Marengo pleased with drillings

MARENGO Mining has announced significant intersections of copper and molybdenum from its drilling at Yandera, Madang.
Marengo managing director Les Emery announced last Thursday the strong results from within existing resources and extensions to key deposits.
He said in a media statement that they were pleased to report further positive drilling results from their 100%-owned Yandera copper-molybdenum-gold project in the foothills of Bismarck Range.
Emery said drilling within the Yandera central deposit indicated significant intersections of copper and molybdenum sulphides both within the current resource envelops and the extensions of Imbruminda and Dimbi-Gamagu zones (see illustration).
He said in addition, Meringo Mining’s initial four-hole, deep drilling programme continued to produce “positive results”.
Emery said recent drukkubg activities at Yandera had focused on better definition of the mineralised zones at Imbruminda, in addition to a concerted drilling programme to expand the Dimbi-Gamagu zone by following up on the excellent results of a hole (YD245) drilled at the end of the 2009 season.
In addition, the miner was completing an infill drilling programme in the Gremi zone, to elevate a portion of the current resource from an indicated resource to a measured resource category.
He said one hole drilled in Dimbi, as was expected, encountered good grades, including significant molybdenum values.
Emery said: “One of the interesting characteristics of this Dimbi hole is the role played by molybdenum, dominating in most cases over copper. In addition, broad gold intersections are common with grades of up to 0.4g/t Au over a 15mm intersection.”
He said drilling would continue for the rest of the year in this zone, to better define the extent of the Dimbi structure and its control on mineralisation.

Marengo eyes expansion

By SINCLAIRE SOLOMON, The National

MARENGO Mining Ltd has lodged a new exploration application north-east of its Yandera project site in the Finisterre Ranges, Madang (see map), to follow up on stream sediment gold anomalies identified in the recent mining sector support programme funded by the European Union.
Company managing director Les Emery said in a statement yesterday the new application (ELA1851) was  a particularly exciting development for the company as there had been almost no prospecting or geographical mapping work carried out in Finisterre Ranges and accordingly, the mineral potential of this area was unknown.
He said that geologically, it represented a possible strike extension to the Torricelli Mountains between Wewak in East Sepik and Vanimo in West Sepik.
Perth-based Emery, who visited the Yandera copper-molybdenum-gold prospect two weeks ago, also said the Yandera regional activities had progressed well.
He said  that this year’s dry season had allowed Marengo Mining to instigate a reconnaissance stream sediment and geographical mapping survey in EL1665 Koinambe, located northwest of the Yandera central deposit.
Emery said two principal drainages were investigated over a one-month period by a small team comprising one geologist, two field assistants and a community relations officer.
“The local people were very pleased to see the company expanding into their area where various alluvial gold workings are currently exploited by the landowners.
“The results from this work will be available in the first quarter of 2011,” he said.
Marengo Mining is an Australian-based metals company whose core focus is exploring and developing the world-class Yandera project in the highlands of Madang.

Court lifts injunction on controversial DSTP

By JAYNE SAFIHAO, The National

The National Court in Madang last Friday lifted the interim injunction order of March 19 on the construction and operation of the deep sea tailings placements (DSTP) system at Ramu NiCo Basamuk refinery on Rai Coast, Madang.
The 4pm decision followed the morning’s ruling where Justice David Cannings granted leave to the three remaining plaintiffs Eddie Tarsie, Farina Siga and Peter Sel - to withdraw from the proceeding and refused the application by Louis Medaing, a land claimant in Basamuk, to join the proceeding.
Tiffany Nonggorr of Nonggorr William Lawyers on the same day filed a fresh application to challenge the DSTP programme in the name of Medaing against Ramu NiCo, along with a notice of motion seeking another “urgent” interim injunction.
Cannings said the new application would be dealt with on its merits.
Landowners from Basamuk and Rai Coast outside the court house welcomed the decision and thanked Tarsie, Siga and Sel for discontinuing the litigation which had cost Ramu NiCo a lot of money and had severely hampered the multi-billion kina project.
Landowner issues stemming from an inaction by the Lands Titles Commission, divisions among the clans, the question of whether the plaintiffs were intimidated, harassed and threatened or bought off leading to their withdrawal and the subsequent joinder application by Medaing were argued with intensity and at length during the week before Cannings made his ruling.
He said the effect of the interim injunction in March was made for good reasons, as demonstrated by the decisions of the Supreme Court in Ramu NiCo (MCC) Ltd vs Eddie Tarsie SCA 40/2010 on July 16.
“However, at all stages of the proceedings I have emphasised that the court was aware of the impact of its decisions and the court’s desire and the need to have the trial expedited. If Medaing were at this late stage to be joined as a plaintiff there would inevitably be a further delay.
“There would be further uncertainty as to the future of the project.
“There would not be in the public interest nor would it advance the interest of justice.”
Cannings said if Medaing wanted to start fresh proceedings, he was at liberty to do so, giving him seven days.
He ordered that leave was granted to Tarsie, Siga and Sel  to discontinue the proceedings provided that each of them file and serve a notice of discontinuance by today and that all parties bear their own costs of the entire proceedings.

Ramu nickel landowner hurls verbal abuse at Madang

By JAYNE SAFIHAO, The National

A DISGRUNTLED landowner from Kurumbukari vented his frustration at the outcome of the deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) system hearing by hurling threats and challenges aimed at the lone plaintiff outside the National Court House gates in Madang yesterday afternoon.
Chairman of Kurumbukari Landowners Association David Tigavu and his supporters started their verbal challenges once outside the courtroom door.
The morning session, similar to Wednesday’s proceedings, had both the plaintiffs’ counsel and the defence counsel still arguing about the question of whether Louie Medaing’s application should be allowed before the court as proper thereby being a plaintiff in the proceedings continuing or not.
Judge David Cannings reserved his decision to 2pm and then further adjourning to today.
Tigavu and his supporters had expected a ruling yesterday morning but were frustrated at the adjournment and took out their anger at Medaing.
“If we have to fight over this project, then we will fight and it will be a civil war. Stop hiding inside there and come outside here and we fight,” he said, referring to Medaing.
“We want development and the lawyers keep twisting things,” he said.
Tiffany Nonngorr, representing Medaing, stood at the court’s locked gates with police monitoring the situation outside, listening to the challenge.
Tigavu told her: “You will not bring development to us. You will not feed us. Our children right now are not attending school. Will you support them? We are the least developed place and want development to come. All you care about is money.”
Moreover, he said that Cannings was “sympathetic to you people”.
This comment prompted the court sheriff to warn Tigavu: “Whatever your arguments never bring the name of the judge into it.”
Police then ordered Tigavu and his group to leave.

DSTP plaintiffs ‘dump’ Nonggorr and want out Nonggorr and want out

By JAYNE SAFIHAO, The National

THE three remaining plaintiffs in the Ramu deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) case have appointed a new counsel and indicted to the National Court in Madang yesterday that they want to discontinue the case against Ramu NiCo, the state and Mineral Resources Authority for the alleged environmental harm.
Eddie Tarsie, Farina Siga and Peter Sel indicated through their lawyer Steven Lawyers that they would file the notice of motion to discontinue and supporting affidavits today.
Tiffany Nonggorr of Nonggorr Williams Associate, the lawyer  who had been representing them in this case, yesterday made an application to join Louis Mediang, a land title claimant from Rai Coast, to the proceedings, insisting in court that the joinder application to be heard immediately. However, lawyers for defendants argued that the court should first establish whether Tarsie, Siga and Sel wanted to proceed with the claims or not. 
The trial was due to start yesterday with a few interlocutory matters to be heard first. Both Ramu NiCo and the state had filed applications in court seeking millions of kina of securities for legal costs and for damages already incurred.
After hearing both sides’ submissions, justice David Cannings adjourned the case to 1.30pm today when he would make a decision on the future of the proceedings. He also ordered Tarsie, Siga and Sel to appear before him.
On Sept 1, two earlier plaintiffs in the case, Sama Melambo and Pommerm ILG, were granted permission to cease litigation proceedings against Ramu NiCO and the state. In his affidavit in support, Melambo criticised the foreign interests operating behind the litigation, saying they were hijacking the agenda through foreign-financed NGO groups like Bismarck Ramu Group.
Melambo explained that his people’s complaints had been mainly with the lack of basic infrastructure and growth opportunities in the Rai Coast region, not about stopping the nickel-cobalt project through the DSTP litigation. 
Nonggorr is also representing two other landowner cases against Ramu NiCo.
Last month, her client Joseph Koroma, a land claimant in the Kurumbukari mine site area in Usino-Bundi district, expressed his dissatisfaction in The National that his lawyer was not acting on instructions and that the Australian anti-mining NGO group Mineral Policy Institute had failed to deliver on promises.
Koroma said the money earmarked for his own case against Ramu NiCo had been used to fight the Basamuk DSTP case which in turn was likely to stop the future of the project and that of all stakeholders.
In court yesterday afternoon, Nonggorr said she had tried in vain to contact her clients but failed.
“I have always had direct access to my clients and call them all the time.
“This time they are not answering their phones and I do not know where they are,” she told the court.

Tingim Laip to be Madang-based

By JAYNE SAFIHAO, The National

PAPUA New Guinea and Australia have agreed to extend a successful programme that is working to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.
The programme, ‘Tingim Laip’, with the second phase being launched on Tuesday in Madang, is aimed at reducing the HIV prevalence, improve care and support to those infected and to minimise its social and economic impacts on families.
The Tingim Laip programme, coordinated by the National AIDS Council Secretariat (NACS) will receive $A8million through AusAID bringing the total of funding assistance to $A18million through the PNG-Australia HIV&AIDS programme.
The first phase funding was mainly concentrated on training and supporting local communities to plan and implement HIV responses.
Tingim Laip focuses on comprehensive HIV prevention involving condoms, treatment of sexually transmitted infections, voluntary counselling and testing, care, support and treatment.
Sir Peter, who launched Tingim Laip 2, said the current prevalence figures were not realistic enough with cases in  remote places such as the Hagahais near the Sepik/Madang border, where 15 out of a total of 150 people tested were  found to be infected.
“If the remote Hagahais can be found to be positive, then we surely have a big problem here.
“Wep Kanawi (NACS director) says that we are spending too much on treatment and should be concentrating on prevention but treatment is containing the spread and is a form of prevention as well,” he said when responding to Kanawi’s comments recently.
Kanawi had said that funding should be spread equally if they were to achieve the Tingim Laip goal, which is to conduct effective prevention at marked sites.
Tingim Laip has been running for the last four years with 36 sites in 11 provinces.

DSTP decision today

THE Ramu NiCo and its partner’s will wait until today to find out whether or not their legal battle with the Basamuk landowners will end today.
Yesterday, in a packed court room, counsel Tiffany Nonggorr argued that her “new” client, Louis Medaing, joined the proceedings.
Nonggorr argued that since the trio had tendered documents before the court requesting for their withdrawal, Medaing, on his own free will, requested that she represent him regarding the issue at hand since he “also has the same interest in the matter”.
Others issues to be decided today are the joinder by Medaing and the withdrawal of the three plaintiffs.

Modilon General Hospital crisis lingers

By JAYNE SAFIHAO, The National

THE Modilon General Hospital management crisis is far from over since the court ordered the week-long sit in protesters to return to work.
One of the orders by justice David Cannings was for the disputing parties to talk to each other and finding solutions to outstanding work, pay and other conditions.
However, they had not met as the staff say that the one-person management team was not worth meeting.
The staff were also angry at a weekend announcement by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare that the National Executive Council had confirmed the three-year appointment of Sr Christine Gawi as Modilon CEO.
“I call on all specialist doctors  and other hospital staff who have gone on strike to resume duties while the administration looks into the issues raised,” Sir Michael said.
He said the Personnel Management Department was preparing a contract of employment for Gawi to sign.
However, the 200-plus signatories to the petition put numerous times to the Health Minister Sasa Zibe and secretary Dr Clement Malau, are now questioning the legality of the recent appointment.
Their lawyer, Young Wedau, when expressing his view, said since the advertisement of the CEO position on May 30, 2008, seven people applied of which only five were selected.
“The five were then screened and only three names were given to the board.
“The long delay in appointing a CEO proper has so far seen two of those three short-listed leave Modilon for better jobs.”
“The (hospital) board then should have re-advertised.
“Gawi was then the director of nursing services and was only acting CEO being the only one left of the three.
“Currently, her two counterparts  – director finance and administration and director medical services – were also on acting position at that time,” he said.
Wedau claimed that under the Regulatory Statutory Authorities Act 2004, proper procedures were not followed.
“It must be based on merits and nothing has been gazetted.”
The hospital staff has until Friday to reach some sort of consensus with Sr Gawi and her executive arm.
“Otherwise, all matters will go before Cannings for further legal clarifications.

Madang and Lae take out national softball club titles

By HENRY MORABANG, The National

MADANG champions, 09ers (men) and Lae’s Island Shipping Manolos (women) are the kings and queens of the 2010 InterOil-sponsored PNG Club softball challenge.
Both teams collected K5,500 each, including the championship trophies.
In the men’s grand final, Madang 09ers capitalised on the PNG Power’s infield errors and a good homer by Kelly Upaupa to set the Madang champions on track for their inaugural honours.
In the women’s encounter, it was Island Manolos of Lae with sisters Tara and Shirley ToMangana proving their class against the Port Moresby Stingers to win 8-1.
The men’s showdown was one of the best witnessed for the long time at the national or club championships.
It was classic battle of the Zale brothers of Madang and the Tovias of Port Moresby’s PNG Power.
The match was so tight in both batting and fielding with no scores recorded in the first two opening innings.
PNG Power drew first blood in the top of the third inning when Demas Tovia hit a home run after his elder brother, Danny, was caught near the boundary to put them in front.
At the bottom of the same inning, PNG Power infielders seemed to lose concentration that saw Madang’s Sailas Darius sneaking home to level the score 1-1.
With two runners still on second and first base, Taki Zale attempt for a boundary fell short.
Then promising PNG representative Kelly Upaupa stepped onto batting mound and sent Danny Tovia’s delivery over boundary to grab a 4-1 lead.
Neither teams scored any points at the top of the fourth inning.
But 09ers were more composed in the bottom of the fourth inning when Desmond Zale cushioned their lead after a good three-base hit to extend the visitors’ lead to 5-1.
PNG Power came alive in  the top of the fifth inning when Danny Tovia belted a three-base hit to advance his sibling Ezikiel Tovia Jr from second base to third and home base while he slid home to narrow the scores 5-3.
Despite PNG Power having the opportunity in the last two innings, 09ers pitcher Meli Tarangau, restricted the PNG Power batters from scoring any in their last turn to bat.
Elated coach Zale said his boys had been training for the event despite playing at the local competition in Madang.
“When we lost to Manolos in the semi-final of the last club championships, it had inspired the boys to work harder to come to this championship and win it,” he said.
The boys had prepared well for it and winning is bonus for softball supporters in Madang,” he said.
Awards winners: Top infielders: Antonia Tatai (Bears-POM), Junior Pulu (Island Manolos- Lae), outfielder: Shirley ToMangana (Island Manolos-Lae); Demas Tovia (PNG Power-POM); top batter: Lisa Polum (Wantoks POM), Miller Kuwoh (Mantarays POM); top pitcher: Tara ToMangana (Island Manolos-Lae) and Danny Tovia (PNG Power-POM).
The player of the tournament were Philomena Marut (Island Manalos-Lae) and Steven Polum (PNG Power-POM).

Madang and Lae take out national softball club titles

By HENRY MORABANG

MADANG champions, 09ers (men) and Lae’s Island Shipping Manolos (women) are the kings and queens of the 2010 InterOil-sponsored PNG Club softball challenge.
Both teams collected K5,500 each, including the championship trophies.
In the men’s grand final, Madang 09ers capitalised on the PNG Power’s infield errors and a good homer by Kelly Upaupa to set the Madang champions on track for their inaugural honours.
In the women’s encounter, it was Island Manolos of Lae with sisters Tara and Shirley ToMangana proving their class against the Port Moresby Stingers to win 8-1.
The men’s showdown was one of the best witnessed for the long time at the national or club championships.
It was classic battle of the Zale brothers of Madang and the Tovias of Port Moresby’s PNG Power.
The match was so tight in both batting and fielding with no scores recorded in the first two opening innings.
PNG Power drew first blood in the top of the third inning when Demas Tovia hit a home run after his elder brother, Danny, was caught near the boundary to put them in front.
At the bottom of the same inning, PNG Power infielders seemed to lose concentration that saw Madang’s Sailas Darius sneaking home to level the score 1-1.
With two runners still on second and first base, Taki Zale attempt for a boundary fell short.
Then promising PNG representative Kelly Upaupa stepped onto batting mound and sent Danny Tovia’s delivery over boundary to grab a 4-1 lead.
Neither teams scored any points at the top of the fourth inning.
But 09ers were more composed in the bottom of the fourth inning when Desmond Zale cushioned their lead after a good three-base hit to extend the visitors’ lead to 5-1.
PNG Power came alive in  the top of the fifth inning when Danny Tovia belted a three-base hit to advance his sibling Ezikiel Tovia Jr from second base to third and home base while he slid home to narrow the scores 5-3.
Despite PNG Power having the opportunity in the last two innings, 09ers pitcher Meli Tarangau, restricted the PNG Power batters from scoring any in their last turn to bat.
Elated coach Zale said his boys had been training for the event despite playing at the local competition in Madang.
“When we lost to Manolos in the semi-final of the last club championships, it had inspired the boys to work harder to come to this championship and win it,” he said.
The boys had prepared well for it and winning is bonus for softball supporters in Madang,” he said.
Awards winners: Top infielders: Antonia Tatai (Bears-POM), Junior Pulu (Island Manolos- Lae), outfielder: Shirley ToMangana (Island Manolos-Lae); Demas Tovia (PNG Power-POM); top batter: Lisa Polum (Wantoks POM), Miller Kuwoh (Mantarays POM); top pitcher: Tara ToMangana (Island Manolos-Lae) and Danny Tovia (PNG Power-POM).
The player of the tournament were Philomena Marut (Island Manalos-Lae) and Steven Polum (PNG Power-POM).

Modilon clears report of deaths

THERE are no deaths as a result of last week’s “illegal protest” by nursing staff at Modilon General Hospital in Madang, the hospital management said yesterday.
Hospital board chairman Fr Jan Czuba said the public should not to be concerned with the insinuation drawn by a Post-Courier report last Tuesday that three people had died during the protest by certain staff members.
He also announced that specialist medical officers that were not available in the hospital were being sought and it would take time before they were recruited.
Czuba said hospital doctors and nurses who were on duty while some staff led by “four ring-leaders” confirmed the three deaths and stated that they were not preventable.
“We have very hard working doctors and nurses with a sound professional ethics and they were on duty and no patient was left unattended during the illegal protest engineered by certain staff members.
“At no time have our doctors and nurses did not attend to patients,” he said.
“The three deaths that have occurred were recorded by doctors and nurses and they were from causes that would not have been prevented.
“As a hospital, we are concerned with the inference made by the news report that the deaths occurred because staff members were on strike.”
He said the recruitment of a gynaecologist and anesthetist were among the several demands contained in a petition by the striking staff and the hospital administration was working with the Health Department to recruit needed staff members.
Czuba also clarified the court order obtained by the board and management earlier last week that forced protesting staff members to return to work was done to ensure the hospital continued to serve the public, those men, women and children who otherwise had not voice.

Manam on alert

By ROSALYN EVARA, Post Courier

A STAGE one alert has been issued to villagers on Madang’s Manam Island following seismic activities reported in recent weeks.
This was revealed by an officer from the Rabaul Volcanic Observatory (RVO) when confirming reports given to this newspaper yesterday of smoke seen rising from the island’s volcano.
President of Iabu Local Level Gov-ernment Lawrence Konaka reported these volcanic activities and raise concerns over his people’s safety and future on the island.
He also wanted to know what plans the National Government had for the permanent resettlement of the islanders.
An officer from the Rabaul Volcanic Observatory when contacted the volcanic activities said there had been increased activities on the island since August 3 and because of this an officer, who also happened to be a local from Manam, had been sent to Madang to closely monitor the situation.
He said the office had been mon-itoring the situation and the activities had slightly decreased.
“Last week a small red glow could be seen at night and during the day time a bit of ash content but only at the mouth of the crater,” he said.
“We have issued a stage one alert and that basically means that villagers should be aware of these activities and be prepared.
“However at this stage there is no real cause for concern.”
He said all local authorities including the provincial administration had been briefed and they were still communicating with them.
Meanwhile, Mr Konaka said he was concerned that while there had been a lot of good talk on the issue of permanent resettlement, it was taking a little too long.
“We’ve had the Minister for Inter-Government Relations Job Pomat visit us and even the Prime Minister Sir Michael regarding our plight I am wondering who else is going to visit us in relation to this issue but more importantly when we will see some tangible progress?” he said.
“Our people have and continue to suffer. I really don’t know what the hold-up is or what we are waiting for? More blood to be spilled before this issue is seriously addressed?
“There has been too much fighting and my people are tired of this rou-tine.”

Rai Coast leaders blast foreign NGO

THE influential Saidor LLG of Madang’s Rai Coast has disassociated itself from non-governmental organisations (NGO) that claim to represent their interest in opposing the Ramu nickel project deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) system at Basamuk Bay.
The LLG specifically singled out Bismarck Ramu Group (BRG), based in Madang, in affidavits filed at the Waigani National Court on Tuesday.
It said in its court papers that BRG was a foreign-owned NGO that was using the Ramu NiCo project landowners of Basamuk to secure overseas funding for its own benefit.
The affidavits were from Saidor LLG president Lau Nangar, vice-president Yabi Asime, chairman of social services Dongembu Dugai, member Daniel Malaka and Village Court magistrate Devi Sama.
They said that BRG was not transparent, or accountable, to the people of Basamuk and Rai Coast on the funding it had received and the source of the funding to instigate the court action on DSTP.
“The principals of BRG have not been transparent or accountable to us, the people of Basamuk and Rai Coast, with the funds they have raised using the DSTP issue,” all five affidavits stated.
They also accused BRG of not consulting with them to use Eddie Tarsie (first plaintiff), Farina Siga (second plaintiff) and Peter Sel (third plaintiff) in the DSTP litigation.
“This NGO did not consult or get the Saidor LLG’s permission and, instead, snatched one member from Saidor LLG (Tarsie).
“Sagi is ward three secretary to Tarsie while Sel is a ward committee member of ward three which is under Tarsie,” Dugai said in his affidavit.
He also said Tarsie was under his LLG and did not represent the wider interest of Saidor LLG and its people.
“The interest of BRG, as an NGO, is not the same as that of Saidor LLG and the people of Basamuk.
“The people want the project to continue with the national government addressing the people’s issues,” the affidavits stated.
They said they had authorised Sama Melambo (fifth plaintiff) and Pommern ILG to institute the case, and not the other plaintiffs in the matter against the project currently stopping the DSTP system construction.
Melambo announced on Wednesday that he and Pommern ILG were withdrawing from the proceedings.

Plaintiffs withdraw from Ramu tailings

THE principal plaintiff in the Ramu nickel project court case is withdrawing from the National Court proceedings which has halted construction of its deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) in Basamuk Bay, Madang. Sama Melambo announced that he (fifth plaintiff) and Pommern ILG (fourth plaintiff) had also filed court papers to seek leave and await the government the project developer, Ramu NiCo, to come up with satisfactory environment and development package forthe people of Rai Coast, which includes Basamuk. In a separate but related move four LLG presidents and a magistrate of the area filed affidavits in the Madang National Court on Monday saying that they had not authorized the first, second and third plaintiffs to be party to the proceedings initiated in March against RamuNiCo and the state. A spokesman for Ramu NiCo said yesterday the company was aware of the latest turn of events but would not comment at this stage because the case was still pending. Melambo, Pommern ILG, Eddie Tarsie, Farina Siga and Peter Sel had been granted an interim court order on the DSTP offshore facility construction claiming that the system was environmentally harmful. The matter will be heard by the Madang National Court on Dec 21. However, Melambosaid in a media statement on Monday that he and Pommern ILG were withdrawing from the case in the national interest. “The greater good of all citizens requires that this litigation not fester and endanger a national project. “We have laid our concerns before our government and we are confident the government will answer the legitimate cries of the forgotten people of Rai Coast. “Personally, I have worked hard as the officer in charge of occupational health and safety and environment for Ramu nickel project to see it come to fruition. “I am not about stopping it or closing it down. I want to see it progress on proper footing. This is the Madang way.” He said he, the Pommern LLG and Saidor LLG were satisfied that they now had the full attention of the political leadership and that of the Ramu NiCo management about their concerns. “It was never my intention or that of Pommern Bay LLG and Saidor LLG to stop mining in Ramu and hold the country toransom. “It was not our intention to stop deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) system. “Rather it was always our intention to ensure that the laws are fully complied with and our development needs in what is a world-class project area be properly addressed, and the environment be properly protected and managed.”

Govt messages confuse locals

By ROSALYN EVARA, Post Courier

CONFLICTING messages were sent by Government as to whether it wanted those who are opposing the deep-sea tailing placement system to provide alternatives or not.
While the national MPs during a recent DSTP awareness meeting called on critics, including the non-government organisations, to provide the Government with alternatives, the bureaucrats on the other hand said the issue was non-negotiable.
Several locals who attended the meeting, which was jointly organised by the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Mineral Resources Authority at the Divine Word University, had said that with science, information and technology constantly evolving they did not believe the government had exhausted all means to find a environmental system which was safer than the DSTP method.
Anton Yagama, a local from Bundi, said he was neither impressed nor convinced that the DSTP was safe.
Mr Yagama said that with all the resources which leaders and bureaucrats had, it was disheartening that they could not present to the locals of Madang an alternative and were dead-set with just the mine waste management system.
“Waigani with all its resources has not given us any alternative other than the DSTP. Many times this is the case with government. It comes up with one decision and always forces it down our throat without providing options.
“Our land and sea is our life and issues relating to this cause us great pain and instead of soothing it, you are trying to suppress it.
“You should refrain from trying to force things down our throat,” he said. Another speaker told the meeting that one alternative which had not been pursued and which he believed would solve some of the problems government was experiencing was the plasma-waste technology whereby the mine tailings was transformed into by-products, some of which were known to be suitable for road maintenance.
The suggestion intrigued Madang Governor Sir Arnold Amet who had during the meeting queried the speakers who had raised the issue if the option was viable and further they had any supporting documents and a proposal in which they could put forward to government and the developer as an alternative to the system they already had.
These comments drew the ire of DEC acting executive director of environmental protection wing, Michael Wau, who said that the department understood full well that land was an issue.

Manam students’ plight

By PORENI UMAU, Post Courier

THEY were forced out of their island community by a natural disaster and were placed in care centres.
They sought refuge at the Asuramba Care Centre in Bogia district, on the North Coast Road.
They are the future contributors to nation building and attend various high schools and secondary schools while others are in tertiary institutions including colleges and universities. Only by the “Grace of God” would they be allowed to continue.
They are students from Manam Island, currently living at the Asuramba Care Centre.
Their councillor John Siga from the Iabu local level government area raised concerns over these students, forced to withdraw from their studies because they could not pay their school fees.
Mr Siga said most of the affected were students in their final year of studies at tertiary institutions, others in Grades 10 and 12.
He said because they had been displaced by the volcano eruption in 2004, many who live at the care centre did not own anything at all.
He said that with such a problem, parents had no one to turn to for support as they had relied on the national and provincial governments until now.
Mr Siga said that it was disheartening to see intelligent young men and women pushed out of their final year studies because of school fee problems.
He said that they were asked to leave because they could not meet the fees owed.
“It is only by the ‘Grace of God’ that we hope they will be asked to return,” a worried Mr Siga said.
He said the deadline for fees lapsed last Friday and the students have not returned to classes.
He said the issue was brought to the attention of Madang Governor Sir Arnold Amet and a letter was submitted to Bogia MP John Hickey through the electoral officer Robert Nanguri last week regarding the plight of the Manam Island students.
Meanwhile, Mr Siga said that the people had gone without a health worker since the conflict a few months ago.

Duo play starring roles in Nabasa win

NATIONAL Soccer League players Neil Hans and Mclaren Buran played starring roles to help Nabasa beat their neighbours, Diwai 4-2 in round 16 of Madang Soccer Association competition.
After a short recess, Nabasa built on their reputation to teach the  Divine Word University students a lesson.
Nabasa scored the first goal in the opening 10 minutes when Madang Fox representative player Buran dribbled past three lazy Diwai defenders to score.
Diwai’s two goals came from penalties caused by Nabasa defenders.
In other matches, Mimlon FC thrashed NCD 9-0. The boys from PHD Compound showed no mercy on the NCR boys belting them with the highest score line recorded in Madang soccer.
Souths upset competition leaders Momase 2-0 while a combined Tusbab Blue Kumuls hammered Sigma 6B United 4-1.
Meanwhile, Momase still lead the premier competition with 25 points followed by Nabasa 19 and Airlink 19, while in the women’s division, Tusbab are on 31 points followed by Momase 26 and Airlink 23.

Ramu tailings plan less risky

THE Ramu-nickel environmental plan was prepared by Natural Systems Research, a widely respected Australian environmental consultancy company with many years experience in the mining and natural resource sectors.
This environmental plan was based on a comprehensive range of terrestrial and marine field investigations and environmental studies carried out by Natural Systems Research’s consultants.
The Department of Environment and Conservation assessed the environmental plan in 1999.
As part of this assessment, DEC commissioned several independent peer reviews of the plan in areas in which they did not have the specialist expertise to conduct a diligent, critical and expert assessment of the environmental plan.
One of these areas was the assess-ment of the proposed deep-sea tailings placement system (DSTP). The DEC commissioned Dames and Moore, an international consultancy company with wide experience in the mining and waste management sectors, to carry out the independent assessment of the proposed DSTP system.
The recommendations of the Dames and Moore (1999) independent review were that the environmental risks associated with a marine mine tailings disposal system were acceptable and lower than a land-based tailings retention system.

Ramu safe: Pundari

Deep sea tailings plan least risky

ERIC TAPAKAU, Post Courier

THE development of a deep sea tailings placement system at Basamuk Bay is the least environmentally risky option for the disposal of mine tailings from the Ramu nickel mine, Mining Minister John Pundari said.
Mr Pundari said this after outlining numerous studies conducted by internationally reputable organisations into the proposed DSTP for the Ramu mine.
“The Government is confident that given this body of evidence, combined with the continuing efforts towards ensuring that the disposal of mine tailings from the Ramu nickel mine is done in an environmentally safe and socially responsible manner, DSTP system is the right approach and therefore refute the statements made in the media,” he said.
“The Government further believes that the environ-mentally responsible development of the Ramu Nickel Mine utilising DSTP technology offers the people of Rai Coast and the people of Madang Province an important opportunity to develop their communities and enjoy the economic benefits that large scale mining projects have brought to other parts of the country.”
He said it was unfortunate that such a volume of study and information was available even before 2003 when MCC first carried out its due diligence study before taking a decision to invest in PNG and it appeared that these studies (dating back to 1988 and beyond) were not an issue for contention until MCC’s involvement in the project.
“We must appreciate the financial risk undertaken by the Chinese enterprises to invest in PNG in a project that is technically difficult to develop when no other investor was willing to undertake the challenge,” he said.
“The Government wishes to stress to all stakeholders in the mining industry of Papua New Guinea that the National Government exercises a non-prejudicial policy towards all investors and will be fair to any investor as long as it is in accordance with the laws of Papua New Guinea.”
He said the Government of PNG also commended the outcome of the meeting between all the stake-holders that were present and duly represented at the consultation forum last week in Madang.
“The progressive efforts and understanding esta-blished so far is highly commendable and reflective of the genuine desire of all stakeholders to find an amicable and favourable solution to this unfortunate impasse over the last few weeks,” Mr Pundari said.

Ramu discharge worry

By ROSALYN EVARA, Post Courier

WHILE there are mechanisms in place to monitor the proposed deep sea tailing placement system, there is nothing in place to monitor discharge that is being allowed to flow freely into the Ramu River system.
This was one of the many admissions made by the officers from the Department of Environment and Conservation during a day-long awareness meeting on the DSTP which was conducted in Madang last week.
The issue of the “free-flow” into the Ramu River was raised during the meeting by former chairman of the Kurumbukari Landowner Association Toby Barre.
Mr Barre said he understood a lot of soil erosion had taken place and what was of concern was the effect, if any, this was going to have on the river system, especially as a lot of this was a result of the blasting exercise which had been conducted using explosives.
“The blasting exercise involved the use of explosives which we know contains chemicals. Our concerns are that a lot of these chemicals may now be in the river system.
“If so we have a lot of people who depend on the river system for their sustenance and livelihood. Has your office started monitoring this? If it hasn’t how does it intend on going about this exercise?” he asked.
DEC acting executive director of the environmental protection wing Michael Wau admitted that the department had not done enough to monitor discharge into the river system.
He said one of the reasons why this had been allowed was manpower shortage.
Mr Wau said these responsibilities lay with the project developer to monitor these discharges and to report back to them what was happening on the ground.
Mr Barre accused the Government of failing in its responsibility again in that it did not have a policy established to address this problem. “You can’t allow damage to occur, then fix the problem later. The people’s lives depend on the decisions you make today.”
The meeting heard that several landowners living along the Ramu River were seeking to take out an injunction to prevent damage to the river system.
Middle Ramu MP and Fisheries Minister Ben Semri who was at the meeting raised his concerns on the mine impact on the Ramu River.
“I am concerned about the impact on the Ramu River and how my people will suffer but this is a government project and I will support it,” he said.

Madang thank CCA for support

MADANG Soccer Association (MSA) has thanked the leading soft drink company, Coca-Cola Amatil for supporting the PNGFA U20 soccer tournament in Madang this month.
Association president Conrad Wadunah said the Coca-Cola U20 soccer tournament would start next Wednesday.
He said the support given by Coca-Cola was a boost for development of the young Papua New Guineans.
“It has been a long time for a youth tournament of this magnitude has gone unnoticed. Madang is the home of soccer and for Coca-Cola to come on board at this time gives confidence and encouragement to the organisers and the people of Madang.”
Wadunah said the sponsorship would create a common understanding and lasting relationship for the benefit of the young footballers in PNG.
“We hope that the support or sponsorship from Coca-Cola Amatil will give the desire to our young people to enjoy football and be good citizens within their own communities,” he said.
Meanwhile, preparations for the event are going smoothly and the hosts are working in close consultation with the PNG Football Association.
Wadunah urged participating teams to send in the name lists of all their players and officials to the Madang Soccer Association on fax 422 3698 or e-mail madangsoka@hotmail.com.
The president can be reached on 7336-1002 to obtain more information.
Host organising committee member Afinini Tawi can also be reached on 7224-6782.