KPPA rebuts Iduhu’s claim

THE KONEBADA Petroleum Park Authority (KPPA) has rebutted on Hon Member Keith Iduhu’s Hiri Koiari claims on speculations that KPPA has been selling land illegally. In a statement provided by KPPL on social media (Facebook), KPPA stated that Hon Iduhu should have understood why these speculations have come about and whether these speculations has held any substance before coming out in public on the floor of parliament and accused KPPA.KPPA in the statement provided (on the social media) was concerned of how landowners were selling their land right under the nose of Central MPs.However, few commentators mainly from Central and mostly Papuans have defended their MP’s claims on the floor of parliament saying, Hon Iduhu was right when addressing parliament that customary land was sold by so-called landowners through inducement. The other commentators also responded that the timing was right to support their MP (Hon Iduhu) and fight to reclaim their land and organize investors to develop the land and create employment. The allegations against this authority has never been so recent as the than MP for Kairuku Hiri Peter Isoaimo raised his allegations against the KPPA leadership for land grabbing. Isoaimo strongly called for the Parliament to abolish the KPPA board and the authority. Isoaimo’s allegations were published on The National on 4th July, 2019. But KPPA was curious in its statement saying the Central MPs should see why Central people were selling their land left right and center. ‘’If asserted carefully, our Central land owners are selling land both legally and illegally. Some lands are State land that Central landowners claim to be customary. Some lands are sold by so-called landowners without the legitimate owner’s approval and concern.’’The statement quantifies that KPPA is more concerned with the abrupt problem with lack of basic services in the electorates in terms of schools, hospitals, roads, water, power, and mainly employment forcing people to sell their land.The KPPA management further challenged the Central MPs to crosscheck with their fellow MPs on what they have done, provided and served for their electorates, instead of looking for avenues to falsely impress their constituents.‘’If our Central MPs want to rescue Central province people and play their role in resuscitating and rescuing PNG, they must support KPPA and Petroleum Park Holdings Limited (PPHL).’’ The KPPA management KPPHL had the resources and licenses to rescue the nation and put Central province and Papuans in a better position to stand out from the rest of PNG, thus urging Central MPs to support PPHL for the benefit of the Papuans and PNG, since Prime Minister James Marape doesn’t look further then PPHL to rescue the nation.The management said the issue of enormous ‘scam and land grabbing’ was a claim striked under the belt by the MP (Hon Iduhu). The management said the establishment of KPPA was not a ‘scam’ to grab land. ‘’This is a misguided view of the opponents of economic progress and development in our nation. Our land laws are quite clear. Customary land belongs to customary landowners and it does not belong to customary the state or KPPA. Our SEZ’s are designed in such a way that landowners through their ILGs can register their land and engage in business with investors and industry players who will develop our resources for the benefit of everyone.’’ ‘’No such efforts were made to disadvantage customary landowners of their rights to their land, and the prospects of participating meaningfully in business activities at the SEZ. In our effort, special considerations have been given to communities living around the vicinity of the Park, so that they can meaningfully engage in economic activities.’’‘’Lands that are now developed within the Petroleum Park are fully and legitimately owned through lease (UDL),’’ the statement read.