WITH public concerns on the acquiring of land titles by private businesses to operate in most of the public space and recreational area in the towns and cities in PNG, there are also questions raised as to how best these issues can be managed at the provincial level.
Member for Wewak, Kevin Isifu raised the question in Parliament yesterday to the Lands and Physical Planning Minister John Rosso on how best his Department can do in addressing the issue of alienated land grabbing and acquiring of Land titles by private business.
Isifu claimed that there are people with interest and influence in the system that allows for certain businesses to acquire land titles without the administrative knowledge.
He gave an example on the recent development that has taken place at Yawasoro and parts of Wewak town area by private businesses.
Minister Rosso in response has advised all provincial governments to liaise with his Department to establish a Lands and Physical Planning Board in each province which can assist in addressing issues relating to Land.
He said there has been a Land Board and Physical Planning Board that has been delegated from the Lands Department to various provinces in Papua New Guinea.
Minister Rosso urged all Members of Parliament to get into discussions with its provincial administrators before coming to his Department.
The Department after the consultations can organize with its delegates from the Lands and Physical Planning Board to each Province so that they can manage their own affairs.
“It is my interest that we delegate all responsibilities back to the Lands Department in the respective Provinces,” Rosso said.
He said 13 provinces have the Lands Board already in place including Central, West New Britain and Manus.
