New Ireland Governor, Sir Julius Chan says the inactivity of government bodies to monitor logging companies is costing the people of Papua New Guinea millions of Kina.
Sir Julius, said despite the Commission of Inquiry Reports into SABLs and allegations of gross abuse, not much is done by the Forestry sector authorities to monitor logging companies.
He said instead, logging companies are making mockery of government laws and using it for their benefit.
The New Ireland Governor said concerns over SABL, illegal logging and environmental damage needs to be addressed by law enforcing government bodies.
For logging, it is the National Forest Authority that gives permits to logging companies and monitors their operations at the logging sites.
Sir Julius said illegal logging and transfer pricing has become a standard practice. In 2008, Sir Julius imposed a moratorium on new logging in New Ireland.
Sir Julius explained that the Courts had revoked all SABLs agreements, and found that over 40 SABL agreements were illegally granted.
He said, many independent international studies have shown that logging companies use transfer pricing to convince the Government that they are losing money, yet they continue to operate.
