The Belolo Joint District Planning Committee is backing landowners from Nauti inthe Watut LLG, to take up legal proceedings against a local umbrella association, for facilitatingthe review of an MOA without an incumbent President.
It is allegedthe NakuLandowners Association, whichthe Nauti people are a part of, reviewed and authorized a memorandum of agreement without voting in a new president.
Belolo JDPC Chairman and Member Sam Besil, met with concerned Nauti landowners, at Henao’s Lawyers in Port Moresby on Thursday.
Therethey announcedthe actionthey were taking to resolve outstanding issues regardingthe Hidden Valley Mine Operations and overdue benefits.
The Hidden Valley Mine Operations began in 2009.
From Belolo, three villages inthe Watut LLG have shares inthe mine, with Winima and Kuembu Villages owning 12.5 per cent each, while Nauti owns 75 percent.
They say inthe current MOA, this percentage is not reflected in royalty payments, and ther spin-off benefits.
They say inthe current MOA, this percentage is not reflected in royalty payments, and ther spin-off benefits.
Mr Besil said for too longthe Nauti people had been taken for a ride.
He stressed that this legal battle was not a challenge tothe Provincial and National Governments,the developer Morobe Mining Joint Venture, or ther stakeholders, but to helpthe landowners receive what is owed tothem.
They want to clarify royalty payments, and spin-off benefits to ensurethey reflect shares fromthe Hidden Valley Mine Operations, of whichthey own a majority.
K100, 000 from royalty funds was paid to principal lawyer Loani Henao to begintheir cause.
