THE principal landowners of Hides PDL7 in Hela are calling on the Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Hon Kerenga Kua, to immediately withdraw his endorsement and recognition of a new landowner’s association in the PNGLNG Upstream project area.
They say the recently formed Hides 4 Landowners Umbrella Association (H4LUA) does not represent their interests and Minister Kua’s endorsement is inappropriate and may threaten peace and stability among the clans in Hides.
In his letter to H4LUA chairman Chris Payabe, dated 8 Feb 2023, Minister Kua said his department had advised that due process in clan vetting/LOBID and Ministerial Determination were conducted “transparently” and the majority of landowners had approved of the new association as their “mouthpiece”.
Chairman of the Umbrella Hides PDL7 Association Inc. Erick Hawai Ako says H4LUA, which claims to be a “landowner” association, must have an Integrated Landowner Group (ILG) certificate for the 279 clans of Hides PDL7 that is sanctioned by the Department of Lands and Physical Planning.
“I, Erick Hawai Ako, Chairman of the Umbrella Hides PDL7 Association Inc. call on Minister Kua to immediately withdraw his endorsement of H4LUA, which is based on wrong and misleading advice by his department.
Our Association represents 10,000 plus landowners from the Hides ILG stock clans so where did the majority of landowners who support H4LUA come from,” Mr. Ako said.
“Umbrella Hides PDL7 Association has been in existence since the start of PNGLNG and is duly recognised by the Hides ILG stock clans, Komo LLG, Hela Provincial Government and Churches as the singular voice of the principal landowners.”
“My chairmanship is recognised under our Hela customary practice of paternal land ownership. Minister Kua and his departmental head must respect our land tenure customs and give due recognition to Umbrella Hides PDL7 Association Inc. as the true mouthpiece of our principal landowners,” the chairman said.
“The co-called H4LUA is an illegal association because it does not have an ILG certificate for the 279 clans of Hides PDL7 that is sanctioned by the Department of Lands and Physical Planning.
Therefore, I urge Minister Kua to do the right thing and not be misled by Secretary David Manau who is under investigation by the National Fraud Squad for alleged misappropriation and fraudulent payments of Hides Capped MOA funds totalling K27 million.”
Meanwhile, the newly formed Hides 4 Landowner Umbrala Association (H4LUA) has launched some long-awaited major impact projects in Para village of the PNG LNG project site in Hela province recently.
The ceremony also coincided with the official launch of Hides 4 Landowners Umbrella Association Inc. (H4LUA) and the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for Kroton Laitepo Equities Limited – H4LUA company.
The impact projects include; Hides 4 Water Project, Hides 4 Power Project, Andira Hospital and road projects as; C1 to Pati -Kabote Roads, Wellpad A to Tiputipu – Helitangi Road, HGCP Ring Road and Yarima to Tombete Road.
