Lands planning new rules for compensation claims

By HELEN TARAWA
Lands and Physical Planning Department will set a clear guideline on the vetting of landowner compensation claims, says acting Secretary Oswald Tolopa.
He said the land acquisition claims screening committee would set a criteria for all claims.
“We are going to set the criteria of processing all these claims when they are put through this department,” Tolopa said.
“If they are not correct, we will reject the claims by writing to them.
“Out of this vetting process, we are going to set clear guidelines of processes and the requirements by law that we are going to follow.”
Tolop said the valuer-general had agreed to review some of the figures before them.
Lands Minister Justin Tkatchenko said the land acquisition claims committee was all about vetting people who were claiming that their land had been taken away from them by State.
According to the committee, nearly all files were created with documents provided by the claimant.
There was no backing or supporting documentation from provincial administrations and governments as well as other stakeholders.
Most files do not have survey plans, valuation documents and certificates of approval.
About one-third of the claims are against State land which was previously acquired.
“We have identified all figures and they need justification,” Tkatchenko said.
“There are no copies of previous payments in files of claimants.
“Those claims that have disputes should not be sent to the screening committee.
“The committee had also, through the identification process, found files that were being hidden away in the department.
“Some claims were suspicious, fraudulent and needed to be referred to the police.”