Shock move by Hidden Valley landowners

 By PISAI GUMAR

LANDOWNER leaders of the Hidden Valley mine in Bulolo, Morobe, have boycotted the memorandum of agreement (MoA) review.

They have also disassociated themselves from the Nakuwi Association, saying it was defunct since 2009. 

“Therefore, Nakuwi Association and its chairman Rex Mauri cannot represent Nauti, Kuembu and Winima resource owners in the MoA review, including any business dealings,” chairman of the Nauti MoA working committee Kotsie Kepas said. 

He said the association’s election in 2009 was unsuccessful and current executives, including Mauri, were holding office illegally.

He urged project developer Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV) and the national and provincial governments to consider Nauti’s position paper for the MoA review.

Meanwhile, Mauri dismissed the statement by Kepas, saying: “Nauti’s have their own internal unresolved issues among themselves in relation to elect a person to represent Nauti community in Nakuwi Association after the death of deputy chairman late Peter Askai.”

He added that Jeffery Yami represented the Nauti landowners in the Nakuwi Association.

“Nakuwi is the legal body and signatory to the MoA with various stakeholders and investors; if Nauti demands more than it has to create its own MoA,” Mauri said.

He said the association had negotiated additional benefits for the landowners of the Hidden Valley project.