Landowners want quick, clear flow of dividends

THE Porgera Landowners Association negotiating team says the people want immediate and transparent flow of dividends into their bank accounts, and not trapped by intermediaries and third parties.
Deputy chairman Dickson Pundi said mechanisms such as Minerals Resources Development Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Mineral Resources Enga, had long failed the resource landowners of PNG.
“(The dividends) have been mismanaged by a few and benefits intended for landowners, including the people of Porgera, have failed to trickle down to the people,” Pundi said.
“In the interest of transparency and a more direct flow of benefits to households, we are proposing a different model, with a professionally managed entity established to transparently manage our benefits and royalties.
“So far, billions of kina in gold sales revenue has been received by the Mineral Resources Authority and a only a fraction of that has reached our people at the household level with no reports and transparency.”
Landowners were angered to learn late yesterday that following negotiations between the State and Barrick Niugini Ltd, an internal briefing document from the acting chief secretary Isaac Lupari was leaked on social media.