Central Province will not be robbed off our land: Governor Rufina Peter

The political head of Central Province vows to defend illegal land grabbing from her people. 

Governor Rufina Peter said her people would not be “mere spectators on their land”.

“We will not permit the pillaging of land within our borders, and or belonging to the Central Provincial Government without due process and respect for our rights, where infringed on.

“I stand resolutely in support of the statements made by the Open Member for Hiri-Koiari, Keith Iduhu, regarding the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of 280 hectares of land in Caution Bay.

“The revelations arising from the investigative diligence of the [former prime minister] Peter O’Neill raise serious issues of grave concern for not only the people of Hiri-Koiari [electorate] and the Central Province but also for the people of Papua New Guinea at large.

“The concerns… on the blatant disregard for proper processes, procedures, and transparency by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Lands, John Rosso and the Government of the day cannot and should not go unanswered.”

NBC News reached out to Lands Minister John Rosso’s office who said they would respond within seven days.

Former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has called for an investigation into the Caution Bay development, near the PNG LNG site at Papa Lealea in Central Province.

Mr. O’Neill alleges that the “280 hectares of prime state land were transferred to four companies in the British Virgin Islands in 2019, in turn, 67 hectares were pre-sold.”

The first-term Governor, whose provincial land boundaries meet with the National Capital District said, “This is not the first instance of land grabbing sanctioned by the government of the day against the people of Central Province that has come to my attention this year.

“In July this year, I issued a press statement in respect of a questionable transfer of land belonging to the Central Provincial Government, which was facilitated by the then former Minister for Lands, Justin Tkatchenko over what is known as Portion 1221, Ilimo Farm.

“I want to let the people of Central Province know that the issue of Portion 1221 and related questionable transfers will soon be the subject of litigation and that the people of Central Province will be advised in due course as to the issues surrounding Portion 1221 and related Portions,” Governor Peter said.