Manus missing out on a lot

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, February 12, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)

THE concerns were raised by the Governor for Manus Charlie Benjamin, regarding the collection of both fish and GST revenues by other provinces.

Governor made reference to the province’s meagre internal GST (Goods and Services Tax) revenue, which was at K500,000 for 2013 during his budget presentation to Treasury Minister Don Polye.

“Manus GST is only K500,000, and whatever that is happening in Lombrum now, the materials have been purchased in Lae and they are now getting all the GSTs,” he said.

“I do not know how we can get Manus to at least get some of the GST revenue from this.”

“Cargoes that are intended for Manus from overseas- materials to build the centres are actually brought to Lae and we are missing out on taxes.”

He also raised the issue of fish being caught in the province’s water and where taken to processing plants based in other provinces as being a very unfair arrangement that deprived the island province of revenues it could generate.

“When it comes to the only main resource that we have which is from the sea, all the monies are with NFA (National Fisheries Authority), and provinces like Manus contribute over half the catch of tuna that are now canned in Lae and Madang, and we are getting nothing.”

“It is just like someone getting oil from your land and you expect not to get anything from it.”

“I’d rather see the policies change because all these resources that belong to us and are developed in other provinces.”

He added that it was a government policy that should be looked at if the state wanted to see smaller provinces not relying on handouts.

“I am not happy to see the canneries in Lae and Madang when most of those things should be coming from our waters- it just doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Treasury Minister Don Polye agreed with the sentiments of the governor- saying that both the GST issue along with the fish revenue should be addressed as a fiscal policy for the whole country.

“It should be aimed at helping provinces oversee their own revenue, and giving them a bit of autonomy and powers so they can do that, and is something that should be discussed at the cabinet level,” he said.

“My department is responsible for coming up with such policies and will take that on because your issue would be faced by other marine provinces, like Central against NCD and others as well.”

“The review will be to strengthen revenues for the provinces; regarding GST, fish caught and others should be a very important part of the review.”