axiom in solomon islands, page-10

Wow , the landowners are very determined !!
Only Kia is on Santa Isabel island but a long way north of AVQ's area , Russell & Gela islands long way away , in Central Province i think , just north of main island with Honiara.

ISABEL LEADERS OBJECT ACCESS AGREEMENT.

Friday 4th March 2011.

The Bugotu Landowners Association and Bugotu House of Chiefs have written to Directors of Mines, Mineral and Electrification that landowners object the access agreement signed between Sumitomo Solomon and individuals from Bonvesta in Gela, the Russell Islands and Kia.

http://www.sibconline.com.sb/main.asp?offset=0

I knew i'd read somewhere about another "issue" they had with Sumitomo and maybe that calls for extra "determination".

"On December 14 2008, Sumitomo lost the case and was ordered to pay the Government and BLA's legal costs. As yet, Sumitomo still has not paid those legal costs."

BLA unhappy with Sumitomo.

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

THE BUGOTU Landowners Association (BLA) has issued a statement denouncing any move by the Government to grant license to Sumitomo Mining Company to undertake Nickel exploration on Bugotu, Isabel Province.

This comes after reports that the country's Mines and Minerals board has picked Sumitomo out of four bidders vying for the right to pursue a surface access agreement with the customary landowners of the Nickel rich areas of Jejevo, Takata and San Jorge.

In a statement, the Association questioned if the NCRA Government truly believes in its own platform policies as it has not come out either in support or in denying the press release concerning Sumitomo being the successful tender applicant.

It said the BLA as representative of the rightful owners of these lands does not and will never accept Sumitomo to undertake operations in their area.
This is the statement issued to Island Sun by the Association's chairman Josiah Riogano:

"As early as 2005, the Chairman of BLA, Josiah Riogano and then secretary of BLA issued a press release which has reported widely clearly stating that the BLA and its members would not support the granting of mineral rights to the Japanese multi-national Sumitomo.

"In 2007 when Sumitomo appeared to have been issued with a letter of intent to grant a prospecting license over the Isabel nickel deposits the BLA again voiced its strong opposition to this Japanese company being granted rights by the then national government without any consideration of the customary landowners expressed wishes.

"The customary landowners, represented by BLA, rejected Sumitomo as an applicant and had clearly evidenced their position by not signing a surface agreement as was their right. The BLA through one of it's cooperate entities, Bugotu Minerals Limited (BML), then lodged and paid for an application for mineral right over the deposits, which successive governments have ignored.

"The national government was then sued in a high court case brought by Sumitomo because it could not comply with the terms of the letter of intent. Several customary landowners as members of BLA were joined as defendants to the high court case and fought vigorously alongside the Attorney General against Sumitomo. On December 14 2008, Sumitomo lost the case and was ordered to pay the Government and BLA's legal costs. As yet, Sumitomo still has not paid those legal costs."

"The BLA then and many times since have publicly and clearly stated it DOES NOT accept Sumitomo and NEVER will.
"Moving forward to the international tender of 2010, we know by the NCRA government's own public statements that there were four bidders.

"One was rejected for non compliance leaving the other three in the running. One of those three applicants was BML which represents both the aspirations and goals of the BLA and the BLA's long standing Australian partner Silanda (SI) limited.

"The Isabel IT process was undertaken and regulated under the Mines and Minerals Act and Regulations (the Act) but yet there are so many potential breaches of the legal process by the Minister of ME&RE and the other involved, that one can clearly see why our country is in financial distress and our people are frustrated when elected individuals behave so selfishly and poorly in the national interest! When will the CNURA government and outside multinational companies realize that the BLA wishes to proceed as an equity holder in the development of the Isabel nickel deposits and not just be paid a pittance under a surface access agreement?

"It is also now widely known that senior executives of Sumitomo are currently on Isabel trying to woo BLA members to make surface access agreements. The BLA wonders whether the Attorney General, Mr. Titiulu, has approved the terms of such agreements in the customary landowners best interest as is required by the Act.

"The BLA representing the majority of the Bugotu people and the true landowners of those lands on Isabel and San Jorge Islands where the nickel deposits are located have consistently stated their position, desire and intent to be part of the commercial development of their own natural resources.

"They want to be able to co-determine how, when, where and why their local communities, villages and people will benefit from the development of this natural resources on their lands."

"The CNURA government's involvement will oversee and give rise to how the nation collectively benefits from the commercialization of the same national project. Surely this self-determination is in harmony with the NCRA's own statements described on page 10 under 'Section 3.
Challenges and Opportunities' of its policy statement document to empower Solomon Islanders, provide security, promote opportunities and encourage Solomon Islands private sector investment."

"If the NCRA government is honest with itself and our people all the above would lead to the greatest opportunity to set a national example of how its people can be involved in determining how their lives can be bettered through direct involvement. The granting of rights to a local company with solid backing by its venture partner should and could be a prime national example of building a 'Regional Growth Centre' in line with the government's own stated policies."

"The Isabel customary landowners have consistently advised this and previous national governments that they will not grant a surface access agreement to Sumitomo. The BLA, through BML, and which represents both the aspirations and goals of the BLA, the customary landowners and the BLA's long standing Australian venture partner Silanda (SI) Limited did submit a tender that satisfied all the compliance conditions of the IT process."

"BML is the ONLY entity that the landowners will support and agree to surface access and none other !!

The BLA is trying to show by example to all Solomon Islanders how all Solomon Islanders can be involved in self-determination. It's on behalf of the customary landowners was not consulted before the Minister handed out a FUTILE Letter of intent to Sumitomo, let alone the "BLA did not agree in principle, as is required by the Act to Sumitomo being successful. Where is the support of the elected national government?

"Three question of great importance to the people and National Government of SI:
1. If the NCRA Government truly believes in their own platform policies can they explain why they have not come out either in support or in denying the press release concerning Sumitomo being the successful tender applicant?

2. Under Section 4.2.1 Land Reform and 4.2.2 Customary Law Codification of the 2010 NCRA policy statement document, does the NCRA government believes its current actions are working towards a positive outcome in support of its policy position and objectives within the policy statement?

3. Does the NCRA government and its servants believe that not only the lack of transparency but the total lack of any ministerial action by the current Minister for Mines and Energy will build confidence in our people or our nation or for outside investors willing or wanting to invest or partner in ventures in the Solomon Islands?

4. Is the NCRA Government going to back its own election platform and promises to the people who elected it and even those who did not expect to be a government for all the people and make decisions for the betterment of the nation and our people?

http://www.islandsun.com.sb