THE chairman of Wongwong Plantation in East New Britain has called on the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock to pay special attention to the Cocoa and Coconut Institute PNG (CCIPNG) Limited problem.
Titi Derio, who is also former chairman of the East New Britain Plantation Association, said the management crises with CCIPNG had been going on for a long time and should be a priority matter for the Agriculture and Livestock Minister John Hickey.
He said CCIPNG was a world recognised scientific institution and the Government should be proud of it by making every effort in putting back the institution to its right path.
Mr Derio said it was sad to see that the past members of CCIPNG Limited had treated CCIPNG as a private company because they claimed that CCIPNG was a company and the minister for DAL had no power to direct its board of directors.
He said even though CCIPNG was a company ruled under the Company’s Act, it was one of the listed Government statutory organisations like CIC and others.
He said the Government had a major interest in CCING by virtue of the fact that it funded 80% of its annual budget and therefore as a matter of policy and for the best interest of all, the Government should not allow it to be run down by a misguided board.
Meanwhile, the ongoing issue of the CCIPNG regarding the chief executive officers position and the appointment of the valid and legal board is a big concern to the growers and the people of East New Britain.