Settle land title of town

I RAISE concern regarding the long delay of the declaration of the Daru Island Township and surroundings landowner.
It is now two years since the mediation was held over the ownership of Daru Island Township and its surrounding areas.
The Daru Island land mediation was held from July 2-13 in 2018.
There were more than 60 claimants who registered to participate in the land mediation.
Only 30 were picked out according to their histories.
The 30 claimants were then put into a screening process and only 21 claimants were picked to take part in the mediation.
The 21 claimants were being picked according to their geographical relation to Daru Island from the villages they claimed from.
Among the 21 claimants that took part, one originally filed the case against the six so-called land owners of Daru town.
During the mediation, one of the claimant groups was ordered by the mediation chairman to leave.
This was done upon findings presented to him by the National Court in Waigani that the group breached court orders.
All the parties claiming ownership of Daru Island land were told that the declaration will be made after three months.
Three months has long gone and the claimants are still waiting for the declaration.
Attempts have been made to find out at the district court house in Daru as to what was causing the delay and the reason was that there was no fund.
The officers said they were looking for a magistrate/judge to hand down the declaration.
It seems that some people, who are parties to some land claimants group, hold key positions in the provincial and South Fly District offices (in Western) and are playing delay tactics on the declaration of the landowners (LO).
There was an attempt made recently by the authorities on the island to set up a date for the declaration.
The date was not set yet.
Many illegal land grabbing has taken place in Daru town – settlements growing each day and illegal payments made to the so-called LO’s of the town which is unlawful.
Daru town is experiencing a major urban drift, with so many back door dealings going on too.
This is a sensitive issue that should be addressed and sorted out immediately under the Land’s Act of this country.
With the proposed projects for Daru town, which are about to be rolled out, the so-called LO’s will be demanding payments – and things can go bad if the real land owner for Daru township is not found and declared.
I now ask the relevant authorities or minister to please find a way to fast-track the mediation declaration process of Daru Island Township.
Let the LO be made known before the end of this year.
There were two land mediations that were held in the past and this was the third mediation to be held.
There should be enough evidence on hand to declare who the LO is. There should be no further delay.
Many people think that Daru Island has no native inhabitants.
Some even say that Daru Island was bought and paid for when it was acquired as crown land in 1901 Sir William MacGregor.
But according to law, the crown land policy only lasts for 99 years and those 99 years have long gone.
This means that the Island is a customary land not a State land.
Prime minister can you find a way to bring this case to rest.
By far this is the longest land case in this country which is yet to be settled.
Do not let this case be prolonged, please!

Reynald Daba, Via email