The Minister for Housing and Member for Moresby-South Justin Tkatchenko has labelled the illegal settling of Taurama Valley and Gereka in Port Moresby a total disgrace and a disaster.
He made this remark during the launching of the NCD Urban Development Plan recently.
Minister Tkatchenko said land in these two areas are being illegally sold by unapproved landowners who are not following proper process of getting the individual customary landowners and registered ILG’s approval.
“Individuals are selling land for their own personal gain without going through the proper process of registering ILG’s and getting the whole clan to approve,” said Tkatchenko.
“This is a big problem that is happening at Gereka, Taurama and other areas in Moresby-South,” he added.
He also shared concerns that there were no proper plan and land subdivisions making it difficult to provide the necessary services and infrastructures.
“How can I put proper electricity, water, road and other utilities when there’s no proper land subdivisions and land is already been occupied?” Tkatchenko said.
However, during his time as the Minister of Lands he held a Customary Landowner Summit to empower actual ILG’s to control and stop the illegal selling of customary land by their family members.
“It was during this time we introduced laws that if one clan member sells customary land without the unanimous support and permission of the clan, they will be arrested and charged.”
The laws have been approved by NEC but are yet to be implemented.
