Court refuses firm’s bid to join appeal

THE Supreme Court has refused to join construction company Eda Civil Works as a party in an appeal concerning the payout of non-community mine continuation agreement (CMCA) funds to companies for various projects in Western.
Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, presiding as a single judge in Waigani yesterday, said Eda Civil Works did not have sufficient interest to be added as a party to the appeal filed by former Western governor Bob Danaya.
“I exercise the court’s discretion to refuse the joinder application (by Eda Civil Works) with costs to the respondents to this application,” he said.
“I do understand that the applicant has sufficient interest in the matter, but his interest is only for the money to be paid to complete the (Balimo airport upgrading) project.
“The greater issue of the validity of the contract with the State is what, in my respectful view, should be determined first by way of appeal in Danaya.”