Concern over settling land issues

ACTING Chief Magistrate Nerrie Eliakim has raised concerns regarding the mediation of land disputes among provincial governments.
She urged provincial administrators to recognise the provincial land disputes committee which exist according to law.
She said the committee was set up under the Land Dispute Settlement Act.
“Every province must have the committee established,” she said.
“Unfortunately some provinces do not have any. It’s not happening. It’s not functioning.”
Eliakim gave East New Britain as an example of how the committee works.
“The East New Britain senior provincial magistrate and the district courts in the province work with the administration,” she said.
“They use their law and order committees, the juvenile justice committees, and the land disputes committees of which the senior magistrate is a member.”
The role of the committee was among issues highlighted during the week-long conference for magistrates and senior provincial magistrates in Port Moresby.