By Shirlyn Belden

Special Agriculture Business Leases in Papua New Guinea are said to be depriving customary landowners of opportunities to create wealth and self-development.  

According to the National Research Institute and National Land Development Programme, the work and effect of SABL since its introduction has been contradicting the two recent amendments through the Land Group Incorporation (Amendment) Act and Land Registration (Customary) (Amendment) Act 2009. 

A statement from NRI said NLDP interim manager Esekia Warvi appeared before the commission of inquiry headed by chief commissioner and chairman John Numapo and handed over 12 documentary exhibits that included a sworn affidavit, the 2006 land task force report and recommendations plus all NRI’s research publications on land reforms and the government’s plan for implementation within the existing legal framework.

“This scheme is disempowering the landowners by reducing their potential and propensity to generate and create wealth for them.

“The COI would do well to ensure that its findings and recommendations are consistent with the government’s ongoing land reforms for the benefit of the people of PNG,” he said.

Numapo said: “The outgoing efforts of the NRI and the NLDP would be very useful to the COI when furnishing our findings to the cabinet.”

He was particularly impressed by the critiques on SABLs and the options now available for customary landowners.

The role of the NRI in the land development programme began in 2005 with the national land summit at Lae under the then minister for Lands and Physical Planning and deputy prime minister, Sir Puka Temu.

The NLDP was created after the National Land Development task force, which implemented the recommendations of the land summit, as a masterpiece to provide directions for longer term land reform development initiatives.

These include land administration, land dispute settlement, customary land development, and the development of a viable land and properties market.