Caption: Lands and Physical Planning Secretary Romilly Kila-Pat
By MATTHEW VARI
Wednesday, June 25, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)
THE Department of Lands and Physical Planning has begun revocations process of 25 of the much talked about and controversial SABL (Special Agriculture and Business Lease) leases.
In a press conference Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning, Romilly Kila-Pat said that the actions were now being taken as directed by the National Executive Council’s decision number 184, which had issued directions following the Commission of Enquiry into SABLs initiated in 2011.
Of the 14 directives issued in the NEC decision, 5 were directed to the department to carry out.
“The reason we are here is not only important for the department, but also to the people of this country in relation to SABL (Special Agriculture Business Lease) the talk of last couple of years,” Secretary Kila-Pat said.
“People want to know what’s happening- and this morning I called an urgent meeting, where we basically went through the NEC Decision 184 of 2014, and in its recommendations were made for the Department to implement alongside with other agencies.”
“A number of issues were raised- firstly NEC made a decision for the SABL Law to be repealed- I’d like to report that the department is in an advance stage in repealing that particular provision in the land act.”
He said that of the total number of 77 SABLs investigated, 25 were recommended for immediate revocation, with Registrar of Land Titles Benjamin Samson instructed to begin the process.
“The other decision is for the Department to continue to observe that no more SABLs are issues, and we are maintaining that position,” the Secretary said.
“Since the last NEC decision in 2013, which is being reiterated in this current one- the position still stands.”
“The remainder of the SABLs in case there are issues raised for them, NEC has recommended a direction for the establishment of a taskforce which will take charge of all the other SABLs that were investigated by one of the three commissioners who did not table his report.”
The Commissioner in concern who had not tabled his report is that of Commissioner Aloise Jerewai- the others of Chief Commissioner John Numapo and Commissioner Nicholas Mirou whose reports have recommended the 25 revocations.
The Lands boss stated that issue with the outstanding report, and other matters dealing with the remaining 44 SABLs would be dealt with by the taskforce.
“All those SABLs that were investigated by the third commissioner and any other issues regarding the other SABLs will be handled by the taskforce to deliberate upon to make recommendations to the Ministerial Committee that will then take it to NEC for further deliberation,” he said.
With K3 million set aside for the setting up of the taskforce, Mr Kila-Pat expressed that it should be established immediately to start to deal with the outstanding SABLs.
“We are the implementing agency so it would be appropriate for the neutral body which will be the taskforce to deal with any issues from here on,” Kila-Pat said.
When asked about the composition of the taskforce, the secretary could not comment saying he was not aware on its makeup.
“I am not too sure at this stage- because it is a decision of NEC which we will allow to be implemented.”
He concluded by pointing out that any legal issues and other issues in relation to the other SABLs in concern would be handled purely on the part of the taskforce to be established.
“I understand that after this conference there are going to be concerns raised but from what we gather if they raise issues with us there is an avenue where the taskforce will be established to look into those queries.”
“Our role as a department is to provide advice to taskforce to make informed decisions on how they deal with them,” he concluded.
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