VILLAGERS affected by ongoing development of the international port at the Kampot Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) have met with provincial authorities to voice concerns.

Doung Kheang, 47, a representative of the villagers, said the pumping of sand into the sea to create the port is depriving around 1,000 families of valuable fishing grounds. “They want us to support the project, but we depend on finding seafood for our living,” he said.

Heng Vantha, deputy governor of Kampot, insisted not all villagers were against the port because the SEZ is expected to create jobs. He is due to meet villagers later this week to discuss the development again. KSEZ President Vinh Huor could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Costing around US$80 million, the 1,000-hectare KSEZ is expected to open in mid-2011 in Koh Toch commune in Kampot.