Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands

Motu-Koitabuans want fair share of funds

The people of Motu Koitabu want a fair share of funds from the K137 million budget of the National Capital District Commission.

A spokesman for the people has called on the NCDC to inform them of how much money would be allocated to the Motu Koitabuans in the 2002 NCD budget. Samson Araka of Baruni village made the call when commenting on media reports on the proposed K137 million NCD budget.

According to the budget submission tabled last week, there will be provisions in the budget to support the Central Provincial Government and the Motu-Koitabu Council. Mr Araka said the NCDC authorities should provide more information on how much would be allocated to the Motu- Koitabu people.

Mr Araka, who is also the spokesman for the Interim Motu-Koitabu Land Rights Association Corporation, said after more than 25 years of western style development, the Motu-Koitabuans find themselves in a situation where they see themselves as “no-longer custodians of their own land”.

“We find ourselves no-longer fully involved with the day-to-day decision making of the management of the city,” said Mr Araka.

“What we want to see is for our people to have greater power and rights to operate our own affairs under the Organic Law of Papua New Guinea,” he said, adding that already many decades have passed and the Motu-Koitabu people are still on their own land, lacking proper basic services such as water and roads.

“Currently we are under NCDC but we still do not receive proper basic services because our rights are not looked into,” he said.

Mr Araka said there are 10 Motu Koitabuan villages with over 15,000 people.

Source: By Lucy Kapi, The National Online, Papua New Guinea, 21 January 2002

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