Governor: K259m for Western stalled

 By MALUM NALU

WESTERN Governor Ati Wobiro says K259 million in the Ok Tedi Mine trust fund as benefits for his people is not being used because of other selfish people wanting to put their hands on the money.

The funds, which belong to non-Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) villagers, are being caught in a tug-of-war and are now being kept in a National Court trust account. 

“One of the things I quickly tried to understand when I came into office was how funds from mining were used, particularly in non-CMCA regions,” Wobiro said yesterday.

“To my horror, I know out that in the last five to 15 years, close of half a billion kinawas taken out of funds, supposedly for projects, but as I looked through the list, there were no projects. 

“What happened to the money? 

“I don’t know. 

“My own conclusion is that is must have gone to some people’s pockets. 

“I took out a newspaper advertisement, putting everybody on notice, that no one will be allowed to touch this money without my approval or the approval of the provincial executive council because too much of our money has gone down the drain.”

Wobiro said in January a group called Ok Tedi Mine Impacted Area Association (OTMIAA), through lawyer Samson Jubi,  obtained an ex parte order to stop Ok Tedi dumping tailings into the Fly River and that K45 million from the non-CMCA account be transferred to the National Court trust account.

He said OTMIAA then got another ex parte order to transfer K214 million from the same account to another trust account in the National Court. 

“By doing that, they totally wiped out the account,” Wobiro said.

“Currently, there’s zero balance. 

“For over one-and-a-half years now, we haven’t really been doing anything because there’s been fight after fight over this money.

“I’m hoping that this matter will be sorted out soon and the funds will be released back so the provincial government so we can start using it for development