Landowner associations put differences aside, work together

THE Aporo’urri Resources Owners Association and the Namo’aporo Landowners Association (NLA) in Kutubu, Southern Highlands, have agreed to work together to ensure that people from the Fasu tribe get benefits.
The two landowner associations in the oil project area signed a memorandum of understanding recently in Port Moresby.
During the Aporo’urri resource owners association (Auroa) annual general meeting on Monday, chairman Paul Yawe said it was important to show unity in the Fasu way in front of people.
“Auroa represents the Moran petroleum development license (PDL) 5 and 6 and south east Mananda resources owners of the Fasu tribe while NLA represents the PDL2 area,” he said.
“Our differences have led to landowners missing out from important benefits. Today, we can work under one banner for the good of all Fasu resource owners.” He said most of the chairmen of incorporated land groups (ILG) were illiterate and did not understand procedures and processes.
Mineral Resource Development Corporation manager protocol Bartholomew Yacop said the company was happy to work with the two associations, the umbrella companies that will represent affiliated incorporated land groups.
He said the purpose of having such associations was to speak on behalf of Landowners in the ILg’s and MRDC would respond to landowners groups that had no disputes and differences.