Team Yamo breaks through at last

By JIMMY KALEBE
IT took a husband and wife teamwork to finally get a family business off the ground – after years of trying.
Meka Yamo, 46, and wife Jennifer of Bulolo in Morobe had almost given up when their attempts to get an alluvial mining licence was blocked by landowners.
Meka is originally from Watut. But his family moved to Bulolo when his father was granted an alluvial mining licence there in 1965.
“In 1992, when the Mining Act was amended, my father did not renew the licence. So it went dormant.”
Meka’s attempts to get a new licence was met with strong opposition from landowners in Bulolo. They used all avenues to stop him, even using the court.
But Meka, with wife Jennifer supporting him, did not give up. They were low in cash but were driven on by the determination to start the business they wanted and to succeed at it.
They tried again in 2015 to apply for a new licence. In the following three years, Meka kept checking with the authorities the progress of his application.
“Between 2015 and 2018, I kept on following up with the authorities.”
Finally on Feb 5, 2019, he was granted a licence to operate as an alluvial gold miner along the Bulolo River. Meka and Jennifer were relieved.
“The process involved in getting the license was very hard. They were trying times we faced with my family.”
There were “problem after problem” regarding finance and outside pressure. But Meka praised his wife and their six children for staying by him through thick and thin.

“ My husband and I started this career path without outside support and this is how far we have come.”

He registered his company as Yamo Investment Limited under the alluvial mining licence ML 515 late last year. He went into a joint venture with a local company in Bulolo.
Since June last year, the company has completed four productions already.
After his second production towards the end of last year, Meka bought a vehicle to assist him in his work.
After the fourth production, he took out a loan from Credit Corporation Limited in Lae and bought an excavator. He plans to use it for his work, and also to upgrade roads, clear land, dig drains and other free services for schools and the communities.

On Tuesday this week, Meka and his wife were at UMW Nuigini Ltd in Lae to receive the keys to the new excavator.
“My achievements came through by living up to my dream, and making that dream come true by working hard to achieve it.
“Now that I am going into serious business, I am confident to move to another level and help others who may need my support.”
Wife Jennifer is proud to support her husband, to guide him and push him on when they faced mountains. They did not waver in their faith in God.
“My husband and I started this career path without outside support and this is how far we have come.”
The words of Julius Henry “Groucho” Marx, the American comedian, writer, television star and master of quick wit, ring true: “Behind every successful man is a woman.”
Team Yamo is on the move.