PM Philip was invited along with Governor General Sir Frank Kabui to be the main guests at the opening ceremony.
Instead Minister for Finance Gordon Darcy Lilo opened the ceremony on behalf of the PM.
The PMs Press Secretary, David Tuhanuku said the PM left yesterday to open the Western Provincial Assembly meeting in Gizo, Western Province.
He said the PM was invited by the provincial government to be its guest.
"The PM will return tomorrow," he said.
"But I would not comment on why he did not attend the opening of the Gold Ridge."
The Gold Ridge project was previously operated by Ross Mining and Delta Gold and more recently owned by TSX-listed Australian Solomons Gold (ASG) Limited.
The Solomon Islands Government put the Gold Ridge project to tender in 1994 to 10 international companies.
The successful bidder was Saracen Minerals, a subsidiary of the Australian oil and coal mining company, Crusader Limited.
In March 1995, Ross Mining purchased Saracen’s gold project interests and commenced a new feasibility study for the development.
In 2000, Delta Gold purchased all of the shares of Ross Mining and became the owner of GRML.
Delta Gold abandoned the mine in June 2000 because of civil unrest in Guadalcanal, and in January 2002, Delta Gold merged with Goldfields to form Aurion Gold, which was subsequently taken over by Placer Dome.
In December 2002, insurers paid out on the political risk policy to Delta Gold and in return, received ownership of the mine through a new holding company, JV Mine.
An international bidding process saw ASG acquire Gold Ridge in 2005.
Allied Gold bid for ASG in October 2009 and compulsorily acquired ASG and hence 100 percent ownership of Gold Ridge in March 2010.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
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