Locals told not to disrupt project’s ops

THE Madang administration has urged locals to take ownership of and respect the Ramu NiCo project.
Madang administration director of mines John Bivi said the Ramu nickel and cobalt mine was the only mineral resource project that was operating in Madang and the people needed to respect it and not disrupt its operations.
He said this during the presentation of the royalty payments to all 31 council wards in the Sumgilbar local level government (LLG) chamber at Gimbrin last Thursday.
Bivi was invited to the ceremony that saw Sumgilbar LLG president Brendon Kennedy distribute K213,000 in royalties.
Sumgilbar LLG deputy president Willie Malibun clarified that from the amount received, a sum of K5,000 was allocated to all the 31 wards in Sumgilbar for them to open bank accounts and maintain their payments and other revenue.
The ceremony was attended by officers from the Ramu NiCo Management Ltd community affairs and corporate office and the Madang police commander Supt Mazuc Rubiang.
Community affairs supervisor government/community liaison section Kuipa Tonny said MCC had paid over K2.9 million in royalties for the year 2018-2019 which had been shared among 14 LLGs in Madang.
Tonny acknowledged a submission by the Madang town mayor and Madang urban LLG president Ismael Yama who requested for the allocation to be given directly to the 14 LLGs and not to Madang.