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.

Gao hopeful about K40m for Ramu

MEMBER for Rai Coast Sane Gao said the people of Ramu will benefit from the K40 million “seed capital” the government would provide for them.
He rejected suggestions that the money was compensation offered to the landowners to withdraw a case now before the court which halted work at the Ramu nickel and cobalt mine.
Since the National Court issued an injunction stopping work at the mine, the operators have become very concerned about financial losses they were suffering.
It is estimated they are losing K10 million a day.
The government wants to start the mine by the end of the year or early next year.
Its revenue is crucial to PNG’s economy, to fill the revenue hole that will be created by the closure of Ok Tedi.
Exports from the mine will also address balance of payment concerns created by the PNG LNG project.
Gao said the K40 million was business grants from the government agreed to in a memorandum of agreement.
He said the funds were for the Ramu nickel foundation and landowners from KBK, inland pipeline, coastal pipeline and the Basamuk area.
He said he was working hard to resolve this conflict “the Madang way” and he described this as a win-win situation.
He engaged Ricky Kumung to facilitate and mediate the dialogue between the state, the developer and the people led by Simon Melembo.
Gao said any further delay in the project would have adverse effect on the nation as the state was the signatory to the original mining agreement.
He said he also saw the need to have the mine continue as the tax credit scheme would help the infrastructure in Rai Coast and Usino-Bundi electorates.
He said the issue of environment was not isolated but was captured in the instrument to be signed tomorrow.
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare also said during the presentation of the K36 million IPBC dividend payout
to the state (see story separate story) said the money was not for compensation but was a seed capital for the people.
Meanwhile, Member for Usino-Bundi Samson Kuli applauded the people for the lead in pursuing the government to address their needs as they almost missed out.
He said such money should assist the people to venture into business and not to be mere spectators as the two electorates were the least developed in PNG.