MRA assures Porgera SML landowners of government commitment on resettlement

Stakeholders during the CDA negotiations last week (Supplied)

Discussions to negotiate on the Community Development Agreement [CDA] between the landowners of the Porgera Special Mining Lease [SML 13] and Mineral Resources Authority got underway last week,

Parties to the CDA are the Special Mining Lease [SML] landowners, Porgera Rural Local Level Government, Porgera Urban Local Level Government, Enga Provincial Government, New Porgera Limited (NPL) and the National Government.

The non-SML landowners will be witnesses to the CDA when it is signed.

MRA Managing Director Jerry Garry said resettlement is New Porgera Limited's [NPL] responsibility and assured the landowners that the company is currently putting together a resettlement action plan, as it is a government priority.

However, Mr Garry said that as a responsible government, it has committed K700m infrastructure development funding for the exercise, through the Infrastructure Development Grant [IDG].

Landowners were told that the MRA and the Department of Lands & Physical Planning, have already started consultations with the Enga Provincial Government and the Porgera District Administration, and identified possible resettlement sites.

“We won’t waste time. As soon as the CDA process is completed, the state would continue consultations with the stakeholders and progress the state’s part in the resettlement exercise which is to make land available,” Mr. Garry said.

He appealed to all parties to the CDA, to have an open mind, and to negotiate in the true spirit of sharing, fairness and equitable distribution of benefits.