By Martha Louis – EMTV News, Madang
A landowner from Bogia District in Madang Province, says landowners need to be part of the Manam Restoration Authority (MRA) Board as their land was proposed to settle displaced islanders in the care centres.
Daniel DiamDom speaking as a custodian of the land, raised concerns that they have had no representations in the board and do not have any idea of what is happening. Adding that no work should be carried out on the project site until they have a representative in the MRA board.
Landowner Daniel DiamDom is from Zukin Village in the hinterlands of Bogia District; where about ten thousand hectares of customary land has been made available to resettle displaced Manam Islanders who are still living at the care centres on mainland Bogia.
Speaking on behalf of the landowners, DiamDom wants customary landowners to be part of the MRA board. The landowners further argued that Bogia MP, Robert Naguri, is the right person to be appointed as chairman of the Manam Restoration Authority and not Ken Fairweather.
Furthermore, funds allocated to assist displaced islander’s resettlement should be frozen and put on hold; any work plans and officers are also not welcomed to the project area until there is fair representation in the MRA board.
