Seabed Mining. The so-called ‘latest frontier’ in mineral extraction in the commodity hungry industrialized world where cars, houses and airplanes are more and more in demand. The thing is no matter how much people try to dress it up and make it look safe, economical and people friendly – mineral exploitation is mineral exploitation full stop.

Now in case you’ve been living under a rock and you don’t know what’s been happening in Papua New Guinea politics, one of the most debated topics in and out of parliament (aside from the Manus being used as another Australian detention center) is experimental seabed mining in the Bismark Sea.

There are always two sides to a story but only has honest truth. In this particular story on one side, the people of Papua New Guinea, who have had decades of experience with mining projects: the promises made, the promises not kept, the negotiations and the life changing (pain inflicting) adjustments they’ve had to make after the mines have raped their land.

Then we have the unholy union of the government of PNG and a foreign owned company called Nautilus Minerals Inc. Together they have had the same amount of experience in mining projects, the same amount of making promises and not keeping them. But the biggest difference is NONE of those so-called-executives that are on the major receiving end of the promised billions will depend and continue to survive on the land (or in this particular case - the sea) post-a-mining project.

A.Geoffrey Loudon, Stephen Rogers, Russell Debney, Matthew Hammond and Cynthia Thomas will NEVER have a connection to the sea that goes beyond a month or two of sun, frolics, drinks and laughter. They do not wake up everyday breathing in the sea breeze, eating from the sea, playing in the sea and those peoples’ lives are not dictated by the sea. Unlike the people born and living around Namatanai, Duke of York, Watom, Nonga, Malaguna, Tavui, Vunaroto, Sudest and Misima Islands. Our people NEED their sea, their home, to be as healthy and as predictable as one can expect mother nature to be.

Our very own ‘Honorable Prime Minister’ has stated in different ways that his people come first. Hopefully when he says ‘his people’ he is talking about the people of Papua New Guinea (that is kind of what the Prime Minister of any given country is supposed to do – Peter!)  and not the others (so-called investors) when he makes national decisions.

At the moment though concern for Papua New Guineans seems to be the last thing on his mind. Well - in comparison to his concern for 'companies that have invested in licenses’. More telling is the following statement he made yesterday when prompted by journalist while awaiting the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

“The government wanted to do the right thing to companies that had invested in the licenses issued and there was no point trying to frustrate prospective developers because they had an obligation to their shareholders as well.”

To any English comprehending human that is as good as saying “Shut up Papua New Guineans! You don’t matter!”

Over and over again The Pangia Warrior has been told (the writings on the wall Peter) that Papua New Guineans demand more research to be carried out before any mineral extraction can be done in their seas. Numerous citizens, members of parliament, university students, community groups, traditional leaders, elders and thousands of Papua New Guineans from different walks of life are wise enough to know that it is ‘better to be safe than sorry’.

The call is now yours Honorable Mister Prime Minister ol lain blo yu yet ol Papua Niugini or Foreign Companies?

Picture from ABC