Landowners threaten to close a major Lae project
Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:00pm
Ahi landowners are threatening to shut down the K480-million Lae
tidal basin project, because of disagreement over the integrated
benefit package, which includes the resettlement of people living
around the project site.
The landowners have indicated that they would halt the operation, if
the Government failed to address their resettlement concern.
In a media statement, the landowners claimed that the Independent
Public Business Corporation and the Asian Development Bank, have
breached the agreement relating to the proposed resettlement exericse.
They said this has shown disrespect towards the Wapiguhuc and Busulum
clans from Butibam village, who were recognized by the Supreme Court
in 1971, as the legitimate landowner clans of the port site.
Chairman of the Ahi Landowners Association, Jonathan Saing, said his
people raised the concern after the IPBC and the ADB announced last
Friday, that the resettlement exercise would not eventuate, instead a
repatriation effort would be carried out.
Mr Saing said this decision was made, without the consent of the
landowners. |
