Delay Wafi-Golpu mining project

Letters

THE recently-approved and granting of environmental permits to Wafi-Golpu gold mine between the Government and the Morobe government without identifying and registering proper landowner groups may be illegal and a political blunder.
There are no proper customary land mappings of ownership rights and registration of incorporated land groups (ILGs) before signing that agreement to start Wafi-Golpu mine.
I wonder why a few State ministers, Morobe politicians and administration are not seeing these problems before signing documents.
Most of the people in Morobe and the Evangelical Lutheran Church bishop Rev Jack Urame are against the deep sea tailing disposal method and that decision hasn’t changed.
Whose interests are we really serving with Wafi-Golpu mine?
I believe some funds were given to the Morobe government by the Government to assist the landowners to prepare themselves with registration of their ILGs but the Morobe government and the administration have failed the people of Morobe.
They are looking for excuses to protect themselves after giving the green light through the signed agreements.
The Wafi-Golpu mine in Bulolo and Huon Gulf should be delayed while allowing more time for such outstanding issues to be sorted out until after the 2022 national elections and a new government is formed.
The Government should listen to the voices of the Morobe people and not rush into decisions to save face.
The mining project belongs to the landowners and not the Government and the Morobe government so we have to hear them out.

Samson C Napo,
Former Bulolo MP