Landowners welcome court’s decision to delay development

LANDOWNERS of the Wafi-Golpu mining project have welcomed the court decision to delay development and activities at the project site until a review of a deal signed by the Government is completed.
Yanta Development Association chairman Genesis Siliwana said the interests of the provincial government and landowners must be considered in any negotiation.
He said the refusal by Governor Ginson Saounu to sign the deal which was later signed by the Government and the operators was in the best interest of the people.
“Saonu must now (discuss) equity benefits and the free carry participation which the Government has embarked on for the resource owners,” Siliwana said.
“If the provincial government is firm on the 15 per cent equity benefits from the Wafi-Golpu project, the landowners 5 per cent equity benefit must also be re-looked at.
“It is our view that if granted the 15 per cent equity, the provincial government will have to raise funds to participate in the mining and that will be without the landowners.
“Therefore, they must include us in this very crucial issue.”
Heying Incorporated Land Group chairman John Nema thanked Governor Ginson Saonu on behalf of the Hengambu people of Mt Golpu for challenging the legality of the deal signed by the Government and the operators.
“It was a bold move the Governor has done, not for the few people of the (proposed) special mining lease area, but for Morobe and Papua New Guinea.”