Customary land law complex: Sir Ano

ISSUES raised about land ownership and mineral resources and petroleum are categorised as both a political and legal as it goes against the customary law, according to a minister.
Mining Minister Sir Ano Pala said this in response to Morobe governor Luther Wenge’s supplementary question in Parliament yesterday to amend or change section five of the Mining Act as it went against Papua New Guinea’s customary laws on land.
“This is both a political issue as well as a constitutional issue, we can discuss the political issue and go around in circles until we are confused, but the legal issues are also tied with the political issues, I am standing in a difficult position to answer,” Sir Ano said.
He said those in Parliament were not supposed to express their legal opinion as it was the state solicitor or the Judiciary’s role.
Wenge raised his point of order saying: “I am proposing to you, is there any policy or any attempt to amend that section to accommodate the customary interest, particularly the ownership of the land in this country and ownership of minerals?”