.......am Beispiel der OK Tedi Mine
You asking me about Ok Tedi LOs….on the ground, some changes but nothing really big, although they have electricity, water and sewerage system (Bultem, Finalbin, Wangbin, Migalsim and majority of Kaworabip & Atemkit villages who have moved down to build houses at Finalbin and Bultem. This 6 villages are the SML villages. The other 6 villages including Ok Ma are LMP villages and don’t have power & water supply from OTML.
They are investing in POM and overseas now after coming to there senses to realise that the mine will close one day. Hopefully these investment can sustain them after mine closure.
They were still roaming the bush when the exploration started and just settled into permanent villages because of the mining activity. Therefore gardening is not their trade, they are hunters and gatherers. OTML is spending a lot of money through the Ok Tedi Fly River Development Foundation to teach and encourage them and all other impacted communities to go into gardening, fish farming, rice farming, rubber, and other cash crop to sustain life after Ok Tedi.
Some are buying land in Kiunga in preparation for the mine closure, many more don’t really care as they are enjoying what they are getting – cash.
Some are realising the importance of the programs and trying their best while many more are enjoying the money from the mine, buying new 5 door land cruisers for drink driving around town and Tabubil Kiunga highway.
Rain fall here is very high, the highest in PNG??, they say.
People still flock the small town especially at lunch time to buy cooked food. Employees have to stand in long lines just to get something from the shop because of this. Some still come and have breakfast in town and then buy a roast chicken for dinner.
One can try and try to change peoples’ attitudes but you will always take the blame for whatever because you brought mine the copper and gold in the area.
May be the people were not ready for change and it took them by surprise – was this the same with BCL or not?? |