Hinterland village leaders last Wednesday told Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman that they were being affected by a number of issues stemming from mining, including threats and damage to transport infrastructure, while others questioned why residents were being subjected to huge fines for the small amount of lumbering or logging they do on their lands.
During the now-concluded 13th National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, which was being hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, Edward McGarrell, Toshao of Chenapau, told the minister that the farm, home and land of an elderly resident, Mamai Lucille Williams, was “destroyed by mining and dredging.” “This has been happening for some time as illegal mining has always been a problem in this area and this is just one example,” he said before reminding the minister that he knew of the incident involving Williams. Further, McGarrell said the miners told Williams that they would build her a new home. “But if you go there now, all you will see is sticks,” McGarrell added.