There have being concerns over the proposed reopening of the Panguna mine in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB).
The new Chairman of the Panguna Mine Affected Land owners Association (PMALA), Mr Lawrence Daveona has expressed concern over the National Government agencies agreement with Autonomous Bougainville Government to reopen the Mine.
Mr Daveona said although the ABG and the National government have good intentions in reopening the mine, and establishing Panguna Mine Lease Area Associations (PMLAA), there have not been enough funds injected into these areas or the association.
He commended the AGB for informing and proposing to reopen the mine and informing the people of Bougainville; however after more than two years of campaign, the only funds that have been made available to PMALA and the PMLAA was a deposit of K10,000 to each of the six associations of PMLAA and PMALA.
Mr Daveona said PMALA needs to be supported financially by both the National Government and Autonomous Bougainville Government.
Mr Daveona claims that a Claim Works Program: Social Economic Advancement Plan, which is estimated to cost over K5 million, was submitted to the AGB on February 22, 2013.
He said he is very disappointed to have taken over an association which doesn’t have the capacity of support from the two governments.
“The associations are inadequately supported by the ABG and the National Government.
“I cannot at this stage support the ABG and the National Government bodies to reopen the mine”.
“My first priority as the new chairman is to first get my house in-order, and for this I will need immediate funding by the end of June,” he said.
He added that he understood there was K500,000 allocated for the Panguna Mine affected areas which is part of the K100 million for the impact program, funding from the National Government.
“I’m sorry to say that if by the end of June PMALA does not receive the above amount, PMALA will put a stop to the reopening of the Panguna Mine,” he said. |