THE KASTOM Gaden Association (KGA) had dismissed as incorrect and misleading a recent media report alleging it had owed $15,000-00 of unpaid water bill to Solomon Islands water Authority.
Kastom Gaden Association said, this in response to an article carried by the paper quoting a statement by a prominent community leader of Burns Creek settlement, east Honiara, Seti Iromea.
Mr Iromea claimed the outstanding water bill of the sum of $15,000-00 owed to Solomon Islands water Authority (SIWA) by Kastom Gaden Association which operates in the Burnscreek area had been one of the contributing reasons which led to disconnections of water supplies to a number of residential homes there by SIWA.
But the association had refuted the claim dismissing it as false and misleading.
The Association said it has no outstanding unpaid water bills owing to SIWA.
A spokesman for the association said upon reading the claim by Mr Iromea carried by this paper, it had checked SIWA office which confirmed the association did not owe them outstanding water bills.
The spokesman criticized the report as biased for failing to verify the claim with the Association.
He added that, such report should have been verified because it can tarnish their reputation, given that they are only operating through funding assistance from overseas.
“Such information must be verified before it can be published in the media. “We are operating under a funded project so with such report that involves money; it is very sensitive to the organization.
“This can totally cut off funding assistance to this project,” the staff added.
Meanwhile, a visit by this paper to the area yesterday has seen that the pipe that was chopped off fortnight ago has still not been reconnected.
It was believed that residents at Burns creek are still without water and now depending at the Lunga River for washing and swimming.
By RONALD TOITO’ONA
