Committee to address compo culture
The National, Monday July 21st, 2014
By PETER ESOP WARI
THE Southern Highlands provincial administration has established a committee to look into the high compensation culture in the province.
The committee will gauge the views of stakeholders and Southern Highlanders and set up a compensation rate depending on the nature of the incident.
Deputy provincial administrator Ambe Keleli said compensation claims in the Highlands were very high although most of the incidents were not serious.
He said the high demand has placed a huge burden on the government, business houses, stake holders and people.
“For vehicle accidents along the national highway, people are blocking the road to attract the government’s attention.
“Innocent people and business houses then suffer from this,” he said.
He said he was demanded K500,000 and 200 pigs by the Olgaie-Glaiame tribe of Topel village, Imbonggu district, when his vehicle was involved in an accident at Ialibu this year.
He said with the help from his tribe, Makai of Kongibugl village, he paid 106 pigs, two cows, one sheep, a valuable snake and K105,000 (including expenditure) within six weeks.
“Accidents happen anytime and are unintentional. We should consider the nature of the accidents, let police do their investigations and then involve peace and good order committees to resolve the matter peacefully,” he said.
He said he was commended by the deceased relatives for setting a record in meeting the hefty compensation demand just within six weeks.
“But what if such compensation demands are given to poor people? Where will they get the money? We are creating a very difficult society that has greatly affected everyone,” he said.
Nipa-Kutubu MP Jeffery Komal, during one of his joint district budget priorities committee meeting, highlighted this issue urging local level government presidents to meet with their ward councillors to come up with answers.
He said the compensation demand trebled in a short period of time, affecting spin-off business activities and placed a huge burden on local leaders.