In a document sent to localities and departments at different levels, the Phu Quoc City Party Committee said that they would stop granting overseas travel permits to local leaders until the end of the year while focusing on dealing with various "urgent issues relating to land use management, construction, environment, and other issues."
The committee said, "Only those who were assigned to participate in trips organised by the Kien Giang Provincial People's Committee are allowed to go."
As many as 1,744 cases of land use right management violations, including the illegal occupation of 685 hectares of state and forest land, were discovered in the southern tourist island after Kien Giang authorities deployed a team to inspect encroachment on public and forest land in 2022.
One of the most significant cases was the illegal construction of 79 villas on nearly 19 hectares of state-owned land.
Last August, Kien Giang authorities officially rebuked Huynh Quang Hung, Chairman of Phu Quoc City People's Committee, for violations related to land management.
The provincial People's Committee also rebuked specific individuals involved in the violations. This included Tran Chien Thang, former vice chairman of Phu Quoc and current provincial chief inspector, and Truong Thanh Tan, former head of Phu Quoc's Natural Resources and Environment Department and now the city's chief inspector.
Phu Quoc authorities have proactively addressed the violations, having resolved 1,035 cases. As a result, they have successfully reclaimed 85 hectares of state-owned land and over 111 hectares of forest land.
