RENBEL’S JOKER MPABribery claims driven by ‘get-rich-overnight’...

RENBEL’S JOKER MPABribery claims driven by ‘get-rich-overnight’ syndromeBy Alfred SasakoACCUSATION of bribery against West Rennell bauxite miner, Bintan Mining SI Ltd, is being driven by the get-rich-overnight syndrome, it was claimed yesterday.Renbel Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), Dorry Tuhaika, this week claimed Bintan Mining SI Ltd offered him bribes.“The bribery claim is driven by the get-rich-overnight syndrome. Because if the claims of bribery are to be believed, the MPA has a responsibility to report the matter to police,” sources spoken to by Island Sun yesterday, said.Mr Tuhaika, the new MPA for Mugihenua Ward on Rennell, told the media this week that he was offered $200, 000 and a hilux vehicle allegedly by the company’s general manager, Fred Tang.Yesterday the newly-elected MPA was trying to retract, claiming “it is just a joke”.But his remarks have backfired with an angry observer saying, “A joke about bribe and neglecting voters? That’s not from a newly elected MPA.”An investigation by Island Sun found that Hon Tuhaika is the landowner of a location north west of the Island where Bintan Mining SI Ltd is building a new wharf. Groundwork began a few months ago, although final approval is pending.“It would seem Mr Tuhaika wants to be paid for his land and faster. Since this was not happening faster as he would have liked the story of bribery claim was cooked up,” sources told Island Sun yesterday.Island Sun understands that Eric Saueha (one of the three (3) men in the Honiara Hotel camp is the landowner of the tenement and former premier, Lence Tango is the long-time supporter of Winning Resources Ltd.A series of events triggered the bribery claim against Bintan Mining SI Ltd, sources said..It began on 19th November 2018 when Worldlink Resources, another bauxite miner in the area lost its mining licence over a 21 square kilometre area on West Rennell. Knowing of Worldlink Resources fate, Bintan Mining SI Ltd applied for the vacant tenement. The company’s application was acknowledged in a letter on the same day – 19th November 2018 – by the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification.As if by coincidence, another company called Winning Resources Ltd, also applied for the same tenement on the same day – 19th November 2018.But things began going a little off course when the Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Bradley Tovosia informed Winning Resources Ltd that the Minerals Board had recommended issuing the company a Letter of Intent.In the letter to Winning Resources Ltd Managing Director, Zhenhao Wu, Minister Tovosia wrote:“The Minerals Board in its extraordinary sitting on the 18th of December 2018 has deliberated on your application for Prospecting License over Rennel(l) Bauxite Prospect, Rennell Bellona Province.“The Minerals Board has recommended that a Letter of Intent be issued to Winning Resources Ltd in respect to the application for Prospecting Licence received on 19th of November 2018,” the letter said.The Minister’s letter shows the Minerals Board recommended the Letter of Intent in its extraordinary meeting on 18th November 2018 – a day before the company’s application was received.Documents obtained by Island Sun show Hon Tuhaika, now the MPA for Mugihenua Ward, has been requesting advances against his entitlements since discussion on the new wharf project began about a year agne advance of $2,000 was paid to Hon Tuhaika in a cash cheque on 4th July 2019, according to an entry in a Check Payment Voucher obtained by Island Sun.There were indications also that Hon Tuhaika is inclined to support Winning Resources Ltd, the new company whose Prospecting Licence was approved by the Minerals Board on 18th November 2018, a day before the company’s application for the vacant tenement was received.“Hon Tuhaika’s situation was made worse by the on-going struggle between two camps, vying to form the next provincial executive on Renbel,” the sources said.