School re-opens after landowners shut it down to claim for compensation

By MICHAEL WARTOVO
A PRIMARY school in Gazelle district, East New Britain (ENB), has been reopened after it was closed last week amidst compensation claims by landowners.
The five major clans who own the land on which St Marias Goretti Rapui Primary School is situated in the Kuraip ward of the Reimber Livuan local level government came to an agreement to reopen the school this week.
The school’s closure was caused by one of the clans (Tokakata) which had demanded compensation for the use of its land which the school and a Catholic church were built on.
ToKakata chiefs allowed the school to be reopened this week after receiving a traditional form of payment (Tolai shell money). A special meeting was convened on Thursday by the four clans, Topilipo, ToBaroro, ToKedek and ToNgunia and the matter was discussed with the ToKakata clan.
The clans resolved to open the school and the Tolai customary practice of compensation payment was done including the clearing out of ritual marker (Moko) that had been placed at the school by the ToKakata clan.Chairman for lands in the Kuraip ward development committee Lucas Vinamut said the school’s closure had disrupted the opening week of the academic year.
Meanwhile, Kuraip ward member Henry Wainak said issue of compensation would be pursued in court by the ToKakata clan.