Government objects to landowners’ intervention

THE Government has objected to a request by owners of land subjected to logging who want to intervene in a Supreme Court reference questioning the constitutionality of the Forestry (2007 Budget Amendment) Act 2006.
Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa representing Attorney-General Dr Eric Kwa, the first intervener in the Supreme Court reference, argued that the landowners did not show any substantial or real interest to intervene in the proceedings.
“The applicants do not satisfy the basic requirements to be granted leave to intervene,” Tanuvasa said.
“(They) say they are board chairman of landowner companies (but) there is no board resolution authorising them to partake in the court proceedings.
“When it comes to interpretation of law, we say that they do not have substantial interest.”
The Supreme Court reference concerning the Forestry Act was filed by landowners Arnold Alero, Alphonse Amlamo and Ali Yapi.
They are concerned about the K8 cubic meter imposed as the Log Export Development Levy collected by the National Forest Service of PNG Forest Authority and paid to the State.
Landowners Alfred Kehela and Marcus Enep who claim that their land comes under the forest management areas yesterday moved their applications to intervene in the Supreme Court proceedings.
Their lawyer Alois Jerewai told the court that they had interest in the matter because their land was under the forest management areas for the purpose of logging.
Justice Hartshorn reserved his ruling on the landowners’ application to intervene.