Dorothy, 18, facing difficulty after mine closure

By GYNNIE KERO
DOROTHY Willie, 18, from the Porgera Valley in Enga is one of those affected by the closure of the mine last April.The timid teenager said life had already been difficult after her father, who used to work for the mine, passed away in 2015 when she was in grade five.She was forced to leave school to look after her six sisters and brother.“We have land (water-logged) but not suitable to make gardens,” she said.“All of us (Porgera landowners) want to see the smoke (restarting of the mine). We have been suffering for a year since its closure. “Once the smoke rises again, our lives will be okay.”Dorothy earns money when the mine was operating through various informal businesses. She and other landowners receive benefits such as royalties too.But all those stopped when the mine closed down.Wanpis Sikip from Kandep spent 35 years of his life living in Porgera and working for the mine as a driver.“Our lives are stagnant following the mine’s closure. “I ended up selling store goods near the road. No one is buying much, but if I can get K10 a day that’s enough to buy me a packet of rice,” Sikip said. Businesswoman Elizabeth Lape Iarume said locals had always depended on the mine and its closure taught them an important lesson – to save and be prepared for rainy days.She said the people must be prepared for when the mine life ended.