The Banaban community has signed a petition disagreeing with the Rabi Island Council’s administrator after a decision to allow for exploration of phosphate on their island home – Banaba in Kiribati.

Led by elders, the petition has been signed by Banabans around the country and those living overseas with the intention of sending a copy to the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

The group’s spokesman Toanuea Taratai said they needed to put a stop to this because they want their island home to nourish and flourish in nature.

“The island needs healing,” he said.

“After 80 years of mining since 1900 it became inhabitable again.

“There are three governments involved in the British Phosphate Commission that owes us reparations for the loss and damage caused both economically and non- economic.”

Mr Taratai said no one was consulted for the explorations approved by the council’s administrator Jacob Karutake.

“People are sad about this because they trusted that the recent appointment of the administrator was a next step for reinstating the dissolved Rabi Council of Leaders and hope for good governance,” he said.

“But this wasn’t the case which is why we are calling for the review of the Banaban Settlement Act and reinstate the Rabi Council of Leaders with elected members from the four villages. Before the reinstatement of the Rabi Council of Leaders, the Colonial Settlement Act must be reviewed first. We want the Rabi Council of Leaders to come back because this Act gives certain powers to the administrator but the people’s concerns and voices need to be heard. A reinstatment of the Rabi Council of Leaders as promised by Government is the return of Banaban Democracy. This will fulfil our human rights.”

Mr Taratai, a community organiser at the Rabi Island Community Hub which is a community-based organisation mandated by the four villages of Rabi said Mr Karutake visited them on August 9, 2023 but didn’t mention anything about the exploration works on the island of Banaba.

“But he signed the documents with the Australian company on August 16, 2023 without any consultation with the people which gives effect to the blind agreement which he signed without free, prior and informed consent of all Banaban landowners on Rabi.”

Mr Karutake said once the exploration process was completed then he would meet landowners on Rabi.