WEST Rennell landowner and media consultant for Asia Pacific investment (APID) Takika Tu’ata has dismissed claims Bintan Mining Solomon Island Limited is in the process of shipping out bauxite despite police orders not to do so.
It was claimed three barge loads of bauxite have been loaded. And that Commissioner of Police has instructed police deployed to Rennell to arrest the ship’s captain and others should they proceed to load further loads of bauxite.
It was also claimed Asia Pacific Investment Development (APID) sent two lawyers from Whitlam Togamae’s Solicitors & Barristers firm last weekend to order police to allow more bauxite to be loaded.
Police refused, saying their order comes from the Commissioner of Police and not anyone else.
But Mr Tu’ata said yesterday from west Rennell by phone the claims were cooked up to portray a negative picture on APID.
“This is the work of jealous people who are operating illegally on Rennell and desperate to put us out of business,” Mr Tu’ata said.
“There is nothing happening here in west Rennell.
“I don’t know whether that information is true or false but I’m the first person who should know about any loading of bauxite.
“I move around everywhere in our vehicle and saw nothing like that.”
Meanwhile, a female lawyer from Whitlam Togamae’s Solicitors & Barristers said all matters are before the court, hence there should be no more comments on the matter.
“Our visit to Rennell was to give advice to our client and nothing else,” she said.
“We rather say something in court where things could be proven and not in the media,” she added.
By AATAI JOHN
