KBK locals mourns death of Tigavu

Momase, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 5th January 2012

DAVID Tigavu, chairman of the Kurumbukari (KBK) landowners association where the Ramu Nickel mine is based in Madang’s Usino-Bundi district, died on Tuesday at the mine site Butua.
He was in to attend a handover ceremony at the Coastwatchers Hotel in Madang Hotel to witness the delivery of a Landcruiser open-back utility, costing K120,000, to landowner company KBK Ltd.
It was to be used as an escort vehicle for a 20-tonne cargo and fuel truck bought for K500,000.
Tigavu was vocal on landowner rights whose views are well known with the developer Ramu NicCo and the National Court which early last year jailed him for several weeks for contempt during the DSTP hearings in Madang.
He had been sick since then and had been out of hospital several times.
He was also responsible for directing the Lands Titles Commission into the KBK lands hearing which saw them drawing up its schedule hearing according to the landowners liking.
The hearing was set to restart next Monday.
Through his efforts KBK landowners received the bulk of the K10 million seed capital from the government.
Funeral arrangements are being finalised.