via Post Courier p. 17
Landowners are committed to fight against the Pomio SABLs despite a court ruling yesterday. Pomio landowners are disappointed at yesterday's Supreme Court ruling that upheld the appeal by Memalo Holdings, the landowner company holding the two disputed SABLs in West Pomio, but have resolved to continue their fight.
The full bench of the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Memalo Holdngs in their appeal against the Judicial Review by landowners opposing the SABLs, due to the delay in making the Court application.
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Dr Kristian Lasslett*
“The [Paga Hill] Estate will promote a way of life not yet seen in Papua New Guinea. A secure environment will be achieved not through fencing and guards, but a sense of community that will be fostered amongst residents and visitors alike”. Paga Hill Development Company (2012)
While police are continuing to facilitate the forceable eviction of people living on Paga Hill in Port Moresby despite the protests of their local MP*, we should remember the Public Accounts Committee has already found the land acquisition by the developer was completely corrupt and fraudulent.
These are excerts from the PAC findings as recorded in their 2009 Report to Parliament on the inquiry into the Department of Lands:
Portion 1597 Milinch Granville, FourMil, Moresby At Paga Hill – Grant to Paga Hill Development Company Ltd.
Dame Carol bruised during attack
I visited the massive multi-billion Exxon Mobil LNG project site outside Port Moresby yesterday (Friday) afternoon, where I accompanied Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma, who pushed hard for this project to become a reality. Work is progressing well, on target, with more than 8,000 workers currently on site.
Things have changed so much since I last visited two months ago.
"More than what I expected," an impressed Duma said.
"Very impressive.
"I'm very pleased with what Exxon Mobil has done."
Buai, Mosi, Yabui, Buatau, Buwa, Vui, Beda and Guria are a few of the different names (out of the 800+ languages we have) we have for betel nut or areca nut in Papua New Guinea.
O’Neill Down Plays Moves for a Vote of no Confidence Against him by his Government
By GORETHY KENNETH
POLITICAL Party leaders and powerbrokers are reportedly conspiring to oust Prime Minister Peter O’Neill through a vote-of-no confidence on the eve of 2012 General Elections.
But last night a cool Mr O’Neill told Post-Courier
“ I am safe.”read more
“ I am safe.”
By GRACE AUKA
THE rise in the number of street vendors in Port Moresby is likely to continue despite a ban imposed by police, vendors said. National Capital District and Central commander Assistant Commissioner Francis Tokura announced a ban on street vendors this week.
There are many different ways of looking at things. That is a fact. Some see black, others see the white in the picture, others with an eye for detail can see where the black ends – clearly. How I wish I were one of those with an eye for detail!
Those that see black and white probably have life easiest, if you can differentiate the black from the white it makes it easier to pick out either color, so everything can be arranged, categorized, sorted and you only have to decide between two very distinctly different colors.
There are significant unanswered questions about the socio-cultural and environmental impacts of seabed mining and of its underlying science. We need to adopt a precautionary approach and lets decide how we can better balance corporate profits with the need for conservation, human rights, advancing scientific knowledge and sustainable development.
The Mineral Policy Institute has been working to improve mining practices for over 15 years. Our 'Mined Your Own Waste' project is targeted at preventing the pollution of and the dumping of mine waste into water bodies. While Australia no-longer condones the practice of riverine or submarine tailings disposal, pollution of waterbodies is not uncommon.
In Papua New Guinea, both riverine and submarine tailings disposal are 'accepted practice', at least by the PNG Government and the mining industry. Porgera and Ok Tedi mines both dump their waste in the river. So did Panguna before it sparked a civil war on Bounganville. Submarine tailings disposal was used at Misima Island and is used by Lihir/Newcrest at Lihir Island, and Simberi on Simberi Island.
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Uprooted is a story of four communities in Papua New Guinea's Madang province who have been affected in various ways by a Chinese owned nickel mine. Narrated entirely by landowners, it shows the pain and fear of losing their land to large scale development. Part 1 highlights the concerns related to Deep Sea Tailings placement (DSTP) the preferred method of mine waste disposal.
In Part 2, "Pipeline" and river communities express their disappointment at the lack of information and their feeling of disempowerment in the face of the multi-billion dollar investment. In Part 3 landowners from the Kurumbukari mine site tell of how they are being forced on their land in a relocation exercise supported by the Papua New Guinea Government.