Duplicate environment permit case dismissed

By CHARLES MOI
THE National Court has dismissed a case concerning the environmental permit for the Wafi-Golpu project in Morobe as being an abuse of process.
Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi dismissed the case filed by Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu because there was already another case on the same matter which was currently before the Supreme Court.
Justice Kandakasi told Saonu’s lawyer Ralph Saulep that the governor and the other plaintiffs were seeking the same course of actions which was questioning the legality of the environmental permit.
Saulep on behalf of Saonu, the first plaintiff, filed an originating summons seeking a number of declarations from the court.
Saonu among others sought a declaration from the National Court that a validly issued environment permit was a pre-condition to the granting of a special mining lease. Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Wera Mori, Conservation and Environment Protection Authority managing director Gunther Joku, Mining Minister Johnson Tuke, the State, Wafi Mining Limited and Newcrest PNG 2 Limited were named as defendants in the case.
However, Justice Kandakasi raised some legal issues, one of which was a duplication of proceedings.