K10mil paid to landowners

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Commerce and Industry Minister Wera Mori yesterday confirmed that K10 million has been paid to the right landowners of Port Moresby water and electricity supply facilities.
“As chairman of the ministerial committee responsible for Koiari issues, I confirm that the money has been released to the rightful clans of the Rouna lower Koiari landowners as ordered by the National Court,” he said.
“We were only implementing a court order.
“That money was for lower Koiari landowners through their respective incorporated land groups.”
Meanwhile, the landowners from the Narime, Omani and Behori clans thanked the Government for paying them K10 million in compensation for their resources.
“We also thank the National Court for the decision that we are the legitimate landowners,” Narime clan leader Saroa Beredi said.
“We will now work with the national government to provide our resources to contribute to the development and expansion of the city.
“We were the only plaintiffs who successfully obtained a National Court order in 2015 against the Sirinumu dam company when our K10 million share of the K20 million was paid by the Treasury Department to the upper Koiari landowners in 2013.
“The payment was without approval from the National Executive Council-sanctioned ministerial committee which was tasked to be in charge of the Koiari landowner issues.”
Beredi said they then took the matter to court and it ruled in their favour on Oct 23 last year.
“The K10 million has been diverted to the rightful Rouna Lower Koiari landowners so we are happy.”