AN indigenous man from Russell Island, Central Province, is discontent about the government and RIPEL issue.

He is responding to an article that was published in yesterday’s paper titled Gov’t Ripel Talks”.

The man said that this issue has been going on for about 14 years since it started in 2004.

He said that instead of talking about the issue, a thorough investigation should be carried out.

“We have to go to the root of this issue,” he said.

The concerned man also stressed that every year the government is talking about this issue and have made many inquiries into it.

“What are their findings?

“We should export copra ourselves,” he said.

The concerned man also said that from statistics of copra production Central province has 32 percent of copra production, the highest compared to other provinces in the country.

He said that “without those investors and with government input, we are capable of exporting copra ourselves”.

In relation, the Russell man said that these investors need to settle their labourers, pay their NPF dues, pack up and go home.