Juffa questions agriculture minister

Northern Governor Gary Juffa has once again lashed out at the Government over the non-compliance of departments responsible for processes leading to the awarding of a Forest Clearance Authority (FCA).

In Parliament yesterday, the Governor said a fundamental process called a ‘community hearing’ must be done before a certificate of compliance are issued for an FCA.

The community hearing is a process facilitated by the Department of Agriculture where landowners have their say on a proposed project.

Governor Juffa said he is carrying out his own investigation into the departments responsible for the awarding of FCAs.

He questioned Agriculture Minister, Benny Allan, if he was aware that a large majority of ‘certificates of compliance’ did not follow the proper process.

Juffa claims the Collingwood Bay operation in his area in one such example that due process was not followed.

“Minister, do you know that your Department is issuing certificate of compliance, or at least 80 percent of FCAs, without a community hearing?” asked Juffa.

“If a certificate of compliance was not issued, how is it that the Ministry of Forestry has granted FCA to Collingwood Bay because there was no community hearing?

“How did they get a certificate of compliance? And when they granted the FCA, FCA was granted and then the Agriculture plan came after.”

Juffa said he will continue with his investigations to find out more from other departments.

“All the FCAs in Oro Province, there was no community hearing. And how did they issue a certificate of compliance because we have a big problem at home. People are fighting and killing each other.

“It’s not only our province but other provinces as well.”

Minister Allan said he was not aware of such practices and that it was a very serious allegation.

“I want you to provide me with the names of the individuals that issued the certificates of compliance so we can look into it and deal with the officers responsible in the appropriate manner,” said Allan.

“If my department is issuing certificate of compliance without community hearings then we will look into them and take disciplinary actions.”

In a supplementary question, Ambunti-Dreikikir MP, Johnson Wapunai, said two FCAs were awarded in his district which did not follow that process.

Minister Allan also said he will look into that matter.

(Northern Governor Gary Juffa)

Author: 
Cedric Patjole