Lands Department rolls out awareness on new Land Laws
The Secretary for the Department of Lands & Physical Planning, Environment, Conservation & Climate Change, Lynette Baratai Pokas, has provided an update on the progress of Bougainville’s new home-grown Land Laws and related community awareness efforts in the region.
Secretary Pokas explained that the awareness, led by her department, is to educate the public and share knowledge on how these new laws will impact people’s lives.
“On the 18th December 2024 the Bougainville House of Representatives (BHOR) passed four laws as NEW LAWS and given rights protection to the people and government and how to create development in planning control areas in Bougainville,” Secretary Pokas said.
The four newly enacted laws are:
- Bougainville Government Land Act of 2024;
- Bougainville Customary Land Act of 2024;
- Bougainville Land Registers Act of 2024; and
- Bougainville Planning and Development Act of 2024
“When all these laws work in collaboration with each other, they can create protection in issues concerning land in the region,” she added.
Following the enactment of laws, the department commenced its face-to-face awareness to selected communities within Bougainville early this year.
“The first awareness was conducted in South Bougainville beginning in Buin, focusing on the targeted audience mainly reaching out to ward members and public servants in the area,” she said.
Secretary Pokas added that the teams visited schools in the area starting with Buin, Tonu and Bana secondary schools.
“We also conducted public awareness within Central Bougainville; Ioro ward, Arawa market, and in Buin, targeting mostly community government representatives in Central Bougainville; North Nasioi, South Nasioi, Arawa Secondary school, Tinputz Day high school, and Asitavi Girls high school,” said Pokas.
Secretary Pokas emphasized the Government’s responsibility to ensure that communities are well-informed about the new land laws and how these might affect their daily lives.
The Bougainville Land Laws can be viewed here https://abg.gov.pg/government/departments/lands-planning-environment
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