THE world’s second largest gold producing company, Newmont Mining (Newmont) had three of its top executives on Bougainville this week at the request of Isina Resources Holdings (IRH), a partner to Morumbi Resources of Canada.
The executives comprising Chris Clode (Director of Global Exploration/Business development), Linda Daley (director-Exploration Australia), Dave Dehlin (Director International Land) were on a fact finding mission to see firsthand how Bougainville is progressing in terms of exploration and mining after the Peace agreement signing in 2001, and the progress of the new Government in terms of its policies in mining, lands and resource ownership.
They met with IRH Chairman and Vice Chairman David Dapong and former Bougainville Revolutionary Army general Sam Kauona respectively and three other resource owners company chairmen and chiefs, from the Eivo Torau Constituency.
The three chiefs who are also chairmen of their respective landowner companies are, Michael Aite,Avaipa Resources Limited – Mainoki, Jacob Betopa , Pakasiapan Resources – Kopani,Richard Birikos, Baunapa Resources – Atamo.
The landowner company chiefs and executives explained to Newmont executives that the Bougainville Constitution section 23 gives Mineral Rights back to the people.
By exercising this right, “we the resource owners will have to come forward and free our land for exploration.” Sam Kauona said.
“We fought for this very reason and we the resource owners will register our activity called exploration with our Government, (ABG) for its tax purposes”.
The former BRA general said Bougainville is working on its own mining policies and legislation and it will be a home grown thing to the best interest for its people and their partners abroad.
The Newmont team also met with key Panguna land owners and were taken for visit to the mine pit at Panguna once operated by Rio Tinto in the early 60s and 70s and was shut down in 1989 which sparked up the Bougainville crisis.
The team also met with the Chairman of the Central Bougainville Parliamentary Committee and member for Eivo Torau, Melchior Dare, who represented and welcomed the team on behalf of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG).
Mr Dare said he was happy to see former general Sam Kauona and the Paramount Chiefs, for coming forward and freeing their land for exploration which went hand in hand with social programmes by Morumbi Resources of Canada.
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