Customary land

This in response to PNG customary landowners and citizens reported in the The National of February 14, 2018, on the registration of customary land.
I am the director of Communal Land Development Ltd and am in agreement with the prime minister on the registration of customary land in PNG.
In order for landowners to go ahead with customary land registration, the current concept by the Department of Lands and Physical Planning is misleading and depriving legitimate landowners.
This is by voluntary customary land registration (VCLR) in using incorporated land groups (ILGs).
The expired ILG was for review in Feb 2017.
That has been extended to another five years without proper discussions and reformation.
The controlling rights of the landowners are removed.
Unfair developments benefits are allocated, and subsequently, customary land is a loss to the outsiders.
That picture is very clear over the last 43 years after Independence.
The case of Motukea and people of Central is a classic example for the rest of the country.
This is a reality for the rest of PNG to understand, learn and correct.
The main problem is that we have yet to develop our 860 customary laws to be part of the Constitution.
National judiciary services or courts can refer to or relay upon the rulings of customary law matters.
There is no customary law recognition to protect our land.
The customary land is unregistered nd causes land grabbing.
Today all our customary laws are not recognised by our own PNG laws.
We cannot blame the successive governments in the past or present for not adequately addressing customary land registration properly.
The work by the NJS and the Constitutional Law Reform Commission on the coding of the
Customary Laws is a good initiative.
It may, however, take a long time to find the actual solution in
resolving of customary land grab issues.
The best option now available is conducting compulsory customary land registration to the
registry of customary land owners’ titles.
Landowners sign partnership or
lease agreements with investors or even the Government on customary land projects in a win-win situation.
Papua New Guineans should compulsorily register customary land before the Apec Summit in Nov.
Customary land law is discovered by Communal Land Development Ltd.
It is the foundation of establishing the Customary Land Law Foundation-PNG.
All landowners and citizens must become members of the foundation to promote SME growth for a better economy.
Membership applications are available via email:
[email protected] and [email protected]

Dr Onne Rageau