PAPUA New Guineans must be prioritised in the use of the country’s marine resources rather than foreign investors, says Prime Minister James Marape.
Marape said local participation was important, but if they lacked the capacity to harvest marine resources, the Government would help them connect with international partners.
He was responding to Milne Bay Governor Gordon Wesley in Parliament on Wednesday, who had asked about the Government’s plans to help his people harvest beche-de-mer (sea cucumber) instead of foreigners.
Wesley claimed that there was an increase in the number of foreign investors brought into the province by Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Jelta Wong and the National Fisheries Authority (NFA).
“This particular industry is supposed to remain for locals alone,” he said.
“Why did the Minister for Fisheries (Wong) bring so-called investors into my province to start hatcheries when they did not consider any locals?
“And under the pretext of coming up with hatcheries, they started collecting beche-de-mer.”
Wesley also asked that the NFA honour its agreement with the provincial government in 2023 and deliver on those commitments.
Marape said he would direct Wong to address the matter immediately.
He said that despite the concerns raised, the NFA had been working to increase investments in the fisheries sector and provide better regulations for marine resources.
“Our ‘Take Back PNG’ philosophy is not only in mining, oil and gas sectors, but also in fisheries,” he said.
