Central to address land issues

THE Central provincial assembly will establish a legal team to review and propose amendments to the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) Act and conduct an audit of all land court cases in the province, land boundaries and surveys.
Central Governor Robert Agarobe made the undertaking at the provincial assembly sitting last week that all decisions made by the assembly will be adopted by the Central government.
The announcement was made after Hiri president Haoda Rogea called for a march to Parliament to petition Prime Minister James Marape on the Hiri-Vanapa and Sogeri (Hivaso) physical planning area in Hiri.
Rogea told the assembly members that resolutions such as an audit of all court cases, the establishment of a legal team and the convening of the provincial lands and physical planning board meetings would be implemented to protect and manage land in the province.
He said that would direct the Central physical planning board to clear land along the border with NCD.
Agarobe and Kairuku-Hiri MP Peter Isoaimo have agreed to support the protest march to the Parliament House proposed by Rogea and a resolution was passed to petition the Government next week.
Central lands chairman Biari Ubuna said the land issue for Central people was always contentious similar to other parts of the country but because of the province had a close history with NCD, they saw that the issue was “quite different from others.”
He said land in Central had been lost to NCD development through dubious deals or from carelessness over the past 20 years.
Agarobe called on villagers in Central to respect their ward members and councillors as their leaders and not just ordinary people.