State stops selling plantation, directs probe

THE Koitaki Plantation at Sogeri, Central, will not be sold until after investigations, Parliament has been told.
Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru said this in response to Kairiku-Hiri MP Peter Isoaimo who asked about the ownership of the plantation.
Maru said he understood that a K25 million price tag was put on the Koitaki.
He described the proposed sale as “suspicious” and assured Koiari landowners that the state would not allow the sale to proceed and investigate it.
“No sale until investigation is complete,” Maru said.
“I have requested current owners for details on how they own the plantation, evidence they bought the plantation.
“But such information has not been made available to me and I’m suspicious.”
Isoaimo also asked about the status of a recent government review on the benefits package for Koiari landowners.
Maru said the Koiari people owned the source for the city’s water and power generation.
He asaid the delay in the consultation was due to funding, which would be available next week following a commitment by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
“The benefit package for Koiari is hoped to be completed in the next two months,” Maru said.