MP speaks against land compo

THE growing demand for land compensation is becoming a death trap for the delivery of social services to reach the silent majority in remote villages, Huon-Gulf MP Ross Seymour says.
“If we pay land compensation demands, then we might as well forget about constructing roads, bridges, health and education facilities among other social services development,” he said.
Seymour told the people of Sangkia, Gomotz and Marasangin when they pleaded with him to construct their road to link main Mare village to main Bulolo highway.
“Land compensation is anti-progress and development,” he said.
“Yet, people keep criticising the Government saying they are not delivering anything.
“The people must understand that Government district services investment project funding does not include land compensation.”
Seymour said Mare village alone benefited from K3.5 million, the largest budget in Huon-Gulf, for the construction of the Bailey Bridge, apart from road upgrading and a new bypass road.
“Yet, the Mare elites continue to criticise Huon-Gulf development authority, besides claiming land compensation for the bypass road and cocoa trees,” he said.
“If Sangkia, Gomotz and Marasangin people want road, then locals must take ownership, identify the treks and put the pegs that will ensure the bulldozer to access.
He added that similar issues arose at Mafanazo that stalled the Lower Watut road upgrading that was constructed in 2015.
“The district got the machines via Watut River at Mazim after upgrading the feeder road and currently upgrading from Maralina down to Tsiletsile and Uruf.”