Schnaubelt warns logging companies to pay up

THE Minister for Forests, Walter Schnaubelt has warned Timber Operating Companies in Papua New Guinea to immediately pay up their outstanding levies and royalty payments to both the landowners and the government.

Minister Schnaubelt sounded the warning following failure by most companies and operations to meet their obligations under various agreements.

“They are fully aware of the legal ramifications associated with non-compliance of their legal obligations as stipulated under the agreements and the underlying laws of the country governing the forestry sector,” Mr Schnaubelt said.

He said the companies were engaged to pay up on time in compliance with the legal requirements in which they are party.

“Many of these companies are not new to the fact that they have to abide by the legal requirements of the operating and export sales agreements.

“These companies have signed the agreements with the landowners and the State to pay up on time.

“Many have not complied with the provisions of their respective agreements under which they operate and therefore have outstanding payments.

“As minister responsible for the industry, I call on them to immediately undertake serious actions and pay up their outstanding amounts.

“This is critical to the economy that’s why we cannot allow such serious fiscal anomalies to undermine the revenue flow and foreign exchange earnings,” Minister Schnaubelt said.

Schnaubelt said landowners and communities need to be remunerated their outstanding payments considering they were mostly rural and remotely based and had difficulty accessing GoPNG vital services.

“I would like to warn them now to fully cooperate with my call to seriously consider paying up now without any further delays,” he said.