Landowners told not to sell land

TRADITIONAL landowners in Lae have been advised not to sell their land.
Northern regional police commander Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Guinness called on the Ahi people, the traditional landowners of the city, not to sell their land to outsiders who could create problems for them and others.
“Don’t sell your land to other people. They don’t respect you. The settlers brought in unnecessary people who don’t do anything thing good but roam around aimlessly. They don’t care who you are and won’t see you as customary landowners,” he said.
“They will turn around and cause you problem. They don’t even care about your children and grandchildren. Your money will finish today and you have generations to come who will need land.”
The six villages of Ahi are Butibam, Kamkumung, Yanga, Wagang, Hengali and Yalu.
Last week a villager from Butibam was allegedly killed by squatters.
Guinness said police in Lae would evict squatters on State and customary land who were causing problems in the city.
“We will do it legally. There’s a process to go about teaching law-breakers and people who cause problems to others a lesson,” Guinness said.