Resource owners demand district release funds

THE Komiufa Resource Development Association (KRDA) has given the Goroka development authority (DDA) has demanded the release of K1 million to it after an eight-month delay.
KRDA chairman Hans Fima said their demand was made based on the allocated funds by the National Government to landowners of Goroka town’s water supply.
However, Goroka DDA acting chairman Minaho Goso maintained that all relevant stakeholders needed to have their say on the disbursement of the K1 million earmarked for the landowners to avoid any problems.
“I need to get legal clearance and get approval from stakeholders like the Eastern Highlands government, Goroka district administration, Goroka town authority, Gahaku local level government, and land and water resource owners before the money can be released,” he said.
“I do not want any problems after the money is released, there has to be an amicable resolution, this is all we need.”
Fima said they had been waiting for eight months for the DDA to release the money.
He said Prime Minister James Marape was in Goroka with Finance Minister Renbo Paita last Dec 27, and said he would direct payment of K1 million from the K2.7 million in claims by KRDA.
Fima said the money was presented to the DDA and the cheque was written to the district treasury operating account.
He said money was then deposited into the prescribed account but to date the money was yet to be released.