Judge certifies association’s executives

THE new executives of the Porgera Landowners Association Inc (PLOA) have been endorsed by the National Court in Waigani.
Acting judge Emma Wurr made it official yesterday, endorsing them – Mark Tony Ekepa (chairman), Sole Taro (deputy chairman), Nixon Mangape (treasurer) and Warakas Ondalane (secretary).
The executives were agreed to by all parties involved in the case through a consent order.
The plaintiffs in the case were the Mineral Resources Authority, who was represented by lawyer Livingstone Baida, and Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa for the State.
PLOA executives were represented by lawyer Paul Mawa.
The executives were elected to office following an election done by the Electoral Commission on Dec 7.
This election was done pursuant to an order issued by Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi in the National Court on Sept 23.
On the date, parties and the National Court had endorsed the agents of the 25 clans in the new Porgera special mining lease (SML) area.