The government has announced that Governance Minister Raphael Trotman who holds responsibility for the natural resources sector, has ordered that mining works be halted by the operator of a water dredge near the village of Isseneru in Region Eight.

The decision was made following concerns and complaints from the Toshao and representatives of the village.

“This order is effective immediately, pending a fact-finding mission to be conducted by the Ministry in the area on Wednesday November 18, 2015”, a release from the Ministry of the Presidency noted.

It further stated that the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment will be fielding a team of relevant authorities and stakeholders to assess the water quality and other issues and concerns related to pollution and adherence to boundary laws and that should allow for a final decision to be taken in this matter.

Village leaders of of Isseneru have publicly raised a number of concerns on the health and wellbeing of residents, especially the children, since a number of mining concessions are being operated in close proximity to their village.

The Government said it has undertaken the task of addressing the issue of land management and the distribution of lands for varying sectors in a holistic manner with the intention of creating a National Land Use Policy to avoid these occurrences.

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