WELCOME SPEECH BY THE MINISTER FOR MINING HON. SAM AKOTAI MP

Transcription

1 WELCOME SPEECH BY THE MINISTER FOR MINING HON. SAM AKOTAI MP ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE SECOND WOMEN IN MINING CONFERENCE IN MADANG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, FROM JUNE, CHAIRMAN, HONOURABLE SENATOR ADI LITIA CAKOBAU, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF FIJI ISLANDS. MRS. SCHOLLA WARAI, PRESIDENT, PNG NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN. MR. STEVIE NION, A/SECRETARY FOR DEPARTMENT OF MINING, MR. JOHN STRONGMAN, MINING ADVISER, THE WORLD BANK, GUESTS AND DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES FROM OVERSEAS. REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR MINING WOMEN S ASSOCIATIONS, CONFERENCE DELEGATES, INVITED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. LET ME FIRST OF ALL BEGIN WITH A SPECIAL WELCOME TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU. I OFFER MY SPECIAL WELCOME TO THE OVERSES VISITORS WHO HAVE TRAVELLED SUCH LONG DISTANCES TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS. TO EACH OF YOU I GIVE THE WARMEST OF PNG WELCOMES AND MAY YOUR STAY BE MOST MEMORABLE ONE AND WITH MANY EVERLASTING FRIENDSHIPS MADE. I SAY TO EACH AND EVERY DELEGATE HERE YOUR INTEREST YOUR SPECIAL ENTHUSIAM, ENERGY AND TIME IN ASSISTING WOMEN BRINGING ABOUT EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT IS BEGINNING TO BEAR FRUIT. THERE IS A YOUNG LADY HERE TODAY WHO RECENTLY GRADUATED WITH HONOURS FROM AN OVERSEAS UNIVERSITY, SHE IS THE FIRST LADY FROM HER TARI AREA TO DO SO, THIS IS A REMARKABLE EFFORT. TODAY IN PNG ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE ARE SEEING A LARGE PICK-UP 1

2 IN THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS AND WE TRUST THIS WILL CONTINUE. WHEN I WAS ASKED TO BE THE GUEST SPEAKER THIS AFTERNOON, I WAS THINKING AS TO WHAT I MIGHT SAY TO SUCH DISTINGUISHED, DEDICATED LEADERS. FIRST OF ALL I SAY I AM HONOURED TO BE HERE WITH YOU EVEN THOUGH NOT AN EXPERT ON THE TOPICS TO BE COVERED BY THE CONFERENCE. THE CONFERENCE IS TIMELY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO JOIN TOGETHER AT THIS TIME WITH MOMENTUM CLEARLY PICKING UP AROUND THE GLOBE TO DEVELOP ALL NATURAL RESOURCES WITH A STRONG SENSE OF RESPECT FOR THE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. THESE IMPACTS HAVE TO BE BETTER UNDERSTOOD. CAN THIS BE DONE? CAN WE FIND WAYS TO REWARD SERVICES THAT HELP THE ENVIRONMENT, NATURE CONSERVATION, LAND STEWARDSHIP, WOMEN AND FAMILIES WHEN WE DEVELOP OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. I THINK WE CAN, THERE HAS BEEN JOINT THINKING IN PNG ON INVOLVING ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN AGREEMENTS TO COVER SUCH MATTERS, NONE BETTER THAN A SOON TO BE SIGNED AGREEMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HIDDEN VALLEY GOLD PROJECT, WHICH I HOPE WILL NOW BE VERY VISIBLE AND WILL BECOME EXAMPLE FOR ALL TO FOLLOW. I OBSERVE THE DELEGATES WILL PROVIDE THE CONFERENCE WITH A WIDE CROSS SECTION OF EXPERTISE IN WOMEN S DEVELOPMENT AREAS AND THE SPECIAL EFFORTS MADE IN THESE AREAS WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE CONFERENCE. I HOPE TO SEE THIS BRING OUT AND BRING FORWARD A RECIPE FOR SUCCESSFUL ACTION, TO JUMP START DEVELOPMENT FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES WITHIN THE FRAME WORK OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING FOR A MINE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO PLAN PROPERLY BECAUSE ALTHOUGH PAPUA NEW GUINEA HAS MANY RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES, EACH PROVINCE HAS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ONE-OFF OPPORTUNITY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES. 2

3 INTEGRAL TO MINE PLANNING IS FOR EACH PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT TO EXAMINE THE VIABILITY OF MORE EXTENDED OPPORTUNITIES. EACH PROVINCE HAS TO LEAD IN DEVELOPING ALTERNATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE REVENUES NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CAN PROVIDE. THE PROVINCIALISATION OF PLANNING IS THE KEY TO THE SUSTAINING THE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION SERVICES THAT MAY FLOW FROM A MINE DEVELOPMENT. IT IS ONLY WHEN SUCH A PROPER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IS DEVISED AND INTRODUCED THAT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF PROJECTS FOR FINANCING CAN BE DETERMINED. IT IS FOR PROVINCES TO MEET AND DEVELOP A MORE EFFECTIVE SYSTEM FOR THE DESIGN APPRAISAL AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES. THE STATE, IN ALL THE NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA HAS PASSED ONE HUNDRED PER CENT OF THE ROYALTIES BACK TO THE PROVINCES AND IMPACTED LANDOWNERS TO FUND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES. THE OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN TO ALLOW THE EXPENDITURE OF ROYALTIES IN A PROVINCE TO ADD DIRECTLY TO THE PROVINCE AND MINE AREAS PROGRESS. HOWEVER, WITH ALL DEVELOPMENT THERE IS INTERDEPENDENCIES AND A BALANCE TO BE REACHED BETWEEN SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENHANCED ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT. AS PART OF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, THE DESIGN OF WOMAN AND FAMILY PROGRAMS IS IN MY MIND A MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR TO BE ADDRESSED. THEY SAY, A SPECTATOR SEES MORE THAN A PLAYER. IN MY OBSERVATION, THE DESIGN OF WOMEN S PROGRAMS IN PROVINCES HAS NOT BEEN FUNDED VERY MUCH AND USE OF ROYALTY FUNDING TO ASSIST WOMEN AND FAMILIES IS OVERDUE. I CALL ON NOW ALL PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS WITH RESOURCE PROJECTS TO RE-ASSESS THEIR PLANS AND BUDGETS IN TERMS OF PROVIDING BENEFITS FOR OUR GENERATIONS AND NOT CONCENTRATE ON SHORT TERM GAINS. AS A MINISTER FOR THE MINING RESOURCES, I 3

4 WISH TO SEE OUR GENERATION MANAGE THE INGREDIENTS OF THE RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN A MANNER WHICH WILL LEAD TO OVERALL IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR LIFESTYLES AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT. DURING THIS CONFERENCE DELEGATES WILL DISCUSS WOMEN S ISSUES WHICH ARE COMMON TO ALL SOCIETIES ISSUES WHICH ARE BOTH GLOBAL AND IMPORTANT IN PNG. THE GLOBAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN PNG WE WILL GO THROUGH INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND DO OUR BEST TO RESOLVE. HOWEVER THERE WILL BE OTHER ISSUES FOR WOMEN S DEVELOPMENT WHICH ARE MORE PERTINENT ONLY TO OUR PNG SITUATION. IN BOTH CASES, WE NEED TO SET-UP INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO MONITOR THEM WITH A COMMON METHODOLOGY TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS THE PROGRESS OF ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS TO THEM. I AM ADVISED SINCE THE LAST CONFERENCE THERE HAS BEEN A SURVEY OF WOMENS STATUS IN PNG MINING AREAS. AS A MINISTER I WISH TO SEE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SURVEY AND THE CONTINUITY OF THIS MONITORING WORK. SINCE THE LAST CONFERENCE OUR LIMITED RESOURCES HAVE NOT ALLOWED US TO ESTABLISH A WOMENS DESK IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MINING. HOWEVER, A STRATEGY IS NOW BEING WORKED ON WHICH WILL SEE THE FORMATION OF A MINERAL RESOURCES AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE THE DIRECTOR ASSISTANCE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, SPECIAL PURPOSE AUTHORITIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND WOMEN S ASSOCIATIONS SO DESPARATELY NEED TO UNDERTAKE DETAILED PLANNING. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AUTHORITY HAS BEEN THROUGH A RIGOROUS PROCESS TO DETERMINE ITS FUNCTION AND ACTIVITIES. SO AS TO ENSURE THAT IT HAS A VERY CLEAR MANDATE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING ADVICE TO GUIDE THE FINANCIAL, TECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS FROM A MINERAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL PEOPLE AND NOT HANDLED IN ISOLATION. 4

5 IN MY SUBMISSION OF THE MINERAL RESOURCES BILL TO PARLIAMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I WILL BE ADVISING PARLIAMENT OF THE PLANS IN THE AUTHORITIES FRAMEWORK TO ESTABLISH A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING BRANCH TO WORK IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO PROVINCES. THIS BRANCH WILL INCLUDE A STRUCTURE AND BUDGET FOR A WOMEN S DESK THROUGH WHICH IT IS HOPED TO EFFECTIVELY INCREASE THE INCENTIVES TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO WOMEN AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. MINING AND PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENTS ARE NOT IN ALL PNG PROVINCES ALTHOUGH EACH PROVINCE CERTAINLY HAS FEASIBILITY POTENTIAL. IN ORDER TO REALISE THE POTENTIAL IN PNG WHEN WE START A PROJECT THERE ARE THREE KEY ELEMENTS OF OUR EXISTING PROCESSES THAT WE WISH TO FOLLOW. ELEMENT ONE IS IMPROVING GOOD GOVERNANCE THROUGH TRANSPARENCY IN POLICIES AND MANAGEMENT OF BENEFITS. ELEMENT TWO IS IMPROVING TRAINING IN RESOURCE AREAS SO MINERAL BENEFITS CAN BE USED TO IMPROVE WATER, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, FORESTRY, INDUSTRIAL AND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT. ELEMENT THREE IS IMPROVING THE TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT TO LINK OUR PEOPLE S AIMS TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. IN ALL OF THESE THREE AREAS, I WISH WOMEN TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE AND BECOME KEY PLAYERS IN THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE GREATER PNG S WOMEN S INVOLVEMENT WHAT IS WANTED IS POLITICAL WILL AND LEADERSHIP. THESE ARE CRUCIAL TO THE CHALLENGES WE FACE. AS A MINISTER, I WILL VERY MUCH SUPPORT OUTCOMES FROM THE CONFERENCE, I ASK OUR WOMEN LEADERS TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK IN RAISING AWARENESS THROUGH THE PRESS AND FORUMS. I WISH ALSO TO CONGRATULATE EACH OF OUR OPERATING 5

6 MINES IN PNG ON THEIR EXCELLENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO WOMEN S DEVELOPMENT, EACH MINE HAS SHOWN A COMMITMENT AND WILLINGNESS TO RECOGNISE THE WOMENS DEVELOPMENT, AND THIS IS WHAT I CALL MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF DEVELOPING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES WITH PEOPLE. I THINK THERE IS INDEED A BUSINESS CASE TO MAKE FOR COMPANIES TO BE REWARDED WITH TAX ADVANTAGES FOR ENGAGING IN SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND WOMEN & FAMILIES. THESE ARE THE TWO AREAS MOST AFFECTED BY THE ECONOMIC BOOM A MINE BRINGS INTO AN AREA. THERE IS AN OBLIGATION BY ALL STAKEHOLDERS BENEFITING FROM A NATURAL RESOURCE TO ACT IN THESE AREAS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS AND STRENGTHEN AND PRESERVE OUTCOMES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. IF WE DO NOT DO THIS THEN WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT? IT IS MY HOPE WE WILL RAISE THE STANDARD OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS LEVELS IN MINING IN PNG. THIS CONFERENCE OFFERS A UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM EACH OTHER AND ENGAGE AND LEARN OF THE APPROPRIATE SENSITIVE BEHAVIOUR TO FOLLOW, AND BEHAVIOUR TO MINIMISE ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS AND ASSIST COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY WOMEN IN MINING. PAPUA NEW GUINEA IS AN EXCITING INTERESTING DESTINATION FOR EVERYONE, EACH PROVINCE IS VERY UNIQUE WITH ITS OWN CULTURE, THERE ARE NOT MANY ROADS BUT THOSE THAT ARE THERE WILL TAKE YOU INTO NEW WORLDS WHERE THE LOCAL RESOURCES ARE ALL USED TO THE FULLEST DEGREE. MAY YOUR CONFERENCE ALSO OPEN EYES AND NEW PATHS TO FOLLOW FOR EVERYONE ATTENDING. I WISH YOU A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE. HON. SAM AKOITAI, MP MINISTER FOR MINING 17 th JUNE,