It has been revealed that chiefs from Pentecost island in Vanuatu have written to the prime minister, Edward Natapei, demanding him not to issue a license for the extraction of minerals in their land.
The chiefs say the government must not sell the minerals to foreign countries.
They also say they don't want Pentecost to become another Bougainville and Nauru.
Last year, the government gave a license to an Australian company to drill and explore for gold in South Pentecost.
The chiefs have asked the government to monitor the activities.
They also asked that collected samples must be analysed locally and that if samples have already been sent out of Vanuatu, they be brought back.
