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Logging company told to reappear at inquiry

By Grace Tiden

Representatives of a foreign logging company in East New Britain Province have been directed to appear before the Commission of Inquiry into the granting of Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABLs) when the inquiry re-convenes in Port Moresby this Wednesday.

KK Connections, developers of the Toriu Integrated Agriculture Development Project in the Lassul/in land Baining area of ENB, initially appeared before the inquiry on Saturday in Kokopo.

The company holds a lease lease back title over Portion 904c and have a 60 years sub lease.

CoI Commissioner Alois Jerewai further ordered the company, which was represented by the Project manager Samuel Yahyah, that the Managing Director Kevin Ling and Mr Yaya will have to appear before the inquiry on Wednesday with the full and complete information on the cost of log exports from 2008 until September, 2011.

They were also ordered to present to the inquiry, the infrastructural development that have been undertaken at Toriu including the construction of roads in the area.
Mr Jerewai said these information and others were needed if the inquiry was to make findings into what was actually happening at Toriu.

The Kokopo leg of the inquiry, which was supposed to end last Friday, was extended to Saturday, especially to look into the Toriu SABL.

Representatives of the Toriu Landowner Company, who appear to represent the landowners from eight villages in the inland Baining/Lassul area and which holds the title to Portion 903c and 904c , were also called to give evidence during the inquiry.

In his concluding remarks, Mr Jerewai thanked all those who came to the inquiry and adjourned the inquiry to this Wednesday in Port Moresby.