Unity giving Wafi-Golpu landowners top chance to register for land group

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COMMUNITIES in the Wafi-Golpu mine project area are embracing the unity now shown by Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu and the nine MPs there to pave the way for landowner registration to enable the formation of incorporated land groups.
Saonu and Bulolo MP Sam Basil started the identification registration (NID) process of Yanta and Hengambu at Venembeli and Bingen villages on Tuesday.
NID registrar-general Michael Kumung accompanied Saonu, Basil and Mumeng president Okam Paton to the villages that supported the initiative.
Huon Gulf MP Ross Seymour said the NID for his district started two weeks ago at Wampar Station and would continue to the Salamaua and Morobe posts after completing 27 Wampar villages.
Lae MP John Rosso said the project was to ensure landowners along the gas pipeline areas had their names and identities registered.
Saonu said: “The government levels included councillors, LLGs, districts, and province. We are the legitimate fence to protect the interest of our people. If we are unable to uphold our responsibilities aptly, we must be held responsible.”
Saonu said the NID was important for landowners to register their identification to create respective ILGs to avoid paper landowners to claim benefits illegally from Waigani.
“However, working in partnership with landowners and their executives with government and investors in an amicable understanding will resolve any hiccups” he said.
Basil said: “We must be mindful about our neighbouring districts that the pipeline will pass through and the outputs into the sea that will affect marine lives.
“Morobe provincial government and the nine MPs are not here to steal from people’s resources, no.
“As the government, our purpose is to protect our people to ensure needed services are provided to them. We need landowner leaders’ unity.”