Leader urges landowners to follow proper procedures

A LOCAL level government president in Morobe has urged landowners and resources owners to follow proper procedures and channels when engaging with developers or investors to on their land, especially with the extraction of natural resources.
Labuta LLG president and provincial chairman for health, good governance and wards Ian Sakae raised the concern after receiving complaints from a village chief that some individuals (villagers) in Bukawa village, without proper consultation from the provincial government, district administration, local MP and Labuta LLG office, brought in a logging firm to extract logs in the area.
Sakae said such investments were good but there had to be proper discussions and consultation with all responsible government arms and other parties involved such as traditional clans and tribes in the area before any agreement could be reached.
“Such companies will bring developments like health centres (aid posts), build good roads and classrooms for schools or bring money into our villages,” he said.
“Therefore, we have to discuss and negotiate formally with them so it is a win-win agreement for everyone.
“We also have to know what the disadvantages of such an operation are and its impacts.”
Bukawa village spokesman and Busam clan leader Yomsa Kaye said, on behalf of two other clans and other villagers, they were calling on the provincial forestry authority to come forward and discuss the matter with resource owners, provincial and districts government leaders with the company representatives.
“Right now, all I can say is that a few individuals, without proper consultation with all levels of authority, took advantage of the remote setting of the village and brought the logging company into the area which has surprised everyone,” Kaye said.