Morobe govt must explain missing K34mil

THE article “K34 million gone astray: Clan” in The National (Monday, Dec 6 – Pg2) is political daylight robbery which must be investigated by the police fraud squad and Ombudsman Commission.
It was public knowledge and Mining Minister Johnson Tuke did confirm that the K100 million allocation to the Morobe government was for the fast-tracking of work in preparation – customary land rights and ownerships, land group mappings, identifications and registration of Incorporated Land Groups etc – for Wafi-Golpu mine development
The distribution to eight district MPs and the retaining of K12 million by the provincial government is daylight robbery and those responsible and recipients must be brought to justice immediately.
One thing must be clear, the K100 million National Government allocation was for preparation and fast tracking of work, but particularly, for sorting out outstanding landowner’s issues and preparations for the mine’s openings which is not happening.
The Morobe government and its provincial administration must tell the truth and explain to landowners and the people of Morobe, as well as the National Government, as to what has happened and why the landowners have not benefitted?
Prime Minister James Marape and Mining Minister John Tuke must listen to the landowners’ call and immediately and inform the police fraud squad task force to carry out investigations before they can continue talk about the development and opening of the Wafi-Golpu mine.

Samson C Napo
Former Bulolo MP