Applications against Exxon dismissed

TWO applications sought by landowners of Southern Highlands province against ExxonMobil, developer of the PNG LNG project, were dismissed by the Waigani National Court yesterday after lawyers of the applicants failed to turn up at the proceedings.
Counsel Greg Egin, assisting ExxonMobil in the proceedings, asked the court to dismiss the two proceedings on the basis that the plaintiffs had failed to pursue the matter.
Mr Egin also submitted that the court should make orders for such motions not to be entertained by the court as there were no proper appearances and leave should be obtained first before such matters could be heard.
This was because the two matters, one sought by Digimu Landowners Association and the other by Hami Yawari, were listed as Special Fixture for hearing but both their counsels and themselves did not show up in the proceedings.
Mr Egin further submitted that there might be multiplicity of such cases before the court which could take up the court’s time when there was no appearance of parties.
Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika agreed and ordered that both applications be dismissed for want of prosecution.
He also ordered that similar motions must not be filed without first seeking leave of the court.