KEREMA LANDOWNERS QUESTION DELAY IN RELEASE OF LAND TITLES

PICTURE CAPTION: Members of the Aumake Nairu Orumako Landowners Association meeting at Unagi Oval in Port Moresby today

BY RAYLEEN WANJIMAN

MEMBERS of the Aumake Nairu Orumako Landowners Association from Kerema, Gulf Province, have raised concerns over delays by the Lands Department in issuing their land title.

Led by Chairman Larry Apai Koive, the group gathered at Unagi Oval in Port Moresby to raise the question why the title for Kasumi Land Portion 21C has not been issued by the department of Lands despite all legal requirements being met.

Chairman Koive says the land was properly registered and approved through the Lands Department process, but the title remains unsigned.

He added that all procedures were followed and there is nothing wrong with their application. The legal advice is already there, but the title is still not issued.

The landowners say the delay is due to confusion between land ownership rights and a petroleum prospecting licence, which they say does not override customary ownership.

They are now calling on the Lands Department to act without further delay and issue the land title.