District urges village to follow proper process when solving land issues

Tewae-Siassi is calling on local clans at Sialum village to follow proper processes in solving their land grievances.
Local MP Dr Kobby Bomareo said if a clan had issues with development in the village concerning land, it needed to be raised through local land mediation.
“We have local mediators in villages and the district officer-in-charge is the person responsible for all land matters in district,” he said.
“He must be consulted first to solve any land grievance concerning development.
“We have officers and district development authority on the ground to look at any land grievances.”
Dr Bomareo said this in response to a notice for “use of land in a zone for unauthorised purposes” by the Morobe division of lands and physical planning for the ceasing of work on a jetty at the village settlement, which is in ward three of Sialum LLG.
The notice, issued on Oct 13, called for the ceasing of the unauthorised use of a livestock (cattle) loading point through the village environment for shipment to Lae.
Talabe clan landowners also queried the current jetty built at the village’s sea front.
Dr Bomareo, however, said it did not affect the work on the buying point at Saboro and loading port at the village.
This is a partnership between the DDA, Livestock Development Corporation and Evangelical Lutheran church.
The project will be launched later this month. “Everything was complete and if anyone has an issue, follow proper process in solving it,” Dr Bomareo said.
“If people have issues, go to court.”
Dr Bomareo said Sialum cattle farmers had been affected for so long and small grievances could not be allowed to impact the local cattle industry.