Numapo disputes K15mil claim

 By ELIZABETH MIAE

THE special agriculture business leases (SABL) cost K8 million, and not K15 million as claimed by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, inquiry commissioners claimed yesterday.

Commissioners John Numapo, Alois Jerewai and Nicholas Mirou rebutted strongly the prime minister’s and other members’ criticism of their work.

They listed several factors as having disrupted and prolonged the inquiry beyond its delivery date. 

These included:

lInitial allocation of three months was inadequate given the enormity of the task; 

lFailure by government agencies responsible for the administration of SABLs to produce files and present documents required to 

assist in the inquiry;

lOnly K8 million was allocated and not K15 million as reported;

lPolitical impasse last year resulted in the closure of the office the commission was operating from;

lThe SABL inquiry was moved out of the CoI office to the Sir John Guise Stadium when the inquiry into the sinking of mv Rabaul Queen started; and

lChristmas and New Year periods and staff going on holidays.

The commissioners described comments by the prime minister and others as “unfair”, “unwarranted” and “premature”.

Chief Commissioner Numapo said: “We will do so without fear or favour. We have a responsibility to deliver the final report and will not be intimidated by any criticism.

“When the final report is presented, then it can be properly debated in parliament and also by members of the public who may have an interest in the report. 

“Only then can we be judged if the report is sub-standard.”

The interim report addressed TOR (a), (b) and (h) which covered the following:

(a) Determining the legal authority for the issuance of SABL;

(b) Determining the procedure for the issuance of SABL in accordance with the legal authority, if any; and

(c) Inquiring into and assessing the effectiveness of existing legal and policy framework in the improved management of SABL in future, including facilitating the 

application from legitimate applicants.