Border clans accepted as LNG landowners

THE people of Eastern Highlands living on the border with Gulf will be included in the next Papua LNG project forum, an official says.
Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta discussed the matter with Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu in Goroka last weekend.
Haiveta said the next Papua LNG project forum would include the people living along the border who had been ignored.
It includes people in the Petroleum Development Licence (PDL) 15 who own the land where development is taking place.
Numu thanked Haiveta for hearing out the people of Okapa and Obura-Wonenara districts in Eastern Highlands.
Landowner executive committee chairman Manevi Gene said the border communities welcome the initiative.
He said the Papua LNG also involved landowners in Eastern Highlands living in the Yeila LLG, Marawaka Ward 18 in Obura Wonenara district, Kilimari and Subu.
He said people in Eastern Highlands owned land on the Gulf side of the border under the customary land system.
“It is the traditional borders that should be taken into consideration,” he said.
He called on the developers to set up an office in Goroka for easy access to government officers and locals.