Prime Minister, James Marape says the coalition Government will provide a platform for its critics to submit their alternative positions on how the proposed bill for the National Gold Refinery is improved, reflecting aspirations of national interest and Take Back PNG mantra.
PM Marape said he undertook to create the platform in light of wider clashing views the proposal is attracting from the Parliamentary Opposition, legal experts, gold mine industry and other business leaders.
Responding to questions by PNG SUN on whether or not the proposed bill is violating existing legislations like the Mineral Resources Authority Act, PNG Police Act and Central Bank Act amongst others, PM Marape said the intention of the proposal is noble and in the best interest of PNG.
He said all laws brought into Parliament’s deliberation and passing do not breach existing ones.
The bill aims to create a Police Unit for Gold and the establishments of gold mint and bullion Bank for storing gold bars.
If others think otherwise about it, he said, they will be invited to present their position papers and pinpoint to them (government) where in law his Government is over-stepping existing laws.
He cited that the proposed bill intends to transform the gold mine industry so days of ‘hiding gold in briefcases, evading taxes’ become a thing of the past.
The bill, he justified, will restore good governance, transparency and accountability in the gold mine industry.
Secret deals like transfer pricing, gold smuggling and undeclaring of Gold will be dealt with, said PM Marape.
The alluvial gold miners are exposed to high risks when mining gold and that there should not be middle-men buying their hard-earned gold with lower prices, he said.
PM Marape continued that some middle men are fighting to stop this, but the government must do what it has to for the best interest of the nation especially the small people that his government represents.
Meanwhile, PM Marape wants similar downstream processing laws be passed for fisheries, forestry and other natural resources of the country.