Landowners protesting against the Special Agricultural Business Leases (SABL). Picture courtesy of M. Namarong

The government of Papua New Guinea is threatening to endorse a huge and unlawful land grab by converting illegally acquired leases into registered land.

An agarwood plantation has saved See Goh's Compugates after years of financial losses but is the Chief Executive aware the Marienberg SABL is a fraud?

Source: pngexposed blog

A Malaysian electronics distribution company claims it has signed an agreement to log the 26,000 hectare Marienberg SABL in East Sepik Province.

Land has always been a priority for all Pacific island families. It is our identity and sustains our livlihood. Part of that importance is that our land is able to provide a nutritious diet for healthy living. If we want to  live long and healthy lives we need to reject imported foods with their high fat and sugar content and get back to eating what we can grow....

Source: Stella blog

Source: PNG Exposed

The Prime Minister is again giving excuses for why the unlawful SABL leases have not been cancelled. The PM is reported as saying despite an NEC decision in June 2014 ordering the cancellation the Department of Lands has been "dragging its feet" and some leaseholders have caused delays by taking legal action.

But Community advocacy group ACT NOW! says the Prime Ministers excuses are old and very lame.

Dr Kristian Lasslett

Gary Juffa

Today we are besieged. The so called elites in power who do the bidding of the pirates that control our resources are fast selling PNG off, neither protecting nor promoting PNG interests.

Just walk into any business and ask yourself how is PNG protected here? A few genuine businesses and investors struggle while a many are merely here as vultures to take what they can while they can.

Minister refutes claims of illegal logging

Source: Post Courier

The Minister for Forests Douglas Tomuriesa MP in a press conference on yesterday refuted claims of illegal logging in Oro Province as claimed by the Governor for Oro Province Gary Juffa MP.

The Prime Minister may have been making a song and dance in the media about getting tough on illegal logging – but the real hero is Oro Governor Gary Juffa