Registration of Yandera cancelled

Post Courier

The purported registration of Yandera Landowners Association with the Investment Promotion Authority as announced by the Member for Usino Bundi Anton Yagama last Thursday may be invalid.

This is because a letter from the Registrar of Companies Alex Tongayu, dated Tuesday October 16, addressed to the Madang Provincial Administrator

Bernard Lange had stated that he had cancelled the registration of association because they had not addressed some objections raised by a principal landowner on behalf of his Kurunogoi clan Peter Yama.

Mr Yama had objected to the registration of the Yandera Landowners Association because landownership issues and identification are yet to be settled, genealogies of tribes, clans, sub-clans and families have not been done; social mapping has not been done and completed pursuant to the Mining Act and position of the Secretary as a member of the executive committee should be abolished and replaced by a public officer.

Mr Yama had also stated that the whole process was incomplete on the basis that the relevant State agencies like Minerals Resource Authority (MRA) and the Madang Provincial Government were yet to complete the process, pending the availability of funds to resolve the issues.

“I firmly believe that when all the above issues are fully addressed, settled and concluded then I will allow the registration of such an association,’’ he said.

“I’m also aware Mr Paul Mason, Field Manager of Marengo Ltd, has written to the Provincial Administrator of Madang Province that Marengo Mining Ltd has conducted and carried out social mapping and landowner’s identification programs for the past five years.

“This is not in the best interest of landowners, for the developer to directly involve in the social mapping and landowner’s identification programs where there are State agencies in place to conduct such activities. Their conduct is in direct conflict of interest in identifying landowners and their support of certain groups in the Incorporation of the Association with your office,’’ he stated.

Mr Tongayau in his cancellation letter had advised that Mr Yama’s claim that he was the principal landowner and chief of Kurunogoi clan should not be watered down. It is important to ascertain these claims, he said.