By John Pangkatana

THE Commission of Inquiry (CoI) secretariat said they had a target to complete all listed hearings into Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABLs) by March 21, due date set by the National Government, reports the Post Courier.

Chief Commissioner John Numapo yesterday gave the assurance that despite some recent hiccups they were projected to complete all hearings listed.

Mr Numapo said: “So far everything is on track, we are just re-adjusting ourselves due to a delay in the release of funding from the Treasury Department to allow us to complete the provincial hearings on the pre-focused dates.”

Mr Numapo was responding to recent concerns raised in the media by landowners from four SABL’s in the East Sepik Province as to why there was a delay in their hearings being heard on the dates set.

He said it was unfortunate but beyond their control as there was a delay in funding being released by the Treasury Department in order for the secretariat to cover administration and logistics costs for the CoI to conduct hearings in three SABL provincial locations this month.

“Apart from East Sepik, the other two locations are Oro and West New Britain provinces,” he clarified.

Mr Numapo apologised for any inconvenience caused in particular for landowners travelling from far locations.

“I can confirm that the National Executive Council has approved additional funding for the extension and that these three locations will be the first to be heard by the CoI in the new year in January,” Mr Numapo said.

The exact dates of the hearings will be published in due course, CoI secretariat secretary Mathew Yuangu said, adding the deferral would also affect those centres next in line, including Madang, Lae and Mt Hagen. Mt.Hagen will hear what the CoI secretariat described as non-controversial hearings for SABL’s in WHP and two from the Southern Highlands.