GOVERNMENT has been asked by the Gold Ridge landowners to pay their outstanding royalty without fail.
In a statement, the chairman of the Gold Ridge Community & Landowners Council Dick Douglas and landowners claimed they were assured by the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare that the royalty would be paid as soon as possible because the fund is already in the Central Bank of Solomon Islands.
“A few days after his election as Prime Minister, the executive of the landowners’ council met with the Prime Minister to discuss the unpaid royalty. The Prime Minister assured us that the royalty would be paid as the fund is already in the CBSI,” said Mr Douglas.
“This royalty is the money allegedly misused or lost by the officials from the Ministry of Mines. The government as the principal is liable to repaying the money hence correcting the actions of its agents,” Mr Douglas added.
He stated that the landowners have waited for so long to receive any payment and are calling once to the government to settle the payment without further delay.
“Gold Ridge landowners have been patient for too long and we are now demanding the payment of the royalty without fail.”
Mr Douglas added, “landowners are also requesting the Government to immediately allocate and transfer the title of the prime land as agreed in the 1996 Mining Agreement. This has dragged on for years so a settlement is now due.”
