Govt: SABL probe won’t be extended

THE term of reference for the commission of inquiry into the Special Agriculture and Business Lease will not be extended, government said.
Minister for Lands and Physical Planning Lucas Dekena told Parliament last Friday, in response to questions from Maprik MP Gabriel Kapris, that the inquiry was initiated by the former regime and the government had extended it for another three months to allow the commission to complete its work in the selected provinces.
He said the government would not stop the commission but allow it time to submit its report to Parliament by March.
Kapris had asked the government to stop the commission of inquiry and allow the landowners to open up their land and participate with foreign partners in its development.
He also asked the government to consider reviewing the commission’s terms of reference because many NGOs with vested interest were misrepresenting the landowners and giving reports to the commission which were not in the best interest of the people.
He said the prolonged commission of Inquiry had affected landowners who wanted to venture into business.
He urged the government to immediately stop the commission so that the people should not continue to suffer.