A CHIEF hearing helped calmed down the tension between villagers, following the landing of Emerald Mining (SI) Company Limited’s machines on Paraso, North Vella La Vella in Western province on Thursday.
According to a formal statement issued by Hon. Rence Sore, Member of Provincial Assembly for Ward 7 and Paramount Chief of the Midukuburu Sambe Tribe, the mining company arrived in Paraso with logging machinery and equipment.
He said the company intending to prospect minerals on the Paraso Tenement.
However, the landing has been deemed unlawful on the following grounds:
- The Western Provincial Government has not issued any formal approval recognizing a legitimate Prospecting License for Emerald Mining (SI) Co. Ltd to conduct activities in Paraso.
- Disputes over land ownership and lack of consultations have further complicated the situation. The ownership of Paraso Land is currently contested by the Midukuburu Sambe Tribe.
Sore stated that he recently attended a Chief hearing in Boro, Dovele, under the JADO House of Chiefs, where the Paraso Sambe representatives were absent.
‘’There has been no thorough or extensive consultation with the landowning groups of the Paraso Tenement by Emerald Mining (SI) Co. Ltd before their arrival,’’ he said.
MPA Sore emphasized that the people of Java, Dovele, and the wider community of Vella La Vella, along with landowning groups residing in neighboring islands, are unhappy with the unauthorized entry of the mining company.
He has called for immediate intervention from provincial authorities, urging them to confiscate all machinery and equipment before tensions escalate.
“Urgent action is required to prevent the situation from getting out of hand,” Sore stated.
Western Provincial Deputy Secretary (DPS) Collin Potakana told Solomon Star in an interview saying that firstly Western Provincial Government has not issued any prospecting business license to Emerald Mining Company Limited to conduct prospecting of Paraso Land.
‘’Secondly, Western Provincial Government has not received any development proposal from Emerald Mining Limited which is normally endorsed and approved by WPG executive,’’ DPS Collin said.
‘’With the above 2 grounds and according to the Provincial Business License Ordinance the Western Provincial Government has seen the landing of Emerald Mining Limited at Paraso to be illegal as it breaches the requirements under the Business License,’’ he added.
He further added that they will issue an immediate a Stop Notice to Emerald Mining Ltd due to not buying the business licenses.
According to sources, it said that the behind man the scenes to allow the mining for the landing is the former Member of Parliament for South Vella Alex Lionel, Belshazzar Tianyiakera Nelson Velokana and Korokini.
Gizo Police Officers have traveled to Paraso Bay in North Vella to assess the situation and prevent the mining company’s machines from being discharged.
Emerald Mining ltd is a Malaysian Private Company that officially registered legally back in 15th October 2024.
It has four Directors with a nationality of Malaysia origins.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
