‘14 days notice to Win Win mining looming soon’
CHIEFS and tribal owners of Turarana land are demanding Win Win Investment Company to a round table discussion over the log of claims which the company never responded to.
Turarana landowner and spokesperson Joel Jackson told Solomon Star in an exclusive interview that this decision was made after the four tribes of Turarana met on June 5th 2021.
The four tribes are Garavu, Manukiki, Kionahao and Lasi.
Mr. Jackson said during the meeting a five member taskforce representing the tribes was appointment to meet with Win Win Investment Company.
He said landowners wanted Win Win Investment Company to address their log of claims and for landowners and the company to revisit the 2020 Taskforce Report.
He said a 14 day notice will be issued to Win Win Investment Company on June 29th 2021 for the round table discussion.
“The 14 days’ notice will commence on the 29th of June 2021 and lapse on the 13th of July 2021.
“We strongly demand the Win Win Managing Director to meet our taskforce and discuss the log of claims submitted to them,” he added.
With the tribal landowners log of claims Mr. Jackson said all payments are stipulated in the Surface Access Agreement (SAA).
According to the agreement clause 1.0 Premium, an amount to be paid for a contract of insurance is SBD$26,000 and in Clause 1.1 Access fee is SBD$250,000.
Mr Jackson added that in Clause 1.1.4 Campsite is SBD$3,000 x 58 months, so Win Win mining did not pay SBD$174,000 to the landowners since 2017 till today.
He also added that for land rentals under clause 1.1.4 Win Win did not pay SBD$58,000 so they are operating free for 58 months on Turarana land.
For Clearing of Land under clause 1.4.3 in the agreement we did not know who Win Win mining paid to.
Jackson questioned if Win Win pay those dues which landowners did they paid the money too which was suppose to be the Turarana tribal people
In terms of Royalty Payments Jackson said according to the Mines and Mineral Act 1990 (No.3 of 1990), the Mines and Minerals Regulation 1996, Part eleven, Books and Record states the cancellation of mineral rights for failure to maintain records.
“It is common knowledge that Win Win Investment Limited has never provided any report of such nature to both Koehoto and Giluagono Landowners Associations respectively.
“The company fail miserably because nothing is in place for the royalty sharing,” he added.
This paper was also notified that according to KLA Expenditure Records (2017-2021) the Turarana chiefs and tribal landowners wish to access records of advances, death assistance and other payments paid to each of the four tribes.
Mr. Jackson said there is no transparency and accountability, Win Win Company must be transparent and provide accurate and updated records during the roundtable meeting.
It was understood that Turarana chiefs and tribal leaders agreed that the 2020 Taskforce Report must be revisited and brought to the attention of the police for investigation.
Mr. Jackson said these are some of the issues and log of claims they demanded Win Win to be answerable to during the roundtable discussion.
This paper understands that Win Win operations started on Mamasa, however the company discovered the tenement had low alluvial deposits on its stream beds so the mining activity is now operating in Turarana which is believed to have high alluvial deposits.
Comments are being sought from Win Win Investment Limited.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale has called for a moratorium to be placed on all forms of mining in the country until proper management and regulatory systems are put in place to safeguard our people and our non- renewable resources.
By ANDREW FANASIA
Newsroom, Honiara
