DUMA’S HIDDEN HAND IN K3 BILLION DEVELOPMENT
PNG I-CENTRAL Minister for State Enterprises, William Duma, was suspended from government in February this year, after it was alleged he had a beneficial interest in a lucrative land deal made with Kumul Consolidated Holdings. [1] Peter O’Neill ordered an administrative inquiry into the affair, led by John Griffin QC. [2] In a PNGi exclusive, we reveal the testimony of a senior Paga Hill Development Company (PHDC) executive, who claims the suspended Minister will potentially make a significant financial windfall from the proposed K3 billion luxury development at Paga Hill – which is said to include a 6-star hotel and potentially a casino. The high level executive claims a confidential cooperation agreement was entered into with William Duma during June 2015, by PHDC. It will see land acquired by Duma at Paga Hill, form part of this major property development – known as the Paga Hill Estate – slated to host APEC 2018. [3] PNGi will chart how William Duma came to obtain land at Paga