By Martyn Namorong

The Commission of Inquiry into Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SABL) concluded its hearings yesterday at around 7PM after Hon. Tony Aimo (pictured) gave witness regarding the Nugwaia-Bongos Integrated Agriculture Project. The Project which is in Mr. Aimo’s electorate also incorporates his customary land.

The National Development Bank, backed by multi-million kina funding from the government, has launched a new campaign to return control of the nation’s small business sector to Papua New Guineans.

Bank managing director Richard Maru says it is an “eye sore” and a crime against the people that 90% of retail shops, particularly trade stores and food bars, are being run by foreign nationals and migrants.

By Gabriel Fito

A Commissioner executing the national government-sanctioned Commission of Inquiry of the Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) hearing into the Sepik Oil Palm Plantation Ltd has expressed disappointment over an incident at the project site last Wednesday.

Commissioner Nicholas Mirou said he was shocked and terrified when another vehicle driven by an aggrieved landowner company executive speeded towards the vehicle carrying him in an erratic and dangerous manner.

By Martyn Namorong

Mr Peter Kuman of Kuman Lawyers (shown seated as the project manger of Brilliant Investments is being sworn into the witness stand) is attending the Commission of Inquiry hearings in Wewak as counsel representing the exploiters of Marrienberg SPABL – Brilliant Investments.

Martyn Namorong

“Makeshift jobs!” That has been the impression of the Commissioner and the counsels assisting the Commission of Inquiry into Special Purpose Agriculture Business Leases. The Commission visted Marrienberg and the Nungawai-Bongos SPABL sites.

Ahead of this years National election in Vanuatu, MP Ralph Regenvanu has published the full details of how he has spent almost 10m vatu in public funds allocated to him over the past four years.

The details of how he has used the public funds allocated to him as an MP are being published both on his party website and in large posters.

Herein lies the problem - we MUST ACT NOW! - not just talk and theorize but ACT.

That might mean sometimes we mess up - and that's okay, but when we don't even act or try THEY "drink the water" and you can subsitute a million other phrases with that one can't you?

Martyn Namorong

Radio Australia

Forest clearance on disputed land-leases in Papua New Guinea is likely to continue at record levels for the next five to six years, according to the organisation which represents logging companies.

In 2011, logging on Special Agricultural and Business leases pushed Papua New Guinea's log exports to record highs - so much so that some commentators now place PNG as the second largest exporter of tropical logs in the world.

By Luana Paniu

The chairman of a landowner company has pledged that he and other dissatisfied landowners will not cease fighting against agriculture giant New Britain Palm Oil (NBPOL) until their terms and conditions are met.

Rigula Landowners Association chairman, David Kura said that he and landowners of the three land groups; Gule, Rikau and Meloks, were not happy with what they described as “standard” terms and conditions set by NBPOL under the Special Agriculture and Business Leases (SABL).