LLG urged to table financial report

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
HAGEN rural local level government has been urged to table a financial report on its business arm to the people.
The call came from Joseph Tengen, a former Mt Hagen lord mayor and leader of Moge tribe in Western Highlands.
Tengen said the rural council owned Hagen market. It also has 20% share in the Wamp Nga group of companies with Anglimp LLG (20%) and Nebilyer LLG (20%).
Tengen claimed that the rural people of Hagen Central were not aware of how their companies established during the colonial period were managed.
“We won’t interfere with the operations of the businesses. We need to know how it operates,” he said.
He said no dividends had been paid over the years to the shareholders.
Deputy governor and council president of Hagen rural Wai Rapa said the claims by Tengen were politically motivated.
He said he conducted council meetings more than four times annually according to the standing orders.
As chairman of the Wamp Nga group of companies, he said he conducted meetings every year for the shareholders to inform them about the operations of the businesses.
“In 2011, the Wamp Nga paid K700,000 as dividend and last year, the company paid another K400,000 as dividends to the three LLGs,” he said.
“Tengen is not a councillor so that is why he is not aware of the various meetings he conducted and dividends paid out to the three LLGs by the Wamp Nga.”