Consultation needs to reach rural people
Quoting the Solomon Star newspaper – 31 August 2018
“THE national stakeholders consultations on the proposed mining bill needs to reach the rural communities.
“A woman participant and former president of the Guadalcanal council of women Mary Bollen made the statement at the two days national mining forum consultation held at the Heritage Park Hotel.
“Ms Bollen said despite the forum is a step in the right direction for both the government and the landowners she prefers to have it extended to the rural community level.
“I really appreciate such consultation but I prefer it would be much better if such forum also reach our rural people because they are the landowners and they are the ones signing all the agreement with the mining companies and the government,” she said.
“She said those rural people should know better about the mining regulations as they are the ones who do the signing as landowners.
“If it comes to their understanding and knowledge of what the mining policy is all about then its okay because the problem is they don’t know what the policy is all about that is why the go on signing all the agreement,” she said.
“Meanwhile, the sole purposely of the consultation is to seek clarifications or doubts to any issue regarding the development of a new mining legislation developed by the Ministry of Mine and Energy, Electrification.
“According to statement from the ministry, it is one of their high priorities towards the implementation of the new national minerals policy of Solomon Islands (NMPSI).
“The forum allows participants to have the opportunity to view the NMPSI and the proposed mining bill and have the privilege to contribute in discussions and express their views about these important mining documents.”
Copyright @ 2018, Solomon Star news.
