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Big industries wait and see in Solomons
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Posted on Oct 27 2000
Honiara (Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation/PINA Nius Online) – Gold Ridge Mining Limited says any decision to re-open its operations on central Guadalcanal will depend entirely on the successful implementation of the Townsville Peace Agreement.
General Manager of Gold Ridge Mining Limited, Rod Hanson, told SIBC from Brisbane the Townsville Peace Agreement is a very positive sign that the militant groups in Solomon Islands want peace.
However, he said the company wants to see the International Peace Monitoring Team in place and the militants are disarmed before they could decide when to start.
He added that the return of law and order is the number one priority because the company wants the safety of its workers guaranteed before it could re-start operations at Gold Ridge.
Other issues to be considered include the company’s properties that were stolen or damaged during the ethnic tension.
Mr. Hanson said he hopes Gold Ridge will be able to re-open its operations within the next six months.
The same sentiments have also been expressed by Solomon Islands Plantations Limited and Solomon Taiyo Limited, which also closed their operations as a result of the ethnic conflict.
Acting General Manager of Solomon Islands Plantations Limited L, Jimmy Hilly, says Commonwealth Development Corporation, which is the majority shareholder, is anxious to return to negotiate a new agreement for the operations of the company on the Guadalcanal Plains.
However, Mr. Hilly says he cannot see Solomon Islands Plantations Limited starting again before the middle of next year.
Meanwhile the Deputy General Manager of Solomon Taiyo Limited, Milton Sipisopere told SIBC any decision to re-start the company’s operations will be made at a meeting of shareholders next month.
Solomon Islands lost millions of dollars in export revenue and thousands of jobs when the three companies closed their operations.
