Mine opening boycotted by landowners

Gold Ridge landowner's council yesterday did not attend the official commissioning of the Gold Ridge mine on Central Guadalcanal. This was after they decide to boycott the official opening of the mining operations on monday.
Yesterday they lived up to their words and decided not to turn at the mine site for the official program. On monday the landowners council agreed to boycott the opening to express their dismay over the failure by the Government for failing to address some of their long outstanding issues.
Both the council secretary Charles Tani and paramount Chief Wsalton Naezon told the media the move to boycott the opening ceremony was to show the Government their disapointed after the Government failed to adress their concern.
Two weeks ago the landowner council met and raised some of their issues ranging from royalty payments and compensation payments with Prime Minister Danny Philip.
"The PM assured the landowners to adress these concerns, but there was no response within seven days and now its 15 days.
The PM was also absent from the opening and instead travelled to Western Province assembly meeting.
Yesterday's program at Gold Ridge was cut short because the three speeches from the landowners association had to be skipped because of their absence.Few members of the landowners living around the mine turned up but watched from outside of the compound.
They were not allowed in by security officers at the gate.
A youths were drunk and expressed disappointment.
Member of Parliament for central Guadalcanal Peter Shanel was reportedly disappointed not to allow the landowners in to witness the program. The presence of police at the opening had helped to keep the program going without much disruption.
The Guadalcanal Provincial Premier Anthony Veke and members of his executive were present at the opening.During his speech he called on both the Government and the Company to listen to the voice of the Landowners.
Mr Veke was aware of the boycott and had earlier called on the Government and the company have continuous dialogue with the landowners and his provincial Government.

Source: Solomon Star