Landowners told to invest funds, provide services

LANDOWNERS from the Ramu nickel project impact area in Madang have been told to make investments from the funds given to them through the project’s community development fund (CDF).
Ramu Nico Management (MCC) Ltd deputy general manager for community affairs Albert Tobe told participants of a one-day workshop in Madang yesterday to make use of the funds allocated to them annually.
He said K1.2 million was usually allocated to the four landowner groups – each receiving K300,000.
Tobe told the participants that those who did documentation and met the company’s requirement received their fund last year.
He said those who did not meet the specific requirements, did not get their money.
“One of the projects funded through this funding is the aid post at Naru,” Tobe said.
Community affairs supervisor Tonny Kuiba urged the participants to ensure money was put towards tangible projects.
He said the K300,000 that each landowner group received needed to benefit genuine landowners.
The mine’s officials challenged the landowners to involve community leaders such as councilors so they could get Government’s assistance when the company ran short of funds.
The one-day workshop hosted 20 participants, mainly the chairmen of each landowner group.
Others were women representatives from the project impact area.
Inland pipeline chairman Jacob Winis said he was happy with what the company had done because his group had made use of the K300,000 given to them last year.