Hotel Hodava owner denies selling to MRDC

By JEFFREY ELAPA
Hotel Hodava owner Vincent Mirupasi has denied selling it for K150 million to Mineral Resources Development Company, as claimed by Moresby North-West Sir Mekere Morauta in Parliament last week.
He said there was no such agreement in place or negotiations on foot for this kind of transaction.
Mirupasi, a lawyer, said he had been struggling with his business and had intentions to sell his properties, but had not entered into any agreement with MRDC.
He said he would not charge an inflated K150 million when his property was only worth K50 million at most.
“K150 million is also a lot of money,” he said.
“We are not valued that much.
“MRDC manages people’s money, and there is no way I would charge that much, with my conscience.”
Mirupasi said he had been a lawyer for 29 years, conducting business honestly, and it would be totally wrong and against his conscience to enter into such a deal.
“Yes, we have been struggling,” he said.
“Business has not been good.
“We have intentions to sell it (Hodava) but we have no negotiations or deal with MRDC.
“Sir Mekere’s outburst is the last any leader in this country would do to kill local companies that are struggling to survive during the current state of the country’s economy.
“They (leaders) should be looking at way to help bail us out to sustain our operations, as we also employ 80 Papua New Guineans.
“Sir Mekere knows me personally.
“A simple telephone call to the hotel would have solved his issue.
“Dragging my name, or my business, through the already dirty and convoluted floor of Parliament with all the allegations of fraud, misappropriation, corruption and dirty dealings does not do any good for me and my business.”