Committee approved to look into Kainantu mine’s landowner issues

THE National Executive Council (NEC) has recently approved appointment of a Special Lands Titles Commission to look into landownership issues over the Kainantu gold mine project in Eastern Highlands.
It will hear outstanding disputes which previous attempts had failed to resolve. Prime Minister James Marape said Section 4 of the Land Disputes Settlements Act of 1975 stated that where there was special circumstance like the Kainantu mine, the head of State, through advice from the NEC, should appoint a special commission to settle those disputes.
“The work of the Special Lands Titles Commission for the Kainantu gold project is to hear and settle differences and issues of claimants over land tenements covering four leases amongst the Irumafimpa and Bilimoia villages and the Kumian plains,” he said.
“There were a total of 66 claimants registered as disputing parties, with the majority from Eastern Highlands and a few from Madang and Morobe.
“The formal hearings commenced in Kainantu on Dec 6, 2004, and proceeded until Dec 22, 2007, and a decision was handed down on Jan 12, 2009.
“But, the disputing parties who were not happy with the decision and appealed and their appeal is pending.”
Marape said the NEC decision to appoint the Special Lands Titles Commission with three special commissioners was to review the decision made on Jan 12, 2009.