HIDDEN VALLEY JOINT VENTURE BLASTED OVER COMPENSATION PAYMENT

2011-03-16

Hidden Valley Joint Venture, a 50:50 joint venture between Newcrest Mining limited of Australia and Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited of South Africa have been criticized of bullying the local communities along the Watut River over the recent Compensation payments for food gardens, cash crops, houses (improvements) and riverside alluvial gold mincing backdated since 2007.

The claim was made known by the Union of Watut River Communities President Mr. Reuben Mete early this week claiming the payment being ‘nuisance’ with many human rights violations and serious breach to the mining and regulation principles of compensation. He further added that there are also serious misconduct done by the HVJV Community Liaison officers with false pretence claims that need to seriously look into the relevant mining and environmental regulators of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

Mr. Mete statement comes after UoWRC was written a letter to the Mining Minister, Environment and Conservation Minister and the Mineral Resource Authority informing them about the nuisance practices by the Newcrest Mining Limited, one of South East Asian biggest mining company and the Harmony Gold Mining company, the worlds fifth largest gold mining company and their bullying techniques to down-play the rural communities of Watut River.

Mr. Mete confirmed that 471 garden claimants along the Widipos, Samsam- Pelenkwa and Baiune in Mumeng LLG constituency in the Bulolo District have refused to participate in HVJV payment as Community Affairs officers with Provincial and LLG officers assisting the mining companies, have failed to explain the ‘Statutory Declaration Form’ that they are being forcing the communities to sign with a sworn statement, fearing that they might sell their individual rights to the foreign mining companies.

The newly appointed Secretary for the Union, Mr. Chris Wena also made claims that the Community Liasion officers have been bullying with certain communities to sign those HVJV legal documents which will jeapordize any future compensation claims.

Mr.Wena who as present to witness the final batch of HVJV Compensation payment early last month, was literally witness to serious mis-use practices by the HVJV Community Liasion staff on ground.

This includes certain individuals with few gardens receiving more than K20,000 while those elderly women and men who have bigger gardens just walking off with K200-300 cheques. He also highlighted that certain individuals who have no garden or never being living along the river have also collected cheques. This was believed that was because of their alleged association with the individual leaders that were being used that time or with the HVJV Community Affairs officers. This was because many of them lived and worked in Lae and no garden was allocated to them even well during the garden assessment period. However, the manner in which they walked away with cheque payment of even over K10,000, was highly suspicious of misconduct by the staff of mining companies.

He also highlighted that certain individuals who have no garden or never being living along the river have also collected cheques. This was believed that was because of their alleged association with the individual leaders that were being used that time or with the HVJV Community Affairs officers. This was because many of them lived and worked in Lae and no garden was allocated to them even well during the garden assessment period. However, the manner in which they walked away with cheque payment of even over K10,000, was highly suspicious of misconduct by the staff of mining companies.

Many of the rural villagers just settled with their K100-300 compensation with the lowest cheque payment done by the mining company was K4.00.

The Union of Watut River Communities are now waiting the response from the relevant Mining and Environmental regulators as 471 of its members claims are still awaiting release by HVJV. Certain communities along the Upper Watut, Middle Watut and Lower Watut have refused to participate in the assessment carried out by HVJV as they believe this way and manner of being bulldozed without proper consultation and explanations with UoWRC members fearing to sign off their rights.