By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
The proposed Mt Kodu mine landowners along the Kokoda Track in the Central province must be made aware of the process of obtaining equity payments, Mineral Resource Development Company (MRDC) executive manager for client service Impi Tagune said recently.
Mr Tagune has been dealing with problems arising regarding from the distribution of equity payments between landowners, State and the developers throughout the country for 17 years.
“I'm not against the mine. All I want is for Kodu landowners to have more information from various stakeholders involved in the mining industry and that also includes us,” he said.
“I am now inviting them to visit me for further advice as they need to be made aware of the technical management and structure of accessing equity payments that might be made from the proposed mine.
“Some times you will not get the expected amount. And when you do not get the required amount, agitated landowners become suspicious of each other resulting in unnecessary confrontations.
“MRDC has also been suspected of mishandling equities that resulted in us receiving unnecessary threats.”
Mr Tagune said he had nasty experiences of encounters with landowners when they did not get their expected equity payments.
Mr Tagune said that at this exploration stage, MRDC cannot be involved in negotiations between the developer and the landowners.
Sources also told The National that from experiences, landowners throughout the country usually miss out on their share from their resources.
Meanwhile, a Kokoda Track company manager Charlie Lyn told ABC that mining would not benefit the Kodu landowners.
“Just look at the current mining landowners throughout the country.
“They are fighting over the benefits, the spin-off businesses and the whole business of mining is one of disunity and violent encounters by people who speak the same language or share common traditional backgrounds.”
He said mining had been operating there for years and yet they are still living like they used to be before mining came to their area.”