Govt told to simplify land registration for customary landowners

A LAE-based consultant has urged the Government to simplify the process for customary landowners to register their incorporated land groups (ILGs) and venture into business activities.
Fred Kosu, the principal of Numunama 06 Socio-economic Consultancy Services, said the process needed to be made simple and the Government must assist traditional landowners to register their land and go into business. Kosu said there has been too much talk about the public-private partnership but little has been done to assist Papua New Guineans, who owned land to realise their potential to go into businesses.
He made this comment when commending the Karamui-Salt Nomane MP Mogerema Wei for supporting and encouraging landowners from his electorate to register their land through ILGs and invest in business and other income generating activities.
“This is exactly what the MPs and government should be doing to mobilise customary landowners from their electorates to become partners in development,” he said.
“The ILG is the best legal policy initiative in PNG administered by the Department of Lands for the customary landowners to become active partners in development and this must be encouraged and supported.
“Direct sales of customary land and weekly and monthly collection of cash from land users by landowners must be discouraged.
“Cities and towns are expanding and business houses and settlements have sprung up on customary land, but what arrangements are made for the use of the customary land?
“How is the land acquired or used?
“Filling of agreement forms and statutory declarations are unrecognised methods of land grabbing,  which do not protect the land nor promote partnership.”
Kosu said all political leaders have an obligation to protect their people’s land as well as assist them develop their land for business purposes.