LANDOWNERS of West Rennell appeared to have split over proposed logging operations there.
Asian logging company Sam Lin San reportedly signed agreements with landowners there to cut their trees.
Reports of the proposed logging was carried in the Solomon Star yesterday.
But Rex Soaika, who claimed to be a licence-holder said information in the Solomon Star report were not true.
“Whoever provided you the report was trying to tarnish the good relationship between Sam Ling San and the landowners,” Mr Soaika said.
He said logging operations are now ready to start after all the requirements have been completed.
"We support the operations and we have just fulfilled two of the main requirements before any operations take place and that’s the bond guarantee and the annual fee as required under the Forestry Act," he said.
The requirements were done on Tuesday, he said.
He showed documents and recipients of the payment of $20, 000 for the annual fee paid to the government.
Mr Soaika said they have gone through a lot of process as required under the Forestry Act.
He said the logging equipment are already there and ready to start.
"We were surprised to see this report coming out this morning saying we are against the logging operations on west Rennel," Mr Saoika who claimed to be a close relative of Amos Teikangei said yesterday.
He said the report, which quoted Mr Teikangei is misleading.
Mr Teikangei, a landowner was quoted in the report, written by Charles Stenneth Kereau of Live and Learn, as having opposed to operations by Sam Ling San because some of the promises under the agreement are yet to be fulfilled.
"I"m not allowing logging to take place until the agreement signed between me and Sam Ling San is fulfilled.
"Under that agreement, the company must build roads, a wharf and provide vehicles to the landowners,” Mr Teikangei said.
He said the logging equipment landed at Lughughi last year will remain there until such time the road and what is in the agreement are fulfilled.
Mr Teikangei said some provinces have had the experience with other logging companies operating in their areas who've not seen infrastructures built while the company left after cutting down all the trees they wanted.
And he doesn't want to see the same happening there.
“The road, jetty and vehicles must be provided by the company before any tree is cut,” Mr Teikangei said.
Live and Learn Media and Communication Officer Mr Kereau yesterday said they stand by what they have reported.
He said his team personally visited Mr Teikangei in west Rennell last week on Wednesday and conducted an interview with him.
"So what’s being said in the paper is what Mr Teikangei has told us during our interview with him," Mr Kereau said.
By MOFFAT MAMU
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