Former MARA Political Advisor denies granting licence to Asian Mining Company
The former MARA Political Advisor, Celsus Talifilu, had denied former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani and his MARA government was responsible for granting a prospecting Mining Licence to the New Asian Mining Company.
The New Asian Mining Company is currently in East Malaita doing mineral prospecting for a year which will end next year in March after receiving a business licence from the Malaita New Government for Fundamental Redirection (MNGFR) in April this year.
Mr. Talifilu said the fact remains that the former MARA government, under the leadership of former Premier Suidani, had never been involved in the gathering of the prospecting mining licence.
He said the process of applying for a prospecting licence is clear that the application for a prospecting licence is lodged to the director of mines, who upon being satisfied that the application meets requirements, will pass the application and his/her recommendation to the board of mines and minerals for their decision.
He said there is no way under the sun Suidani and the MARA government had granted the licence to the New Asian Mining Company in the dying days of the MARA government as claimed in the article, “NOT THE FINI GOVT”.
Mr. Talifilu wrote, “Alfred Sasako, in his latest publication on the new Asia Mining Company, continues to lay bare his lies all over again.”
In a clarification note, he stated “The Suidani-led MARA government has never been involved in the granting of the prospecting mining licence nor in approving the prospecting provincial business licence for the company.”
“All these are done by the new Fini-led government, “he added.
“Sasako continues to spread lies and misinform the public about this matter,” where he said what is wrong cannot be right again.
“Sasako erroneously asserted that the $250,000 was the payment for the prospecting licence.”
“The $250,000 is rather a payment for the Provincial Business Licence for the company to operate its business activity in Malaita.”
“Records that surfaced on the social media clearly showed that it was Fini’s government that executed the facilitation of the business licence.”
“There is no record whatsoever that shows it is Suidani’s government that approved the $250,000 business licence fee.”
“The prospecting business licence fee was paid on 13th April after the Fini government gave approval on 3rd April 2023.”
With the claim that the Suidani-led government is responsible for the issuing of the prospecting licence, Mr. Talifilu questioned if the Acting PS David Filia ever attended a meeting held by the Mineral Board on the prospecting licence during MARA’s reign.
He also questioned the absence of the Provincial Secretary. Would the board still be able to make decisions?
According to former Premier Mr. Suidani, the Acting PS at no time briefed his executives on any matter reached by the mineral board regarding the matter.
The former Premier told this paper that the MARA government is totally against mining, where he said there is evidence that the current MNGFR has issued a business licence to the Asian New Mining Company in April this year and not his former MARA government.
By WILSON SAENI
in Auki
