Central Province premier Stanley Manetiva says he’s written a letter to International Comrade Shipping Ltd (ICCL) owners to keep away from the Russell Islands.
ICCL are one of the shareholders in Russell Islands Plantations Estates Limited, which used to operate the cocoa and coconut plantations in the Russells.
In his letter, Manetiva said:
“Please refrain from trying to get to the Russell islands plantation because it will only further confuse my people in the Russell islands and the province and the country as a whole and add so much mess to fix.
“You have done enough damages already for a very long time, and we are sick of it.
“It has left so much complication for the province and the country in terms of legal issues and revenue lost.
“I kindly ask my people in the Russells especially fellow workers whom the company has destroyed their future permanently to not to listen to them anymore.
“Russell islands people we the land owners have experience the worst nightmare in history that ever happened to our home.
“Your land has been a long time issue and yet to come the worst ever scenario in terms of ownership I must warn you.
“It is high time now to realise the past mistakes our leaders have made because of some unknown reasons and stop following people who will bring the future generation to suffer the consequences of our selfish decision-makings and disturb this country’s monetary wise.
“I have put an end to the RIPEL operational licence since I have realise that decisions made by the past associates derived were from narrow minded leaders and not visionists.
“It was very sad the decision made was what harvested and complicated to escape from and God knows time and effort it will take to resort to a remedy.
“I would further explain my government and people’s welfare and well-being is selfishly deprived and I advise any government to come after me must be defensive in protecting your people and the central provincial government.
“My questions are:
· How will the company deal with the future of the workers whom it employed and deserted them for years? The citizens of this country are used and deprived, which is not different from a genocide.
· The lease is on the company’s side how can a foreigner play with our country’s sovereignty?
· The company’s owners are not asleep restless defensively to further destroy this country will they get out from staying in this country and keep playing with our lives and future?
· Where in the picture does the Lavukal people fit in the very people should be benefitting on what ever that is derived from the land?
“Please leave because you know exactly how you came in. You are playing in front of a beam of a light.
“Leave my people and my province alone.”
