AN Estate Owner has been waiting for eighteen (18) years long with great agony since 2005 as a successful applicant, yet no land titles have been issued.
Jerry Luru, who owns Walala Estate at Gerehu in Port Moresby says, he was denied from acquiring two of his lease titles for these long allegedly by few named staff of a responsible department.
Mr. Luru revealed this in a recent exclusive interview with The Sunday Bulletin newspaper.
He said, eighteen (18) years long endurance of waiting with great agony was frustrating and he has decided to take it to mainstream media.
He told this paper that there could be many out there facing similar issue but could not speak out due to reasons known by themselves.
“For me, I cannot endure this long as a successful applicant. I am finally taking out to the media,” Mr. Luru expressed.
“I was first denied from acquiring a substitute lease from the ownership of freeholds Portion 648c in Kimbe since 2005 and also for the portion 625 in Goldie, Central Province since 2007.”
“Selected officers have been sitting on my two files for these years by not issuing my two titles, “disappointed Luru reiterated.
He described their actions as unbecoming, corrupt and should not be tolerated in public office, which administers public matters concerning land.
“I do not think few department officers are truthful to their roles and responsibilities,” Mr. Luru said.
For the freeholds Portion 648c in Kimbe, Mr. Luru said former Secretary did sign as a delegate of Minister on the 9th December 2005, to prepare the required documents and have the title issued but officers down the line have been sitting on for fifteen (15) years.
And for the portion 625 in Goldie, Central Province, he said the LG’s and LAF’s have not been issued after having it Gazetted as a successful applicant through Gazette No. 8, dated 17th January 2008, page 07 but title was not issued.
Sunday Bulletin also received a copy of this gazettal notice.
Mr. Luru further reveals another corrupt deal allegedly instituted by again the same officers.
This was in regards to allege forging of documents to issue double guarantee to blocks of land in Pangia (Lot 19 Sect. 03) where he already had existing 99-year lease title.
He said on the 30th of June, 1999, the former Minister was misled by the department staff at that time to prepare required documents to sign exemption notice provided under Section 69 (2) (d) to grant Allotments 2-8, Section 12, Pangia, to a named individual or company.
“I have 99-year lease title (on business purposes) over these blocks of land and I have been paying my outstanding rental bills as evidence of being a title holder.
For example, on the 18th of March 2020, I paid K779.60 as total outstanding rentals accumulated from 2013 under my name as title holder,” he explained.
Mr. Luru said he wrote letters to the offices of current top management team of the responsible department to have a look at this corrupt deal and address it swiftly but that has not been happening.
He explained that a named company was issued another 99-year lease on top of his 99-year lease on Lot 19, Section 03 in Pangia.
Luru said, that company produces three (3) different titles early this year in front of Pangia Police when he was trying to have the re-survey done but was stopped.
Mr. Luru added that he was also surprised to learn through his research that, the Allotments and Sections of his 99-year lease title have all been forged allegedly and changed very neatly to produce the three titles.
Mr. Luru further revealed that the purpose of the lease was “Business” but was also forged and typed neatly with a word “Residential”.
“Also, in our original title to Lot 12, Section 03, it’s Volume was 10 and Folio was 100 but it was forged to Volume 15 and Folio 34. Likewise for the two other Allotments and Sections,” Mr. Luru explained.
“All these actions in legalizing the wrong information are the works and actions of corrupt people,” he said.
Luru said it was frustrating to learn all these and call on the responsible authorities to look into the matter so that those responsible are dealt with accordingly.
