http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20130710/wehome.htmBy WINTERFORD...

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20130710/wehome.htm

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

NEGOTIATIONS towards the reopening of the defunct Panguna mine in Central Bougainville received another positive boost last week.
This follows the staging of another successful consultative meeting between the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Bougainville Copper Limited and the Panguna Mine Affected Landowners Association (PMALA), in Buka last Wednesday.
This one day meeting which was attended by BCL representative Paul Coleman, PMALA chairman Lawrence Daveona and the ABG representatives saw a total of eight resolutions reached by the parties to the meeting.
These resolutions cover issues including ‘bel kol’ (peace or apologetic) compensation demands, illegal settlers, landowners’ relocation, and other issues deemed to be of importance.
All parties agreed that in order to address the ‘bel kol’ issue, the ABG will be taking the necessary steps to implement decisions of the government in developing a program that will involve the stakeholders, including ABG, BCL and PMALA to reach an agreement on the terms and conditions of the ‘bel kol’ issue and set a date by September this year.
In relation to outstanding compensation demands, the ABG Mining Department in consultation with PMALA and BCL will audit and update the existing title holders of recipients of outstanding compensation by September this year.
It will also identify the options and the methods of payments, resolve outstanding land rental payments owed by the National Department of Lands to the Siokatei lease before the end of this year, and establish the status of the Uruawa/Rorovana land rental agreement with BCL before the end of this year.
In relation to illegal settlers, the ABG Mining Department will be taking the leading role in developing relevant ABG policy on how this issue needs to be resolved. It was agreed that the ABG Mining Department will raise this issue at the next Joint Panguna National Coordination Committee (JPNCC) meeting.
In order to address the landowners’ relocation resettlement issue, the ABG Mining Department and other relevant agencies will be taking the lead in developing relevant ABG policy on how this issue needs to be resolved. It was also agreed that the ABG Mining Department will also be raising this issue at the next JPNCC meeting.
The parties also agreed that after the addressing of the bel kol issue, BCL will be working closely with ABG and PMALA to develop proposals for skills training and human resource development, and also work closely with other key stakeholders.
They also agreed that in accordance with the community engagement process and proposals, there was also a need to develop landowner associations to endorse the proposals, and for the ABG to be informed and so that it can consider funding support.
Another resolution reached concerned the ABG draft mining policy; with all parties agreeing
that the ABG will be consulting PMALA and all other key stakeholders.
The final resolution reached was for the ABG, BCL and PMALA to meet on a bimonthly basis to discuss issues of importance.