Dead fish in Markham River

Frank Rai and Oseah Philemon 

LABU people living near the Markham Bridge outside Lae are demanding K10 million compensation from mining company Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) for loss of fish and other food sources from the Markham River.

They are also demanding that the company provide all affected people in area with food supplies as the pollution in the Markham River has now destroyed their only means of growing food along the banks of the river as well the fish from the river.

They have drawn up a petition as the result of the people finding dead fish including eels, cat fish and prawns floating on the surface of the Markham River yesterday. The villagers are using that to support their claim for compensation from the mine.

However, despite the dead fish being found and the demands of the Labu people against MMJV, no official scientific tests have yet been done to determine the actual cause of the deaths or the source from which any poisonous chemicals may have emanated resulting in the fish and prawns being killed.

The Labu people drew up a petition which their representatives will present to representatives of MMJV and the Morobe Provincial Government in Lae today. In the petition the Labu people are also demanding that the company provides water tanks and build them water supplies to give them fresh water.

The petition also calls for resettlement of people living near the banks of the Markham River who are affected by pollution as well as royalty payments to the Labu people who are affected by the mine.

Yesterday afternoon a group of noisy Labu people met with an environmental team from MMJV near the Markham Bridge where they demanded immediate help from the company and the Morobe Provincial Government.

Speakers also accused Morobe Governor Luther Wenge of failing to act on a petition they gave him demanding help for the Labu people affected by the mine.

The Markham Bridge community collected dead fish and eels among others and heaped them on drums they used to block the bridge to stop MMJV vehicles passing through. The road block was still being manned last night.

Meanwhile at Labu-Buttu village on the mouth of the Markham River, Councilor Jeffrey Tipi reported that dead fish have also been picked up at the mouth of the river and along the Labu-Buttu coastline.

Councilor Tipi called a meeting of the villagers last night to discuss the problem and for a delegation of community leaders to take the matter to the Morobe Provincial Government today. Councilor Titpi expressed grave concern about the matter saying the livelihood of the Labu people was now serious jeopardy.

“Our only fishing ground is around the mouth of the Markham River, the Labu lakes and the waters of the Huon Gulf not far from Lae.

“If the fish are dead because of poisoning then our entire livelihood is now in grave danger,” Councilor Tipi said.

“I urge the Morobe Provincial Government and the national government to immediately investigate this matter. It is a very serious environmental issue.”

Yesterday morning reports surfaced of dead fish, prawns and eels being found by locals from the mouth of the Watut River and the Markham River down to Labu villages along the Huon Gulf coast of Morobe Province. Dead fish were found along the mouth of the Watut River and the Markham River from there to Zifasing village and down the Markham River to the mouth of the river near Labu villages not far from Lae.

More than 5, 000 people live along both rivers and the coast of the Wampar Local Level Government (LLG) council area whose livelihood depends very much on fish, prawns and eels caught from the rivers.

Yesterday, disgruntled locals blocked the Markham Bridge section of the Wau/Bulolo Highway to show their frustrations to both the government and Hidden Valley gold mine developer, Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV). They told reporters at the site that they wanted Morobe Governor Luther Wenge and MMJV to respond to a petition that they had presented regarding the river systems three months ago or MMJV vehicles would not have access to the mine.

Spokesman Michael Poane said the issue of the Markham River was a longtime issue but it has been falling on deaf ears. Mr Poane said the livelihood of the people depended on the river for income and personal use, noting such indication of dead fish, prawns and eels were sign of environmental destruction.

He said villages starting from Lower Watut, Mare, Timinini, Wampit, Gabensis Labu One, Labu Two and Labu Three depended on the river and the fish.

The spokesman claimed that there were signs of pollution in the river system and had called on the Governor Wenge to send in an independent investigator to test the river.

Meanwhile, MMJV General Manager Sustainability and External Relations David Wissink said the mine was alerted yesterday by locals from Chiatz village near the confluence of the Watut and Markham Rivers of approximately 500 dead fish and prawns. Mr Wissink said the quality of the water discharged from the Hidden Valley mine operations was monitored on a daily basis.