Kama landowners take action against PHA

A GROUP of landowners have reopened the gates to a major infrastructure project at the Goroka Provincial Hospital  after locking out provincial health staff.
Kama tribesmen living on the western fringe of Goroka town in Eastern Highlands took action on Monday after they didn’t receive a response to a petition the tribesmen presented to the management of the provincial health authority (PHA).
The petition was to drop the appointment of Dr Joseph Apa as the authority’s chief executive officer.
Patient care services at the hospital were closed on Monday and Tuesday until the Kama tribesmen, led by  Samson Walizopa,  returned on Tuesday and removed the chain to the authority office door.
Walizopa said they had earlier this year raised a petition stating their grievances and disapproval of Apa’s appointment as CEO.
That petition was also to address some other issues concerning land compensation.
“Earlier this year, we did petition the people in authority including Governor Julie Soso, chairman of the provincial health board Beckson Kia and the provincial executive council to elaborate on the concern and issues raised by the people of Kama tribe,” Walizopa said.
He said after handing over another petition to Kia on Tuesday, they agreed to remove the chains to allow officers to return to work.
He said the gates leading to the project site remained closed until the authorities concerned came out and addressed their concerns.
He said the group would continue to disrupt work on the project site unless authorities concerned addressed the issue.