Time to pay up to the Lands Department

 SOME time ago, Land Minister Benny Allan announced that the government was owed K94 million by people acquiring state land throughout the country.

His announcement led me to wonder how this could happen.

Soon after the minister’s an­nouncement, acting lands secretary John Ofoi put out advertisements in the print media calling on people owing rentals to the government to pay up.

I would like to refer to a case in Bulolo district, Morobe, where 

a family who had acquired an alluvial mine lease (AML) from the state over 40 years ago, ap­plied for a portion of state land at their doorsteps in 2006 but ended up playing second fiddle to some people who did not apply 

but somehow acquired the title from the lands department.

The family applied and was waiting for the title from the Land Titles Commission when two different groups came wa­ving in front of the family two separate 99-year special state agriculture lease titles issued by the department in late 2011 on that particular portion of land.

One of the two so-called title holders was alleged to have threatened not just the family, but the whole community, with an eviction notice.

While every citizen has the liberty to apply for state land, in this particular case, the family has been living on the land for so many years that one would think the family should be given pre­ference.

Instead, it has becomes a “first come, last serve” situation.

Can Ofoi explain if this formula is the department’s policy?

If what has happened to this particular group can happen, is it any wonder that the government is owed K94 million?

Let’s Fight Corruption

Bulolo