Commission conducting election for association’s execs

THE Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) in consultation with the Electoral Commission will conduct elections for the Porgera Landowners Association executives today.
MRA managing director Jerry Garry said the executives would be elected from the 25 Special Mining Lease sub-clan agents recently appointed.
“After the agent validation exercise was concluded, 25 agents were appointed through that process,” Garry said.
“But when our lawyers went to the courts for the endorsement of those agents, there was a (case filed) contesting the validity of six agents.
“The six agents were not endorsed during the initial endorsement of 19 agents.
“Apparently the six agents represent clans who actually own the big mine pit where the main ore is, and the area where the processing plant and the main infrastructures are located.
“So I directed the lawyers to go back to court to endorse the six agents because the official report from the state officers did not say there was any dispute on the 25 agents.”
Last Thursday, the court endorsed the six agents and directed that the election of the Porgera Landowners Associations executives be conducted within seven days.
“All the officers have been organised, including the electoral commission, to conduct that election on Thursday (today).”