The people of South East Vella la Vella (SEV) Constituency, Western Province have taken a bold and uncompromising stand to declare their opposition to any proposed mining activities on their land.
Instead they are championing environmental conservation and sustainable future rooted in the principles of the Green and Blue Economy.
This firm declaration follows a recent attempt by a mining prospecting operation to commence activities at Paraso Bay in North Vella, despite lacking proper consultation with local communities, the required legal clearances, and a business license from the Western Provincial Government (WPG) last week.
Speaking to the Solomon Star in an interview, local community advocate Whitlam Utuala Saeni voiced the collective concern of the people.
“We say no to mining. After decades of destructive logging that stripped our lands and left lasting scars, we refuse to allow another exploitative industry to take what little remains,” Saeni said.
“Our forests, oceans, and way of life are not for sale. Instead, we choose conservation, carbon trade, and a sustainable green future for our children.”
Saeni outlined key risks that mining operations pose to the island’s environment, people, and way of life:
Environmental Damage: Mining pollutes rivers, destroys marine life, and leaves behind toxic waste. It puts our health and food sources at risk.
Broken Promises: These companies promise development but often leave us with degraded land, broken communities, and only short-term jobs.
Loss of Biodiversity: Our forests and reefs are unique. Mining will wipe out the very ecosystems that sustain us.
Climate Impact: Clearing forests for mining fuels climate change. We would rather protect them and benefit from carbon trade.
Cultural Erosion: This is not just about land. It’s about who we are. Mining threatens our sacred sites and traditional way of life.
Saeni stressed that the SEV Constituency is not anti-development but seeks an alternative pathway that values ecological integrity and long-term sustainability.
“Carbon trade is a greener and more positive way forward,” he explained.
“Protecting our forests allows us to earn through global carbon markets while keeping our natural ecosystems intact.”
He further emphasized the potential of sustainable industries:
Sustainable Fisheries and Eco-Tourism: Healthy oceans and reefs can provide lasting livelihoods while attracting tourists.
Clean Water and Food Security: Intact ecosystems mean fresh water and access to traditional food sources.
Long-Term Jobs: Conservation creates real and lasting employment in eco-tourism and resource management.
The people of South Vella la Vella are now appealing to the national government, international donors, NGOs, and potential investors to respect their stand and invest in initiatives that uplift communities while preserving nature.
They are calling for support in, Community-led conservation projects, Carbon credit and climate financing initiative Sustainable forest and marine resource management
“We are the remnants of logging—we’ve seen the destruction,” Saeni declared.
“We will not let mining finish what logging started. Our future lies in protection, not extraction,” he concluded.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
