ABG to deliver more information
he Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has promised an increased flow of information to the Bougainville people, as consideration is given to a possible resumption of mining at Panguna.
This forms part of a strategy to ensure the people are at the centre of decisions about the future of the Panguna mine.
The ABG forms part of the Joint Panguna Negotiation Coordination Committee (JPNCC), along with landowner representatives, the Government of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL).
The JPNCC was established to bring together the major stakeholders to take steps towards an eventual decision on the resumption of mining at Panguna.
The co-chair of the JPNCC, Mr Raymond Masono, stated that an open and transparent environment is the only way to move forward.
“The exclusion of Bougainvilleans from decisions about development of the Panguna copper mine was a key cause of the Bougainville conflict,” Mr Masono said.
“This is why customary landowners, the ABG, the National Government and BCL are adopting a very different approach in considering whether the mine should be reopened”.
The terms of reference for the JPNCC includes the supervision of environmental, social and economic studies, as well as the customary reconciliation process of bel kol.
The baseline studies, to be conducted in the next 12-18 months, will establish the state of the environment, existing social conditions in areas surrounding the Panguna mine.
The results of the studies will affect remediation related to previous mining and will ensure informed decisions can be made around a potential resumption of mining at Panguna.
“If people are to have trust in the findings of baseline studies they must be conducted independently, transparently, and to the highest technical standards. The JPNCC will ensure that this happens,” Mr Masono continued.
The communication on topics such as the baseline studies is a priority for the Division of Information and Communication within the ABG.
“An ABG survey of communication channels, both formal media and informal transfer of information, confirmed that people outside Buka have very limited access to mainstream media, including radio, television and newspapers,” Mr Masono said.
“In response to these findings the JPNCC is developing a communication strategy focusing on face-to-face communication and delivery of print materials that are designed specifically to suit Bougainville conditions.” |