Two of the most senior people appointed to Papua New Guinea's Commission of Inquiry into the country's enormous land grab may have serious conflicts of interest that could taint the whole Commission process if they do not step aside.

Papua New Guinea's land grab has seen control of over 5 million hectares of land taken from customary landowners in dubious Special Business and Agriculture Leases that are often seen as a smokescreen for the logging industry.

The PNG government has announced the Commission of Inquiry will be headed by former Chief Magistrate John Numapo with Davis Stevens as the leading lawyer assisting the inquiry.

Davis Steven has a very strong connection to the Department of Environment and Conservation and its controversial Secretary, Wari Iamo. Stevens is currently representing Iamo and DEC in legal proceedings over the marine waste dumping plans of the Ramu nickel mine.

DEC and Iamo have played a key role in the land grab, approving the Environmental permits for Special Agriculture and Business Leases and approving the Forest Clearance Authorities which allow clear-fell logging of the leased areas. 

As Stevens is currently being paid by Iamo and DEC it is impossible to see how he can fulfill his role with the Commission of inquiry.

There are also suggestions that  Numapo may have a close working relationship with Iamo and DEC as he has been engaged as a consultant working on the proposed Conservation and Environment Permitting Authority (CEPA).