Landowners thank govt for decision on HQ site

LANDOWNERS of the Kurumul tea  and coffee plantations in South Waghi district, Jiwaka, have commended the provincial executive council’s decision to build provincial headquarter on their land.
People from the Kisu and Demanga tribes gathered last Thursday at Kurumul to offer 182 hectares of their land to the provincial government for its headquarters.
Dopin Investment, the landowner company that owns the coffee and tea estate, signed an agreement with the provincial government to handover the land late last year.
Leaders from Kisu and Demanga came together to show their support after a media report claimed that there was a dispute over the land.
Councillor Tumbu Mana, from Demanga whose tribe owns Dopin Investment, said people wanted development and service.
Mana said his tribe supported the decision of the provincial executive council to sacrifice their plantations for the construction of the provincial headquarters.
He said his tribe never fought with the Kisu tribe as claimed in the newspaper last week.
He said Kurumul was located along the Highlands Highway and more central for people in Jimi, North and South districts to come together.
Cr Tumbu Poke from the Kisu tribe said his people supported the move to build the provincial headquarters on their land.
He denied the newspaper report that his tribe fought with Demanga over the land.
Deputy chairman of the Dopin Investment, Simon Kunagil said they had given the land to the provincial government.