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Business |
CIC boss denies coffee group’s
claims
THE chairman of the Coffee Industry
Corp has denied claims that some of the board members had
pressured others into terminating an export licence held by the
PNG Coffee Growers Federation (PNGCGF).
Pugma Kopi also denied that another claim by the PNGCGF
executive chairman Jon Yogiyo that most of the board members
were expatriate coffee exporters.
He regretted that Mr Yogiyo had chosen to go to the media and
the court rather than discuss the issues with the CIC, adding
that the statements might be considered subjudice.
Mr Kopi said the CIC had written to Mr Yogiyo last Sept 24
“simply to provide him the opportunity to answer the findings of
the board’s investigations”.
He said Mr Yogiyo’s claims in a report in The National on
Wednesday were “incorrect, misleading and defamatory” and that
they be withdrawn immediately.
Mr Kopi said under the CIC Act and Companies Act, the CIC had
the responsibility to regulate the coffee industry and companies
operating in the industry to protect the interests of all
producers in the country.
He said the CIC investigated PNGCGF after receiving many
complaints from coffee growers who had given the federation
their produce to export.
“These and many other growers had to wait for months before they
received their payments from PNGCGF.
“In addition, the growers also complained that PNGCGF was
under-pricing their coffee,” he said.
 
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