Explorer denies claims of not consulting Huon locals

By GABRIEL LAHOC
KATANA Iron Ltd (KIL), holder of an exploration licence for chromites in Lababia and Buso villages, in the Morobe LLG area of Huon Gulf district, Morobe, and two communities have denied claims made against them last month in The National.
Company community relations officer Rae Smart and project committee chairman Sione Gwae presented documents in line with government regulations and to prove that the communities were consulted and working with the Australian-based explorer.
Smart and Gwae said Steven Sana was not the Areme clan leader as he claimed and that the two communities did not recognise him.
He said they were angry at his outburst in the media, which had damaged the reputation of the two communities with their international partners, especially in the tourism sector.
Smart said KIL had notified provincial and district authorities last year and advertised in the newspaper in August before visiting the communities.
“Katana was really to make a difference in exploration, Lababia is intact and is democratic, the relationship with Katana and the communities is very positive.
“The time for exploration is not the time for any negotiations for mining.
“It is only the period of exploration and therefore no mining lease is a point of discussion and all community members understand this,” Smart said.
Gwae said the media statement by self-styled chairman Sana “is simply an act of someone who wants to force his ideas to get something he desperately wants and without a care of publicly denouncing the community’s right on their own land”.
“I am the chairman of the project committee appointed by the community and we are committed to represent them in negotiations with any interested companies keen on exploring deposits for chromites and from the prospecting areas known as Sachsen and Hessen bays and the adjacent areas to ensure the right processes are followed,” Gwae said.
He said the Australian-based company had met all the requirements and had been approved by the national government through the mines department.
“My committee is entrusted to ensure the interests of the company and the landowner committees are well protected in terms of better communication system, security, working conditions and safe work conditions.
“We have no doubt about their presence and the work they are doing,” Gwae said.
Other village elders present to show the two communities solidarity were Andrew Yawing and Yaling Michael.
They said Sana was disrespectful of their laws and a disgrace to the two communities.