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Mine sales a step backward
I BELIEVE the sale of Kainantu mine by Highlands Pacific has sent a wrong
corporate signal to investors and stockholders.
It made some wrong decisions by offering contract to an inexperience
contractor.
Its gold hedge book is blamed for the problems and its eventual sale, but
the real problem has been that there were improper mine design and
mineralogical testing for efficient processing and recovery.
The shrinkage stopping method of underground mining should be more defined
given systematic spatial characteristics of the deposit.
The Kainantu mine is the first mine of the company.
Its locality; close to existing transport, wharf, electricity and short haul
distance from Gusap to Lae, makes the mine more attractive than any other
gold mines in the hinterland of Papua New Guinea.
Barrick is laughing with gold price predicted to remain high and entering a
very highly prospective region that is close to existing infrastructure.
Barrick will show Highlands how to mine.
While the intention was clean up its debt and strategise a new beginning,
the sale has tarnished Highlands Pacific’s credibility as a greenfield
exploration firm.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Highlands Pacific wholly owning a mine in the
country or abroad in future. - Ken K. Ail, Kyushu, Japan
Clean up public places
IT IS a relief to read that police will arrest anyone hanging around in
public places. Bus stops are an area that commuters will never avoid as they
need transport. Boys and youths between the ages of 10 and 30 continuously
harass the travelling public. I feel very unsafe and keep looking over my
shoulders. I find our young urban population uncivilised compared to those
in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Right now, our mothers are constantly worrying
about the safety of their young daughters when they go to school with thugs
and hooligans hanging around bus stops and other public places. The law
should be tightened to punish those causing public disorder in public
places. This includes drunks. It is sad to see that foreigners who
contribute to our economy are unable to walk freely to a supermarket or
local market to buy groceries. – June Pagau, Fiji
Help stranded Gogodalas
I CALL on the leaders who arranged for groups to
travel to Port Moresby for APPA last August to come out and help the
remaining people with food and fares to go home. These so-called leaders
have gone into hiding after the event leaving the Western group stranded.
These people are suffering as they have used up all their funds. I urge the
MP for Middle Fly and the Western province governor, CF, ECPNG and Mesianic
group leaders of Gogodala to help these people. – Rex Galuma, Port
Moresby
Quick response urged
WHEN natural disasters like drought, heavy rain,
frosts, landslides, floods, etc, strike us, our leaders have been very slow
in responding to such disasters. Many deaths that occur are not a direct
result of the disasters but due to hunger and diseases that affect the
people in disaster-stricken areas. And that is really sad. Is it possible
for our leaders to react within an hour or so of receiving disaster reports
to prevent unnecessary deaths? Our leaders must learn to respond like our
soldiers – fast and with wise strategies. In times of disasters, we do not
need flowery-speeches; we need action. – Sepik Tauna, via email
Provide basic needs
I REFER to the Lae police chief’s comment on
“Hunger is forcing youths into crime” (Dec 4). I am pleased to read that
someone has raised this fact of life. The basic needs of a human are food,
water and shelter. I believe one solution to reduce or eliminate crime is to
address that basic need. All scholars of human resource development agree
that one would stop at nothing to satisfy his hunger for food. The
Government must address this fact in order to reduce crime. – Ovia Morea,
Lae
Leave NCDC alone
THE recent news about the National Alliance-led
Government trying to withdraw the powers from NCD governor and sideline him
is clearly a very selfish and greedy move. When the NA won the seat in the
by-election, it amended the NCDC Act to give its candidate power. Now that
it has lost the seat, it wants to remove that power. As a rate payer, I see
NCDC is no longer an institution but a private business arm of the leading
political party in Government. Leave NCDC alone. – Masta Wai, Port
Moresby
Elated at Kofena peace
I AM happy that the tribal war in Kofena is
finally over. At last the people can now lead a normal and peaceful life. I
would like to thank NCD Governor Powes Parkop for the K20,000 donation to be
used for the signing of the MoU and the peace ceremony. I would also like to
show appreciation to EHP leaders like Patrick Kondo, John Gimiseve and the
tribal leaders who worked hard to resolve the conflict. – Mirumati, China
Watch those aliens
I AM a Papua New Guinean who is living in an Asian
country. I support the writer of the letter “MoA breaches at Ramu mines”
(Dec 10). It appears something fishy is going on. I call on the Government
to closely monitor the situation and ensure that only qualified people are
allowed to enter the country. These people should not be allowed to own and
operate a kai bar or trade store. – The National reader, China
Armed reservists queried
I REFER to the issue of high-powered weapons in
the hands of reservists. I believe these weapons should be restricted to
regular police and soldiers. I have observed reservists in Morobe province
in possession of high-powered rifles normally issued to the security forces.
I call on the authorities to look into the matter and take possession of
these guns from the reservists. – Police supporter, via email
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