Women’s group agrees to share royalty payments from mine

A WOMEN’s group from Rai Coast, Madang, have agreed to share the royalty payments received from the Ramu NiCo project.
The women from Marika, Bugati and Siroi zones in the Astrolabe Bay local level government, who are members of the Coastal Pipeline Women’s Association (CPLWA) in the Ramu NiCo project met last Saturday at Lalok number four village for their end-of-year meeting.
The purpose of the meeting was for the presentation and review of 2019 annual performance report.
The report covered the one per cent royalty payment in terms of dates paid and amounts disbursed to the three zones; the royalty distribution plan and its execution at 70 per cent for projects and administration (30 per cent); former projects that were funded by the WIM small grant programmes facilitated by Mineral Resources Authority and the challenges and opportunities encountered and suggestions for improvement next year.
The need for an action plan for 2020 was also discussed.
It was resolved that consultation and planning would have to be done initially this month and January 2020.
A final action plan document would be finalised by mid-Jan next year to stakeholders. The Coastal Pipeline Landowners Association (LOA) vice-chairman Jeffrey Gamrai said they were willing to support CPLWA in the future.
Gamrai said the LOA was impressed with the progress of the women’s association in terms of managing their royalty payments and implementing projects following their set guideline and constitution.
However, they wanted to see more results achieved from their royalty in 2020.
Ramu NiCo community affairs supervisor Allan Wahwah pledged the company’s support into the future.
Wahwah encouraged the women to remain focused on utilising their royalty well, producing results and ensure their behaviours were consistent with the constitution.