THE owner of Ropiko Enterprise has refuted media reports that blamed his company for transporting the African giant snail to Western Province.

Speaking to his paper, Mr Ronald Piko said the report has no proof and is baseless.

He explained that his machineries landed in Gizo in July last year and was stored in a different yard not the one that the African Snails were found in.

Mr Piko stressed that the yard that Ropiko Machines are currently stored in belongs to GRP and that the African Snails might have been in the yard prior to time he rented the yard as of December last year.

“I don’t believe that my machines are the ones taking the African Snail to Western province.

“Proof is that, there is no snail on the yard that I’ve stored my equipment when I moved to Western province in July last year.

“If they want proof of my testimony, I suggest responsible officers to go and visit the yard that I first rented and see for themselves,” he explained.

Mr Piko said journalist needs to carry out further investigation before publishing such report as it not only tannish the reputation of Ropiko Company but also put the company’s machineries at risk of being vandalised.

He calls on Western Province Quarantine Officer to refresh the report with proper investigation to avoid further damage to his properties.