Lafayette fine not enough, say execs

Lafayette fine not enough, say execs

First posted 11:05pm (Mla time) Jan 10, 2006
By Blanche S. Rivera
Inquirer

THE multimillion-peso fine slapped against an
Australian mining firm apparently was not enough to
appease the fishing communities surrounding the
Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project site in Albay and
officials of Sorsogon, including the House minority
floor leader.

Local officials, fishermen�s group and House Minority
Leader Chiz Escudero yesterday reiterated a call for
Lafayette Mining Inc., operator of the P10.4-billion
mining project in Rapu-Rapu, Albay to pull out of the
island so fishermen can recover their livelihood.

Prieto-Diaz Mayor Benito Doma said the P10.7 million
fine on Lafayette�s subsidiary, Rapu-Rapu Processing
Inc., was not enough to ensure that the mining company
would install safeguards to prevent another mine spill
that caused fish kills on the island.

�The economic loss of fishers is bigger than the fine
because it could last even after Lafayette�s project
ends in seven years. Until now, the people in other
cities are not buying fish from Rapu-Rapu, our area
and other towns in Sorsogon facing the Pacific coast,�
Doma said in a phone interview yesterday.

In an e-mailed statement, Escudero said the fine was
too small and not commensurate to the damage that
Lafayette has done.

He also said the fine should translate into livelihood
and economic opportunities for fishermen who suffered
from the effects of the mine spill.

In an interview, Rod Watt, Lafayette country manager,
said the firm would comply with the conditions set by
the DENR along with the P10.7 million fine.

�We would not want an untoward incident to happen
again,� he said. �We would avail of the approval of
the government � before we proceed with our mining
activities.�

Roderick Salazar, lawyer and head of the Lafayette
subsidiary Rapu-Rapu Minerals Inc., said his firm
remained optimistic that �by correcting the issues and
resuming operations � we can deliver the type of
production that will sustain profitability and local
employment.�

But Escudero, in his statement, said the environment
should take precedence over whatever economic gains
could be had from the Lafayette operations.

Prieto-Diaz, an island municipality across Rapu-Rapu,
has reported big losses in its fisheries trade. People
refused to buy fish from areas near the mine site even
if these were sold cheap.

�Until now, the fish scare is there,� Doma said.

He said international and local nongovernment
organizations are helping small municipalities collate
data to document the adverse impact of Lafayette�s
mining project on fishing communities, mangroves and
whale sharks.

�The fight will continue. We still want Lafayette out
of here,� Doma said, disclosing plans to file a civil
suit against Lafayette.

Pamalakaya, a militant fishermen�s group, said the
problem would not end unless Lafayette is forced out
of the 5,000-hectare island with a rich marine
ecosystem. With a report from Cristine Gaylican