WITH the delay in finalizing the Community Development Agreement (CDA) for people of Porgera, the biggest mining in the country has been vandalized by illegal miners with minimal staffs continue working despite the challenges.
This had led to LAGAIP Open MP Aimos Akem to question the Mining Minister Wake Goi on Friday, March 14th as to when the CDA will be completed as for now, Porgera District does not have an elected MP in the Parliament to speak on behalf of the people of Porgera.
Akem said he has been asking the question regarding the CDA of Porgera Gold Mine for two times so far and this is the third time he is asking the same question in the floor of Parliament on behalf of the people of Porgera to know the update of the CDA.
He said the CDA meeting with Landowners and the National Government has failed six times and this is having a lot of negative impacts on the mining site.
He also said the resettle of mining affected people of Porgera has not taken place and its 30 years now and the people living around the Mine sites in villages like Kulapi, Paladaka and Alvis mainly the SML area are still waiting for resettlement.
“Because of the delay in resettlement of the people, the illegal miners have taken over these villages and living out of it to go about their business in doing illegal mining in the open pit sites.
“And these illegal miners are causing havoc around Porgera Gold mine on almost every occasions.
“These illegal miners are living inside the SML areas,” he said.
Because of these unwanted activities that are affecting the Porgera Mine, Akem wants to know the exact time frame as to when the CDA will be completed.
Mining Minister Goi in his response assured the Lagaip MP who was asking on behalf of the Porgera people that the CDA will be ready at the end of this month.
Minister Goi said that about 95 per cent of the process of finalizing the CDA has been completed and these remaining 5 per cent will be completed within this week.
“I have received a full report from Mineral Resource Authority (MRA) regarding the CDA that it is almost ready and this is the assurance I can give you my good MP of Lagaip,” Goi said.
