Stop fighting over benefits

IT is quite saddening to note that the question of customary land rights or interests ownership among 14 incorporated land groups (ILGs), remains unresolved in the Gobe Petroleum Development Licenses 3 and 4 area in Southern Highlands and Gulf.There has been a number of litigations by a number of ILGs in the National Court, Supreme Court and the Land Titles Commission in the hope of reaching some form of favourable outcome to have their long outstanding equities and royalties paid to them since first productions began some 23 years ago. In fact, there has been continuous failure on the part of all parties including the national and provincial governments, the local level governments and the many infighting among landowners to resolve outstanding issues land ownership. As the courts are prohibited, by law, in deciding the question of disputes over customary land, there had been a number of Land Titles Commission hearings over these outstanding land ownership issues, but still there is nothing conclusive in resolving the issues. There are about 14 clans who have formed ILGs and have been squabbling among themselves over who should be paid equity and royalty benefits and in what proportions.And, unfortunately, this has been the continuous trend without any possible resolution in sight. This situation cannot be blamed on State institutions that have attempted to help resolve the issue.The landowner groups are responsible for the unresolved issues. They should know that the Gobe oil fields will run dry one day and there will be no benefits from the State. They should be mindful that some of their leaders and the elderly have passed on without seeing benefits from the projects. The landowners are continuing to miss out on potential investment opportunities with their infighting.They should have done something for the future generations by now. Perhaps the members of these ILGs should revisit their respective constitutions with a view to change their current leadership if they are to see any chances of success in resolving the issues.The current ILG leaders should consider ending the squabbling and focus on doing something beneficial for themselves with what their royalties. On the other hand, while these ILGs are fighting among themselves, Mineral Resources Development Company, the institution responsible for managing their equities and royalties, is reportedly mismanaging their funds. These groups should emulate the number of ILGs from the Kutubu Petroleum Development License 2 area, who rather than squabbling amongst themselves, agreed to share their equity and royalties equally, irrespective of their land claims and population size. Although with a few minor exceptions, these arrangements had worked pretty well for the Kutubu ILGs. They have continued to benefit from the project since it started because they agreed to put aside their differences and use their benefits wisely.

Lorenitz Gaius,
Hospital Hill