From Post Courier

Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru says the Sepik oil palm project will go ahead despite opposition by certain landowner groups in the Sepik plains.

Mr Maru said the project has the backing of a large majority of the people and that the paid advertisements by a minority faction has sparked out cries by local people on the ground.

"Some of those landowner group leaders have already come forward to me and are preparing an apology saying that they were not properly consulted and went ahead with the media advertisement," Mr Maru said.

"I do strongly condemn the article that most of the 155 hectares of land in the Sepik Plains has been taken away through the special agricultural business lease (SABL) some years back and given to a Malaysian investor. "The customary landowners have not benefitted from anything."

Mr Maru said he is taking the SABL title off the foreign investor and giving the land back to the people for their benefit through the multi-billion kina Oil Palm Project.

"Wilmar International, the main investor of the Oil Palm Project, is the leading and biggest agribusiness in the Asian region and they are going to change the face of the redundant Sepik Plains," he said.

"They will bring a lot of development and economical benefits to the customary landowners who have missed out so much since their land was taken away through the SABL deals."

Mr Maru said he will speak with the people next week after they have appealed to let him go forward with the investor on the oil palm project.