source: www.postcourier.com.pg dated 21/12/12
SOUTHERN Highlands Governor, William Powi has announced that the infrastructure development grants for Kutubu and Gobe will be paid before Christmas.
Mr Powi said this while conveying his festive seasons greetings to the people of Southern Highlands province.
He said in a statement, that all necessary consultations have been made between the department of Finance and other stakeholders, including the Expenditure Implementation Committee, the relevant line agencies and the landowners, and an agreement has been reached for the funds to be released.
He said K18.2 million will be paid out by the provincial government within the next two weeks when all lists are consolidated.
“On behalf of my family and myself, I would like to pass my Christmas Greetings and New Year greetings to the people of Southern Highlands and PNG. While I pass my special festive greetings, I would like to announce that the long awaited IDG payments worth more than K38 million for Gobe and Kutubu will be made by the Provincial Administrator,” Mr Powi said.
Mr Powi said the Gobe landowners will receive K8.2 m while Kutubu landowners will be paid K10m of IDG for 2011.
He added that the IDG for 2012 will also be paid but those funds will be paid to project landowners as identified by the government and the line agency stakeholders.
“We have done all the consultations with the relevant stakeholders already and that all IDG payments now parked in a trust account will be paid out as per the EIC list within the next two weeks.
“I do not want to deal with paper landowners in Port Moresby because these funds are for special projects identified in the project areas.
“The provincial administrator has been instructed but I must warn that these funds are not for paper landowners in Port Moresby. They are for Gobe and Kutubu landowners living in the project areas for special projects as identified by the stakeholders,” Powi said.
However, Governor Powi said that the 2012 IDG payments will be paid to landowner companies that have the capacity and the manpower as identified by the stakeholders, and that there will be no more free handouts.
“I want to stabilize the status quo of free handouts and paper landowners in Port Moresby and other areas benefiting from public funds. These funds are specifically for projects in the project areas in the Southern Highlands,” Governor Powi said.
He said that the cash handout mentality of people will have to change under his leadership.
SOUTHERN Highlands Governor, William Powi has announced that the infrastructure development grants for Kutubu and Gobe will be paid before Christmas.
Mr Powi said this while conveying his festive seasons greetings to the people of Southern Highlands province.
He said in a statement, that all necessary consultations have been made between the department of Finance and other stakeholders, including the Expenditure Implementation Committee, the relevant line agencies and the landowners, and an agreement has been reached for the funds to be released.
He said K18.2 million will be paid out by the provincial government within the next two weeks when all lists are consolidated.
“On behalf of my family and myself, I would like to pass my Christmas Greetings and New Year greetings to the people of Southern Highlands and PNG. While I pass my special festive greetings, I would like to announce that the long awaited IDG payments worth more than K38 million for Gobe and Kutubu will be made by the Provincial Administrator,” Mr Powi said.
Mr Powi said the Gobe landowners will receive K8.2 m while Kutubu landowners will be paid K10m of IDG for 2011.
He added that the IDG for 2012 will also be paid but those funds will be paid to project landowners as identified by the government and the line agency stakeholders.
“We have done all the consultations with the relevant stakeholders already and that all IDG payments now parked in a trust account will be paid out as per the EIC list within the next two weeks.
“I do not want to deal with paper landowners in Port Moresby because these funds are for special projects identified in the project areas.
“The provincial administrator has been instructed but I must warn that these funds are not for paper landowners in Port Moresby. They are for Gobe and Kutubu landowners living in the project areas for special projects as identified by the stakeholders,” Powi said.
However, Governor Powi said that the 2012 IDG payments will be paid to landowner companies that have the capacity and the manpower as identified by the stakeholders, and that there will be no more free handouts.
“I want to stabilize the status quo of free handouts and paper landowners in Port Moresby and other areas benefiting from public funds. These funds are specifically for projects in the project areas in the Southern Highlands,” Governor Powi said.
He said that the cash handout mentality of people will have to change under his leadership.