THE proposed mining prospect on Rendova Island in Western Province is facing significant backlash following the announcement of the project in North Rendova.
The controversy erupted after the Hiriro tribe celebrated the official commencement of mineral prospecting on their land more than a week ago, triggering widespread dissent among local residents, leaders, and various community groups.
In an interview with this paper last week, vocal critic Malachi Johnson urged the people of Rendova to consider the long-term impacts of mining on future generations.
“Think about the future of our children and their children. Do not act selfishly; tomorrow will bring new challenges.
“Our beautiful Rendova could be irrevocably damaged, and our people might face devastation,” Johnson warned.
He denounced the claim that mining would be a beneficial investment, describing it as a “fabricated” promise that would fail to improve local lives.
A prominent local leader who declines his identity also voiced strong opposition, arguing that the Mining Act does not adequately protect the interests of the people.
“The Act only serves to empower foreign investors while neglecting the land and its people.
“It mirrors exploitative patterns seen in other countries, such as many in Africa,” the leader remarked.
“They criticized the current profit distribution, where foreign investors receive 97% of the benefits, the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) gets 2.8%, and landowners receive a mere 0.2%.
“This is grossly unjust and requires a thorough review to ensure fairer distribution of mineral wealth,” the leader added.
Rocky Hana, another critic, suggested that the Hiriro Tribe’s decision to welcome the mining operation could be indicative of poor leadership.
“If the tribe’s leaders made this decision without adequate community consultation, it reflects a lack of transparency and accountability,” Hana said.
He expressed concern that current leadership is failing to protect the community’s long-term interests and is influenced by a few individuals with self-serving motives.
Hana also criticized the local political leadership, noting that the absence of strong local representation has led to unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.
He challenged leaders and community members to reconsider their support for the mining venture, warning that it could turn Rendova into a ‘ghost island.’
The Solomon Islands Ecological Solution (ESSI) has expressed concern about the potential environmental impact of the mining project.
ESSI’s spokesperson highlighted their recent awareness campaigns on the importance of protecting natural resources, stressing that mining in the Solomon Islands has historically led to disastrous consequences.
“We hope the community will reconsider their decision and prioritize the preservation of their forests and environment for future generations,” the spokesperson said.
“This is very sad, hope they change their minds instead to protect their forests. Our team conducted awareness’s sometimes years ago on mining and logging recently and the importance of protecting their natural resources for their future generations, to cover 1000 plus hectors of their land.
“Unfortunately, mining in Solomon Islands is a disaster,” the spokesperson added.
Reports indicate that not all tribes have agreed to the mining prospecting deal.
Some tribes reportedly did not fully consent, allegedly being controlled by so-called greedy individuals and opportunists.
There is also concern about a lack of proper awareness and understanding among rural communities.
Majority argue that many were not fully informed about the consequences of the mining agreement due to inadequate awareness efforts and limited literacy when related to rural knowledge setting.
To convince tribal leaders, it was claimed $200 were given during the signing of the Mining Prospecting process.
Meanwhile, as the prospecting operation is set to begin this month with machinery arriving at the site, the debate over the mining project continues to intensify.
The outcome of this conflict will likely have lasting implications for the future of Rendova Island and its inhabitants.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
