Landowners of Manumanu, Gabadi present terms to PM

By LUKE KAMA
LANDOWNERS of Manumanu and Gabadi in Central presented their terms of reference to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on Tuesday to be included in the Commission of Inquiry.
O’Neill set up the inquiry to look into the alleged K46.6 million fraudulent land purchase which had the suspension of a few senior public servants and the sidelining of two ministers.
Manumanu Gabadi Landowners Association chairman John Daroa, accompanied by Rev John Ovia and other landowners, said the inquiry must be completed before the issuing of writs on April 20 for the general election.
“We commend the prime minister for disciplining two State ministers and five senior public servants allegedly linked in this reported fraudulent land purchase when the matter was brought to Parliament,” Daroa said.
“We want the terms of reference to be finalised quickly and the inquiry to be completed before the issue of writs in April.”
Daroa said the inquiry must include all aspects of the land transactions from the national level to the villages.
“We want the commission of inquiry to get to the bottom of it and reveal everything,” he said.
“People in the village who are the landowners do not know anything about the purchase of this land and we want the prime minister to ensure the inquiry is done quickly and the land be given back to the legitimate landowners.”
The land at Manumanu was bought by Kumul Consolidated Holdings for K46.6 million for the relocation of the naval base in downtown to allow for the development of Lagatoi City.