Misima ocean dumping
Landowners expressed anger and frustration at the company’s use of ocean dumping (submarine tailings disposal and waste rock) that has polluted of their oceans and the practise that has completely destroyed huge sections of the fringing coral reef around the island.
“The system of tailings disposal utilised on the island –submarine tailings disposal- this system they used was not properly explained to the people… If this was properly explained to us, the people would have questioned it. They should have given us information about experiences in the places in the world where it is practised, and we would have questioned and we would have declined that practice. Our island is so small and our oceans too precious. We have no where when our resources are destroyed,” stated Ebia for the Siung Landowner Association, the group representing the landowners whose resource have been most seriously impacted by the mine. He went on to say:
“The system that they use for disposal is unacceptable, we were led to believe that nothing bad would happen, but bad things happened. With this recent cyanide spill, there was an admission from the company. But in the long run it will cost the people, it costs us also psychologically. We had a meeting in Gaibobo, and we advised those who don’t believe it is safe, you will stop yourselves from fishing, and those who do believe it is safe, you keep fishing. That is not an acceptable response. We must have proof that things are safe.
In the minds of the people, people are frightened. There is no guarantee that nothing will happen after the closure and relinquishment of the lease, after the company leaves, that more bad effects won’t happen. If something happens we face long term affects, there is no agreement that the company and government will compensate or help us.”
“The system of tailings disposal utilised on the island –submarine tailings disposal- this system they used was not properly explained to the people… If this was properly explained to us, the people would have questioned it. They should have given us information about experiences in the places in the world where it is practised, and we would have questioned and we would have declined that practice. Our island is so small and our oceans too precious. We have no where when our resources are destroyed,” stated Ebia for the Siung Landowner Association, the group representing the landowners whose resource have been most seriously impacted by the mine. He went on to say:
“The system that they use for disposal is unacceptable, we were led to believe that nothing bad would happen, but bad things happened. With this recent cyanide spill, there was an admission from the company. But in the long run it will cost the people, it costs us also psychologically. We had a meeting in Gaibobo, and we advised those who don’t believe it is safe, you will stop yourselves from fishing, and those who do believe it is safe, you keep fishing. That is not an acceptable response. We must have proof that things are safe.
In the minds of the people, people are frightened. There is no guarantee that nothing will happen after the closure and relinquishment of the lease, after the company leaves, that more bad effects won’t happen. If something happens we face long term affects, there is no agreement that the company and government will compensate or help us.”
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