Ramu Nickel Mine's plans in Madang Province irks leaders

Clan leaders at Basamuk in Madang Province are worried about the underwater blasting operation that the developers of the Ramu Nickel Mine are proposing as reported in the Post Courier, January 19th 2010.

Spokesman of the Tong and Ongeg clans of Basamuk, Lois Medaing Gorongo said the sea is the peoples’ source or livelihood and he feared this would be affected if the operation was allowed to continue. Mr Gorongo said for years, the people had been living off the reefs in the area and refuted claims by the company that the reefs they proposed to blast were dead.

A concerned citizen, David Kitchnoge who works in Port Moresby is very vocal on such issues says, "all investors from anywhere, including China, are welcome to invest in Papua New Guinea and help build our cash economy and develop our country. “But at what human cost?” is the question we all are trying to seek answers to. Guam River in Madang - one of the money rivers where Ramu Nickel Mine has supposedly dumps it's waste

China’s efforts globally will be appreciated locally if we can see Chinese in Papua New Guinea respect our laws and conduct their businesses fairly. Otherwise, we will forever be sceptical. Isn’t this a cost of development and can it be done better another way so as to not bomb the reefs?"

The west has also had its fair share of human abuses, mostly during their mad rush for riches during the colonial days. But these happened when we didn’t know better and were not in a position to defend ourselves. Today, we know better and will not allow anyone from east, west, north or south of the globe to take us for a ride again.

Refer to a related story in the Post Courier about the proposed bombing of reefs in Madang Province.