Hides PDL1 unsure about payout criteria

By SAMUEL RAITANO
THE landowners of Hides PDL 1 have questioned the criteria used by the government to make payments of ministerial commitment this month.
They alleged that many genuine landowner companies had missed out on the payment of more than K60 million.
The aggrieved landowners in Hides demanded payments this month and next month after threatening to shut down Hides in the new year.
According to a Hides PDL 1 landowner company Homa Holdings Ltd, the ministerial commitment payments did not go down well with the landowners who were beginning to lose confidence in the government.
Homa Holdings chairman Leonard Tombena said most landowners had been in the National Capital District for more than two years to secure a memorandum of agreement, business development grants, industrial development grants and ministerial commitments.
But they had been overlooked, he claimed.
Tombena, as the Issue Working Committee secretary general,  said prior to the payments of ministerial commitments, he had submitted a list of companies and project proposals to Finance Minister Don Polye.
“How he came up with a different list and awarded payments according to his list is a mystery to us,’’ he said.
“We have been patient all this time. We urge the government to source some more funds so that we may start meaningful projects alongside the LNG.”
Tombena said the landowners wanted the LNG to progress for the good of the nation and had resolved to remain calm while the government addressed their grievances before the end of this year.