Catholic Bishops meeting in Lae for their annual conference have highlighted the fact that major resource projects in PNG have generally failed the people and have had more negative consequences than positive ones.

“For many people the most obvious outcome of so-called development has been more negative than positive, for example, widespread corruption, poverty and violence are on the rise”.

“Wealth hasn’t trickled down throughout society and so urban settlements are growing and rural areas are becoming poorer,” say the bishops in a Pastoral Letter.

The Bishops refer specifically to the fortunes of gold, silver, copper, nickel and oil that were discovered in Bougainville, Porgera, Ok Tedi, Lihir and Ramu and which have all promised to bring development and prosperity.

“But have these promises been kept?” ask the Bishops. “No doubt, a great deal of positive economic growth has taken place in our nation in recent years. At the same time it is probably true that only a few people have benefitted significantly, some becoming enormously rich.“

“The years of crisis on Bougainville, which resulted in many deaths and deep division in PNG society, still weigh heavily on the minds of people. The environmental damage to the Fly River system by Ok Tedi mining is another painful fact.
We also lament the ravaged forests of Madang, the Gulf and Western provinces and the social turmoil at Porgera.
Kutubu oil continues to generate revenue but ordinary Southern Highlanders have seen very little gain from it over the years. And today, the people of the Rai Coast fight to save the waters of Basumuk Bay from pollution and potential damage to the fisheries there.”

“Papua New Guinea is now poised to begin the largest economic venture of them all - the LNG project. Will it be a blessing or a curse for PNG?, “ the bishops ask. “According to analysts, the economic impact of the project will be positive. 
“The resource will produce great wealth, more than doubling the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation.
What is less certain is whether or not these riches will be managed wisely by national, provincial and local level governments as well as landowners, thus benefiting all of society.”