Landowners follow the law to develop land

Landowners of Wanigela in Northern say they have followed the law and set up a land-use development programme.
Part of that work involves the development of an information paper which they have presented to Forests Minister Douglas Tomuriesa to formalise the process that they had followed.
Spokesman Nathan Dave, the general-manager of Aisor Development Corporation representing the Dumare clan of Aisor tribe in Wanigela, said they have a 99-year lease over portions 136 and 137 for agriculture development purposes.
Dave, in response to claims about the legality of the land development programme, said they were not at fault with lease titles.
“We have 99-year land lease for agriculture purposes to develop a land-use plan within the provisions of law,” he said.
“We have gone out of our way to solicit appropriate development through Forestry and Department of Agriculture and Livestock to get authority to develop a land-use development programme that is adequate and within the provisions of law.”
Tomuriesa acknowledged the landowners for taking the initiative to give their side of the story.
“I am thankful that the landowners have taken up the initiatives,” he said.
“Collingwood project has been put on hold to fix up some of issues that the Northern Governor (Gary Juffa) has raised.
“Allow the legitimate landowners who have worked very closely with PNG Forest Authority and stakeholders to make certain that the Collingwood project comes to fruition.”
Dave said they had had complied with all processes.
“We are intending to acquire a cocoa export licence by developing approximately 5000 hectares of hybrid cocoa over the next 10 years,” he said.
“We have already resettled 62 families into 62 eight-hectare blocks on portion 136, and have undertaken a compulsory cocoa development on acreage of the lease blocks that are given to the families.”