Goroka show defends K700,000 from government

THE Eastern Highlands Agriculture and Culture Society has taken offence at claims by the opposition that K700,000 given by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was unaccounted for.
The opposition, in a two-page newspaper spread on Wednesday, took the government to task over use of public funds totalling about K500 million, one of which was the K700,000 given to the society to run the Goroka Show.
President Wilson Thompson said former prime minister Sir Michael Somare had been invited to officiate at the show but could not because of the change in government.
“The invitation letter was sent in February and copied to minister for culture and tourism, minister for treasury and chief secretary,” he said.
“In that letter, we requested financial assistance for the upgrade of the Goroka Showground (K5 million) and for the operation of the show (K700,000).
“This letter was reiterated in July to acting prime minister Sam Abal.
“When Peter O’Neill became prime minister in August, he took up the invitation.
“The K5.7 million was delivered in September, with K5 million given to the National Sports Institute for upgrading of the showground and K700,000 to the Goroka show committee.
“There was no corruption as the opposition claims.”