Dr. John Kuwimb's Stand Against the Gold Bill: Upholding National Sovereignty and Legal Integrity in Papua New Guinea

Dr. John Kuwimb's Stand Against the Gold Bill: Upholding National Sovereignty and Legal Integrity in Papua New Guinea

Article from one of the PNG's very own leading legal experts on resource laws in the country and the brain in agenda for Autonomy for New Ireland and Enga, Dr. JOHN KUWIMB PhD, on the proposed Gold bill;

Dr. KUWIMB, in his article discusses a situation where the government is being pressured to pass a gold bill that seems to legitimize an agreement already executed by the Executive. 

He argues that this process is an abuse of the law-making process and undermines national sovereignty. 

Dr. KUWIMB suggest that concerned citizens should prevent the bill from passing and potentially take legal action against its sponsors. 

His article raises questions about the balance of power between law and money in governance.

Do you support this? Comment below.

by Dr. JOHN KUWIMB PhD

(open quote)

In 2022 I went to the highest office in the land, laying out all the reasons why the gold bill cannot be passed into law, and provided a policy together with a draft bill based on the Perth Mint and Refinery model. This model provides for 100% government ownership since gold is both a strategic and monetary resource, affecting national sovereignty. My policy was accepted at the bureaucratic level through the office of Chief Secretary and the CACC- i.e Central Agencies Coordinating Committee.

I think the external forces are holding the government at ransom through the Shareholders Agreement that was signed. The Gold Bill is merely a formality to provide legislative sanction to the executed Shareholders Agreement.

This is an abuse of the law-making process. The Executive executed an agreement already and now using Parliament to pass law to sanction and legitimize the agreement.

In a normal government system, Parliament should enact law first, based on existing policy which informs the bill, under which the Executive will then be mandated to enter into agreements as part of their executive function.

The legislation should be based on existing policy.

In our current situation, the last became first, and the first came last. We are living in a twisted world.

Once the bill is enacted, the sponsors of the bill will sue the State for breach of contract.

Concerned Papua New Guineans must prevent the law from being passed, and sue the sponsors of the bill for fraud and undue influence, and interference with national sovereignty.

Who will do it? That’s the question we must attempt to answer. The answer will come down to who rules: law or money. Whoever we obey will be the master, and we its slaves.

(close quote)

Do you support this?