By Luana Paniu

Three key people involved in procedures to issue the controversial Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SPABL) are the first to appear before the Commission of Inquiry.

Department of Lands and Physical Planning (DLPP) Acting Secretary Romlly Kila Pat, Acting Deputy Secretary, Customary Lands Adrian Abby and the Registrar of Titles Henry Wasa will appear before the CoI next Monday.

This was revealed during the preliminary hearing on Wednesday by counsel assisting the inquiry, Simon Ketan. Mr Ketan made this known to Chief Commissioner and chairman, John Numapo and Commissioner Nicholas Mirou, while Commissioner Alois Jerewai was absent.

He said they will be expected to appear to explain the different processes, approvals and registrations and procedures required in their current capacities with regard to the issuance of the SPABL.

Mr Ketan said this is part of preliminary information as stipulated in the Terms of Reference under (a) (b) and (c) of the Inquiry. 

He said the time-frame required for their appearance is the whole week.

He said the Department of Lands and Physical Planning had also confirmed their willingness to assist with the CoI investigations and had already submitted files of 9 out of the 72 SPABL land issues under investigation, 63 extracts from generalised printouts with actual file searches locating 56 files with records of company names registered in the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA).

He said letters had been sent to the PNG Forest Authority who had responded by submitting a list of Forest Clearance Authority (FCA) from the Land Board and delivered by general manager Kanawi Pouru in a letter dated August 8.

He said the Department of Environment and Conservation and Department of Agriculture and Livestock had also been notified by way of correspondence. “These departments play a major role in the issuing of the SPABL,” he said.

Mr Ketan said the National Research Institute and the National Land Development Program have also been contacted because of their extensive research and knowledge on the issue and will be able to make available the relevant documents to assist with investigations.

Mr Ketan was appointed as the senior counsel helping the CoI after Davis Stevens resigned from the position on Monday due to work commitment. 

In the meantime, the CoI will be running a public notice in the two daily newspapers beginning Friday until next Tuesday for the public to come forward with their submissions on any issues relating to the SPABL’s.

They said these issues will then be published in the paper for the next 14 days up until close of business on August 26.

Hearing dates will then be made known to the public by way of another publication.