Train officers to handle customary land issues

ONE of the general principles of provincial and local level governments is to recognise traditional land rights and ensure that adequate compensation, on just terms, are made for the loss of such rights.
The provincial and local level governments should ensure that public servants serving at provincial and district outstations are well-versed and equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills in managing our land resources.
Throughout the country, it is undeniable that unresolved customary or alienated land issues had been at the forefront of impacting on potential socio-economic development, due to land ownership, land boundary and compensation demand issues.
Officials in the districts should be acquainted with the skills and knowledge to address these land rights issues.
They need to be trained to properly manage both customary and alienated land.
They need to know how to address land disputes.
In some parts of the country, we have seen and heard of important foreign aid-donated projects being hampered by land or compensation issues, which is often a result of these issues not being properly addressed in the first place.
A better understanding of the processes and procedures in addressing customary land issues will go a long way towards promoting smooth social and economic developments in our rural areas.
The Department of Lands and Physical Planning should take the lead in ensuring that trainings are undertaken in the provinces for our field officers.

Lorenitz Gaius,
Hospital Hill, Lae