NCDC releases funds to Motu Koita Assembly

Caption: Governor Powes Parkop

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 15, 2013 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE National Capital District Commission (NCDC) has released a total of K5 million to the Motu Koita Assembly, the representative government of the traditional landowners of Port Moresby.

Governor of NCD Powes Parkop, made the announcement last week in Elevala village, one of the 10 villages that make up the assembly, during the graduation of grade eight students from Hagara Primary School.  

“I have released more than K5 million from a trust account for the Motu Koita assembly.”

“I have spoken to the Motu Koita Chairman to let bygones be bygones, so that together we can work together to help our people recover,” he said.

This was in relation to various calls by the Chairman for the assembly Miria Ikupu, over the past year, for NCDC to release funds that were entitled to the assembly, which he said was stipulated in Motu Koita Assembly Act of 2007.   

When making the announcement, Governor Parkop explained why it was so, however, emphasized that it was time they moved on from the issue with forgiveness, and as a gesture of the festive season spirit it seemed fitting to hand over the funds to the Motu Koita people.

“This problem that we have faced in the last year is not of my doing, and I want to assure you all our people from Motu Koita villages of that.”

“The decision to suspend the Motu Koita assembly came from the national government, and it is a decision that they made and the rationale belongs to them.”

“I as your governor and your political representative in Parliament was just caught in the crossfire,” he said.

“I regret what has happened but it is now up to the assembly to deliver, and so as we go towards Christmas, it is a time for reconciliation and peace.”

He said that he had spoken to Ikupu to let bygones be bygones, urging him that he is there to work with him.

“Every day that we miss is a missed opportunity for our people of Motu Koita.”

“Every day that we do not do anything is a generation being lost, and therefore everyday from now on we must work together to turn the tide.”

He said that even though the matter was in court he could not let the assembly be in limbo in a non-function state.

The governor called on the assembly to be become equal partners with the Commission and the rest of the residents in the city from around the country to build a better city in the end.