SABL report to be tabled once final report in: PM

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.

 

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, November 6, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has assured parliament that the long anticipated SABL Commission of Inquiry report would be tabled once the final report from one of its three commissioner’s in handed in.

He made the statement when asked by Member for Pomio, Elias Kapavore, on the status of when the report to be presented in parliament.

“When we came into govt very early we set up the SABL commission of inquiry we have received reports back to government from two out of the three commissioners,” the PM said.

“Even to date, we are yet to receive the last commissioner and as a result of that the commission of enquiry itself has not been fully completed and as such cabinet has taken note of the reports by only two commissioners.”

“Rather than just waiting for the other commissioner to submit his final report cabinet has taken some decisions based on the recommendations of the other two commissioners able to launch their report.”

He said his government had taken major decisions to cancel all SABL certified by Lands Department to address the abuse of the concept and also enable landowners to renegotiate current project that have existed as a result of the concept.

“The government has made a decision that all the SABL leases that were issues to be cancelled. That instruction has now gone to the Lands Department and as of today I can assure you that these leases are now being cancelled.”

“Where there are project that now existing we’ve encouraged the Landowners (LOs) to renegotiate many of those lease arrangements and the arrangements they have made with the developers and again these leases were given without much thought in the past.”

“As a result lot of the landowners stood to lose all their years of generations of ownership of the land that they have had for many years that is why government has to take a tough position where we do not want the rightful landowners losing their rights to them for future generations as well.”

The PM pointed out that the protection of the interest of the children of the country was vital for their future as landowners.

“We cannot pass the entire ownership to the developer and our people losing the rights- that is why we have instructed department of lands and forestry to cancel all the SABL leases.”

“Once we have concluded the final report from the commissioner I will table the report to this honourable house.”

“We are having difficulties with that because lack of cooperation from that commissioner. Despite the fact that we have paid all the fees, the report is not forthcoming.”

“There are cases where some developments have taken place where we want the developer and LOs to get better benefits through renegotiations.”