Customary landowners in Namosi have threatened to take over the Waisoi Base Camp unless long-outstanding compensation payments are released.
The issue has escalated tensions with the Namosi Joint Venture over land use rights.
The Mataqali Nabukebuke Trust raised serious concerns and voiced frustration over unresolved land issues during a meeting held on Wednesday in Namosi Village.
Members of the mataqali met with Namosi Joint Venture general manager Netava Bakaniceva and the Director Mineral Resources Department Dr Apete Soro to press their demands.
Customary landowners have called for the eviction of the Namosi Joint Venture from the Waisoi Base Camp following the expiry of Special Prospecting Licence (SPL) 1420.
Mataqali Nabukebuke spokesman and Nabukebuke Holdings director Petero Saunivalu said the joint venture had withheld compensation payments owed to the mataqali since last year.
He said landowners were demanding the release of frozen compensation totalling $75,000 and warned that failure to pay could result in a landowner takeover of the camp.
“If they do not release the compensation, we will move into Waisoi Base Camp and take over the place as it is our land,” Mr Saunivalu said.
The frozen compensation of $75,000 was supposed to be released to the mataqali Nabukebuke today.
