Director: Report tarnishes company’s reputation

 A LANDOWNER company in Kikori, Gulf, has accused the provincial government of unnecessarily withholding funds meant for a water supply project.

The Bioma Ekamo Holdings Ltd, representing the incorporated landowner group in Kikori, affirmed that the K5 million from the infrastructure development grant should be used for the west and east regions of Kikori district. 

Company managing director Bomsy Boviro said they had met all the requirements set by the government departments to qualify for the funding and approved by the expenditure implementation committee.

He was responding to a statement by Gulf Governor Havila Kavo in yesterday’s The National that millions of kina under the grant were not accounted for. 

“The report in the media has tarnished BEHL’s reputation as the only existing ILG company delivering the necessary services to the rural people in Kikori,” he said.

He said Kavo had not consulted the provincial audit team before making a public statement against the company.

In a letter dated August 27 to the National Planning and Monitoring Department Secretary, provincial audit team leader Brian Morehari had recommended that the company should be given assistance and support because it had been delivering projects in Kikori under the grant.

He said the company’s effort must be fully recognised as the point of consideration in its desire to obtain further financial support.

Boviro said the audit found that BEHL was not at fault and there was no reason for delaying the release of the money. 

He said the company had accounted for all the money it received under IDG funding and had produced progressive reports to relevant donor agencies.