Tkatchenko plans lands board probe

The National Land Board will be investigated including all its members, says Minister for Lands and Physical Planning Justin Tkatchenko.
He said that the lands board, which was suspended, was a matter of importance and must be looked into.
“It’s a big issue so we will assess the lands board because the board was suspended,” he said.
“As minister I will look at the whole lands board and I have told Secretary Tiri Wanga that there will be no lands board meetings.
“They are all suspended until a proper investigation and I get proper information on everybody on the board, executive officer down so I can assess and appoint neutral Papua New Guineans who can assist me in doing the right thing.”
Tkatchenko said he would be working with National Capiatal District Governor Powes Parkop and the new NCD lands unit to address his grievances and land issues.
He said the National Capital District lands unit would be made up of physical planner Kenneth Atasoa, and Frank Ravu from engineering.
“Together with the NCD lands unit and our lands department officers there should no more issue on NCD land matters,” he said.
“That unit will then resolve all those land issues that we now have in National Capiatal District Commission and that will appease the governor’s complaints and the thinking of the problems that he has had over five years.
“It’s not just him but me too; I’ve been fighting the lands department for five years on all the illegal activities.”