Morobe man spends 35 years as lands mediator

By ARMSTRONG SAIYAMA
DWU journalism student
FOR 35 years Jayson Kassam has been working as a lands mediator in Morobe.
And his love and passion to work with the community has made this 73-year-old Bukawa man continue to work, making him the longest serving lands mediator in the province.
Kassam is from the Widuru village in Bukawa in the Labuta LLG area. He was appointed a lands mediator in 1987. In 1993, he was a permanent lands mediator.
“Lands mediator is a good job. I have worked in the nine districts of Morobe,” he said.
Kassam has worked as lands mediator in Huon district for 20 years before returning to his home district of Nawaeb in 1997. He is now working on resolving land disputes in Nawaeb district.
“Land is a major issue when new developments are occurring in the province,” he said.
Kassam said land mediators were playing crucial roles to resolve land disputes in their local communities.
“I am happy to provide my service for my country,” he said.
He said he was satisfied with his job because it brought peace and stability in people’s lives.
“We have a lot of challenges. Some of our outstanding payments are still there with the government and some of my colleagues have already died,” he said.