Province to transfer IDG funds

 By TAUNA GEORGE

INFRASTRUCTURE Development Grants from the LNG project held by the Central provincial government will soon be transferred to the Hiri Special Purpose Authority board.

Chairman Jerry Taumaku said this following a meeting with the acting secretary for the Department of Provincial and Local Level Affairs, Dickson Guina on Wednesday.  “Guina will write to the Central provincial government to advise the transfer of the funds to the newly established SPA,” Taumaku said.

“The department is responsible for setting up SPAs with all functions governed by a constitution.”

He said IDG funds were proceeds from the LNG project intended for development purposes for the impacted villages of Boera, Papa, Lealea and Porebada.

Taumaku had met Guina to find out where and how the SPA could begin its operations after its members were sworn into office last week.

“I also want to see the SPA constitution and LNG agreement between the provincial, national government and the developer so that we do not go overboard when performing our duties,” he said. 

He said an annual payment of K17.4 million made by the project developer ExxonMobil under the IDG was believed to be with the provincial government.

He is not sure how much of the fund has been spent since the payment began almost four years ago.