Deputy governor: I am left out of district meetings

 By PISAI GUMAR

MOROBE Deputy Governor Morokoi Gaiwata has expressed concern about not being told to attend the Bulolo joint district planning meetings as a mandatory council president of Waria council for the last three years.

Gaiwata also queried about K2 million the Bulolo joint district planning and budget priority committee (JDP&BPC) had approved to improve vital services in Waria LLG and K10,000 yearly allocations from the provincial government for airstrip maintenance.

He asked where Waria LLG’s portion of royalty payment from the Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV) was.

“According to my books, only K340,000 from the K2 million was used and where did rest of the funding go,” he said.

Gaiwata said he missed out on 12 meetings so far to represent 8,000 Waria people. 

Waria LLG has 17 council wards, one of the remotest and least developed areas with less socio-economic activities and high maternal and mortality deaths.

Air was the only means to access services with only three operational airstrips include Garaina, Garasa and Omora. The other three yet to be opened were Arabaka, Gataipa and Kasuma.

The other shut down due to no maintenance funds were Aro, Asama, Bapi, Bia-Waria and Sim.  

“There’s no cooperation between our national MP Sam Basil and me and I assure Basil to put aside our political differences to work together for betterment of the people,” Gaiwata said.

Basil referred Gaiwata to Bulolo district treasury to verify how the K2 million was spent.

“Regarding Waria LLG’s royalty portion from MMJV through Bulolo JDP&BPC, since 2009 to March 2013, K947,513 was allocated to Gaiwata and he (Gaiwata) is responsible to answer how he has used people’s monies” Basil said.

Basil said Gaiwata needed to go down to provincial and district treasury’s to verify how the K10,000 for airstrip maintenance was spent.  

“Gaiwata is late. I wish him good luck,” Basil said.