Morobe Mining Joint Ventures comes to the aid of Wau violence victims

Caption: Hidden Valley Gold Mine general manager Adam Wright (right) presents the K25, 000 to provincial minister for law and order Benson Suang. Picture by SIMON ANAKAPU of MMJV.

 

MMJV donates K25, 000 and logistical support

Morobe Mining Joint Ventures, operators of the Hidden Valley gold mine, has joined the list of donors providing relief for those stricken by violence in and around Wau in the Morobe province.

The company last Friday presented K25, 000 to the overseeing committee of the Wau incident at a small ceremony at the provincial disaster office in Lae.

General manager of Hidden Valley Gold Mine, Adam Wright, presented the money to committee chairman and provincial minister for law and order Benson Suang.

  In addition to the logistical support currently being provided to government and police, MMJV also pledged the services of a small general maintenance team for at least one week to assist villagers in the affected areas to at least erect temporary shelters.

“Wau is a part of the community in which we work and live” Mr Wright said.

 “While the dispute did not involve the mine, it was only right for MMJV to assist.”

  Mr Wright commended the Morobe provincial government and Bulolo MP Sam Basil for their swift response in addressing the matter, as well as police, for their professional conduct in ensuring the Hidden Valley resumed operations on Sunday, March 22, just a day after the violence between Watut and Biangai tribes in Wau.

In receiving the money, Mr Suang extended the thanks of the people of Morobe and especially of the affected people in Wau to MMJV, and pledged that the funds would be used directly in providing relief to the affected.

Representatives of the landowner Nauti, Kwembu, Winima (Nakuwi) Association including president Rex Mauri (Winima), Joel Auwi (Kwembu) and Peter Askai (Nauti) were present at the ceremony.

Mr Mauri acknowledged the return of stability to the area and urged all landowner employees to return to their posts at the mine as soon as possible.

Police confirmed they would continue their operations in Wau for some time and assured the public of their commitment to maintaining law and order in the area.