KOLOBOSI Tailings Dam Association (KTDA) has called for transparent consultations on government’s move to reopen the Gold Ridge mine.

In a statement, KTDA, a registered body of traditional land owners of where the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) is located, said it wants transparent consultations to be done, or consultations must be conducted in a transparent manner and in good faith.

“This has not happened where KTDA is concerned. The Democratic Coalition for Change Government (DCCG) has repeatedly stated that the re-opening of Gold Ridge is one of its ‘top policy objectives’.

“DCC Government intends to re-open Gold Ridge as reiterated at meetings conducted by the Cabinet Sub-committee on Gold Ridge with Gold Ridge stakeholders,” it said.

It said as one of the stakeholders, KTDA supports the government’s current initiatives in this respect, but it must be done in a transparent manner in which all parties must be reached.

It said DCCG has been pursuing the Gold Ridge project on an adhoc basis, and as an isolated project in the absence of any National policy Framework for Mineral Resources Development in Solomon Islands.

“What we have been witnessing to date appears to be a deliberate misinformation with the subcommittee failing its responsibilities to properly and competently address the more important issues connected with Gold Ridge, specifically those that has the potential to adversely impact on the rights of KTDA members and other communities in the wider Gold Ridge catchment area,” it adds.

It said the police task force ‘JANUS’ has been taking individuals who were suspected of stealing state property or had abused their official position to task.

“We firmly believe that, by virtue of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Act, ownership of minerals in Solomon Islands is vested in the state. As such, KTDA calls on the relevant authorities to initiate formal investigation of the issues that have arisen pertaining to the government’s efforts to restart the mining operation at Gold Ridge.”