Fishy business. The Social Impact of SST.pdf - Act Now!

people were made to believe that new technology used will not produced the foul smell that thepeople of Madang are experiencing.The people were misinformed and now there were much complaints of the foul smell producedfrom almost all residents of Wewak and visitors as well. The officer interviewed said that smellis pollution and it is not good for outside investors who are interested in businesses other thanfishing.Yawasoro the SSTC plant was originally planned to be built there but logistical problems aremore and have to bring it closer to the wharf. If they have to build the factory at Yawasoro theyhave consider many things like wharf, transportation etc. Also they have some landowner issuesstill outstanding so they moved to the present location. The company wanted to dealt with thegovernment then to be involved in landownership issues do they just leased the land for thePNG Harbors Board. At Yawasoro there are many owners to the land and made the issuescomplicated.Yawasoro is the original is the original site the SSTC loining plant was to be built. All thenecessary ground work was done including signing legal documentation such as MOA with theparties concerned such as the Provincial Government, the Developer and the land owners. Theground breaking ceremony was done and the project was expected to kick off. However, thecompany and the government through the East Sepik Provincial Government came to aconclusion that the logistical cost of the plant in Yawasoro would be very much expensive thanto have a site close to the sea/ wharf.When you are dealing with fish you have to have better port facilities because it will determinethe supplies you get from your fishing crews. Everyday fish will come in from the sea andexport ready to be shipped to the markets overseas. It was rather expensive to think of the allexpenses involved and it was agreed that it was more convenient to build the factory at the sitewhere it is. The land is state owned that we had no hassles from the landowners to develop thispiece of land. It fact it was muddy and swampy but it was filled up and now you see a differentplace. It was not like this before.There is no legal case as yet with the Saure people claiming compensation from the developeror the government for damages but I think they might take up a case. I am not aware of anylatest development on this side of things but my opinion would be that the SSTC and thegovernment gave false hope and expectation to the Saure landowners and they have every rightto complain and be angry.During the Orientation Program workers are given a pamphlet with some of the only writteninformation they will have on the factory. The pamphlet explains that,67