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.

Basil to visit Middle Watut villages.

Bulolo MP Sam Basil will be taking a time out early next week to visit the communities in the Middle Watut, of Mumeng Local Level Government. Mr Basil is believe to walk the ten (10) Middle Watut villages to see for himself the struggles the riverine community have live and survive with minimal basic government services such as road, schools, clinics and also sees what the Impacts of Hidden Valley Mine has to the communities. 

President of the Union of Watut River Communities (UoWRC) Mr Reuben Mete has welcome the Honorable Member's decisions and said this would be an historical visit has none of the sitting MPs of Bulolo Electorate have walked and spend time with the Middle Watut Villages in the past. Mr Basil will also present sawing machine to villages along his way.