Mine agreement for review

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday 04th September 2012

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
THE Central provincial government and stakeholders will review the Tolukuma mine agreement and development plan that will consider landowners’ interests.  
Central Governor Kila Haoda and Goilala parliamentarian Daniel Mona met landowners and partners from Mineral Resources Authority, Petromin Ltd, Tolukuma Gold Mine and Woitape local level government in the first consultative meeting last Friday and decided to review the five-year Memorandum of Agreement. 
The review, which starts next week, will look into extending the agreement for another five years.
The stakeholders said it would include greater benefits for the landowners that had not been provided for in past years. 
The development plan will spell out the development projects and activities for the mine-affected areas under the MoA.
Yulai Landowners Association chairman George Gusi said the landowners had not properly benefited from the mining operation since it started 16 years ago.
He said health, education and roads in the area had not been well developed and the people were suffering from poor living standards.
Woitape LLG president Maria Mark said although 80% was agreed as royalty and for tangible developments, they were unsure of how it was handled in the mine affected areas.
The MoA has three components of mine closure development plan, mine infrastructure development plan and the formal agreement.     
Haoda said, they would maintain the lead in making sure service was delivered to the people under the agreement and through government services. 
“This meeting demonstrates the new direction this issue will take in the years to come. People of Goilala and Central will move forward and I want to assure everyone that I will ensure, as long as I am the governor, to deliver to you,” Haoda said.
“The review of the MoA is the right way to take as people must see the benefit of their land and resources while serving the country in accommodating the Tolukuma mine on their land.”
Mona said as the member he would “take the issue head-on with first the review of the agreement.”
He said it was vital to do so as the MoA helped the government in its service delivery system. 
The stakeholders at the meeting vowed to cooperate on the review and delivering of the agreement.
A trip to Tolukuma is scheduled for next week and would include Petromin managing director Joshua Kalinoe, Mining Minister Byron Chan, Haoda and other dignitaries.