BAUXITE EXPORT DECISION SUSPICIOUS: OPPOSITION
The Leader of Opposition Jeremiah Manele. Photo credit: SIBC.
The Parliamentary Opposition Group has questioned the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and his Cabinet on why BT Mega Bintang Borneo Limited has been allowed to export Bauxite from Solomon Islands without a valid license.
The Indonesian mining company has been stockpiling bauxite from a West Rennell mine under its mining lease and prospecting license which was cancelled earlier this month.
In a statement today, the Parliamentary Opposition says Cabinet’s decision also raises more questions as it contradicts statements made by the Secretary to Cabinet and the Permanent Secretary of Mines who both said they were not aware of the Cabinet decision to allow the export.
The Opposition says this makes the Prime Minister and his Cabinet’s decision highly suspicious.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Opposition says it is calling on Prime Minister Sogavare and the Democratic Coalition for Change Government to justify their decision to allow the unlicensed investor to export the bauxite.