GOV’T RESPECT OUR WISHES, BRING BACK ST. BARBARA: CRCLC
Equipment is readied for the reopening of the Gold Ridge mine in the Solomon Islands March 4, 2011. REUTERS/James Regan.
The Gold Ridge Community and Landowners Council, GRCLC is calling on the National Government to respect them by allowing St. Barbara resume its Gold Ridge Mine operation.
Council Chairperson, Dick Douglas told SIBC News, prolonging St. Barbara’s return only increases the threats posed to the lives of Gold Ridge landowners and their environment.
He says banning members of the mining company from re-entering the country goes against obligations under existing agreements while outstanding issues remain unsolved.
“Banning the company from returning to the country also goes against obligations under existing agreements and outstanding issues, which were not resolved. Landowners would lose their benefits and rights. If the ban is prolonged then it means that the existing agreements we’ve signed and our outstanding issues will not be paid or resolved to us the landowners and by that, we will loose our benefits as stipulated under the agreements we have signed with the company.”
The Chairman says, while they respect the government’s decision, the Gold Ridge mine is a national project that contributes substantially to the country’s national economy.
For this reason he adds, it is in the national interest that they support St. Barbara’s return to resume operations in Solomon Islands.
SIBC News understands, the Australian miner has assured both Gold Ridge landowners and the Solomon Islands Government that it will soon return to resume operations.