MALAITA Province is not a place for illegal logging, says Malaita Premier, Daniel Suidani.
Premier Suidani issued a reminder to loggers in an exclusive interview with Solomon Star Auki that there is no room for illegal logging in Malaita Province under his Malaita Alliance for Rural Advancement (MARA) government.
Since coming into power in 2019, the Suidani-led MARA government has been taking tough measures on logging operations in the province which owed the province SBD 4 million in revenue.
Since then, half of the total of 18 logging companies operating in the province left. Only nine logging companies that complied with terms and conditions set by the Provincial Government remain in operation.
Premier Suidani confirmed to this paper that the High Court has ordered an illegal logging operation in Small Malaita to cease its operation a week ago.
While, welcoming the decision by the High Court, Premier Suidani said logging is not a new business in the country and therefore logging operators should know the requirements they are obliged to follow.
The Premier said it is important that loggers satisfy all logging operational requirements and pay up their business licenses to the Provincial Government before operating and not the other way around.
He said the reason why his MARA government came up with the Auki Communique is to prevent such bad investors from doing illegal business activities in the province, adding that illegal logging is one of them.
On that note, the Premier called on loggers and resource owners alike to respect the Malaita Provincial Government and satisfy all requirements before carrying out any logging operations in the province.
The Premier said for a logging company to operate in Malaita, the Malaita Executive should meet and decide on its business license application.
The Premier said he finds it unacceptable when loggers deal with certain people in the administration and decide to carry on with their operation with the thinking the provincial government will not find out about their corrupt dealings.
He said in many cases, loggers have already landed in the province without the knowledge of the provincial government, forcing the provincial government to use its limited resources to try to track down their illegal activities which is totally unacceptable.
Premier Suidani said the fact that some loggers have tried to do away with the Malaita Provincial Government shows that they are not genuine investors and should stay away from Malaita Province.
By WILSON SAENI in Auki
