It's interesting to note that RTG is muddying the waters by referring in its report to "customary" landowners.
I note from the BCL Six Monthly report issued today -
"On 16th July 2019 the PDCL released a public statement reaffirming that the SMLOLA wasnot an approved organisation under the Bougainville Mining Act 2015, and therefore lackedthe authority to speak on behalf of, or represent, Panguna landowners. This was followed bya formal notice and petition from Customary Heads to the SMLOLA’s chairman calling onthe association to cease claiming to be an entity that has the authority to representlandowners."
It's disheartening that these divisions (fueled by the intervention of RTG in 2017) should exist 30 years after the mine closed. Hopefully the appointment of another Bougainvillean Director (David Osikore) to the BCL Board will go some way to resolving this impasse.
RTG Price at posting:
8.9¢ Sentiment: None Disclosure: Not Held
