Rift widens between Gulf factions

THE rift between Gulf Governor Havila Kavo and local level government presidents backed by the only two other Gulf MPs is widening when Kavo yesterday refuted claims of his lack of performance in office, The National reports.

At a press conference yesterday, Kavo said that calls through a seven-day notice for his dismissal, were  illegal.

The latest development was alleged to have been instigated by the other group as a result of his deferral over a week ago of the swearing-in of LLG presidents, which Kavo said yesterday was necessary adding that the processes had to be considered carefully and had to be in line with certain administrative processes.

He said as the mandated leader of the province, what was being reconsidered was in the best interest of the people of Gulf.

He also questioned why there was a rush by certain individuals to appoint LLG presidents into the provincial assembly.

He said he would  refer Kikori MP Mark Maipakai and Kerema MP Pitom Bombom to the Ombudsman Commission for instigating a provincial assembly meeting in Kerema on Wednesday.

Kavo also referred to section 17 of the Organic Law of Provincial and Local Level Governments (OLPLLG).

During that sitting in Kerema, which he said was an abuse of constitutional right and illegal, nine LLG presidents were sworn in and a motion was passed for a seven-day notice for Kavo to attend the July 7 assembly meeting or be stripped of his governorship.

He added that notices had to be served 14 days earlier.

But yesterday afternoon, another meeting by Bombom and the LLG presidents was convened where the group pledged its solidarity, asking Kavo to turn up for the July 7 assembly sitting.

Bombom challenged Kavo before the presidents and journalists to turn up for the planned sitting if he truly was the mandated head of Gulf like he claimed.

Amongst what was discussed at this meeting was Kavo’s  alleged neglect of his duties and responsibilities by not allowing proper debates on the Gulf provincial budget before their passage for the years 2007, 2008 and last year which was in contravention of section 20 (1) (c) of the OLPLLG.

Also, the governor had not provided a sound position paper for Gulf on certain benefits sharing agreements for the PNG LNG project which may result in the province missing out on essential project funding and other benefits.

Meanwhile, a letter to Kavo last Friday from the secretary for the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs was issued advising the governor to convene an assembly meeting this week.

This had not taken place.

The secretary could not be contacted yesterday to deliberate on the matter.