Commission analysing land compo

By HELEN TARAWA
THE Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) is putting together a discussion paper on land compensation and whether the customary landowners are being properly rewarded for development.
CLRC secretary Dr Mange Matui told The National that the discussion paper looked at the use of land in terms of the extractive industries and renewable resources.
“In the case of the extractive industries, our discussion paper is trying to find out whether the 2 per cent they get out from the resources is sufficient for our people,” he said.
“We are also looking at other beneficiaries like the provincial and National Government and whether to take back 50 per cent benefit.
“We are also looking at the laws that are already in existence and whether the compensation that the landowners receive was proper and fair,” he said.
Dr Matui said the Department of Lands and Physical Planning was looking at how the customary land was being used.
“We are looking at the different activities and trying to identify the laws that exist,” he said.
“The current Government is considering taking 50 per cent benefits from the mining activities.
“Our people have been ripped off from these mining activities, so how can we compensate them properly.
“If they are willing to give away what is rightfully theirs then they must be correctly rewarded,” he said.
Dr Matui said the Constitution under Section 53 talked about protection from unjust deprivation of land.
“It talks about our people being properly and fairly compensated.
“Land is an important asset and how do landowners get compensated,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Matui said CLRC was working on another discussion paper on taxation in the country and how to help average Papua New Guineas.