Panguna Landowners

Results of Annual General Meeting of Panguna Land Owners Association Inc held at Panguna on 17 December 2014.

At the Annual General Meeting of the Panguna Land Owners Association Inc Chairman Philip Miriori explained to the meeting that the Panguna Land Owners Association Inc had not met since its incorporation in 1989 because of the Bougainville Conflict but remained registered with the Investment Promotion Authority in Port Moresby and that following considerable discontent in the Panguna community with the maladministration of the Special Mine Lease Osikaiyang Association Inc which was registered on 7 September 2011, the Me’ekamui Government of Unity who managed the day to day affairs of the community under customary law decided to reconstitute the vacant executive positions of the Panguna Land Owners Association Inc and arranged for the formal legal notices to be published calling this meeting so that the interests of the landowners of Panguna Special Mining Lease Area were properly represented and in the discussions and future decisions with the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) with respect to the proposed new Bougainville Mining Bill 2014. President Momis had contacted Philip Miriori by telephone to invite him and Me’ekamui Government of Unity to participate in talks on the future of Panguna. It is proposed that Chief Miriori write to President Momis and Prime Minister O’Neil following this meeting informing them of the reconstitution of the Panguna Land Owners Association Inc as the official representative of the Panguna landowners. The Chairman indicated that the Special Mine Lease Osikaiyang Association Inc was no longer functioning and had not complied with legal requirements of audit and reporting.


The Chairman explained that the original list of members of the Panguna Land Owners Association Inc has been lost during the conflict and that after considerable effort in locating the Register it could not be found and that it was imperative to create a new Register of Members of attended at this meeting and following meetings. All Panguna landowners within the boundary of the old SML area are entitled to be members. The Chairman indicated that the Executive committee would work diligently over the next period to sign up as many landowners as possible to the Panguna Land Owners Association Inc.

The Chairman gave a report into the current status of the Bougainville Mining Bill 2014. He indicated that the Association was to seek a legal opinion from Warner Shand Solicitors as to the effect and implications of the proposed new Mining Bill. It was noted however that there had been some important changed from the Bougainville Mining Transitional Arrangements Act 2014 that one the face of it appeared to grant landowners a veto right at the exploration stage and again at the mining lease stage. These changed were welcomed but further analysis was required.

The following resolutions were carried unanimously

A. That Philip Miriori be appointed as Chairman of the Association for a period of three years when he may stand for re-election. (Passed Unanimously)

B. That Moses Pipiro be appointed as Vice Chairman of the Association for a period of three years when he may stand for re-election. (Passed Unanimously)

C. That Lynette Ona be appointed as Treasurer of the Association for a period of three years when he may stand for re-election. (Passed Unanimously)

D. That Stanley Ona be appointed as Public Officer of the Association for a period of three years when he may stand for re-election. (Passed Unanimously)

E. That the Report of the Chairman be received by the Panguna Land Owners Association (Passed Unanimously)

F. That Messrs PricewaterhouseCoopers be appointed as Auditors of the Panguna Land Owners Association. (Passed Unanimously)