Proposed rice monopoly gets a lot of flak

By ANCILLA WRAKUALE
THE proposed commercial rice project in Bereina in Central province by Naima Agro Industries Ltd continues to get criticisms from both the public and businesses.
A person who claimed to have had business dealings with the sole owner of the company Eleana Tjandranegara said she was not a legitimate business woman.
The man, who requested anonymity because he is public servant, said approval should not be given to the project until Tjandranegara background and business credentials are established.
He said he decided to come out publicly after he read in the media about her proposed rice project and warned that the government could be fooled by her.
He said she could be more interested in the piece of land than rice and that she has other intentions.
The public servant said she has good contacts with officers in the Lands Department and has been dealing on land for some time now.
He said he had taken Tjandranegara to court over a portion of land (Section 17 Lot 10) at Hohola at the back of Islander Village.
He said he came to know about Tjandranegara in 2006 when he was looking for a piece of land to build the then Allied Christian Academy School, now Harmony Christian School.
He said he had spent almost K150,000 on legal fees and land surveys.
He said Tjandranegara asked him to settle the issue outside of court on the agreement that the Lands Department will later provide another piece of land but until now he is still waiting.
He said she was going to sell the piece of land for K1.6 million but when they moved in, they got kicked out by the landlord there because Tjandranegara was not the rightful landlord.
“People are going to lose out on the land, that is why I am revealing all this,” he said.
He said he knew Tjandranegara personally.
Several attempts to speak with Tjandranegara yesterday were unsuccessful as someone at her place who answered the phone said she would be away the whole day.
Attempts to get comments from Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Sir Puka Temu yesterday were also unsuccessful.