Barrick delivers royalty cheque

THE owners of a mining site in Kainantu last Friday received a portion of their 10% royalty share which they gave to a local Seventh Day Adventist church as tithe.
The mining lease is being operated by Barrick (PNG) Ltd.
The Bilimoia landowners have been receiving royalty payment from the gold miner since production begun in 2007.
A cheque for K50,000 from a total K103,500 representing royalty payment for the financial quarter was presented to the landowners at Bilimoia village.
The cheque handover was witnessed by Barrick representatives, landowner leaders, church elders and villagers.
Landowner and church leader Busa Sio  said the money given to the church represented tithe from the villagers, which is normally 10% of what they earn.
The money would help the church carry out its activities, Mr Sio said.
Barrick representative David Wissink said his company was only too happy to support landowners and the church with community-based projects.