Dear Editor – I kindly ask if you could print my responds of Forestry Commissioner article that appeared in the Island Sun newspaper on 22 May Friday which demanded us to responds to the article so that there is a proper balance of understanding on the subject to avoid misunderstanding, confusion and mishap.
The public needs to know the circumstance surrounding our operation so that they can judge for themselves “who is above the law.”
From the outset, the office of Commissioner of Forest should not be confused on what actually happening at West Rennell where the mining operation is taking place.
We are not engage in logging operation as he expected of misinformed .The company since taking up mining operation in Rennell, and has contracted Supreme Resource Company to do the infrastructure work and among other words is to clear the areas for the development purposes.
Your order of seizure to confiscate the machineries ,equipment and to furnish you other information as required are not relevant.
Administratively you are confused of misinformed by other party. One thing that we want to make it clear that this not logging operation and that your concerns are justifiable if it’s a logging project. This a mining operation under the mining Act and the company has the right to remove trees under the Mining lease so that that its allows the operations to proceed smoothly.
The disposal of the logs will depend on the company arrangement with the landowners. Consequently therefore the company has never act outside or above the law. Infact we need your cooperation to carry out the process of exporting these logs for the benefits of the landowners and government.
We are very mindful about the our operations and always ensure to abide with laws of our country so that together we can contributes substantially to the economy of our country.
We are greatly concerned about the illegal activities and illegal operations and removal of logs from the lands and concession areas which are not approved for logging operation or even trespassed to other customary land that are not acquired through the process of Forest Timber Utilization Act to removed logs .
The manner in which certain company operating in Rennell Islands seems that it has no limitation or law to abide with as far as the law is concerned.
We are fully aware that there are complains on the island, still the commissioner of forest has not investigated these activities and we urged the commissioners of forest not to any more permit to them .To us it raises more questions and answers .
Therefore “WHO IS ABOVE THE LAW?
Concern landowner
Rennell Island
