who explore funding opportunities for Churches.
“Through these grassroots projects, we are touching many lives and making a difference for our people right around Papua New Guinea.”
Mrs. Agon said “the Community Consultation Taskforce will seek key stakeholder advice and recommendations on NGCB community projects, including the expansion of gaming industry in Papua New Guinea.
The NGCB is committed to providing funding opportunities for effective social and economic projects that positively impact Papua New Guinea communities around the country.
Through its partnership with the different key stakeholders, the NGCB provides direct funding opportunities to ensure these projects become a reality.