PNG courts no answer to forest corruption

Landowners back calls to stop Bill

A MOROBE landowner company is supporting former chief justice Sir Arnold Amet’s call for parliamentarians not to pass the controversial Forestry Bill.
Jenny Veisame, managing director of Bugabu Resources Limited from the Mongi/Busega area in Finschhafen, said yesterday the Forestry Bill should not be passed because it did not take into consideration the landowners.
Sir Arnold described the proposed amendment to the Forestry Act as unconstitutional and that landowners, the provincial government and local MPs would be left out of the consultation process of timber permits.
The same sentiment was also shared by Huon Gulf MP Sasa Zibe on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday during Question Time and called for the Bill to be brought to the Ombudsman Commission for a review.
Forestry Minister Patrick Pruaitch told Parliament in response the Bill was done at a political level and could not be brought to the commission.
“If there are problems, we have a court system there for people to bring it to court,” Mr Pruaitch said.
Mr Zibe said the passing of the Bill would come into conflict with the country’s constitution.
Mrs Veisame said the Mongi/Busega area was already facing problems and through that experience, the passing of the amendment would be devastating for the landowners.
She said for eight years they have been struggling to get their money so they could pay out to the 84 incorporated land groups but have been unsuccessful.