23 May 2017

Solomons' mining protestors furious at outsider label

From , 3:04 pm on 23 May 2017

Residents of Santa Cruz in Solomon Islands Temotu province are furious at the remarks by a provincial MP and former premier saying only outsiders were opposed to mining in the province.

This comes after Australian Bauxite miner Pacific Bauxite mining was granted a prospecting licence for the island which is also known to locals as Nende.

Father Brown Beu told RNZ International yesterday that the granting of a prospecting licence was in the best interests of the province and only outsiders and foreigners were opposed to it.

However a spokesperson for people on the island, Sir John Ini Lapli, who is also a former governor general of Solomon Islands says the majority of the community is opposed to any mining activity on the island.

Dump truck at a bauxite quarry.

Dump truck at a bauxite quarry. Photo: Copyright: babar760 / 123RF Stock Photo