Lands Minister

Lands Minister Justin Tkatchenko presented the cheque to Technology 1, the firm responsible for the installation and upgrade.

The payment will ensure the company completes the installation and upgrade of the system, which they believe will weed out many issues within the Lands Department.

Presenting the cheque to Technology 1, Minister Tkatchenko thanked the Government for approving the release of the funding to ensure the system is up and running.

Lands Minister Justin Tkatchenko revealed this yesterday, stating that Tolopa was appointed last week.

Tkatchenko said the appointment is in line with his focus to implement significant changes within the Department.

“Mr Tolopa has taken the reins already, he’s been gazetted and I look forward to working with him for the benefit of reform and change in the Lands Department,” said Tkatchenko.

Upon receiving the titles from the Lands Minister, West New Britain Governor, Sasindran Muthuvel, admitted that it has been a challenge in acquiring land titles for public institutions.  

As part of Minister Tkatchenko’s priority to make land for public or institutional purposes safe, he has signed off on four land titles securing the land portion in which a brand new Caritas Girls Technical School is being built in West New Britain Province

A call by the Lands Minister to rightly make the inquiry into the ‘Manumanu Land Deal’ a priority has been welcomed by Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) along with the advice that the Department of Lands and Physical has already provided information to the delayed Administrative Inquiry. 

Lands Minister, Benny Allan, made the blunt statement on Thursday during a media conference in Port Moresby.

His comments follow several calls made by NCD Governor Powes Parkop, for the establishment of a NCD Land Board so that the NCDC can properly control and plan the development in the city.

Minister Allan said since the National Land Board is based in Port Moresby, there was no need to have a land board for NCD.

Lands Minister, Benny Allan, announced today that a portion of the land, which is opposite the Star Mountain Plaza development, will be acquired claiming it is a oversight by the local municipal Government.

The compulsory acquisition came into affect as of yesterday on Section 17 Allotment 13 along the Hohola Freeway which is currently leased to developers, TJ Homes.

 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.

NCD Governor, Powes Parkop, says the Land Minister has not given a good reason as to why there should not be a land board in NCD.

Parkop says many of the unplanned developments in the city can be controlled if the National Capital District Commission had a land board of its own.

He said the land board would complement the existing physical planning and building board.