Source: PNG VIllage

The two final reports on special Agriculture Business leases were tabled in parliament.

In his remarks, PM Peter O’Neill, says the two reports covered only 42 of the 75 SABL areas and that the findings were shocking.

He says from the 42 only 4 SABL had qualified landowners consent and have produced successful agriculture projects, while the rest was obtained through corrupted means.

According to the report the SABL policy failed miserably.

PNG landowners conned by companies cutting down forests: PNG PM Peter O'Neill

Liam Fox | ABC News

Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill says a controversial type of land lease has allowed foreign companies to con traditional landowners and chop down forests.

Special Agricultural Business Leases (SABLs) were supposed to allow traditional land to be converted into leasehold land for agricultural developments.

They cover more than 5 million hectares - about 11 per cent of PNG.

By ADRIAN MATHIAS, The National

ALOIS Jerewai, one of the commissioners in the inquiry into the Special Agricultural and Business Leases, says he is willing to repay at least K970,000 paid to him as wages to produce a report.

“I have assets to give back to the State because I (have) got nothing to lose,” Jerewai told journalists in Port Moresby yesterday.

Source: Isaac Nicholas (Post Courier)

THE National Executive Council has referred the three commissioners who chaired the Special Agriculture Business Leases Commission of Inquiry to the PNG Law Society for disciplinary action.

They have also been referred to the Royal PNG Constabulary for an investigation into the use of more than K15 million earmarked for the inquiry.

Source: Radio New Zealand

Papua New Guinea’s Minister of Lands and Physical Planning Benny Allen says the government is looking at reducing the size of the Special Agricultural Business Leases.

The Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has signalled he is about to table in parliament the long-awaited report by the Commission of Inquiry into the SABL system.

Mr Allen says the leases - some of which covered up to a million hectares - were problematic because their size meant various issues where multiple landowner groups were involved.

Source: Radio New Zealand

Papua New Guinea’s Minister of Lands and Physical Planning Benny Allen says his ministry is investigating a number of questionable transactions within the Lands Department.

The Ministry has invited complaints about land dealings throughout PNG and is commissioning a team to investigate all land deals alleged to have been fraudulent.

Mr Allen says many complaints are filing in and some relate to corrupt dealings within the department.

Source: Radio New Zealand

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has indicated he is about to table the long-awaited report by the Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agricultural Business Leases.

The government ordered the Inquiry in 2011 to investigate the SABL system which civil society groups claim has been used for a huge ’land grab’ that has seen over 5 million hectares of land swallowed up in 99 year leases, often for unsustainable logging projects.

By JIMMY KALEBE

The delaying of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report into Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) has angered many landowners in Maprik District in East Sepik.

In a landowner forum held last Friday local landowners in Maprik expressed concerns that this delaying of the report may mean the government is trying to overlook this report and do away with it.

Transparency International, PNG Chapter (TIPNG) has joined the chorus of voices of concerned institutions, individuals and civil society organisations urging the PNG Government to table the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Special Purpose Agricultural Business Leases ( SABL). 

Two years ago, the PNG Government initaited an official Inquiry into dealings in customary land that allowed foreign entities and private individuals to steal an estimated 2 million hectares of customary land across the country.

Produce SABL inquiry report in organised manner

Source: The National, Monday September 9th, 2013

THE chairman of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the controversial Special Agricultural Business Leases (SABLs) denies claims of not delivering the final investigation report to the Government (The National, Aug 28). Chairman John Numapo stated that the COI report was completed and presented to the government’s chief secretary and then also said that a fellow commissioner is still finalising his report.