Source: The National
Opponents of the construction of the Papua New Guinea’s Madang l Pacific Marine Industrial Zone PMIZ- are making heavy accusations towards the tuna industry.
The PMIZ, at Vidar along the North Coast Road, is projected to be one of the biggest tuna developments in the Asia-Pacific region and will employ more than 30,000 people.
It will have 10 tuna factories and processing facilities comparable to the existing Filipino-owned RD Tuna Canners, where fish will be processed and exported.
However, the protesters are against the development because of concerns over the environmental and social impacts the project will have on the local community.
They say environmental impact assessment reports presented to them indicate that pollution would be a high concern and their livelihood is likely to be affected because their survival depends on the sea.
The existing plant has previously been shut down for birds defecating into tuna cans, fined for poor waste disposal and employee relations are poor.
The protestors are saying that villagers have been affected by the “sex for tuna trade†where local women trade sex for fish by-catches.
Madang children with the protest petition against the controversial tuna development project.
Opponents point out that the PMIZ project is being strongly driven from Port Moresby, the ruling National Alliance and their Chinese partners.
They are accusing the PNG national government of rushing the project through despite local opposition and trying to revoke permission for democratic protests and expression of concerns.
The march had been approved by the provincial police authorities, but a government minister complained to police Headquarters, who overturned the decision and banned the march. Still, people marched.
This led Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta to ask: “In whose interests is the country being governed? A foreign power? Foreign business interests? Illegal immigrants? Certainly not for Papua New Guineans.
