Negligence leads to dispute

RESOURCE ownership disputes in PNG is caused by the developer and the Government’s negligence in conducting social mapping and landowner identification studies before the actual extraction of the resource.
Social mapping and landowner identification studies collects the genealogy of the landowners and identifies the rightful landowners.
Most disputes and court battles by landowners is due to the Government and developer’s ignorance in conducting both activities.
Without conducting social mapping and landowner identification studies, how can you know who is the rightful landowner?
By law, social mapping and landowner identification studies should be done before issuing any licence to developer for the development and extraction of minerals. We haven’t do that.
The Government has ignored that process and allowed developers to extract minerals.
It is time our Government stop this unethical behaviour for the good of resource owners.
Under Section 49 of Oil and Gas Act, social mapping and landowner identification studies should be done before issuing any licence to a developer.
The Government should act now to avoid further disputes and court battles between landowners.

Akam Tom