MP blames customary land sales

 MOROBE Governor Kelly Naru has blamed much of the lawlessness in Lae city on customary landowners profiteering from land sales to settlers from other provinces.

Naru said landowners of Ahi, Labu and Wampar were responsible for all the settlements springing up in and around the Morobe capital.

“Landowners fail to take responsibi­lity for protecting human lives in settlements,” he told the Voice of Morobe (VoM) leaders during a meeting at the National Agriculture Research Institute at 10-Mile last Thursday.  

Naru was responding to a petition by the leaders in relation to the death of seminary student Kewa Michael and other killings in and around Lae in the past few weeks.

“Direct eviction has legal and business implications that the provincial government is considering including compensation policy. 

“The administration matters have its own process to take effect at its own time,” the governor said.

Morobe MPs Sam Basil (Bulolo), Loujaya Toni Lae), Paul Isikiel (Markham), Gisuwat Siniwin (Nawaeb), Ross Seymour (Huon Gulf) and acting administrator Geoving Belong accompanied the governor to the meeting.

VoM leaders, led by former Huon Gulf MP Tukape Masani, cancelled their planned protest march scheduled for Wednesday to avoid disruptions in the city.

They met the MPs to find an amicable solution to the increase in law and order problems in Lae and Morobe.

Provincial police commander Leo Lamei, Lae Metropolitan Commander Supt Iven Lakatani, ACP Northern operations Nema Mondiai and members of the provincial assembly also attended the meeting.

Naru said K2 million in the National Development Bank would be used by Morobeans to participate in the public service vehicle industry in a 60:40 quota allocation.