Bugajim Community along the Astrolaby Bay in Raicoast District of Madang Province was one of the communities that Ramu Nickel Mine in Madang Province took time off to conduct its Annual Awareness based on the environment aspect of the mine.
This year, the mine’s Environment office focused its awareness on schools along its coastal pipeline that started its program with Erima Primary School, Bugajim Primary School in the Astrolaby Bay Local Level Government, and schools along Saidor Local Level Government in Raicoast District.
Bugajim Community Leader and Bugajim School Board Chairmen Mr. Emil Gamog said Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited did a lot for the communities that live along its project corridor.
“This includes programs that benefit the communities through the physical aspect such as health infrastructure projects and programs, education (teacher house, classrooms etc.. and medical drug supply,” Mr Gamog said.
He said the Awareness program is one way that the mine can directly interact with the local communities without with question answer sessions to clarify and justify conspiracies that various communities have.
Bugajim High school Teacher Mr Ray Nanaleu after witnessing the Awareness program commented on the how Ramu NiCo has been working hard to explain to the communities on the lengthy process it dose to keep the local communities informed and educated on things like the process it does to make its Deep Sea Tailings Placement safe for the coastal communities along the Bismarck Sea towards Madang and Raicoast District.
“Such programs like this help the communities to understand what the mine is also doing to keep the sea safe as well as educating students who are studying in the local schools to fully understand the environmental processes that the mine is doing to keep the sea safe for maritime and fishing activities along the coastal communities,” Mr Ray Nanaleu said.
He said this awareness program also motivates students to work harder to one-day be an officer like the employees of Ramu NiCo and work in big corporations and companies.
“We are happy that Ramu NiCo took time to come and talk with the students and community as part of Ramu NiCo’s DSTP Awareness program in Bugasim Community,” the teacher Mr Nanaleu said.
Ramu NiCo Awareness Program started on Monday 19th and ended on Thursday 22nd with school along Saidor Local Level Government in Raicoast District and the team will return back to the Head Office in Madang.
The Awareness team compromise of the Mines Environment Department and the Community Affairs Department of Ramu NiCo.
The team also took representative from the National Government’s Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) from Port Moresby, officers from Madang Mining Division and Mineral Resources Authority in Madang (MRA).
Bugajim School Board Chairman and Community Leader Mr. Emil Gambol expressing his satisfaction during the Awareness Program in Bugajim Primary School in Raicoast District.