By BENSON WEMA & CHRISTOPHER YANDAWAI
MEMBER for Bulolo, Hon. Sam Basil Jr, has called on Prime Minister James Marape and Morobe Governor Luther Wenge to be on the ground to critically address Wafi-Golpu landowner’s issues involving K100 million Infrastructure Development Grants (IDGs).
In a media conference today, Mr. Basil said the landowners from Towongola staged a peaceful protest earlier this week concerning the IDG issues and it is important that the National Government and Morobe Provincial Government (MPG) step in and address the LOs promptly.
While supporting the landowners’ grievances, Basil said both governments must address the LOs on the ground rather than going out on the media.
“We have yet to see infrastructure development projects on the ground from the IDG funds of K100 million that were paid last year to the MPG,” the Bulolo MP said.
“The landowners airing their grievances through protests would not take place if we have properly addressed them from the beginning.
“I’ve been raising this since I entered parliament; I even sat with the Prime Minister James Marape and a few senior MPs from Morobe.
“I told them that we need to fix the landowners first before we talk about the mine itself.
“There are processes that need to be followed leading up to the actual operation of the mine.
“It’s like planting a seed, nurturing it, and letting it grow to bear fruit, and then we can enjoy it.
“What happened was we didn’t sort out the landowner issues, and now we’re facing this landowners’ issues.”
Basil said although he was not part of the protest, he did warn the government earlier that it will happen.
“So, I’m going to support my landowners and ask the government of the day and the Provincial Government to be on the ground and address the LOs.
“Do not address the issue in Port Moresby or in Lae, but go to Bulolo District, Mumeng LLG, and face the landowners, and tell them in their face what’s going on.
“We keep on leaving them in the dark, we will face this problem again, and we don’t want that because every stakeholder involved wants the mine to start.”
“We keep on leaving them on the dark, the issue will continue to evolve and we will continue to experience more of such issues.”
The Bulolo MP also raised series of concerns on how this year’s IDG funds received by the MPG were dispatched.
He said according to credible evidences he received, a total of K13 million was paid to three different companies (named); two received K5 million each while the other received K3 million.
However, Basil said there are no evidence on ground of construction or project being rolled-out by any of the named companies.
“These contractors have completely done nothing for the benefit of Wafi-Golpu mine and the landowners there by using the monies they received.
“All these payments to these contractors and the projects and programs involved have no impact on the lives of my people of Wafi Golpu, Mumeng LLG and Bulolo District,” Basil expressed.
The Bulolo also called on PM Marape to justify these payments as there is a lot of irregularities found on how and whom the payments were made to.
He clarified that these payments are separate from the K50 million given to the Morobe Provincial Government recently.
Meanwhile, Gregin Konjib of Konjib Lawyers, who is also a citizen of Bulolo District, has indicated that he will step in to assist the LOs and the MP for Bulolo should there be issues to be settled in courts.
