New execs to deal with Ramu issues

THE National Executive Council has approved the appointment of two new special lands commissioners to deal with the Ramu nickel cobalt mine project land disputes in the Madang.
In a recent NEC decision, Kutt Paonga and Joseph Gabut were appointed as the special commissioners while the appointment of current commissioners Justice Don Sawong, Michael Gene and Micah Pitpit were revoked.
Acting Prime Minister Don Polye said Sawong, Gene and Pitpit were appointed to deal with Ramu land dispute issues early this year but the NEC recinded its decision.
He said Sawong was re-appointed to the bench as a judge of the National and Supreme Courts and was posted to Kokopo, East New Britain, as a resident judge and was unavailable to deal with land issues.
Gene and Pitpit could not proceed with the hearing due to unresolved issues.
Polye said the NEC, therefore, appointed Paonga and Gabut to deal with the land disputes which have been slowing down progress and have the potential to disrupt the mine if the land disputes are left unresolved.
Meanwhile, Rai Coast MP and Vice-Minister for Works and Transport James Gau said that he was very happy with the new appointments.
He said the land issue at the Kurumbukari mine site, inland pipe line, coastal pipeline and the Basamuk areas needed to be resolved immediately to avoid future hindrances.
Gau said the issue was long overdue and the recent controversial issues surrounding the legal proceedings to stop the Ramu nickel mine was also a contributing factor to land issues.
The mine is expected to be hindered by another court battle after a new plaintiff sought new court proceedings against the proposed deep sea tailings disposal last week after the pervious three
plaintiffs withdrew their court proceedings.