A SURVEY carried out last year on bauxite mining in Bua has been labelled pointless.
Tui Wainunu Ratu Orisi Baleitavea has also refuted claims in the survey that he was in the process of rushing bauxite mining for financial gain.
Ratu Orisi said as chief and traditional leader, his priority was to improve the welfare of his people.
“I want to leave behind a legacy that will benefit the people of Wainunu and our future generation through long-term financial income,” he said.
He said the survey was carried out last year and contained information that has now changed.
“Our people are now aware about the mining project through awareness programs and consultation meetings we have conducted,” he said.
“In village and district meetings where the issue of bauxite is discussed, we always have government officials and the TLTB team to attend to queries from villagers.
“We have always stated from the beginning that our people will be fully informed about bauxite mining and we are doing that.”
Ratu Orisi said the survey carried out by the Bua Urban Young People’s Network was a good initiative but they failed to consult the village elders and himself, as chief.
“I respect what they did out of concern for their own relatives and families in Wainunu,” he said.
“But we have been carrying out consultation in villages and we can assure that our people will be well informed before the project takes place.
“For every development project in the district, we are visiting villages informing them about the plans we have and we also take on board their views and ideas.”
