Titus Soba, a prominent chief of the Chacha tribe of Gold Ridge, has strongly criticised the recent decision by the Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and Deputy Prime Minister, Bradley Tovosia, to cancel Gold Ridge Mining Limited’s (GRML) Prospecting License (PL05/22) over Mt Vunusa.
In a letter dated December 9, 2024, addressed to GRML’s Managing Director, the Minister stated that the Mines and Mineral Board had revisited its recommendations and resolved to cancel the prospecting license due to ongoing issues with “landowners groups comprising the ‘Koehoto Region’ having rights over land blocks within your PL tenement area on Mt Vunusa.
The letter further noted that “certain landowners have revoked consent to access over their areas as per the terms of the access agreement,” based on this revocation, the Board concluded that GRML “no longer had access to the land as per the Surface Access Agreement.”
But Chief Soba condemned the Minister’s decision, calling it a slap in the face for the Gold Ridge landowners who have sacrificed their resources for the benefit of the Solomon Islands.
“This is a slap in the face of our people because there was no notice or consultations with us as stakeholders of the regions that contributed much in the mining sector, and economy of the country,” Chief Soba said.
He also emphasized that Koehoto is a region, not a tribe, and only one tribe within the region raised concerns, while all the other tribes in the four regions had already given their approval through the SAA.
“We find this decision deeply concerning. Why should the actions of a few overrides the collective of all landowning tribes?” Chief Soba questioned.
He also pointed out that GRML operates legally under the country’s regulations, adding, “We don’t want company which disrespected the laws and dealt unprofessionally with landowners.”
Chief Soba said “Under the Solomon Islands Mines and Mineral Act, a Special Prospecting License (SPL) is a type of license granted to individuals or entities to conduct detailed exploration and evaluation of mineral resources within a specified area. This license allows more intensive and extensive prospecting activities compared to a regular prospecting license.”
Chief Soba further called for the immediate review of the Minister’s decision, stressing the need for legal agreements and collective landowner voicers to be upheld.
He reaffirmed the importance of fostering a stable and professional relationship between landowners, mining operators and the Ministry of Mines to ensure the sustainable development of the nation’s resources.
When Solomon Star contacted Minister Tovosia, he said “That is law.”
