Minister wants copra assets to go to growers

By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville’s Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, Hon Joseph Watawi, has been in Kokopo and Port Moresby telling the Kokonas Indastri Korporation that assets on Bougainville were owned by the growers on the island.

A frustrated Mr Watawi says the copra shed in Buka and other assets owned by KIK on Bougainville now belong to the Bougainville copra growers and KIK should transfer these assets to the Autonomous Bougainville Government in the spirit of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

Mr Watawi said KIK should conduct communicate with ABG if it wants to sell these assets.

The Minister went to Kokopo to meet with the chairman of the Kokonas Indastri Koporesen, Peter Tokale, but the chairman was not available.

The ABG understands that KIK has already sold its sheds in Rabaul, Kavieng and Madang.