O’Neil queries agro forest deal

Former Prime Minister and Ialibu-Pangia MP, Peter O’Neil has called for investigations into the K4.8 billion Agroforestry project in Western Province.

He alleges a lack of proper vetting and scrutiny on the involvement of figures previously implicated in land acquisition deals.

According to Mr O’Neil, the Italian developer- Epoca Group Limited is headed by Gilberto Maggiolo, who now operates in Brisbane with his business associate, Neville Harsley.

He says both have been heavily implicated in the 2013 SABL [Special Agriculture Business Lease] Commission of Inquiry.

The inquiry had found a small Australian-owned company headed by NH, Independent Timbers and Stevedoring Limited [IT &S], had undertaken the largest land grab in PNG’s history, acquiring over two million hectares in Western Province.

Mr O’Neil questioned why the same company is being engaged to carry out the project on the 600km road.

North Fly MP James Donald, who is from the area where the project will also run through, expressed disgust and doubt over the authenticity of the project agreement.

He says the agreement was basically a logging operation posing as a ‘Agro-Forestry’ project, claiming to use their profits to construct critical infrastructure.

NBC News is seeking comments from the government and Western Province Governor Taboi Awi Yoto.