Cane land disputed

 By ELIZABETH MIAE

THE Kaigulan People’s Resources Association (KPRA) in Madang wants government recognition as party to the lease renewal of the land that Ramu Agri Industries Ltd (RAIL) is currently using to grow sugar cane. 

The group said it would not agree to renew the lease agreement with the government or the company for an extension of the lease period for RAIL. 

“Just like Prime Minister Peter O’Neill rejected the life of Ok Tedi mine, when the lease expires (in 2014), the customary landowners want the land back,” it said. 

KPRA representative Saki Oburo told The National on Monday that they wanted the government to engage the landowners in formal discussions on the renewal.

He claimed that from 1956 up until now there had been no recognition from the government and the company in terms of benefits.

Oburo said in 2008 they presented a submission to the government for K1 billion in compensation for the usage of the land.

He said copies of the submission were also sent to the chief secretary’s office and the Department of Lands and Physical Planning. 

In response to the landowners’ grievances, RAIL explained in a statement that some of the land currently used to grow sugar cane was state-leased land which was acquired by the government back in the 1950s in accordance with the alienation legislation.

“That land is now occupied and farmed by Ramu Agri under state lease titles. The land is not leased from the traditional landowners as the land has been alienated to the state,” the company said. 

“The original landowners have no control over the land but can make representations to the government regarding lease renewal.”

RAIL added that it was its intention to renew its state lease and it expected full support from the government.