Police Commissioner Mathew Varley and Western Province Premier Wayne Maepio
The Western Provincial Premier Wayne Maepio has denied paying any compensation to the Bouganvilleans who turned themselves over to the Gizo police over the weekend.
Nine of the 29 Bouganvilleans who escaped police custody gave themselves up after successful talks between Shortland islands chiefs and the Premier.
However there were reports following this that Mr Maepio paid a large sum of money to the men.
In a joint media conference today with the Police Commissioner Mathew Varley, the Premier clarified that this is not true.
“I would like to say this very clearly to the public that the Government of Western Province did not pay any compensation to them when they go back. As you might have heard from the Police Commissioner, there was no foul play involved in the death of the young man concerned. Therefore we have no reason to pay any compensation,” Mr Maepio said.
The premier however clarified, his government prepared 50-thousand dollars as a repatriation package for the men.
“It was a gesture of kindness to help them. But we haven’t spent any cent on them too, because the National Government met all their repatriation costs.
The public must stop spreading rumors about the compensation”, he said.
Gizo police welcoming Police Commissioner Mathew Varley this morning.
