Miria Ikupu nominates to contest national election

OALA MOI

 

MOTU KOITA ASSEMBLY CHAIRMAN, Miria Ikupu [pictured], has taken leave of absence to contest in the 2012 National Election as the People’s Democratic Movement candidate for Moresby North West seat.

The Assembly was established to protect and strengthen the identity of the Motu and Koita peoples, who are the customary land owners living within PNG’s National Capital District.
It has is responsible for customary land and natural resources as well as looking after water, health, education, transportation, social order and other matters.
Miria Ikupu said there were  nine reasons for his decision to stand for election.

Reason 1: The Motu Koita people do not have a voice in the National Parliament.
Reason 2: The Motu Koita Assembly has not achieved financial and fiscal self-reliance since its establishment by Parliament under the Motu Koita Assembly Act, 2007.  The Assembly is underfunded.
Reason 3: The Assembly’s financial position has not improved. Since this Assembly came into office in July 2008, every possible effort has been made in order to acquire funding or to raise current funding levels, including, legal action against the National Capital Development Commission.
Reason 4: Allegations that NCD Governor Powes Parkop and Moresby North West MP Sir Mekere Morauta have been collaborating to stop the government paying the Assembly’s outstanding K50million GST dues dating back to 2007.
Reason 5: Because of politics, the Motu Koita Assembly cannot access land taxes, airport taxes and harbour taxes.
Reason 6: The Chairman must fight for the Motu Koita people’s rights to get all outstanding monies belonging to the Motu Koita people and the Assembly.
Reason 7: To become a national representative in the Parliament, enabling Mr Ikupu to access direct budgetary allocation for the Assembly from the national government.
Reason 8: To propose amendments to relevant legislation for the purpose of increasing budgetary funding for the Assembly which has been ignored because our Motu Koita people do not have representation in the national parliament, let alone the national executive council.
Reason 9: The Motu Koita people have been marginalised on their land.

At a meeting of the Assembly on 18 May, the Assembly agreed t grant its chairman, Hon Miria Ikupu, leave of absence to run in the 2012 general elections to contest the Moresby North West Open Seat.