Juha man blames Potape for landowner issues

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 4th January 2012

KOMO-MARGARIMA MP Francis Potape must take the blame for outstanding LNG project issues with landowners, Juha Landowners Association chairman Hengebe Haluya says.
Haluya made the comment late last week in response to Potape expressing concern about the multi-billion kina project.
But Haluya said Potape had created the mess with Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru while they were in the Somare cabinet.
“Potape, as the local MP from the host district and province, was in a better position to advise the Somare government and the project developer ExxonMobil on issues related to landowners benefits and related matters during the course of the project,” he said.
“He failed to do his job as a local man and a leader. He should take the blame with Agiru.
“Both Potape and Agiru cannot act as if they were innocent.
“They are the ones who failed the landowners, ExxonMobil and other stakeholders.
“Potape should instead admit his failure in addressing landowners’ issues and come out clean and work with the O’Neill government to find a way forward to address the backlog of issues with landowners from PDL 1 to PDL 9, pipeline and facilities,” Haluya said.