By John Pangkatana

LANDOWNERS not reflected in the Purari Development Authority (PDA) Inc. Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) for up to 700,000 hectares of land in the Baimuru District have won a psychological victory. The PDA land title is set to be revoked, reports the Post Courier.

This is understood to be one of the largest land leases issued under the SABL lease-lease back provisions for customary land instituted under the Government’s Lands Department’s new reform. 

Again the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) has uncovered a “bed” of irregularities in the acquisition of the SABL, where the marginalised have been given a voice.

This follows a stinging close to the CoI headed by Commissioner Alois Jerewai where Lands Department deputy secretary Romilly Kila Pat yesterday admitted to the process not being adhered to in PDA acquiring the land title.

This follows a further admission by Lands Department officer Lazarus Malasa the previous day, that he had pressure from the “top” to ensure all the instruments were in place, despite knowing that there were discrepancies including lack of awareness in establishing the SABL. 

The same lands officer is believed has instigated another similar case. 

The misplacing of the land investigation report as indicated by both Mr Malasa and Mr Kila Pat further fuelled Commissioner Jerewai’s patience in the Lands Department in giving the CoI the “runaround”. This was not the first time as well.

Both indicated separately that the land investigation report was misplaced while they were shifting offices. Further pressure from Commissioner Jerewai also sought to force Mr Pat to verbally indicate that the Lands Department would revoke the PDA land title in light of what transpired over the three-day proceedings in Port Moresby.

Commissioner Jerewai told all concerned parties that the final findings when completed would be for the benefit of all custodians towards improving the current procedure in place. 

Amakenairu landowner chairman Mailau Bero said he was appreciative of the CoI’s role in bringing to light startling facts about the process and the various roles people played from PDA, the Gulf provincial lands office and the Lands Department in Port Moresby.

“The Baimuru people are in the dark as to what is happening on their land. We are not against development, however, it is important that the right process is followed and all rightful customary landowners participate to benefit,” Mr Bero said.