Landowners dispute talks on land groups

 By ELIAS LARI

LANDOWNERS from Tari town in Hela say that they do not have any registered landowner associations, companies and incorporated landowner groups.

And any company or business claiming to represent them under any company name is illegal.

Spokesman Timon Henry, a member of the Peri-Kopira Kia clan who owns portion 107 in Tari town, said that due to the current situation, any payments from the state for land compensation should be made directly to the individual clans.

“Currently, we do not have any knowledge of any umbrella company or we do not appoint any person or a company to talk or receive money on our behalf,” he said.

“We commend Governor Anderson Agiru, Finance and Education James Marape and acting provincial administrator William Bando for their efforts in ensuring that we receive the K10 million from the government.

“There are 26 clans and they do not have any record of forming any association in the past but they are looking forward to be paid in Tari without any business or an umbrella company representing them.

“Some of us did not benefit from the K11.7 million paid out last year and that is because some companies and people had claimed to represent us and made away with the money.”