The Island Sun NewsCaretaker PM and MinesMinister no show for...

The Island Sun News

Caretaker PM and MinesMinister no show for biggest investment in Solomon Islands

By EDDIE OSIFELO

CARETAKER PrimeMinister Rick Houenipwela and Minister responsible for Mines, Bradley Tovosiadid not attend Axiom Mining’s milestone ground breaking occasion in their minesite at the San Jorge Island, Isabel province on March 19, 2019.

Spokesperson for Axiomsaid Houenipwela had confirmed his attendance but withdrew few days before theground breaking on Monday.

However, the caretakerMinister of Mines did not provide details for his absence.

“The Prime MinisterRick Hou and Mines Minister Tovosia were invited but they did not attend.

“Government officialsfrom the Ministry of Ministry of Mines and also Customs attended the event onthe invitation of Axiom,” spokesperson for Axiom said.

However, a seniorcitizen said considering the fact that the nickel deposit at San Jorge wasrated as world class, the occasion was to have been a time for celebration forboth the investor, their partner in business, Government and the traditionalleaders and people and communities within the vicinity of the operation.

“Quite contrary to thehype and prospects the operation holds for improving the economy of thecountry, somehow it was confirmed that neither the Caretaker Prime Minister northe Caretaker responsible Minister showed up.

“Although an apologywas issued by the office of the Prime Minister, it is not clear what the reasonis for these two important government officials to be absent,” the seniorcitizen said.

Recent reports has itthat Axiom Mining is the same company that came out strongly against theresponsible Minister, Tovosia, asking for favours in exchange for licences, amatter that was strongly denied by the responsible Minister.

Furthermore, this isthe same Minister that came under fire for the disaster caused at Rennel Islandand possible linkages between the minister and Bintan Mining Company.

The public is asking,could the refusal to attend have anything to do with these issues.

Whichever way one seesit, it is rather sad that these two important government officials shouldrefuse the invitation.

Furthermore, reportsreceived confirmed that out of the list of invited guests, the Wing Leader forSolomon Islands Democratic Party Matthew Wale and the President of UnitedParty, Peter Kenilorea Junior accepted their invitations and attended theevent.

Their attendance alsojoins other speculations that the occasion was set up so the two wing leadersof these two political parties to attend because they may have closeassociation with Axiom.

However, Axiom’sspokesperson said Wale and Kenilorea attended the programme on the invitationof Axiom.

“Axiom has not,does not and will not fund any political campaign.

“Wale and Keniloreaand their respective political parties are responsible for meeting the cost oftheir campaigns,” Axiom’s spokesperson said.

“The Axiom groundbreaking ceremony has nothing to do with Wale and Kenilorea campaignprogrammes.

“Axiom does not havepreferred political candidates but rather looks forward to seeing the nextgovernment treating all foreign investors fairly and dealing with them withinthe bounds of Solomon Islands laws,” the spokesperson of Axiom said.

In the meantime, Axiomhas signed an in principle agreement with a major US multi-trading group TraxysEurope SA for nickel ore sales for San Jorge for a five-year period.

Under this agreementTraxys will give SBD$100-million to Axiom for the long- term development of itsnickel ore mine on San Jorge.

Traxys is owned by theCarlyle group which is based in Washington DC and has very high standards forsafety, environment protection and abiding by laws.

This is the first timethat Solomon Islands has recently been able to attract such highly respectedorganization from USA for any mining operation or commercial investment ingeneral.

This was only madepossible by many years of work between Axiom and Traxys. Axiom has beenpromoting the benefits of working with Solomon Islands people and Traxysfinally agreed to lock arms with the Australian mining company on its San JorgeNickle Mine project.