By Watut Reporter
The Union of Watut River Communities Inc (UoWRC Inc.)has thank the O,Neil Namah Government in overthrowing the former Abal Government in making changes. They also thank the government for not giving a Ministerial portfolio to Mr Benny Allan, former Environment and Conservation Minister.
UoWRC Inc also pledge to work close with the new Mining and Environment and Conservation Minister to see concerns of the Middle Watut Communities along the Watut River over Hidden Valley Mining Joint Venture is redress and thank Hon Bron Chan an Thomson Harokaqveh respectively.
UoWRC Inc has brassed aside comments that UoWRC Members have been accepting compensation payment from the Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) over its damage to the Watut River and would bring their plight to the new Government.
Mr Reuben Mete, who is President of UoWRC is now in Port Moresby aiming to resort the Middle Watut communities of Mumeng LLG concerns once and for all.
Showing posts with label Watut River Pollution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Watut River Pollution. Show all posts
Monday, August 8, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Watut River Communities support Madang locals to appeal National Court Decision.
By Watut Reporter
While many of the rural communities around Papua New Guinea are discussing and wondering about the National Court decisions to allow foreign owned MCC to dump its tailings into Bismarc sea, the Watut River Communities led by its Environmental Campaign Group, the Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) has thrown its support behind its colleagues in Madang as they appeal the Decisions in the highest court.
UoWRC President Mr Reuben Mete delivered this note to its members over the weekend. Watut River Communities under UoWRC will also sue Hidden Valley Operator - Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold; also on Environmental Damage and loss of economy for rural communities. The case is expected to be registered next month at the National Court in Lae.
UoWRC has currently engage a Lae base lawyer to deal with all its criminal charges laid against them in the district court and will also appeal some of the district court decisions in Lae. It is now confirm that all criminal case charges against UoWRC will begun next Monday. Mr Mete describe the following months starting from August as the beginning of a new chapter for the Watut River Communities.
UoWRC is yet to confirm weather Tiffany Nonggorr will represent them in the National Court Case on Environmental Damage. Tiffany was mention often by the Bulolo District led by the local MP Hon Sam Basil but was later put into criticisms as the District now wants to divert its attention to other Land ownership issue involving both Hidden Valley and Waffi Mining. A meeting with the local MP and Lawyer Tiffany Nonggorr is expected next week to iron out all misunderstandings.
UoWRC is now supporting the call of a National Union of Landowners and will eyeing to push their Litigation to international Laws.
While many of the rural communities around Papua New Guinea are discussing and wondering about the National Court decisions to allow foreign owned MCC to dump its tailings into Bismarc sea, the Watut River Communities led by its Environmental Campaign Group, the Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) has thrown its support behind its colleagues in Madang as they appeal the Decisions in the highest court.
UoWRC President Mr Reuben Mete delivered this note to its members over the weekend. Watut River Communities under UoWRC will also sue Hidden Valley Operator - Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold; also on Environmental Damage and loss of economy for rural communities. The case is expected to be registered next month at the National Court in Lae.
UoWRC has currently engage a Lae base lawyer to deal with all its criminal charges laid against them in the district court and will also appeal some of the district court decisions in Lae. It is now confirm that all criminal case charges against UoWRC will begun next Monday. Mr Mete describe the following months starting from August as the beginning of a new chapter for the Watut River Communities.
UoWRC is yet to confirm weather Tiffany Nonggorr will represent them in the National Court Case on Environmental Damage. Tiffany was mention often by the Bulolo District led by the local MP Hon Sam Basil but was later put into criticisms as the District now wants to divert its attention to other Land ownership issue involving both Hidden Valley and Waffi Mining. A meeting with the local MP and Lawyer Tiffany Nonggorr is expected next week to iron out all misunderstandings.
UoWRC is now supporting the call of a National Union of Landowners and will eyeing to push their Litigation to international Laws.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HIDDEN VALLEY MINE ANOUNCED BY BENNY ALLEN.
By Watut Reporter.
Minister for Environment and Conservation Hon Benny Allen, MP anounced the formation of the Inter-Agency Environmental Advisory Committee(IAEAC), as it has already met and held its first meetings on O9th of June 2011. In that meeting, a formal visit of the State Team into Morobe Province and Hidden Valley Mine is schedule from 11th -15th of July 2011. The visit will be consistent with National Governments commitments made to address issues arising from the operation of the Hidden Valley Mine.
On 12th of May 2011, a consultation meeting with various stake holders including executives of the Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) Association Inc raises many of these which one of them was the release of the findings of the audit report by the Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation (SMEC) entitled "Environment Performance Audit of Hidden Valley Gold Mine and Assesment of Downstream Impacts of Mine Derived Sediment".
The exercise will engage various stake holders and creat awareness relating to the issues highlighted in the Audit Report by SMEC especially in relation to environmental management issues, impacts of mine derived sediment on biodiversity, human health, food security/safety and other related concerns expressed by the communities.
Mr Allan also mantion that Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) has responded positively to the findings of the Audit Report by implementing a comprehensive program of work. These work programs were contained in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) submitted by MMJV, which was approved by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in April 2011.
The Minister also stresses that Hidden Valley EIP will be assessed and evaluated by DEC assistance from Environmental Auditors to ensure that important issues raised in the Audit Report and addressed accordingly. The IAEAC will also have opportunity to oversee implementation of this program when they visit the mine site.
The Tentitive Program for IAEAC engagement commencing on 12th July to 16th July 2011 includes;
session briefing with Morobe Provincial Government and MMJV, Workshop engagement with stake holders, visit Hidden Valley Mine Presenting Police Vehicle and engagement with impacted communities. The hosting responsibilities will include Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, DEC, MMJV, MRA and Hon Sam Basil.
Minister for Environment and Conservation Hon Benny Allen, MP anounced the formation of the Inter-Agency Environmental Advisory Committee(IAEAC), as it has already met and held its first meetings on O9th of June 2011. In that meeting, a formal visit of the State Team into Morobe Province and Hidden Valley Mine is schedule from 11th -15th of July 2011. The visit will be consistent with National Governments commitments made to address issues arising from the operation of the Hidden Valley Mine.
On 12th of May 2011, a consultation meeting with various stake holders including executives of the Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) Association Inc raises many of these which one of them was the release of the findings of the audit report by the Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation (SMEC) entitled "Environment Performance Audit of Hidden Valley Gold Mine and Assesment of Downstream Impacts of Mine Derived Sediment".
The exercise will engage various stake holders and creat awareness relating to the issues highlighted in the Audit Report by SMEC especially in relation to environmental management issues, impacts of mine derived sediment on biodiversity, human health, food security/safety and other related concerns expressed by the communities.
Mr Allan also mantion that Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) has responded positively to the findings of the Audit Report by implementing a comprehensive program of work. These work programs were contained in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) submitted by MMJV, which was approved by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in April 2011.
The Minister also stresses that Hidden Valley EIP will be assessed and evaluated by DEC assistance from Environmental Auditors to ensure that important issues raised in the Audit Report and addressed accordingly. The IAEAC will also have opportunity to oversee implementation of this program when they visit the mine site.
The Tentitive Program for IAEAC engagement commencing on 12th July to 16th July 2011 includes;
session briefing with Morobe Provincial Government and MMJV, Workshop engagement with stake holders, visit Hidden Valley Mine Presenting Police Vehicle and engagement with impacted communities. The hosting responsibilities will include Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, DEC, MMJV, MRA and Hon Sam Basil.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Mining Minister to invites Watut Union for talks.
By Watut Reporter
Members of the campaign group the Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) have been invited by the Mining Minister Hon John Pundari to a dialogue meeting with other Governments Departmental heads including the Department of Environment and Conservation, Mineral Resources Authorities and Mining Department in Port Moresby on the 11th May, 2011. The Minister make this known yesterday at the recent launching of the new bulldozer for Mumeng LLG yesterday. President of the UoWRC Mr Reuben Mete in confirming this today says the issues that will be discussed will only includes those many outstanding issues made by the Papua New Guinea National Government Departments and nothing on the current litigation court case as UoWRC is looking forward to sue the developer of the Hidden Valley Mining the Australia based Newcrest Mining and South Africa's Harmony Gold on its nuisance sedimentation and chemical with toxic pollution on the Watut River causing serious environmental damages that affects thousands of communities downstream with their ecosystem.
The outstanding Government commitments including the appointment of a state team and an environmental audit into Watut River.
Members of the campaign group the Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) have been invited by the Mining Minister Hon John Pundari to a dialogue meeting with other Governments Departmental heads including the Department of Environment and Conservation, Mineral Resources Authorities and Mining Department in Port Moresby on the 11th May, 2011. The Minister make this known yesterday at the recent launching of the new bulldozer for Mumeng LLG yesterday. President of the UoWRC Mr Reuben Mete in confirming this today says the issues that will be discussed will only includes those many outstanding issues made by the Papua New Guinea National Government Departments and nothing on the current litigation court case as UoWRC is looking forward to sue the developer of the Hidden Valley Mining the Australia based Newcrest Mining and South Africa's Harmony Gold on its nuisance sedimentation and chemical with toxic pollution on the Watut River causing serious environmental damages that affects thousands of communities downstream with their ecosystem.
The outstanding Government commitments including the appointment of a state team and an environmental audit into Watut River.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)