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K5million package
for NCD landowners
By BIBIAN BARRENG
THE Government has made a submission that landowners in the nation’s
capital be given some seed capital of K4 million to K5 million to help
them develop their idle customary land.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Lands and Physical
Planning Dr Puka Temu following recent media reports on the expiration
of the 99-year State lease on customary land.
However, the landowners of Koitabu are demanding their leased customary
land be given back to them which they alleged the Government had stolen
from them at the time of the British colonial administration.
The landowners are crying foul play by the present and successive
governments that striped them of their land with no form of compensation
or benefits for the people.
They said that the K4 million to K5 million package for economic land
development “is peanuts”.
They argued that the amount is unlikely to satisfy claims of the
numerous landowners it the city.
The meeting held at Kira Kira village in the nation’s capital was also
attended by the Member for Moresby South and Minister of Community
Development Dame Carol Kidu.
“We want to organise all the landowners in the city in a hurry ... we
are running out of state land so we have to now move on to your
customary land,” Dr Temu said.
In making reference to NEC decision No 116/2006, Dr Temu said the NEC
decision is clear that the package is for all landowners in Port Moresby
city.
The new submission of the K4 million to K5 million development package
was made in consultation with the Department of Community Development,
Department of Lands and Physical Planning and other departments.
“So, we urge the landowners to get together and we provide this
development package to Port Moresby city landowners so that we can at
least have a firm programme for all landowners,” Dr Temu said.
Having learnt of the expiration of the 99-year State lease through the
media, Dr Temu said customary lands on lease arrangement which have been
developed will not be given back to the customary landowners.
This statement did not go down well with them (landowners).
Dr Temu, in addressing the issue, said leased lands that have not been
developed will be returned to the landowners.
However, the leased land that is developed through some new lease
negotiations will involve the landowners.
The new lease negotiation will see the Government assisting landowners
to establish economic groups to enter into a joint venture partnerships
with developers and as such share economic benefits with the developer.
“For the first time in the history, we are taking things in the budget
to do with traditional landowners in urban areas and this one
particularly for the people of Motu-Koitabu, and we must not mess it
up,” Dame Carol said.
The Government will also amend and bring on board the Land Tenure
Conservation Act and the Land Groups Incorporation Act following the
expiration of the 99-year State lease on customary land.
 
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