Land ownership issues at a proposed InterOil drilling site for oil and gas in the Gulf province, has created tension amongst two ethnic groups.
Three Popo villages, have claimed ownership of the land on which the road is being constructed to the drilling site at Lese. Youths, elderly men and the Ward member from Lese, were at the project site yesterday but surprised by youths from Popo village, who identified the burial site of their great ancestor who was murdered 100 years ago, along the new road being constructed by a subcontractor. InterOil Community Affairs personnel who were on site, informed the people on InterOil's position on the project drilling for oil and gas deposits in Lese area, in locations identified as Macko and Wahoo. However, due to the tension between both ethnic groups, a police mobile squad will be brought in, before a meeting is conducted between the two parties, to iron out misunderstandings and the project timeline by the company. Lese villagers have signed an agreement to start the project, including leaders for Iokea and neighbouring Apanaipi village in the Central Province, for Moru Bay to be used as landing point coming through the main highway. Comments are closed.
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