Hides groups want K40mil

By PATRICK TALU
HIDES 4 petroleum development licence (PDL) 7 area landowners have called on the government to give them another K10 million each for four other major LNG projects in Hides 4.
Gigira Hides 4 Joint Venture chairman Willie Ayule said from Hides the rest of the project area landowners wanted K40 million for the quarry (K10 million), lay down (K10 million), Hepi-Holway Road (K10 million) and the Timalya Bridge (K10 million).
He said the government told landowners that the K10 million paid to them in February at Para Community School was for pro-ject security for the plant site where the project was shut for over two weeks.
Ayule said the K10 million delivered by acting Prime Minister Sam Abal, Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru, Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare, Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet and others  had disappeared into the hands of plant site landowners who claimed the project security money was meant to be shared by them.
“The government made a mistake in giving cash handouts in millions of kina where there was no specific project for such funds,” Ayule said.
“Since the government has set the precedent in paying plant site, the four impact project sites want K10 million each too.
“The government did not say what the money was for. It just handed it over to Hides Special Purpose Authority,” he said.
Hides Special Purpose Authority chairman Lemson Mapira could not be contacted for comments.