Ok Tedi landowners

The agreement with the Ok Tedi Landowners Royalty Investment Trust will see TPA provide technical and other support to the landowner communities to develop and market their tourism products.

Tourism Promotion Authority CEO, Jerry Agus, said whilst we appreciate the good work that the mining and petroleum sector is doing, it is common knowledge that this sector has a timeframe to it.

“Over the next 20 or 30 years’ time, we know that these sectors will come to an end,” he stated.

“And when that happens, which industries are we going to fall back on?

President of Ok Tedi Mine Impacted Area Association (OTMIAA) Nick Bunn on behalf of the people of Western Province said the benefits must be shared with the right full landowners of the mine Villages.

He said the landownership issue has been outstanding for a very long time.

“We are now looking forward to working closely with the Government to ensure that the K5b for the people of Western be given back through a transparent, fair and benefit structure which will be distributed according to the sharing structure which will be agreed to through the awareness program.”

President of Ok Tedi Mine Impacted Area Association (OTMIAA) Nick Bunn on behalf of the people of Western Province thanked the Government for the 33% direct shareholder holding in Ok Tedi Mine and says the shares will empower the people of Western to participate in the Ok Tedi Board and make decisions for its people.

“We would like to see decisions are made at the ward levels on how this funds are used for development purposes in the village and ward level.”