Mining essential for survival of Bougainville :President Momis By Online Editor 4:36 pm GMT+12, 02/09/2013, Papua New Guinea
Mining is essential for the economic survival of Bougainville, Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) president John Momis says.
He, however, cautioned resource owners not to “get into bed with any Tom, Dick and Harry”.
Speaking at a “Sustainablity of Bougainville” seminar in Port Moresby last Friday, Momis said Bougainville could not depend on agriculture as many people were saying.
“We have a new mining law which, for the first time in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, gives the total right of ownership to the landowners,” he said.
“But the right and the authority to issue licenses, right from exploration and development stages, belongs to the (Bougainville) government.
“It is the government’s responsibility to effect equitable distribution of benefits.
“It is the government that decides whether the mining project goes ahead.
“The landowners, the resource owners, own the resources, but the fact that they own these does not give them the license to get into bed with any Tom, Dick and Harry.
“They must do it only under the regime of the government.
“I’m sorry, my friends Jimmy Miringtoro and Lawrence Daveona, you are totally wrong.”
Momis said Bougainville could not depend on agriculture alone.
SOURCE: THE NATIONAL/PACNEWS http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=1630187169522415c1b5417f98f1ad
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