By KONOPA KANA, POST COURIER

AN INDEPENDENT task force set up by the government will carry out investigations into the commission of inquiry (COI) on the special agriculture business leases (SABLs) uncompleted reports.

This was revealed by the Secretary for the Department of Lands and Physical Planning Romilly Kila Pat in a press conference yesterday.

The details of which government agencies and appointees to head the taskforce will soon be announced by the government through the National Executive Council.

Mr Kila Pat said that in accordance with the NEC decision number 184/2014 made a total of 14 decisions in which five of them were directed to lands department to be implemented.

He said that the first action is to repeal the provision of the SABL from the land Act and the current document in the form of Draft legislation is now before the state solicitor awaiting the certificate of necessity.

Mr Kila Pat said that the second decision by executive arm that lands department will continue to observe the previous executive decisions not to process or issue anymore leases.

He said that the third as per the approval by the executive council the department has initiated the process to revoke the twenty-five SABLs that have been identified by the two COI reports.

Mr Kila Pat told the press conference under those directions that the registrar of titles was tasked to immediately cancel the 25 SABL that was recommended by the inquiry reports.

He said that the action is enabled by the land registration Act of 1981 which contains the enabling provisions to revoke a SABL title and allows the registrar of titles to do so.

Mr Kila Pat said that fourthly NEC directed that subject to formal legal advice, the department review existing SABLs and where legally sound apply appropriate administrative procedures, including the use of show cause notices to holders of SABLs.

Finally the secretary has also given directions for the registrar of Incorporated Land Groups (ILGs) to start the initial discussions with the investment promotion authority and following meetings and discussions will see what favorable approach to take.