THE Gold Ridge People’s Power Group (GRPPG) has called on the national government to disengage the Fijian security firm contracted to provide security at Gold Ridge mine site, central Guadalcanal.
The group said the job should have been given to locals.
Spokesman for the group Ribson Nunua said people of Gold Ridge are not happy with the engagement of the Fijian security firm.
Mr Nunua said GRPPG is questioning why the government has allowed Gold Ridge Mining Limited to bring in this firm instead of engaging the local police or the local land owning tribes.
He said Gold Ridge people are calling on the government to terminate the contract of the Fijian security since it does not look right to them.
Mr Nunua said it does not make sense for the company to engage foreigners on a lucrative contract when it still fails to address outstanding issues of the people of Gold Ridge namely”
1) Royalty, compensation payment of Tabu sites, land rental, and grave sites.
2) Relation payment compensation and benefit (Relocation issues)
3) Relocation land tenants.
4) Fixing the tailing dam
5) Eradicate the chemical spill at the mine site during the flash flooding.
6) No proper consultation will landing group before given contract to Fijian security.
7) Relief Assistance April 3rd 2014 Flash flooding.
“We wish to warn the government that if it fails to address these issues and listen to our concerns, we will not accept the proposed reconciliation that the government has planned with the land owners of Gold Ridge.”
Mr Nunua said they will dispute the planned 42 chupus that the government will organise for them since it failed to honour the above mentioned issues.
HE added unless the government addresses these outstanding issues, any planned reconciliation by the government will be disputed.
A government official said the security officers were employed by St Barbra, which owned the mine site, and not the government.
The Solomon Star understands RSIPF officers are still manning the mine site alongside nine Fijian security officers.
Seven more Fijians are expected to arrive yesterday.
Information gathered by this paper has revealed locals living around the mine site are not happy with the way the Fijian security officers are using dogs to chase them out from the site.
By DANIEL NAMSOAUA
