TRIBAL and Community members of the Gold Ridge Landowners last week reconciled with the executive of the Gold Ridge Mining Ltd (GRML).
Initiated by the local chiefs of Gold Ridge, the ceremony was performed to mend broken relationship between the company and the traditional landowners and surrounding communities.
“The significance of the ceremony is to mend broken relationship which was broken by the natural disaster and political decisions”, said chief and senior statesman, Sir Paul Tovua.
“This ceremony allows all of us to come together, sit together, talk together and accept each other”, Sir Paul told all parties involved.
Sir Paul said the ceremony signifies their thank you to the company.
“We genuinely ask you to come back and do your work here for the benefit of our people. This Malona (Guadalcanal traditional shell money) represents a call of return”, Sir Paul explained during the presentation.
Sir Paul who was involved in the initiation of the ceremony urged the GRML management team to use the ceremony as a building block for a better future.
Speaking on behalf of the Gold ridge landowners, Mr. Dick Douglas, chairman of the Gold Ridge Landowners Council said the event marks GRML’s re-entry into our country and into the gold ridge vicinity to recommence operations.
“I want to begin by calling on the good company to do just three things for my people, respect, recognition and responsibility. These 3 Rs’ are important for our people, our culture and our community”, Douglas said.
He praised GRML for demonstrating these 3 Rs and that the ceremony confirms this commitment.
“I acknowledge your acceptance and for valuing our people culture and community. You have shown respect by participating in this cultural obligation, recognizing our people’s beliefs, perform it willingly and demonstrated great responsibility”, Douglas told GRML executives, led by Mr. Stean Berrie, GRML General Manager.
“I also thank GRML for the bold stand in spite of the numerous challenges you encountered during the past two months”, he added.
Mr. Douglas went on to thank his two sister associations, the Kolobisi Tailing Dam Association and the Downstream Associations for their unified support during the unwavering negotiations with the government in their endeavour for St. Barbara to return to the country and recommence the gold ridge project.
“I must also commend my good people for the good behaviour demonstrated during the last two months for keeping their hands away from company properties during the absence of the company.
“You have shown respect to the company and its properties and this is a good sign of working together with our investors. Please keep up the good characters shown during this period”, the chairman said.
He further thanked his Council members for the role they played and their efforts to conduct awareness, which was important to embrace their people during the difficult situation.
“To you good council members, I commend you for your unprecedented efforts in conducting awareness programs to your own tribes and communities. What we witnessed is the result of your hard work”, Douglas said.
Finally the chairman thanked the RSIPF for the role they played to ensure company properties are safe and secured from thefts and vandalism.
“The efforts of RSIPF and RAMSI must never go unnoticed. Thank you RSIPF and RAMSI”, Douglas said.
The ceremony consists of two reciprocal ceremonies. First the landowners presented heaps of traditional food items, including a live pig and traditional shell money, known as chupu (solovisu – a call for return) to the company representatives and the company in acceptance presented chupu (visumai – signifying the return) to each of the 16 tribes that own land within the gold ridge mining development vicinity.
There were also separate presentations of visumai chupus to Chiefs, and Chairmen of the 3 landowners Associations.
The ceremony was held Wednesday 25th June and was attended by chiefs, tribal members, women, youth and surrounding communities.
A member of one of the landowning tribes, Mr. Choni said, it is good that the company has demonstrated respect for our culture.
“We look forward to working closely with the company as they began their stablization plans”, and added that they will support GRML in their effort to restarting operations at gold ridge.
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