Leader of the Opposition Douglas Tomuriesa has supported fellow Opposition MP Sasindran Muthuvel’s statement opposing the new casino project and has further questioned the legality of the project after viewing documents that suggest the project does not have a valid casino license to operate.
Mr Tomuriesa said: “Firstly, this narrative and current promotion of a casino as a ‘much needed investment’ is laughable, especially in the poor economic climate we are currently facing.
“A casino in Port Moresby is the last project the government should be supporting when the city’s residents have inadequate water and power supply, unsafe streets, and schools and hospitals lack the capacity to cater for the growing population.”
Documents reviewed by the Opposition have shown that the current casino project does not have a valid license to construct or operate a casino, raising questions about its legality and endorsement it received by Prime Minister James Marape.
“In a letter by the National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) CEO Imelda Agon to the Chairman of NCDC Building Board Chairman last week, Ms Agon stated that Paga Hill Development Company’s gaming license is invalid and outdated.
“It further stated that the provisional licence granted in 2021 has since then been voided since it failed to meet certain conditions.
“What is also mentioned and concerns me, is that it appears that the company knowingly submitted the outdated and invalid licence to the building board, even though NGCB advised the company on numerous occasions of its invalid license status,” said Mr Tomuriesa.
Mr Tomuriesa stated that since this information has come to light, it raised further questions about the type of projects the government is vehemently backing through their close association with foreign business owners.
Mr Tomuriesa said: “Anything James Marape launches or endorses also carries the endorsement of the Office of the Prime Minister and the State. To see Mr Marape launch this casino project and proclaim how it is such a good investment for the country is concerning to say the least.
“The Prime Minister seems eager to launch any project that claims to bring massive investment, or investment that throws around big numbers without much substantive viability.
“A word of advice to Mr Marape is to maintain the integrity of the office he occupies. What has he done for tourism in the last 5 years to justify supporting a casino?
“I remind Mr Marape and his cabinet that my home province of Milne Bay remains as a premier tourist destination in the country not because of gambling or a fancy casino, but because of our culture, environmental beauty, and relative safety compared to other areas.
“Cruise ships, adventure seekers, scuba divers, and other forms of tourists come to Milne Bay because of the cultural and natural allure – not to gamble their money.
“Improving Milne Bay’s tourism potential requires developing critical infrastructure like airports and wharves, ensuring reliable commercial flights that don’t get cancelled, training support for the hospitality industry, reliable and cheap fuel for businesses to power generators, vehicles and boats, funding support for police, markets for vendors, and improving maritime safety – not a casino.
“A genuine tourist goldmine like the Kokoda Track was closed down recently because of landowner issues, yet the Prime Minister didn’t attend to their grievances even after much fanfare when he walked the track with the Australian Prime Minister early this year.
“And another culturally and historically significant tourist attraction, to both domestic and international tourists is the National Museum and Art Gallery right next to Parliament House. The museum houses some of PNG’s most important treasures yet very little support has been given to the museum and has recently faced funding issues.
“And as a final example, where has the government support been for the Wutung border post over the years? Customs and Immigration services are hardly operating due to lack of government support, and as a result, we lose tourists from Indonesia/Jayapura who want to visit Vanimo and onwards.”
Tomuriesa stated that the government should focus on improving the international perception of Papua New Guinea, and work toward improving what PNG has to offer to visitors, instead of being blinded by the attraction of gambling and money.
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