Akoitai clarifies trip to Porgera

CENTRAL Bougainville MP Sam Akoitai says his recent trip to Porgera was through an invitation by the community there.
“The community wanted to be heard,” he said.
He told parliament on Friday that there were a lot of speculation and rumours on social media that he was in Porgera to represent the mine.
He said this was not the case as the invitation was not only sent to him but to all MPs and that he was the only one who responded to the invitation and attended.
“There has been a lot that’s been said on social media about the trip I took to Porgera,” Akoitai said.
“I had responded to a call, an invitation by the communities in Porgera.
“This invitation went out to all of us, the 111 MPs.
“The community wanted to air their issues.
“There have been comments made that I went up there representing the company.
“I want to inform this house that no companies brought me into this house.
“The people of Central Bougainville voted me to this house and I’m not here to represent any companies or who ever in this house.”
Akoitai also asked the Government to help with the relocation of people who were displaced when the Panguna mine had operated in Bougainville.
He said the Government and mining company Rio Tinto were partners in the Panguna mine, hence the Government and the partner should help with the relocation.