ABG and its Australian consultants try and take control of small-scale mining
In a rather obvious attempt to take control and ultimately restrict the activities of small-scale gold miners on Bougainville the ABG and its Australian government paid foreign consultants are running a series of workshops.
Happy and healthy Bougainvillean children
The ABG wants to take control of small-scale mining activities and the incomes it provides to families
The workshops are the first step in a process designed to regulate the small-scale industry, which is widespread and brings significant cash incomes to families.
Once it has control the Autonomous government will be able to force out of business any operators it views as a threat to its own political future and agenda for the island; be able to direct foreign aid funding to its own supporters; and, perhaps most importantly, ensure the small-scale miners don’t encroach into areas where the big corporate miners like Rio Tinto are operating
The heavy media coverage by New Dawn [see below] gives an idea of how importantly the ABG and its consultants view this latest power grab…
ABG COMMITTED TO ENSURING HOME-GROWN INDUSTRY CONTINUES
BY JENNIFER NKUI | NEW DAWN
ABG president Chief Dr. John Momis said the Autonomous Bougainville Government is committed to ensuring that our new homegrown industry which is small scale gold mining continues to prosper and grow.
When opening the two day small scale gold mining workshop in Buka today, he told the small scale miners that small scale mining is an important industry with widespread benefits that we must ensure it grows.
He pointed out that the ABG’s support for the industry has so far been very limited.
However, chief Momis added that with the government’s determination to change that, our new mining law which will be debated in parliament says that most existing small scale mining will be legal.
He said unlike PNG mining laws, small scale mining is illegal but Bougainville will make small scale mining legal.
He explained further that the draft law also states that anyone will be able to mine, not just on their own land but also on the land of others with the landowners’ permission.
He said the miners on the other hand are also required to meet basic environmental, health and safety standards.
The workshop is held to get a better understanding of small scale mining in Bougainville to help the ABG get a better understanding of both the good things and problems of small scale mining.
SMALL SCALE MINING INDUSTRY MUST MEET BEST STANDARDS
BY JENNIFER NKUI | NEW DAWN
ABG Minister for natural resources Michael Oni said today that Bougainville’s small scale gold mining industry must meet best standards with its development.
Speaking at the opening of the two day small scale mining workshop at the Kuri village resort in Buka, he explained that standards include the standards of health, safety and environmental protection.
He pointed out that it also requires miners, landowners, gold buyers and processors to maintain good standards of behavior and not to use violence, threats or weapons.
He said we need our new industry to develop with good standards being established by the ABG and honoured by miners.
Minister Oni added that the training of miners must be looked at also so miners are able to use the most efficient, safe, healthy and environmentally friendly ways of mining and also ensuring the miners receive fair prices for their gold.
He said the miners must be aided to get finances that they need to be able to buy the kind of equipment they need that will enable them to mine safely and in an environmentally friendly manner.
He pointed out that the other thing would be to set legal standards for small scale mining by making laws or regulations which include realistic and effective standards on health, safety and environmental standards.
ABG ADMINISTRATION READY TO SUPPORT PROJECT
BY JENNIFER NKUI | NEW DAWN
ABG’s acting chief secretary Chris Siriosi said his administration is ready to support the small scale mining project.
When he was given time to speak during the small scale mining workshop today, he said as head of the public service he has made a commitment to support whatever proposals the department of the minster for mining is bringing to them to create capacity.
He said the idea to establish a small scale mining policy for the government is very vital.
He added that it is very important because more people will be involved and more men and women will be involved in economic activity to put income into their pockets.
Mr. Siriosi however stressed that it is good for the government to make things a bit difficult saying if more people are getting involved in small scale mining, they will forget all about gardening.
He said they will look for gold and go hungry at the same time which is not good.
He pointed out that it is good to balance all our activities.
RESOURCE OWNERS ENCOURAGED TO ENGAGE EXCLUSIVELY
BY JENNIFER NKUI | NEW DAWN
Miners involved in the small scale gold mining industry were encouraged today to engage in the small scale mining workshop in an intelligent and exclusive way with all Bougainvilleans.
ABG president Chief Dr. John Momis made this encouraging remark when opening the workshop at the Kuri village resort in Buka Town.
He explained to the miners that in this way, the industry will not only benefit the miners from that area but all the people of Bougainville through the ABG.
He pointed out that the workshop is very important for ABG to get a good and accurate understanding of the small scale gold mining industry.
He said he is pleased to open the workshop because it is the first serious effort to get that knowledge and understanding.
Chief Momis then called on all miners who are directly involved in this home-grown industry to share their knowledge and experience with everyone present and to tell them of the good things and also the bad things in between.
SMALL SCALE MINING BECOMING A BIG INDUSTRY
BY JENNIFER NKUI | NEW DAWN
Small scale mining is becoming a big industry and we have come to a stage where we must look at the industry critically.
This statement was made by ABG acting mining secretary Steven Burain during the small scale mining workshop in Buka today.
He said whatever policy and legislation we can have whether it needs to have a specific division to deal only with matters of small scale mining then so be it.
He pointed out that this small scale mining is an industry in itself within the mining industry.
Mr. Burain then told the participants, especially miners that mining is not only about getting money but to ensure that social issues, economic and environmental aspects are sustained.
He added that laws, legislation, capacity building is important for us to ensure there is a good administrative mechanism to be effective to create this sustainability.
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