Kintau: Half of Jackson’s Airport land taken illegally

By NELLIE SETEPANO

OPEN and unrestricted land grabs of State-declared aerodrome land are prevalent.
Former landowners have entered into illegal land deals with various people, including public prominent companies and individuals.
National Airports Corporation Managing Director Joseph Kintau said Port Moresby airport land was perhaps a worst case scenario.
 
“There is blatant disregard for rule of law. Proper processes and respect for State land that is zoned specifically for carrying out aerodrome operations and support activities is not being followed,” Mr Kintau said.
Yesterday, officers from NAC led the media on a tour around the aerodrome land, and almost half of the 762 hectares of aerodrome land is being taken by illegal encroachers or land-grabbers.
 
Structures of makeshift houses to large residential homes, even roads and fences are built on portions of the land.
One big construction company, Dekenai Contruction was erecting fencing on a portion of the land within the aerodrome land when the visiting team arrived.
In 2008 , NAC took out a court order restraining a landowner (Eliab Tokana), his servants, relatives and clansmen or any other persons from dealing with, disposing or selling any parts or blocks of land at Jackson’s Airport also known as portion 2437, Port Moresby, NCD.
The interim restraining order restricted cleaning, fencing, surveying, bulldozing or grading the land, construction of roads, passage way, bridges, drainage and installing culverts, water pipes, sewerage pipes, irrigation pipes or any such other development under the land or above the land.
 
Despite this order, constructions of all sorts are happening as witnessed by media. Attempts by NAC to stop the illegal activities have failed over the years.
Mr Kintau said the public needed to know that the Lands Act did not have any jurisdiction in respect to the land administration, ownership and titles. Under the Lands Act, aerodrome declared land, zoned for specific purposes and any persons or company purporting to have titles within aerodrome land is illegal. NAC will take action against Lands Department to declare those titles null and void.
According to NAC, the former land owners have made claims against the Port Moresby aerodrome land and the Government has given undertaking to assist former landowners in the business development and see capital funding.
The NAC objected to a magnitude of the claim which was in the tune of billions of kina and maintains that the former landowners’ participation in the spin-off business activities, projects and investment opportunities in aerodrome land was part of the commitment the Government had given.
Mr Kintau said aerodrome development plans run over many years consistent with the demand for growth in population and economic activities.