LNG landowners: No talks, no work

By EMMANUEL MAIPE
GULF province landowners from the liquefied natural gas project areas will not allow an outside company to exploit their commercial opportunities.
In a meeting in Port Moresby yesterday, representatives from landowner groups from the Kikori’s Paia inlet waterways, Elk4 and Antelope 1 and 2, and from the proposed Purari Hydro project, raised their concerns in response to a report about the Paia Inlet Development Company Ltd, which was tasked to help develop the multibillion infrastructure crucial for the operation for the Gulf LNG train.
The representatives said they wanted the company to negotiate first with them before any development work started in the respective areas.
They said no proper consultation or negotiation ever took place between the landowners, and the company and the State, leaving many landowners worried about what sort of benefits they will get from an outside company coming in to develop project areas in the province.
Chairman for Elk 4 and Antelope 1 and 2’s Seare Paera landowners association Apaea Koivi in a statement said: “we do not know of this company. None of us have entered into any negotiations with such a company or the State.
“What about our little landowner companies? We did not incorporate them to play a spectator role but to participate meaningfully in developments taking place in our respective areas.” 
Joe Kailao, acting chairman for Urama Holdings Ltd, an umbrella landowner company for the Urama tribe of the Paia waterway, expressed similar concerns.
He said in his area they were about 16 clans and their needs had to be looked at, and their own companies must carry out development in order to benefit from the spin-offs so that they could look after their own people.
“No outsider company will be allowed into our area,” he said.
“We have over 16 clans to look after. Our own company will carry out all development in the area.
“If this unknown or foreign company wants to participate in the spin-offs then the best thing for them is to negotiate with us.
This is business.”
He said the people of Gulf are capable of developing and managing their own affairs and did not need an outside company exploiting their commercial opportunities in the province.