Benny Allen

Agriculture and Livestock Minster Benny Allen said this on his official visit to the PNG coffee industry corporation headquarters in Goroka recently.

The Minister was accompanied by the Vice-DAL Minster Henry Ame and DAL Secretary Dr Vele Pat Ill’ava.

An official program in welcoming the Minister on his first visit to the organisation was convened before a meeting with the CIC board and management.

Minister Allen said under the Alotau Accord II, the O’Neill/Abel government is prioritising agriculture as its focus going forward.

Former minister for Lands and Physical Planning now current minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Benny Allen stated this yesterday upon handing over the portfolio to the new incumbent minister, Justin Tkatchenko.

In his outgoing address to the staff and the new minister, Allen stated that neither the lands department nor the officers are corrupt.

The lands department under took three priority projects which includes land access, the legislative review and the LEAP program which were undertaken in the last three years.

 Juffa said the chief’s council will represent landowners and their people so that they become equal partners in the development of their land.

He made the call in Parliament this week following the delivery of a Ministerial Statement by Land Minister, Benny Allen on the status of the Special Agriculture Businesses Leases (SABL’s).

Juffa delivered a powerful and stern message in Parliament that although PNG land has been stolen right under our very noses, nothing has been done about it.

This was announced in Parliament on Thursday by Minister for Lands and Physical Planning, Benny Allen.

The Minister announced this when he delivering a Ministerial Statement on the status of SABLs.

“I am pleased to announce that the Government has revoked and called for the surrender of all SABL titles and in set in place a process to convert all these titles and present them to customary landowners under the revised Incorporated Land Groups System and the new Voluntary Customary Land Registration System.