O'Neill denies conflict of interest


KANDEP MP Don Polye has taken Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to task over his alleged ownership of several companies and the purported awarding of contracts to the latter by the Ok Tedi Mine.
In questions directed to the Prime Minister in Parliament recently, the Kandep MP said several major contracts have been awarded since the Government expropriated the mine last year and the PM should advise if he or his associates had any interests in the firms.

"I understand that since the State took control over OK Tedi mine as a state owned entity, several major contracts and construction, security and charter services have been awarded or in the stages of being awarded. Some of the awarded contracts include Black Swan International, Wild Cat Developments, South West Air and Remington. Prime Minister, can you honestly tell the nation whether you and through your associates hold any interest in these companies as they have been engaged by OTML?" he said.

However, Mr O’Neill strongly denied his companies took over contracts with OK Tedi mine after the State took 100 per cent control over the mine. He said a couple of companies that he has interest in like South West Air and Black Cat were given contracts well before Ok Tedi was taken over by the State.

"There is no hidden agenda or motive whatsoever, there is not a single contract given to any associated companies that I have got shareholding or any ministers in this government has got shareholding. There is absolutely none whatsoever since the State has taken over," said the PM.
"We understand conflicts of interest, we understand that very well. Some of us employ hundreds of Papua New Guineans who depend on the fortnightly salaries that we pay to them, we don’t make hundreds of millions of kina in profits but we continue to maintain these companies because we support Papua New Guinean families."

Mr O’Neill said his interests in Remington and South West Air is public knowledge but he has no shareholding in security company Black Swan.


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