The payment is being carried out by a nine-man technical team from the Ministries of Lands, Mines and Energy; Justice and Finance.

The Concession Coordinator at the Lands, Mines and Energy Ministry, David Zarlee said the exercise fulfils government’s side of the concession agreement signed with China Union, which provides that all assets of the former Bong Mining Company will be turned over to China Union.

He explained that several meetings were held with representatives of the squatters and that both parties agreed that the squatters should leave the camp by January 10, 2014 to enable China Union renovate the houses.

LINA RD/TSS/PTK