Clans in mine area plan umbrella firm

By PISAI GUMAR
THE mine-impacted communities surrounding the Wafi-Golpu gold mine site on the border of Bulolo and Huon Gulf districts, Morobe, convened a meeting to gauge customary landowners’ views to form an umbrella company to represent them.
It was hosted by Babwaf-Saab leader Bill Itamar at Wampet village, Wampar LLG, on the Bulolo Highway, and attended by clans from Gurako in Mumeng LLG and most Wampar villages including Mare, Gabensis, Yalu, Munum, Gabsongkec and Wampet.
Nasuapum and Zifasing did not turn up while the Yanta and Hengabu clans advised the gathering they were unable to attend because of another scheduled meeting in Lae.
Itamar said although a case was still pending in court to verify the ownership of the land, “we have decided to come together to air our views and come up with tangible plans, especially to set in place a memorandum of understanding to unite us together”.
“Having differences while living apart has created a gap to allow foreign contractors to engage with the investor, Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV), in contracting works for which we should have been eligible,” Itamar said.
He said if and when the court decided the ownership of the land, “all clans will support each other and work towards the betterment of the community”.
“The issue of land ownership has taken the tribes almost 30 years spanning from colonial administration to today and the decision of ownership is still pending with the national land court and the Land Titles Commission.
“The differences left the clans without organising and mobilising themselves to set in place landowner companies to engage with MMJV for spin-off activities.
“We are therefore trying to organise ourselves then present our credentials and documents to MMJV to allow us do what we can based on resources and equipment we can afford,” Itamar said.