The premier of Solomon Islands' Temotu province Charles Brown Beu says he is disappointed landowners on the island of Vanikoro have taken the law into their own hands over illegal logging.
Last month the Solomon Star reported that the forestry minister suspended the licence issued to a Malaysian company that had sent workers and equipment to the island.
The ministry earlier declined to comment as to whether it had issued a permit to the company, which has reportedly been contracted by a group of landowners.
Father Beu says landowners' destruction of machines and a boat belonging to the company over the new year period will complicate efforts to ensure no logging goes ahead.
"I'll be having a meeting with the legal counsels of the landowners of the company sometime this week to sort things out with them but I was really disappointed by their actions because I was prepared to assist them."
Charles Brown Beu says the provincial government still plans to take legal action against Jaya Berjaya Limited.
