Source: Isaac Nicholas (Post Courier)

THE National Executive Council has referred the three commissioners who chaired the Special Agriculture Business Leases Commission of Inquiry to the PNG Law Society for disciplinary action.

They have also been referred to the Royal PNG Constabulary for an investigation into the use of more than K15 million earmarked for the inquiry.

The three commissioners are all lawyers and comprise former chief magistrate and chairman John Numapo, Alois Jerewai and Nicholas Miroi and are alleged to have failed to submit a detailed report on the SABL inquiry to the Government.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told National Parliament the Government is disappointed that a proper report was not furnished as requested by the NEC.

He also announced the setting up of a ministerial committee that will go down and “unlock land” taken up under the SABL arrangements to enable indigenous landowners to participate in business activities using their land.

Mr O’Neill confirmed receiving the final reports from two commissioners and not the third commissioner. 

They were submitted individually rather than a combined report and will be tabled in Parliament today, although Cabinet is not satisfied with the outcomes and the quality of the report.

“It is below expectations,” Mr O’Neill said. 

In fact we are disappointed to this after the Government has spent substantial amount of money over K15 million in trying to get this report for over two years now so it is quite disappointing and this matter needs to put to rest,” said the PM.

According to Mr O’Neill Cabinet will refer all the commissioners to the Law Society for disciplinary action to be taken and also refer the matter to the police for investigations into their conduct and the charges incurred to the State. A Ministerial Committee comprising several ministers will also be established and to look at the SABL issue in more detail and its impact on various sectors. This includes SABL like agriculture and forestry and the attorney general and trade and industry to cater for other businesses. 

“The committee will go through the report in detail and come up with a solution that we will all go forward on how we can try to un-lock the land to allow our landowners to participate in business and avoid individuals taking up large chunks of land and particularly foreigners who have taken out thousands and thousands of land and displacing our own people,” he added.

“In fact we are now hearing stories where Papua New Guineans knowingly give up their land and don’t care about their future generation. 

This has been surrendered to the so called investors by individuals rather than the community. 

“We must take stock of this matter to protect future generation who do not lose the right to the land they communally own so the ministerial committee will give it priority.”

“We have given them (committee) two months to come up with a forward for this mater and we will announce that to the public for the information.” Prime Minister O’Neill said.