Manus loses K23m as center closes

Manus Province will see a loss of K23Million annually after the Asylum Seekers Processing Center has come to a closure.

The Province which has been benefiting from the spin off businesses provided by the Center will have lost over 1200 jobs and 100 Small and Medium Entrepreneurs going out of business.

Governor for Manus raised concerns in Parliament this week that successive governments’ in the past have not provided a fall back plan for Manus and as a result the province’s internal revenue will drop from K25Million to K1.5 Million annually.

Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Richard Maru, who has recently visited Manus said the O’Neil/Abel government has plans to create a Special Economic Zone in Manus and it will begin by allocating a budget for the province next year.

“This government is ready to set up a special economic zone in Manu where we will allocate a budget for Manus to start a Marine Park on the West Coast of Manus. We will also put money to plant 40,000 rubber trees in Manus in the areas where logging companies have completely destroyed,” he said.

Mr Maru said while the National Government plays it’s part in building provinces, it’s local MP’s and government must take proactive approaches in looking after it’s won affairs of the provinces.   

He said the government now is looking at bringing investors into Manus to set up fish plant as part of their plant to revive Manus’s economy.

“There is also a need for investors in Manus to set up a fish plant because it is no secret that the water of Manus has the largest Tuna quantity in the country. There is a need for Manus to have two or three fish plants to help Manus grow its economy,” he said.