The Darahasi clan of Vabukori village in the Moresby South electorate in Port Moresby has claimed that the Minister for Sports and Pacific Games Justin Tkatchenko has no respect for government set laws and guidelines.
The clan claimed that the 2015 Games complex built at Konebada has been built on traditional customary land owned by them.
They are responding to the minister’s response on PNG Loop claiming that he dealt with the legitimate landowners’ Kwabira clan.
In a statement, the Darahasi clan claimed that it was them who gave their approval for the start of the project on their land when approached by the contractor Nick Allen and a representative from the minister’s office, namely Api Kassman.
However, they said this had not eventuated and no favourable response had been received from the Minister’s office.
“After our protest on Friday, the minister has now come out and declared that he is dealing with the Kwabira clan, whom he says are the legitimate land owners of project site.
“As far as we know, there has not been any land investigations carried out to determine who has interest in this land and shown evidence of ownership. We want the minister to tell us all how he has come to declare Kwabira clan as the so-called legitimate land owners.
“Clearly, the minister is bulldozing this project without due respect to the government set guidelines in acquiring customary land, customary land laws, environmental and water laws and other related laws.
“Most importantly, he has no respect to customary land owners and their rights. His explanation of why the facility was not used for the intended purpose means that he has failed to carry out feasibility studies prior to the construction of the facilities. In the process he has damaged our land,” they said in a statement.
“We are sad to advise the minister that he has been fooled by a few individuals of Kwabira clan who he is dealing with.
“Darahasi clan has been the legitimate owners of this land since traditional times as evident by traditional history and affirmed court decisions of the highest courts of this country.”
They are calling on the Minister for Sports/Member for Moresby South to clarify on the legality of his dealings with Kwabira Clan.
“At present, we are of the view that this dealing is an illegal land grab made in the name of the Pacific Games 2015.”
They are also calling on the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to direct an administrative review of this land dealing as the land formed part of their traditional beach area that has been used by their people since time immemorial.