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Mine operator urged to accept pollution of
river systems
By HARLYNE JOKU
PEOPLE are being poisoned and dying as a result of chemical poisoning in
the Auga and Angabanga River systems of the Central province and Emperor
Mines must accept that, Dr Sylvester Kotapu, senior pathology registrar
of South Sydney Area Health, NSW, and Liverpool and Royal Prince Alfred
hospitals in Sydney, Australia, said yesterday.
Dr Kotapu said there was evidence of people suffering defects and dying
as a result of chemical poisoning among communities in the vicinity of
the rivers in bush Mekeo downstream of multi billion kina Tolukuma Gold
Mine.
Tolukuma Gold Mine is operated by Emperor Mines, a subsidiary of South
African Durban Rooderpoorte Deep.
“Emperor Mines and other existing mines must come to their sense and
accept the facts in relation to river pollution instead of questioning
them,” Dr Kotapu said.
Dr Kotapu was responding to Emperor Mines, who have expressed doubt over
the validity of his report. Emperor Mines also said the Royal Prince
Alfred Hospital showed no public record of Dr Kotapu.
Dr Kotapu said he welcomed Emperor Mines or any concerned parties’
queries on the credibility of his profession and study and welcomed them
to contact him and discuss their concerns.
“They (mining companies) always do that. That is their trademark. They
avoid the scientific facts , discredit our tests and always question
credibility,” he said.
Dr Kotapu said he was registered with the Medical Board of New South
Wales, the Victorian Medical Board, and the Medical Board of PNG and is
currently senior pathology registrar of the South Sydney Area health
NSW, Liverpool and Royal Prince Alfred hospitals. He was on transit of
positions from RPA to South Sydney Area Health Hospital when he was
commissioned by the Central provincial government to do the study for
the past eight months.
Dr Kotapu added that he would stand by his finding, which currently was
in the hands of the Central provincial government.
Dr Kotapu collected 500 blood samples from the river people last June
and had them tested in the chemical pathology laboratory of the Royal
Prince Alfred Hospital.
Results showed high levels of toxic heavy metals such as lead, arsenic,
mercury and zinc.
Dr Kotapu presented the findings of his study titled “Mining and
Chemical Pollution and; Heavy Metal Poisoning of the Indigenous People
of Papua New Guinea” to the Central provincial government and the
Constitutional and Law Reform Commission last week.
 
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