THE GENERAL manager of Gold Ridge Mining Limited has thanked the people of Solomon Islands, particularly the people of Gold Ridge for the trust and confidence they placed on them.
Mr. Stean Berrie was speaking during a traditional reciprocal reconciliation ceremony between his company and traditional landowners of gold ridge in Central Guadalcanal last week.
The ceremony was arranged for both parties to mend whatever existed between each other after St. Barbara shut down the mine under the “forced majeure” clause as provided for in the mining agreement.
The GM told landowners that the seriousness of the floods caused by heavy rains included cutting off connections between Honiara and the plant site when the Tinahula bridge was detached.
“That could not allow fuel to be transported up to the plant site, including food, employees and other service providers”, Mr. Berrie told the landowners.
That said Mr. Berrie forced GRML to make a decision to shut the mine primarily for the safety of its workers and their families who have been threatened by the worst floods to have ever hit Central Guadalcanal in April.
“We were planning to return when all of a sudden travel bans were imposed on our expatriate workers. But our action may have been perceived wrongly and may have affected and angered some of you.
“Today I accept and fully appreciate the rebuilding of the broken relationship that may have existed between us”, Mr. Berrie said.
“We respect the culture of our hosts. We did this today to show our respect to the people of Gold Ridge to allow us to return. Rebuilding of this broken relationship is our priority”, he added.
He also thanked everyone for the support rendered especially surrounding communities and employees during their absence from the country.
He also acknowledged the fact that company properties are intact.
“I must also thank St. Barbara Board of Directors for the big decision to keep employees’ salaries over the past weeks since early April. That was to demonstrate St. Barbara’s commitment to invest in this country”, Mr. Berrie said.
Mr. Berrie also used the opportunity to convey St. Barbara’s condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their loved ones and properties during the April floods.
“Please accept our condolences and sadness to everyone affected by the floods”, Mr. Berrie said,
He said that GRML will continue to work with all its stakeholders as they began implementing their stabilization plan.
However the greatest challenge faced by GRML now is the Tinahula River Bridge.
A visit to the site confirms that both sides of the bridge were washed away, living the bridge to stand idle in the middle like an island.
“Although temporary work to allow vehicles passed through was done, all heavy plants cannot cross the bridge under the present condition”, Farani a member of the Bemuta village, situated near the Tinahula river said.
He said even the reconstructions itself is temporary therefore a permanent construction is needed.
“Gold Ridge hosts a major national project, therefore the government must prioritize the reconstruction of the Tinahula Bridge”, Farani said.
But Mr. Berrie confirmed that the responsibility to reconstruct the bridge rests with the national government.
“The responsibility to rebuilding the bridge rests with the national government, therefore we will work closely with the MID to get this important infrastructure usable again”, Berrie said.
Meanwhile Mr. Berrie also extended his sincere appreciation to all the other stakeholders who have worked hard to commence their stabilization plan to allow them recommence work at gold ridge.
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