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

Nianguma, so the leaders of the 8 clans were urged to fast-track registration of a landownercompany and other necessary documentation with Baltazar Kaprangi.Kreer Village with Paul Samore, Karaga clan; Herman Samore, Karaga clan; Jeves Hoibi; JacobElaxo. Kreer Village has 9 subclans but 2 major ones are White and Black Koki, in the Karagaclan. Karaga clan owned the land where the loinery exists, and they live at Kreer Village. Theyregistered to establish spinoff businesses, for K250, with the Commerce Department (IPA).“From day one the loinery factory never contacted us to run a spin-off business. They promisedus a spin-off like housing scheme contract, chicken project and many more, but all thesepromises were watered down.“The Provincial Planner agrees that the spinoffs were not well organised by the people. Therewas a lack of liaison between the Provincial Government and the local people to arrange forspinoffs, because the Provincial Government itself was not ready to take on board SST.m. Environmental Impact reports and public concernsWe did not get our hands on the SST Environmental Plan Application, to which a WWFconsultant replies below (item m.3.c.). But we’ve collected here reponses to the factory itself,and to its plans, as a reflection of the community concerns regarding its environmental impact.As can be seen, the factory apparently did not consult with the community at all beforeconstruction began, and this prompted the OEC to call a meeting at which they were assured byan environmental consultant to SST that all the best precautions would be taken and noshoreline pollution would eventuate. Sludge, smell and noise would also be controlled, theywere assured. “He said while the environmental plan was still in draft stages, the NationalPhysical Planning Board had given approval for site work to commence. No construction workwill be done until the environmental plan has been approved.” They defended themselvesagainst possible court action by explaining that construction had not actually been started.Unfortunately, this evasive defense is all that might be required, because there are noindependent review board in place for assessing the veracity or standards of an environmentalimpact plan the company might lodge. There are no safeguards in place to require that plans beeffected, and no qualified body to evaluate whether the poposed procedures are sufficient, oreven realistic. Thus, just like RD Tuna in Madang, an industry processing plant that couldpotentially damage the fishing grounds and bathing water of the community, that could requireoverfishing or destructive fishing practices, that could emit unsanitary effluent and fumes, anddecide to pay their laborers minimum wage, is free to begin operations at any time, and virtuallyanywhere.Moreover, a processing plant that does pose an environmental and possible health risk, andwhich receives notice from the community at large of its destructive effects, is perfectly free toignore complaints and carry on as always.1. PressSource: Post Courier Wednesday, 2 May 2001Cannery plans clearedTHE major environmental concerns on the proposed Wewak Tuna Canning project have beenadequately accommodated in the project environmental plan, according to proponents of theproject. This assurance was made yesterday during a consultation meeting between officers69