Bulolo MP urges dept, govt to begin land negotiations

By JACINTA COHLEE
BULOLO MP Sam Basil Jr is urging the Lands and Physical Planning Department and the provincial government to start land negotiations and consultations with Nadzab landowners.
This followed the tabling of a bill by the Morobe Governor Luther Wenge earlier this month, in which the Morobe Tutumang voted in favour of moving the central business district of Lae to Nadzab.
Basil voted in favour of the move, but stated that it would involve land. Therefore, due processes have to be taken by partners and stakeholders before the capital is moved to Nadzab.
“Tutumang must ensure that all traditional landowners are properly sorted out because land is a sensitive matter and thorough processes must be done before construction begins,” Basil said.
“In order for development to take place and allow for services to flow to the local people, the landowners must be consulted and be comfortable with the decisions of the government of the day.”
Basil urged Lae MP John Rosso, who is also the lands and physical planning minister, to assist the provincial government to ensure due processes were undertaken before the capital is moved.
He then supported the relocation not only because it is a provincial government matter, but because it is a strategic location that meets global standards.
Basil called on the provincial government to turn the existing provincial government house into a provincial political history museum after move took place.
The idea was to ensure the future generations of Morobe were aware of how Morobe had progressed politically at the provincial and national levels.
Wenge acknowledged Basil’s idea and said the existing Tutumang building would remain.