Landowners’ ID process ‘final’

National

THE conclusion of the PNG LNG landowner beneficiary identification process for Hides PDL 1 and 7 are final, according to Minister for Petroleum Dr Fabian Pok.
After 10 years, Pok said they had finally concluded the landowner beneficiary identification process which should have been done before the resource developer came in. He said however because of difficult circumstance, structure of society and court cases, the process had taken much longer.
He said after the completion of the clan vetting process in Hides, he flew there to sign the ministerial determination to allow beneficiaries to open bank accounts with the help of the Mineral Resource Development Company. After the opening of the accounts, the people should receive royalties and equities kept in trust accounts at the Bank of PNG.
He said the ministerial determination was gazetted last week and published in the dailies starting yesterday to give the people the opportunity to object.
He said any aggrieved person wanting to object to the clan vetting ministerial determination would have to take the matter to court.
“We have given everyone the opportunity to be on the ground in Hides PDL 1 and PDL 7.
“Where were they when we went to register the clans in Hides if they are genuine landowners? Where were they when I went to Hides to sign the ministerial determination? We told everyone to be on the ground. If you are not happy then go to court.
“The determination is final.
“I must also tell aggrieved people claiming to be landowners that the court case will all be held in Tari so they must go to the National Court in Tari to register their case.”