Formal Response to Mr. Eoin Vladmir Quai
I refer to the series of public statements you have recently published on Facebook. These posts contain serious allegations aimed at discrediting my professional reputation and my performance as a State Minister. While I understand you have announced your intention to contest the Yangoru-Saussia seat in 2027, political ambition does not grant you the license to publish falsehoods.
My response to your specific allegations and critiques is detailed below, structured by subject matter to ensure absolute clarity.
1. Allegations Regarding State Equity Funds
You have alleged that State Equity Funds allocated to my Ministry were utilized to build roads and other infrastructure projects. This statement is demonstrably false.
I categorically state that no State Equity Funds held by my Department have been misappropriated or misapplied for such projects during my tenure. By implying that I have misappropriated funds, you are directly accusing me of criminal conduct. This constitutes a grave defamation of my character.
I challenge you to provide immediate public evidence to support your claim. You must detail exactly when my Department released State Equity Funds for these specific road projects and provide the payment details for the years 2024 and 2025. As a lawyer, you are well aware that publishing non-factual statements that damage a reputation constitutes defamation. If you cannot provide this evidence, you have committed a serious legal transgression.
2. The East New Britain Oil Palm Investigation
Your criticism regarding the recent investigation and Court-mediated agreement in East New Britain is perplexing. This agreement resulted in a historic victory for our farmers, securing a 7,000 percent price increase after a decade of negligence, alongside a K30 million payout for underpayments, subject to court-verified claims.
This decision is transformational for the industry. By attacking this outcome, you raise serious questions about your own motives. I must ask:
●Are you suggesting the farmers did not deserve this justice?
●Are you undermining the competence of the two Senior Judges who presided over this matter?
●Are you implying that the senior counsel
representing all parties were incompetent?
I intervened in this matter because complaints to OPIC and the Provincial Government had gone unanswered. I was duty-bound to act on behalf of 15,000 farmers to ensure the industry’s expansion through fair pricing. To dismiss this legal victory suggests a lack of understanding regarding the gravity of the Court's decision.
3. Policy Reform and Legislative Gaps (OPIC)
You have criticized the state of the industry without acknowledging the root cause: a legislative vacuum. Currently, the industry is governed solely by the OPIC Act, which is wholly insufficient. This gap has led to disparities in regions like Vanimo, Pomio, and Turubu, where investors operate without paying the prices enjoyed by farmers in West New Britain.
My criticism of the industry is both valid and necessary. I have submitted a report to the Cabinet outlining crucial reforms for a new Act to prevent a repeat of the East New Britain experience. Furthermore, the Minister for Oil Palm has successfully introduced an Oil Palm Policy, and we are awaiting the accompanying legislation to close these loopholes.
4. Progress on Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
Your commentary on the development of SEZs betrays a fundamental lack of experience regarding high-level investment negotiation and infrastructure development. Creating SEZs is a complex, multi-year undertaking, particularly given the challenges of land mobilization and the investment climate in Papua New Guinea.
Despite these challenges, under my leadership, we have successfully licensed four Special Economic Zones:
● Pacific Cement and Lime SEZ: Project Development Agreement expected imminently.
●Page Hill SEZ: Currently under construction.
●Sea Park SEZ: Currently under construction.
●PNG Trade Centre (5 Mile): Provisional License issued; construction has commenced.
These four zones alone represent K12 billion in new investments and will create thousands of jobs upon completion.
Furthermore, we have five additional SEZs in the pipeline.
5. Status of Specific Major Projects
●Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ)
The Government owns 225 hectares, but land alone does not create a zone. We require wharves, power, and water. Consequently, we have spent twelve months negotiating a Joint Venture with RD, who own adjacent land, a wharf, cold storage, and a cannery. This partnership aims to build a new cannery creating 5,000 jobs—a strategic move to localize key industries.
●Abau
There is no State Land available in Abau. We are partnering with NBPOL to utilize their 5,000 hectares at Ramu Agri Industries to bypass immediate land mobilization delays.
●Sepik Plains
The Sepik Fresh Farm is operational but cannot meet demand. We are finalizing a K30 million investment for Stage 2 to double capacity, supported by Government infrastructure upgrades including sealed roads and new generators.
●Wafi-Golpu Project
As of December 2025, the Wafi-Golpu project is in the final stages of the regulatory process. The Government and the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture (WGJV) participants (Harmony Gold and Newmont) have been working concurrently to finalize the Mine Development Contract (MDC) and the Special Mining Lease (SML 10). We expect to make a major announcement regarding these agreements at the Mining and Petroleum Conference in Sydney this month. It is crucial to understand that I view Wafi-Golpu as the necessary "anchor project" required to kickstart the proposed Labu Special Economic Zone (SEZ). While the mine itself is not an SEZ, it is essential to justify the construction of major infrastructure, such as new power generation and port facilities in Lae, which the Labu SEZ requires to succeed.
●Fisheries Joint Venture – Madang
The State of Papua New Guinea and RD Corporation have entered a historic 50/50 Joint Venture to domesticate the fishing industry, shifting the nation from a passive license collector to an active commercial fleet owner. This venture serves as the critical anchor project for the newly rebranded Madang Integrated Special Economic Zone.
I have acted as the primary political architect of this deal, aggressively driving the negotiations to structure the business terms and investment policy. While the National Fisheries Authority manages regulatory quotas, I oversee the SEZ framework that provides the necessary commercial ecosystem for the project to succeed. Under my leadership, a decisive Memorandum of Understanding was signed in May 2025, unifying the State, the Madang Provincial Government, and RD Tuna. We are currently concluding the final shareholder agreement to operationalize the company.
6. The Ultimatum
I have dedicated over 40 years to building a reputation based on professional delivery and political integrity. I will not permit an aspiring candidate to use defamation as a campaign tool. Your attempt to critique complex technical matters, such as land mobilization and international investment protocols, without a track record or technical competence in these areas is misguided.
I hereby demand that you retract your defamatory statements and publish a full apology on social media within seven (7) days of this notice.
Failure to do so will result in the commencement of legal proceedings against you for defamation and a criminal complaint pursuant to the Cybercrime Code Act 2016. You will then be compelled to prove your allegations in a Court of Law.
If you wish to challenge me, do so at the ballot box in 2027 based on policy and merit, not through libelous conduct.
________________________
Hon. Richard Maru, MP
Minister for International Trade and Investment
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