War of words between MP, provincial government

A WAR or words is raging between a provincial government and an MP over the use of a piece of land to build a council chamber and a solar power installation.
Both the New Ireland government and Namatanai MP Walter Schnaubelt have threatened to settle the matter in court.
The provincial government is accusing Schnaubelt of being behind the damage to the Seeto council chamber and the solar power installation in Namatanai last month.
Provincial executive council law and order committee chairman Edwin Maingen called the MP’s action “disgraceful”.
“Schnaubelt is a servant of the people who put him there.
“He is not above the law and must face the consequences of his behaviour,” Maingen said.
He said a “legal investigation process” was underway.
But Schnaubelt said the “dismantling” of the Seeto council chamber building and the solar technology equipment in Namatanai town was about who owned the land.
“The Namatanai District Development Authority is the legitimate owner of the land in question (which is to be used for the) Namatanai airstrip – not for a council chamber,” Schnaubelt said.
“No entity has the right to just construct any building or use if for any development on any portion of land owned by another entity.”
He said the Namatanai district authority had already allocated the land for an airstrip “to resume commercial fights to this district”.
He is seeking legal advice over the “disgraceful way” he had been treated by the provincial government.