The Acting Managing Director of the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) Jerry Garry, has urged the Porgera Mine landowners, to negotiate for infrastructure developmental projects, during the coming Community Development Agreement (CDA) negotiations.
Mr Garry was speaking recently at the Enga Teachers College in Wabag, during the presentation of position paper by the Enga Provincial Government, pertaining to the Porgera mine CDA negotiations.
The CDA negotiation for the Porgera project is expected to commence in two weeks’ time in the Enga Province.
Mr Garry said the country had been harvesting millions of Kinas’ worth of natural resources for many years. However, he said, there was little improvement in landowners’ livelihoods. He said for this reason, it was important for landowners to negotiate and secure long-term infrastructure projects such as water supply, housing, education and health. He said that he was pleased to note that under the New Porgera agreement, the re-settlement of SML landowners is one of the key programs that would be undertaken.
He shared similar sentiments expressed by Governor for Enga Province, Grand Chief Hon Sir Peter Ipatas, that stakeholders must negotiate with future generations in mind, and not think about what they could get today.
