Mori: K10m Payment to Rouna and Lower Koiari Landowners was Genuine

Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister, Wera Mori, stated that the payment of approximately K10million made to Landowners from the Rouna and Lower Koiari areas in the Central Province, was made to legitimate landowners.

Minister Mori, in an interview with EMTV, was responding to a question raised by Kairuku Hiri MP, Peter Isoaimo, on the floor of Parliament last week Friday relating to the recent K10million payment, which he claimed was paid out to the wrong people.

Minister Mori explained that the issue started in the early 1960s, when a Dam was constructed at Sirinumu as a reservoir to hold water for Rouna Hydro to generate electricity, and also piping the same water to supply Port Moresby for consumption via the Mt Eriama Water Treatment facilities.

Following the question from the Kairuku Hiri MP, over the legality of the payment and calling on an investigation, Mori says, there was an independent team that investigated as the ministerial committee and identified three major indigenous biological clans from the Rouna and Lower Koiari areas.

Mori stressed that the clans who are entitled to the K10million from the original K20million kept in a Trust Account of the National Court are the Omani, Narime and the Behori clans.

Mori said the other people who are claiming to be landowners are con artists who have tried many attempts to get the money, but have failed. He added that rumours of ministerial staff getting paid are not true as well.