The following letter is a timely reminder...

Source: The National

THE prime minister has finally received the interim report of the commission of inquiry (COI) into the special agricultural and business leases (SABL).

What a load of verbal diarrhea (or some similar sentiment to that) is what comes to mind when reading what Managing Director of the PNG National Forest Authority (Kanawi Pouru) is quoted as having said in the following report in the Post Courier.

It seems that the world is waking up and making clear its stance clear on Experimental Seabed Mining, indeed one of our neighbours, the Cook Islands who a year ago was all for having their seas raped through this form of mining have recently come out clearly that they do not want seabed mining.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister says incompetent bureaucrats have given developers a "free run" by granting a series of controversial leases.

ABC Radio Australia

A Commission of Inquiry's been investigating more than 70 Special Agricultural and Business Leases covering more than five million hectares.

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has received the Commission's interim report which he'll table when Parliament next sits.

Leading civil society groups in Papua New Guinea are supporting calls for SOPAC to come clean on its ties to foreign companies involved in experimental seabed mining. 

SOPAC has been exposed as advocating on behalf of US based Lockhead Martin in the drafting of controversial new experimental seabed mining laws in Fiji.

"Again, we are seeing SOPAC disenfranchising Pacific people and ignoring their voices while at the same time promoting a foreign corporate agenda", says Effrey Dademo, Program Manager with ACT NOW! 

Source: ABC - Liam Fox

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister has blasted his public service over the granting of controversial leases covering more than 10 per cent of the country.

In recent years more than 70 Special Agricultural and Business Leases, or SABLs, have been granted covering more than five million hectares.

Critics say the leases are a back-door way to clear-fell forests and many have been granted without the permission of traditional owners.

Source: The National

ALL special agricultural business leases (SABL) granted prior to the issuance of an environmental permit are illegal, Minister for Environment and Conservation John Pundari said yesterday.

The minister would not approve any more environmental permits on SABLs until the Commission of Inquiry into the issue is made public and cabinet has determined an appropriate course of action.

Source: Island Business News

A verbal warfare is developing between the Pacific Network on Globilization (PANG) and regional organisation SOPAC over its role in the drafting of the controversial new laws on seabed mining.