Basil reaffirms support to landowner groups

BULOLO MP Sam Basil, has reaffirmed his support of two ore body landowner groups of the Wafi-Golpu project with a funding of K50,000.
Basil is the minister responsible for the Kumul Mineral Holdings Ltd, in addition to his ministerial portfolio of Communications, Information Technology and Energy.
He said on Friday that while time was limited on the project, he wanted to ensure that the Yanta and Hengabu people of the Mumeng local-level government in Bulolo were satisfied before the project was developed and operational.
“As a State Minister overseeing Kumul Mineral Holdings Ltd, there is a need to have the Wafi-Golpu project come on-stream to assist the economy, the Morobe economy and the development of Bulolo district,” he said.
“This is why the Bulolo district development authority board has set aside K50,000 and committed to a district consultative forum to ensure that the Yanta and Hengabu as ore body landowners, the Mumeng LLG and the Bulolo district development authority have a clear and unified position.”
Basil signed on Dec 11 as a State witness a memorandum of understanding with the developers to accelerate the project.
The agreement is subject to permitting process which will inform the stakeholder’s legally-binding memorandum of agreement, the Mining Development Contract and the Mining Compensation Agreement.
“All leaders – especially those in Morobe – must encourage and take strategic action using authorised processes and institutions to help Wafi-Golpu project,” Basil said.
“Engaging in unproductive and unhealthy discourse in the media including social media is not going to address the pertinent concerns and expedite the process.”