Governor files application to stay decision

The National Main Stories

By KARO JESSE
MOROBE Governor Ginson Saonu has filed an application at the Waigani National Court seeking to stay the decisions by Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Wera Mori which approved the environmental permit for the Wafi-Golpu mining project.
Saonu was granted leave by the court on March 29 to review the decisions by the minister and managing director of Conservation and Environment Protection Authority Gunther Joku which approved the issuance of the environmental permit for the Wafi-Golpu mining project under Section 65 of the Environment Act, 2000.
Saonu is the first plaintiff and the Morobe government is the second plaintiff in the proceedings.
Justice Ambeng Kandakasi yesterday adjourned the hearing of the stay application to April 29, to allow lawyers for the parties services of files and filing of any additional affidavits.
Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa representing the State in the proceedings informed the court that the State in consultation with the plaintiffs was willing to expedite the proceedings to full trial as the State had filed all its documents.
The two decisions which are the subject of the judicial review are:

  • THE decision by Mori in approving the granting of the environmental permit in principle for the environmental impact statement for the Wafi-Golpu mining project under Section 59 of the Environment Act, 2000, on Nov 19, 2020; and,
  • DECISION by Joku dated Dec 18, 2020, in approving and issuing the environmental permit for the Wafi-Golpu mining project under Section 65 of the Environment Act, 2000.

The case named Mori as the first defendant, Joku as second defendant, Minister for Mining and Geohazards Johnson Tuke as third defendant and the State as the fourth.