MP: Don’t politicise project

THE Wafi-Golpu copper-gold project in Morobe should not be politicised, Governor Ginson Saonu says.
He addressed a three-day consultative meeting in Lae on the review of the Morobe government’s position paper on the Wafi Golpu project.
The review will have the views of the provincial government, the nine districts of Morobe including local level government (LLG) from impacted areas, landowner from Babuaf, Hengambu, Yanta and the pipeline landowners.
Saonu warned that the discussions should not be politicised or on self-interests but based on common interests.
“This review will allow people, landowners and the provincial government to freely discuss and share ideas and not to be manipulated,” Saonu said.
He said the meeting would capture areas in the reviewed position paper that would give a much clearer picture to the Government and the developer on Morobe’s stand.
Saonu said the project was critical for the country and the province would like to see a mining development forum happen soon.
“We are aiming that once everything is in order, the special mining lease should be granted by June this year and the project to start,” he said.