Progress of mine will move swiftly after executives elected, says official

The election of new executives for the Sinivit Landowners Association for the mine in Pomio, East New Britain, will drive a proper and swift progress of any plans for the mine,” says an offocial.
ENB planning and monitoring division’s Ian Andy said the association would be a vehicle to drive development plans, which had been incorporated from views raised through a community awareness programme.
Andy said although the mine had been operating years ago by the developer, developments were not in line with the needs of the resource owners.
He said this was an opportunity for the landowners to better use their natural resources.
Andy advised the association executives that the ENB administration would try to factor into its annual budget some financial support to progress the mine project in terms of more awareness and what was needed to ensure safety of the local communities.
Provincial forestry coordinator Florence Paisparea said a report on the investigation into the contamination of the mine and the surrounding waterways had been furbished to the provincial administration by the consultant – Islands Design and Engineering Ltd.
Paisparea also urged the four new executives of the Sinivit Landwners Association to stand together to ensure issues and needs of their people were addressed.
Paisparea also encouraged the executives to work with the ENB administration and the consultant so that they can achieve their plans.
New chairman of the association Junias Minana expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Uramat clan, who participated in the process to elect their executives through a partnership with a consultant company – Islands Design and Engineering Ltd.