Villagers thank miner for providing services

VILLAGERS and landowners have thanked the Tolukuma Gold Mine (TGM) in Goilala, Central province, for providing basic services to the community.
They expressed their appreciation during the opening of a double classroom at the Tolukuma community school last weekend.
Provincial education representatives and staff of the mine joined the community in celebrating the opening of the classroom.
The classroom was funded and constructed by the mining company, a subsidiary of Petromin PNG.  
Chairman of the Yulai Landow­ners Association George Gusi and the chief of the Yulai people, Maiya Mark, said the mining company had provided them with amenities which the government had failed to do for years.
Gusi said prior to the establishment of the mine, government services hardly reached Tolukuma and some parts of Goilala.
He said they were neglected by the government because of their remoteness and the rugged terrain of the Goilala district.
He said people had to walk kilometers on bush tracks to reach Tapini station to access stores and market places.
“The Tolukuma community has now seen a lot of changes because of the assistance from the TGM,” Gusi said.
“I want to express my gratitude to the management of TGM for providing basic services such as health, education, and establishment of law and order in the Tolukuma community,” Gusi said.
TGM general manager Deitrich Wanke told the villagers the mine was committed to assisting the community under an existing memorandum of understanding agreement with the landowners.
He said TGM had been assisting communities in Goilala in terms of infrastructure developments and funding.
He said TGM provided funding of K120,000 to Tapini High School every year to assist in the operation of the only high school in the Goilala district and also made donations.