9 Apr 2007

Fiji interim government to discuss Vatukoula future

9:53 am on 9 April 2007

Fiji's interim administration says it will raise its concerns with the new owners of the shut-down Vatukoula gold mine in a meeting this week.

The administration has questioned the financial credibility of the Australian company, Westech Gold Pty Ltd, which bought the closed down .

Fiji's interim attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum, says it was asked by Emperor to execute a Deed of Rehabilitation and social assistance which would see money from Westech, Emperor Gold and the government go into a trust fund

However, the government has now has delayed the signing of the agreement.

Mr Sayed-Khayum says the government is keen to go over the Deed with all the interested parties.

"We would like this deed to include areas of concern, for example royalties and taxation and the amount contributed to the trust fund or to be contributed to the trust fund and the period in which mining can recommence, because mining has stopped by Emperor and in terms of various other requirements of the mining act to meet certain obligations and set up under the act itself."

Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum.