Wafi-Golpu shutdown action condemned - Sam Basil

Member for Bulolo Honorable Samuel Basil MP has condemned the move to shut down the K5 billion Wafi-Golpu Project site by outsiders calling themselves landowner executives last Friday.

“The threats and subsequent shutdown forced by the so-called Wafi-Golpu Landowners Association Chairman Mr Holmes Kissing and self styled Hengabu chairman Mr John Nema are illegal,” said Mr Basil.

“Mr Kissing and Mr Nema are not signatories to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). And if they had any legitimate issues, they should be talking to the signatories of the MOA as part of the permitting process – instead of this illegal shutdown action.”

The signatories of the MOA includes the State, the Morobe Provincial Government, Bulolo District’s Mumeng Local Level Government (LLG) and the duly elected Yanta and Hengabu Landowners Executives, and the Huon Gulf District’s Wampar LLG and the duly elected Babuaf landowners executives.

Mr Basil, who is Minister for Communications, Information Technology and Energy and Trustee Delegate of Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited and Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited, said that the legitimate landowners executives of Yanta, Hengabu and Babuaf know what is required of them in the permitting process and the various authorities they need to interact with.

“They are aware that within the SML are the ore body landowners and the processing plant site landowners in Bulolo and Huon Gulf.

“And the landowners of Yanta and Hengabu – as well as Babuafs - are very much aware that the ore body is valueless unless it is extracted, processed, shipped and sold.
“The need to accommodate the pipeline landowners extending to those on the shores descending into the submarine discharge of tailings needs to be worked out through the MOA permitting process,” he added.

“Legitimate concerns need to be brought and addressed in the established legal processes,” Mr Basil said.

“The proper way to address contents in the MOU signed between the State and the Developer is to inform and populate the MOA (before it is signed) so the State as well as the Developer are made aware before signing the Mining Development Contract and the Mining Compensation Agreement.”

Mr Basil officially opened the Bulolo Stalkholders Forum on Wafi Golpu Mining Project in Lae yesterday aimed at consolidating Bulolo Position Paper as the official position paper accommodating all stakeholders from landowners and their Mumeng LLG to Bulolo DDA and other other LLGs including the private sector.

It will be inserted into the Morobe Position Paper and inform the MOA, the MDC and the Mining Compensation Agreement.

“All landowners are important. The challenge we have is to ensure that we honestly and fairly grade the benefits to each of these landowner groups accordingly,” Mr Basil said.
“It is also important to recognise those who have helped with resources on or in their land in the past, to reward current landowners appropriately, and to prepare for the future when resources may be discovered and developed in other landowners,” he said.

Hon Samuel H Basil
Member for Bulolo
Minister for Communications, Information technology and Energy.

Oro Governor supports the proposed WAFI GOLPU Mining Project shut down

by Garry Guffa 

Oro Governor 

I totally applaud the actions of landowners of the proposed WAFI GOLPU Mining Project who have shut down the project.

Landowners, the Government is acting not as YOUR Government but as a pimp willing to pimp its own people out for the benefit of who knows who!

They did not do the right thing by keeping you and your Provincial Government in the dark. They did this deliberately to ensure you could not have a seat at the bargaining table! You were left out of your own land! How can you watch in the cold and dark whilst they feast on your food in your house?

My dear landowners, you are totally in the RIGHT.

As for the politicians and Ministers responsible, SHAME ON YOU FOR BEING SELL OUTS. But its no surprise. No surprise at all.

In Wafi Golpu just like the failed seabed mining scam, the illegal SABL scams that remain unattended to, we once more see examples of how this Government FAILS to protect and promote PNG interests.

It is clear from this ACTION that this Government is NOT the Government of the people of WAFI GOLPU. It is hardly the Government of the people of PNG!

It is the Government of whoever comes along with some ridiculous scam to steal resources! It is NO different from the days when huge tracts of land were cleverly obtained for blocks of soap, beads and steel axes from our ancestors by cunning colonialists, pirates and others of their ilk.

Nothing has changed! In fact, they went on from salt and steel axes to construct their laws to bring sophistication to their theft of resources. Amazingly, LAWS still exist! Its why PNG shall NEVER truly benefit form the resource exploitation projects in this country.

The LAWS governing resource developments and sharing are THEIR LAWS.

Yes that's right, shock, horror! They are NOT OUR LAWS.

To benefit PNG and landowners, the laws must be changed and be OUR LAWS.

If you doubt this look at this historic FACT: We lost 20,000 of our people in Bougainvillie and are now staring a the fact that AROB may leave us and for good reason: the Government then as now failed to protect their interest and chose instead to side with the developer!

Landowners nationwide MUST stand together. DEMAND the laws be changed! Its what some of us have been advocating since taking office! Remove the mercenaries and puppets and muppets that sell us out and put in place those true sons and daughters of yours to CHANGE THESE LAWS.

That is the first true step towards owning your economy.

Once the laws are changed, we must develop the mechanisms to develop our resources in country. That is true independence and once that has happened we can comfortably state that we are in the drivers seat of our nation and own our economy and thus the right to design and construct our future.

Special Mining Lease opted for Panguna reopening by OSIKAIYANG LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION INC (5-4832)

The SMLOLA Leadership Team Wins an Unprecedented Level of Support
From its Members on Panguna Progress.

The Special Mining Lease Osikaiyang Landowners Association (SMLOLA) in Panguna, Bougainville, in accordance with its Constitution, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 21 December 2018 reporting back to its members on the significant activities during the year and the success of the extensive awareness and unification programs, establishing the hard fought for unity of its members, that has taken nearly 30 years to achieve.

Given the 3 year term of the Board was also up for renewal, a new election was held for all officers and Board members, with the addition of more members to ensure we have a broad representation of our constituents. The previous leadership team, including Mr Philip Miriori as our Chairman was also reelected, together with 6 other office bearers, demonstrating the strong support for the significant progress and unity the team has achieved over the last 3 year term.

The elections were strongly supported with 1,757 proxies lodged and over 530 members attending in person, unanimously supporting the new Board. The election proceedings were managed and overseen by SMLOLA’s Lawyers, Ovia Lawyers, and representatives of the Autonomous Bougainville Government were also invited.

Former Chairman, Mr Philip Miriori from Guava Village was re-elected to the position of Chairman of the SMLOLA Board for the next 3 years. No other candidate nominated to contest the position of the SMLOLA Chairman. Chairman Miriori was supported by the former Chairman Lawrence Daveona who remains as his Chief Advisor. Previously strong opponents, the two men reconciled in 2017 and have been working diligently together ever since they signed their Deed of Settlement in December of 2017.

Mr Richard Avero from Kupe Village, Bovonari Ward was chosen to hold office as SMLOLA Vice Chairman, the Treasurer position went to Mrs. Angela Kavarui from Dapera Village Modapi Ward, Public Officer, Mr Kevin Masen from Siredonsi Village Pinenari Ward and SMLOLA Board committee members are Mrs. Emilia Damana from Kooro village Pinenari Ward, Henry Pipino from Onove Village , Oune Ward. SMLOLA Chief Adviser is Mr Lawrence Daveona also from the Domana Ward Area and Technical Adviser Mr Dennis Nasia from the Modapi Ward area. The meeting also discussed and formally approved the nomination RTG Mining Inc as the preferred developer for the Panguna Project.

Mr Philip Miriori said; “this is one of the best Boards the SMLOLA has ever had because it has people from all the seven (7) villages and ward areas of the SMLOLA represented and the Board is also made up of both the young and old generations of the SMLOLA. Importantly we have a strong representation by women, who own the land under our Nasioi custom.”

Mr Philip Miriori said, “as Chairman of the SMLOLA Board I will keep on making sure that our people in the SMLOLA areas are treated fairly and that their voices can be heard in regards to decisions concerning their future.”

Chairman Miriori promised the members that he will always be available to listen to their concerns and will work hard to advocate for lasting peace in Panguna.

The New Members of the SMLOLA Board with the newly elects Board Chairman
(Front row 2nd from the right), Mr Philip Miriori.

Mr. Philip Miriori said, “With this unprecedented level of support, the Leadership Team of SMLOLA are looking forward to continuing to work closely with the ABG in all matters effecting Panguna and supporting the ABG in the upcoming referendum.”

OSIKAIYANG LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION INC (5-4832)

Level 2, Karoona House
Panguna Town, Panguna District
Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea

Without clan vetting, PNG LNG pipeline clans to be paid

PNG’s largest extraction project, the PNG LNG project will pay royalty and equality to the impacted landowners along the 292km onshore pipeline from Hides in Hela Province to Omati landfall in Gulf.

This was announced through PNG media by the PNG Government, Department of Petroleum and Energy via Mineral Resource Development Company (MRDC) recently in Port Moresby. According to MRDC, there are 37 clans who has 44% interest will be paid.

PNG Govt is planning and coordinating through ExxonMobil, Oil Search, Bank South Pacific, MRDC and Electoral Commission to open up bank accounts for each clan to process the payments.

Clans who have current court orders and disputing clans will not be paid, according to the PNG’s Oil and Gas Act.

According to landowner sources, the PNG Government is yet to complete its clan vetting exercise to identify clan landownership for the PNG LNG project. Meanwhile, Hela Governor Philip Undilai has strongly blamed ExxonMobil and Oil Search Limited for not paying royalty and equality for the indigenous landowners amounting to well over K2-billion. – Via Garamut News.