Administrator urges govt to honour compo commitment

NEW Ireland administrator Simeon Malai is concerned the impact of the Kavieng airport closure by the landowners is an act of rebellion for the delay in the national government’s commitment to pay up the land claim of K4.41 million.
He said, as an act of rebellion, it was intensifying across New Ireland and beginning to cause negative outcomes at all sectors, including business houses, tour operators, health services and the travelling public in general.
In a statement, he called on the national government to honour its commitment to the Kavieng town landowners and pay up the land claim.
He said the provincial administration and the Kavieng town landowners had complied with the tripartite MoU signed last September and the Department of Lands and Physical Planning, as the third party, must act decisively to settle the matter.
He said landowners had been aggravated and frustrated by false promises by Treasury and Finance departments where the minister instructed him (Malai) to collect the payment but this did not eventuate.
“My phone enquiries and attempts to get clear and precise answers on this claim have not achieved any positive outcome, and that continued to frustrate the landowners.
“I was told in January that the claim was before the National Executive Council for approval and, later, I was told it had now gone to the ministerial economic committee prior to NEC approval,” he said.
Malai said while these proceedings might be regarded as normal by government regulators, however, the people did not want to know the mechanics, but simply wanted their payment.
“I sympathise with the landowners who have fought this battle since 1998 and even far back before independence and it is disheartening to see second-rate attention given to this matter,” he said.
He said the people had been patient and accommodating for far too long and their agreement and commitment had obviously been treated with disregard and lack of professionalism by Waigani.
Malai called on the Department of Lands to get its act together and honour the MoU and provide insight into the whereabouts of the people’s land claims.
He said as the administrator, he signed the MoU in good faith but they had not been consulted and updated on issues.
Meanwhile, the Kavieng airport is still closed (as of last Wednesday) and there was still no evidence of sensitivity and response from the national government.
Business houses reportedly met last Tuesday to find solutions, however, no government agency representation frustrated the meeting and left many upset.