Marengo mines land ownership battle looms

 MADANG landowner Peter Yama has questioned Marengo Mine’s appointment of the Yandera Landowners’ Association, claiming that  social mapping has not been conducted properly.

Yama said his land in the Omora mountains contained half of the explored gold deposits and urged the Government to conduct social mapping before establishing landowner associations.

He supported a statement by Madang provincial administrator Bernard Lange that the previous social mapping done by a Dr Laura was not correct because many genuine landowners had missed out.

“Social mapping must be done by the provincial government or MRA and not by any other person,” Yama said.

But Usino-Bundi MP Anton Yagama said that social mapping was done correctly and those who missed out were not from the area.

“Yandera people have no land issues. Everyone has land and are using it,” he said.

“The provincial administration does not know what he’s talking about.” 

Yama claimed Marengo had been using village leaders as facilitators to negotiate and process the formation of the landowners’ association as a voice for the company.