MPs worried about mine

The National Main Stories

FOUR MPs in Enga are concerned about the ongoing impact of the closure of the Porgera mine and the lack of options to get it going again.
Kompiam-Ambum MP Sir John Pundari, Wapenamanda MP Rimbink Pato, Kandep MP Alfred Manase and Lagaip-Porgera MP Tomait Kapili in a statement said no consideration had been given to what was in the best interest of landowners and Engans.
They said Barrick Niugini Ltd’s substantial investment was given little regard, damaging the mine operator’s business confidence and other investors as well.
The MPs called for clear heads to discuss restarting the mine which was closed early this year after the Government refused to renew a special mining lease to Barrick.
“When Barrick stopped operation, substantial Government revenue was lost and 3,500 jobs.
“Contractors and subcontractors income were also lost which adversely impacted family livelihoods,” the statement said.
The MPs called on Prime Minister James Marape to find a win-win solution for all stakeholders rather than focusing on nationalistic demands.
“We have been calling on the proper accounting of the Porgera mine over the last 30 years of all money that have been paid to the Enga government and demand the returns be paid to the Enga people,” the statement said.
“We require equitable distribution of increased equity and royalties to the Porgera mine lease landowners and the five districts of Enga and to exclude the provincial government.
“The provincial government has over the last 30 years received all benefits including royalties on behalf of the Engan people.
“We were not consulted properly over the decision whether or not to extend the Porgera mine lease to Barrick and its consequential impacts of its non-renewal.”

32 comments

  • Honorable and good members to prove the record you 4 members never attend Enga Provincial Executive Meetings so how will you know the affairs of Mine and EPG in the province. Sorry, your calls are lies and misleading. Simply join PMJM and rest of your brothers. Join PMJM, Sir Peter Ipatas and Dr. Lino, enga will know you 4 truely concern Enga, otherwise you after you stomach.

  • Kompiam-Ambum MP Sir John Pundari, Wapenamanda MP Rimbink Pato, Kandep MP Alfred Manase and Lagaip-Porgera MP Tomait Kapili in a statement said no consideration had been given to what was in the best interest of landowners and Engans. I suggest, it is indeed a political benefit of themselves, hence manipulating the landowners and Engans to drown in their dogmatic duplicity.

    It has been liberal decades people of Enga alarming about the disparity of royalty and equity distribution. Landowners and Engans voiced have being considered by PM JM. The four MPs should elucidate which landowners and Engans interest is this. PM JM is currently needing you MPs to join him for the betterment of Landowners and Engans and Papua New Guineans wholly.

    Enoch MacTeine Agyonga
    Giriu Village
    Chuave Chimbu Province

  • “We have been calling on the proper accounting of the Porgera mine over the last 30 years of all money that have been paid to the Enga government and demand the returns be paid to the Enga people,” the statement said.

    Did he ever bring this query up during the reign of PO years?

  • They don’t attend Provincial assembly meetings so why crying fowl for political gains. Action Governor Sir Peter Ipatas will hit them soon with his media peices full of facts to set records right.

  • The 4 MPs joined the opposition simply because ICACC was passed and they knew their own corrupts doings would catch up with them so they are now camping with other corrupt MPs to delay them being sent to Bomana.

  • As a redundant employee of Porgera Mine I still see the decision made by PMJM is for the good of the country in the long run. These four members are politically short sited due to big name mentality and inhouse politics with Peter Ipatas. We the Barrick employees are OK even we lost our jobs..Its about time we need to sacrifice for our country.
    If we can not do it now then who can? If its not now that when will it be done?

    • Thank you John Kui, you have the guts to express your view so these MPs can see.
      All employees of Barrick, you are all champions going through these tough times with your families.
      I wish you all be compensated for the suffering you’ve gone through for the good of our country.

      May our good Lord be with you all.

  • The half-baked excuses put up by the 4 MPs do not add up in any way. While they were serving as MPs, their hands have been dirtied in the corrupt deals big time. These MPs shifted simply because ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) legislation was passed by Parliament on 12th November and they joined opposition on 13th November hoping to seek haven by hiding behind the Government that loves corruption from the heart.

  • To the four of you Engan MPs, where were you in the last 30years when Barrick was operating??
    Now that this government is trying to give back to PNGean what is rightfully theirs and there we have you guys jumping in.
    Why can’t you have some sense and join your cousin brother??

    May our Heavenly Father give you all his undivided wisdom to serve his people.

  • Good call John Kui. Porgera is not the answer to PNGs problem. Take Saudi Arabia for example their GDP is something like 695.6 billion USD this year for a country whose only major income is oil and has close to 40 million citizens as of 2020. And yet their standard of living is very high.
    If a country like Saudi Arabia (desert nation) can survive on just one major income earner (oil) and cater for all the basic and specific needs of its 40 million citizens, why are we crying fowl and making a lot of noise when we have;
    oil, gas, nickle, copper, gold, diamond, silver, forest (logging), fisheries, tourism etc.. to cater for a lousy 9 million population? If only one resource (oil) can fix most of the problems of this desert nation , then why cant we do the same? We can all be taken cared of by, for instance, OK Tedi Gold and Copper mine only. The rest of the revenue from the other sectors can be saved and used as reserves for a rainy day.
    But yet, we have debts that are way beyond human reckoning, because we should not be a poor state or a failed state or a state with debt. We should all (citizens) be on equal terms – every 9 million heads of this country, enjoying life and living life the best we can. No one should be smoking marijuana (MC) on the streets or stealing or killing unnecessarily or dying from preventable illnesses like Malaria and Typhoid, so to speak. We’d be more or less on equal footing – every Papua New Guinean.
    There should be no inequality or barrier between the rich and poor. Yet we are where we are now because of our leaders and their greed and self – interest. They have sold us on a bargained price to the outsiders and look what we see today – an influx of foreign businesses who care less about us and make away with millions from our shores.
    So, for those 4 MPs who claim to say Porgera is what we need, you are only fooling yourselves as we are all too aware that you are only doing it for you and yourself alone!

    • Well said , Trent Remo……………..I totally agree with you.
      Luckily we have 75% illiterate that’s why most MPs are getting away with it.

      I hope one fine day we won’t be conned.!!!

      DKB nem.

  • OMG! What a disgrace to the Engan people. The PM was serving the interest of the people of Enga, instead of supporting the PM& the current government.
    Instead of working hand in hand with the government on utilizing the property that is fully owned.
    Funny ya, ol bikpla lida kamap wantaim disla baby sense point lo lusim government.
    Just say you did it for your own gain.

  • IN TERMS OF AQUITALS TO BE MADE BY THE ENGA PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, MOST NOTABLY BY PETER IPA AS FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS – – – DAMN RIGHT ITS ABOUT TIME. I SALUTE THESE MPs.

    MIPLA LO PORGERA NO KISIM ANYTHING FROM THESE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT. IRALYA DEVELOPE GUT STRET. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER DISTRICTS. DON’T GIVE LAME ARSE EXCUSES OF TRIBAL FIGHTS AND DESTRUCTIONS. YOU SHOW YOUR PRESENCES, AND THEY WILL CHANGE.

    HAUSIK PASS, BARRICK OPIM.
    SCHOOLS AND CLASS ROOMS-BARRICK BUILDIM
    ROAD LO LAGAIP PORGERA BAGARAP-BARRICK STRETIM
    LANDSLIDES-BARRICK RAUSIM
    BRIDGE BAGARAP-BARRICK FIXIM
    LAW AND ORDER-BARRICK ASSIST
    DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITIES ASKIM ASSISTANCE – BARRICK GO PASS.
    ONGOING TRIBAL FIGHTING IN PORGERA-PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT STAP WER LO STOPIM

    OLGETA MONEY FILTER THROUGH LO IPATAS HOUSE. PORGERA KISIM WANEM.

    ENGA PROVINCIAL GAVMARN NO KAM KISIM TINGTING BLO OL WOK MARN NA LAGAIP PORGERA BEFORE SHUTTING THE MINE DOWN.

    MIPLA OL WOK MARN GAT HEVI STAP LO EN YU NO SAVE, NAU MIPLA SUFFER STAP. THE MINE COULD HAVE OPERATED WHILE NEGOTIATIONS WENT ON INSTEAD OF CLOSING IT AND THE SAME OUTCOME WOULD HAVE STILL BEEN RICHEST. NO ONE’S STUPID. BUT THEN, SAMPLA MARN GAT BIKPLA EGO SO OL LIKE PAITIM BROS NA PAIRAP. THE ANSWER WAS RIGHT THERE I FRONT OF US BUT, DUE TO SOME SO CALLED LEADERSHIP, WE HAD TO CLIMB MOUNTAINS AND CROSS RIVERS, JUNGLES AND VALLEYS FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW TO COME TO THIS END.

    TO THE FOUR MPs: its about time we stood up to IPATAS. We at LAGAAIP PORGERA are not illiterate anymore. Stop treating us like we are. RESPECT THEIR DECISIONS… STOP CRYING OVER SPILT MILK…

  • Wow,
    Short sighted MPs.
    Can’t they see that its short term pain for long term gain.
    These (4 MPs) are not for the people (They are for personal gain), so the people of Enga should not listen to them.
    PMJM is doing all he can to help you ALL to benefit entirely on what’s yours.
    You cannot be slave on your own land and you watch as the investors benefited from the majority of the profits while you are given lousy 2%.
    Wake up from your slumber you people.
    Concerned PNGean

  • I Salute you John Kui. Thank You for speaking out.
    Mi Hard lo toktok taim Yu lusim wok we Yu save kisim helipim lo putim kaukau na abus lo plate.
    Thank You.
    My hats off to you.

  • As long as MPs receive their small amount of pocket money from the mine, they remain happy and remain silent even in the face of human rights abuse and environmental damage. Yet, once you cut off the arm them feeds them, all of a sudden they jump up and down like little babies whose lollies have been taken away. Shame in those egoistic MPs.

  • These 4 mps are puppets. Falsely taking Porgera mine as excuse to evade their exodus. We understand your motives. If you get the benefits and royalties to each Districts, then what would you do with money? Some of you have been mp for so long and nothing is done and what you would be doing if this benefits were given. That would go to your stomachs.

  • Ol giaman lida blo Enga. Should have supported GC Gov.Sir Peter Ipatas instead of crying foul with their political misconception. NOT GENUINE LEADERS!

  • Taking risk is good. PMJM, took risk so in the future we can benefit. Those four MPs complaining, today is no time to complain. PMJM has done something that not one of you can do. Just being patient is good, time will tell.

  • The 4 MPs are worried about their own greed. their argument for the mine to open is naive and shallow.
    The government is negotiating a new deal on equity sharing of profit. BARRICK is an aggressive investor who doesn’t care about the environment and the landowners. They failed many countries and the attitude is the same. they have recovered over and above their investment. So how much did BARRICK paid the MPs to remove the government that is negotiating 40% to 50% equity or over a period of time 100% takeover? Isn’t this a good thing for us going forward into the future? MPs join PMJM and fight this course for the good for us and our children.

    • Such a shot and straight to the point, Erupe. That what people need to know.

      I kindly ask National News Paper to investigate and report to the public the ration of shared economic benefits negotiated by the past governments and mine operators in the past and compare that to the ration of shared economic benefits successfully negotiation by this current government and the mine operator such as BNL. Roll out such investigative research to the other resource sectors and we can assess where the when weak decisions where made not in favor of this country, but in favor of the past governments and the politicians.

      I see this government as set good foundations to make this country great. However, also we cannot deny that there was some sacrifice in the mineral sector.

  • TINDI APA
    Many of the projects you say Barrick built are actually funded through the Tax Credit Scheme where what they spend is deducted from the Taxes the company eventually has to pay.
    Barrick just gets congratulations for projects it builds from gullible citizens think how kind the Company is.
    No free meals from multinationals

  • Some people claimed to be landowners and host host district in their language. What really is it that shows you are a landowner or a host district? In fact, nothing for 30 years. Get you thinking cap right and you will appreciate that in the last 30 years you totally lost what was yours by birth. What is the guarantee that you will benefit more if you continue to walk the same path now and continue to claim you are a landowner or host district? Tough luck! If you do not act now by rallying behind PMJM in the fight to take back PNG, who will do that and when? It takes real man to fight for what is yours and not yoyos and thick heads.

  • Four Engan self centered MPs awaiting for Barrick Payouts for forming the next new Government, Former PMPO and Barrick Company must by today know that Enga Province has been given Autonomy and the Chief of this Province is none other than IPIYAN IPI GC Sir Peter Ipatas. His entire Engan people whom they are 200% proud of taking back Porgera are with Sir PI Ipi. If you 4 Engan MPs form the next new government with the help of Barrick and PO, MUST KNOW THAT IPIYAN IPI WITH HIS POPULATION ARE HOLDING ONTO THE KEY TO PORGRA ACCESS SO HOW WILL YOU GET INTO PORGERA. ALL YOU 4 MPS ARE DOING AN ENGINEERING DESIGN FOR THE DESTRUCTION AND CHAOS FOR ENGA. Chaos and destruction em nating long enga ya em stap long blut pinis. Otherwise you all MUST go back to SIR Peter Ipatas and PMJM for the good of Enga. Harem na bihainim.

  • Whilst the rest of PNG envy’s your Governor’s efforts in translating his hard work in bringing its human resource to the forefront, by establishing educational institutions in Enga. Wish other governors also did the same as what PI had done for Enga. A true visionary leader.

    You only have to look around the country and compare with other governors.You guys have actually done well with the mine being the catalyst. Not everything is spic and span but you’re getting there.

    Now is your turn to rally behind your Govetnor under PMJM to get a bigger slice of the cake than what you and PNG have been offered over the last 30 years.It is in this dispensation of time that you are going to make it happen.You were not there 30 years ago when those in authority put pen to paper.So stop this politicking and consider the future generations.
    Tough decisions as such has and must be made to correct the error that was done in the past.Short term pain for a long term gain.

  • Almost 90% of the comments supports PMJM so he should now give us the updates of Pogera mine.Whether it will close for good or will reopen some time.Give us the facts, we are in total confusion.

  • I agreed with Trent.
    Bad decisions by our leaders in the past are the result of our country’s current state. If the strong stands, favorable negotiation and deals cut by the current government and the resource extraction giants (such as BNL, PNG LNG etc) have been made in the past, PNG might be in a better state of economy today.

    I kindly ask National News Paper to investigate and report to the public the ration of shared economic benefits negotiated by the past governments and mine operators in the past and compare that to the ration of shared economic benefits successfully negotiation by this current government and the mine operator such as BNL. Roll out such investigative research to the other resource sectors and we can assess where the when weak decisions where made not in favor of this country, but in favor of the past governments and the politicians.

    I see this government has set good foundations to make this country great. However, also we cannot deny that there was some sacrifice in the mineral sector.

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