Gulf Landowners call for Investigation

Landowners of the Papua LNG Project in Gulf Province have called for an independent investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption [ICAC] and the Ombudsman Commission [OC] into the alleged misappropriation of funds intended for them.

They made this call on Monday this week following the alleged actions by the government to divert K60 million to the Enga Provincial Government.

Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta in his statement claimed that from the 60 million kina allegedly approved by Treasurer Ian Lin-Stuckey to Enga Province, K20 million was appropriated to the Gulf Provincial Government as Papua LNG Development Grant.

Papua LNG Landowners Chairman Dominic Evere said this is a misuse of appropriated funds and so investigations must be conducted by the relevant authorities to hold those responsible parties accountable.

“Why did they make this letter available to release our money to Enga Province? Signature is not there. They better react. That's our dead demand, they should be arrested for misappropriation,” Mr. Evere said.

The alternative Prime Minister nominee Renbo Paita also reiterated a similar call on Tuesday saying the actions of the Prime Minister and the Treasurer amounted to gross misappropriation of funds and abuse of the office.

He adds that under the law it is an offence to misappropriate funds approved by the Parliament in the national budget.

He says to act outside of the law is both wrong and arrogant and reflects flagrant disregard to due legal process.

Mr Paita said this incident warrants a full investigation.

He emphasized that the Prime Minister has been asking state agencies to investigate use of funds in the Department of Works, Department of Finance and Department of National Planning.

So now might be a good time to investigate the Department of Treasury, especially how the warrants are being done and under whose instructions are they being done-the Treasury or the Prime Minister?

Meanwhile, Treasury Ian Lin-Stuckey has assured the Gulf Governor and his people that no business development grants or infrastructure grants from other provinces and districts are being used by the government in any way to support the reopening of the Pogera Mine in Enga.