FINANCIAL transparency should be expected from mining companies who intend to set up their business on native land.
Speaking at the public consultation on the review of the Mining Act 1965 and Quarries Act 1939 in Tavua, Vatukoula resident Ponipate Ravula said landowners deserved to know how much companies were making from extracting minerals from their land.
“One of the things that I would like to suggest to the review committee is if they could ensure there is financial transparency within the extraction industry,” said Mr Ravula.
“This is something that has been done worldwide and this includes how much you pay to government, to the community and to your workers as a mining operator.
“Vatukoula has been mined for more than 90 years and for a mining company to still be here 90 years later means someone is getting money from it.
“This is why financial transparency is important within the extraction industry.”
Mr Ravula said the second issue that government should always consider is the involvement of landowners.
“This needs to be clarified to the landowners.
“For exploration ventures, landowners should give their consent at all times and be present in discussions at every stage.
“We don’t want to one day wake up and there are machines moving around our land taking out things we did consent to.
“Having landowner involvement from the very beginning of the discussions will make things so much easier for every stakeholder.”
