THE Porgera-Mt Kare Young Generation Association has urged the Prime Minister, Mining Minister, Mineral Resources Authority, Kumul Holdings Limited and the Stake Negotiating Team to recognise it as the legal representative of landowners in the mine impact area.
During a meeting in Port Moresby on Wednesday, Chairman Anton Pepa Kaluni and his executives said the association was formed to replace the former Porgera Landowners Association following the latter’s failure to present acquittals on development funds and landowner equities, besides failing to advocate the mine operator and the government on issues affecting locals in the mine impact area.
“We represent the seven landowning clans in the Porgera Special Mining Lease Area (SML),” he said.
“In 2001, the 23 original signatories to the 1989 Porgera Memorandum of Agreement and all the SML landowners of Porgera formally transferred their power, mandate and authority to the Porgera-Mt Kare Young Generation Association Inc.”
Kaluni said the purpose of the former PLOA transferring its powers to PMKYGA was for the incumbent to replace the former and take the lead in negotiating with the government the review of the 1989 Porgera MOA and lead Porgera landowners in the subsequent New Porgera Mine negotiation, agreement and development.
He said in 2000, the late Paramount Chief Ambi Kipu called a meeting for landowners in the SML area, including the 23 original signatories to the 1989 Porgera MOA, government officials, Local Level Government representatives, councilors and locals to converge at the Porgera District Authority office in Porgera, Enga Province.
During the meeting, the late Kipu announced the formation and establishment of Porgera-Mt Kare Young Generation Association Inc – an announcement which was endorsed by everyone present.
The meeting was told that the transfer of powers of attorney to the new association was made on realisation that the executives of PLOA had failed to furnish any financial reports on the millions in landowner development funds, infrastructure developments funds, equity and royalties and investment funds that had been disbursed to the PLOA.
The attendees were also told that PLOA had also failed to task the company and the government to address pressing and worsening landowners’ issues ranging from re-location to infrastructure development and environment damages.
“These were the reasons why the late Chief Kipu decided to form another landowner entity to replace PLOA,” Kaluni said.
“The late Chief Kipu stressed that PMKYGA would represent the Porgera people and advocate for the landowners rights, benefits and to bring development to landowners and the Porgera Valley at large.”
The chairman said Porgera-Mt Kare Young Generation Association Inc is being managed by the legitimate Porgera Mine SML landowners and, as such, has the legal, customary and land rights to lead the Porgera landowners in the New Porgera Mine Agreement.
A statement released by the association states that PMYGA is the legal owner of Porgera Prospecting Authority No. 454 (PPA No.454) or Social License No. 454 of Porgera Mine.
“In May 1989, our father, Chief Ambi Kipu gave this (PPA No.454) to Placer Dome, therefore Placer Dome derived its legal authority and the legitimacy to mine Porgera gold resources from our PPA No.454,” the statement read.
“Therefore, the current Porgera mining license which is held by Kumul Mineral Holdings Limited solely lies on the authority of that PPA No.454, which was granted to Placer Dome in 1989 by our father.”
A review by several government agencies into the legitimacy of the new association have concluded that
PMKYGA lawfully obtained its mandate.
These includes;
Transfer of power of attorney to PMKYGA by the 23 original signatories to the 1989 Porgera MOA general meeting resolution;
Letter of recognition by Porgera Joint Venture
Letter from the former Prime Minister
Letter from the former Mining Minister
Certificate of Incorporation (IPA).
“I am a principal landowner from the Porgera SML area,” Kaluni said.
“My executives were elected into office through properly convened meeting by the SML Landowners.
“We have the backing of the landowners and others who have been affected by the mine in the last 30 years.
“ None of the executives is from outside the Porgera SML area.
“We are all principle landowners of the mine area.
Kaluni is the paramount chief of the Teine clan, which owns the Porgera open pit mine.
He was elected into office on February 3, 2020 with the support the landowners of the Porgera Valley.
“On June 22, 2017 in Paiam, the Prime Minister James Marape (then as the Finance Minister) promised us, the Porgera Mt. Kare Young Generation Association Inc, three things in the presence of over 20,000 people,” Kaluni said.
“He said (and we quote); I will come back to Porgera one day myself and sign the new agreement with Porgera-Mt Kare Young Generation Association for and on behalf of the landowners of Porgera Mine;”The government will give 33 % direct free carried equity to Porgera Mt. Kare Young Generation Association Inc in the Porgera stake.
He said Marape also made a government commitment of of K10 million to the association.
“The Prime Minister has already made the decision in 2017 on the above three subject matters, and we are now confident that nothing will change his mind and deviate him from the promises he made to us then (June 22, 2017), Kaluni said.
“The governments “Take Back PNG” policy initiative is aligned with the vision of this association as it undoubtedly compliments our “Take Back Porgera” policy, which we initiated in 2001.
“To support the government’s policy direction, we have resolved to accommodate this initiative in our association’s entire policy framework and landowners’ benefit structure.”
Kaluni said the following approaches have been undertaken.
They include;
Increasing membership in the association’s board of directors to 70.
Extending board membership is extended to affected landowners from Hela, Western, East & West Sepik Provinces, I-MP and Riverine landowners and the five districts in Enga;
Allocating administrative sections in the board to be headed by affected landowners from these Provinces, Districts and Communities.
Allocating a certain percentage of the landowners equity to these provinces, districts and communities;
“This is because we believe that if we had suffered together in the last 30 years, we shall also benefit together in the next 20 years,” the chairman said.
“This association has further decided to allocate certain businesses and contracts in the mine to these provinces, districts and communities so that they too may be able to create opportunities and bring tangible developments into communities for the benefit of their people.
“We have the people’s mandate; we only ask that the government accord us the recognition we deserve to drive progress for our people.”
