SABL

Drekirir SABL illegal

On 12 Jan, 2012 By rait man

By Luana Paniu

A K3 million agriculture and business project in Drekirkir, East Sepik Province has not been recognized by the Government as a Special Agriculture and Business Lease (SABL) despite functioning as one.

Under an agreement signed between a Malaysian Logging Company (named) and a prominent Leader, a least 56,000 hectares of land was leased in 1998 under lease-lease back arrangement for the planting of Oil Palm.

Commission probes ITS over Western Province land deals

On 11 Jan, 2012 By rait man

By Jacob Pok

THE Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) is investigating a foreign-owned company over the acquisition of more than two million hectares of land in Western.

The Independent Timber and Stevedoring Company, a subsidiary of a US-based company, was engaged by the government to construct a 600km Trans-Papua Highway from Kiunga into Central’s Hiritano and through three other provinces.

Gadaisu villager complains over 99 year lease

On 11 Jan, 2012 By rait man

Gadaisu village is in Milne Bay province near the Central province border. The village is on state land which is being developed by Tamoua Estates Ltd under a 99-year leasehold. For the past 10 years villagers had been petitioning the government to return the land to them but have not received a favourable response from the Lands Department.

Another foreign company buys up forest rights in Papua New Guinea

On 10 Jan, 2012 By rait man

Malaysia's leading English language newspaper, The Star, is reporting that a Malaysian company, Takaso Resources, is buying the rights to log 40,000 hectares of forest in the Inland Pomio District of New Britain Island. There is no mention of how local people have been consulted about the sale or how they will benefit from the trade in their land rights.

Takaso into timber ops in Papua New Guinea

By Yvonne Tan

Logs don't lie: foreign corporations are pillaging Papua New Guinea

On 10 Jan, 2012 By rait man With 1 Comments

By Hannah Brooks, VICE media

Papua New Guinea is currently experiencing what may be the most brazenly illegal land grab since its colonial days. Foreign corporations—specifically, logging companies—are allegedly falsifying signatures, paying off police, and lying to the government about their intentions to cut down every tree in the country.  

Lands Officer approved SABL without Minister's consent

On 06 Jan, 2012 By rait man

By Luana Paniu

A senior Government officer signed SABL approvals without the knowledge of the Minister for Lands and Physical Planning, the Commission of Inquiry in SABLs heard yesterday.

The CoI Commissioners while questioning the officer were frustrated to learn that approvals were granted without due processes being followed.

Hundreds of new SABL cases popping up

On 03 Jan, 2012 By rait man

By Luana Paniu

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Special Agriculture and Business Leases (SABL’s) has revealed that there are hundreds more SABL’s beside the 75 cases now currently before them.

According to Chief Commissioner John Numapo about one million hectares of land under the SABL had suddenly ‘popped up’ throughout the five months that the inquiry had been conducting investigations into these matters.

Baina SABL project deal suspicious

On 03 Jan, 2012 By rait man With 1 Comments

By Luana Paniu

All necessary requirements for the granting of a Special Agriculture and Business Lease (SABL) to the Baina Agro Forestry project may hold political interest, according to the Commission of Inquiry last week.

During questioning of former Central Provincial Lands Manager, Cliff Boutau, the inquiry discovered the discrepancies with this particular SABL proved that plans had already been underway for Oil Palm development under the SABL on portion 29C Milinch Kase and Fourmil Buna for the term of 45 years.

Civil society slam loggers access to controversial SABL leases

On 23 Dec, 2011 By rait man

Environmentalists in Papua New Guinea have raised concerns about foreign companies investing in controversial land leases, reports ABC Radio.

  In the latest investment, Hong Kong logging firm Pacific Plywood has joined forces with China's largest state owned timber company, Longjiang Forest Industry Group.  

The investors plan to develop a 628 square kilometre lease in the East Sepik Province.   The companies say the region has more than 2.5 million cubic metres of timber.   

Information on Vanimo SABL hearings not available

On 23 Dec, 2011 By rait man

No information pertaining to the Inquiry into Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SPABL) in Vanimo have been made available to the media since its proceedings last month, reports the Post Courier

It has been revealed that two boxes, containing the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) recordings made during the hearing had in fact been diverted by Air Niugini from Vanimo to Wewak’s Boram Airport where it was off loaded and remained in the Cargo office for two weeks.

Search form

Takaso into timber ops in Papua New Guinea

Pages