Landowners thankful

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday January 7th, 2014

 LANDOWNERS in the liquefied natural gas project area in Tari, Hela are thankful that clan vetting and identification of genuine  landowner clans have been completed.

Chief Eki Toko of the Telia clan said the landowners had been suffering for too long and wanted the Government to fulfill its promise to share the project’s benefits.

Landowner Malex Au from the Pai Kini and Pura Tikira clan said too many people claiming to be genuine landowners were living in  Port  Moresby and trying to claim what belonged to the people in Angore.

He said the clan vetting had identified the genuine landowners and spin-off benefits from the project would go direct to the villagers in the project areas.

Au said they had been waiting for the past 15 years in the project areas for funds. He said the first LNG export would be done this year but resources owners were still living in primitive conditions.

Toko said landowners were sleeping in homes built from bush material and were deprived of public services such as schools, hospitals and good roads.

He said because of the LNG project, the country’s economy had been boosted creating a lot of business opportunities for  foreign and local companies.