By JOE GURINA
THE Kokoda Track Special Purpose Authority is a special case, according to Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Secretary, Philip Leo.
Leon said, unlike 12 other Special Purpose Authorities in the country that operates from resource funds derived from its respective resource developers, the Kokoda Track SPA generates its own revenue, making theauthority a special case with the significance approach the authority has maneuvered through.
Leo made these remarks during the appointments of new board executives of the Kokoda Track SPA this week. Leo was also ex-officio appointed to the board.
‘’I realize that the Kokoda Track SPA is a special case from the rest of the other 12 SPAs that operate from resource funds that comes from resource developers,” he said.
‘’This authority is a special case. In a little way you generate your own revenue. It makes you special, you generate your revenue and operate. ‘’You are not like the other 12 SPAs, that make you unique from the rest,’’ he said.
‘’I am questioning myself whether I am in the right position or is DPLG the right place to tie the authority to be part with the rest of the other SPAs that rely heavily on resource developers who don’t make money but basically are takers.
He said these are issues that he would consider in his short term in office and have a dialogue with the new board and his office to find alternative ways to addressing the issue.
‘’It is more about tourism and the authority should be parked where it supposed to be. In my short term, with the department, I am trying to find some alignment, so we could allow opportunities for us to place the authority to where it should belong,’’ he said.
He urged the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Henry Isi Leonard and the Governor for Central Rufian Peter, who were present to witness the occasion, to find better alternatives for the authority.
Isi and Peter in their separate remarks, pledged to work together with the authority and DPLG and respective stakeholder to find soluble pathway for the authority to find its space and thrive.
