Koiari landowners search eyed

The National National

By LUKE KAMA and REBECCA KUKU
CHIEF Secretary Isaac Lupari says a clan-vetting exercise will be conducted in the Koiari area of Central to identify the legitimate landowners of water and power resources that are supplied to Port Moresby.
He was speaking yesterday after meeting landowner groups from Koiari with Treasury Secretary Dairi Vele. Lupari said that at the end of clan-vetting and the establishment of incorporated land groups (ILGs), the government would then work with those organisations to drive developments.
It was agreed that:

  • Clan vetting will be carried out to establish ILGs;
  • a memorandum of agreement will be put in place on benefits, sustainable programme, and funding arrangements. This will be negotiated with all relevant State Agencies including Eda Ranu and PNG Power Ltd (PPL);
  • the government will pay K5 million to Sirinumu Development Company with all funds to be acquitted;
  • the State will appoint a single government agency as the focal point to coordinate and manage issues, rather than having many different agencies; and
  • Landowners to acquit all funds given to them.

Lupari said the landowners agreed to assist with funding for clan-vetting and agreed not to disrupt or disturb the PPL facility and assets. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has been briefed, he said.
“In relation to K10 million paid to landowners by Commerce and Industry, audit investigations are underway at the direction of the prime minister,” Lupari said.