Landowners of the Mount Kasi Gold Mine on Vanua Levu said they prefer an Australian company to conduct operations on their land instead of Vatukoula Gold Mines.
The Naveitotaki clan in Dawara Village had sent their recommendations to the Minister of Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo.
“We, the landowners of Naveitotaki do not oppose mining, however we have raised certain issues strongly and collectively with the Government, vehemently opposing the granting of license to the Vatukoula Gold Mines,” they said in a statement issued this week.
The landowners said they have informed Government through various channels, including writing, that they would not welcome Vatukoula Gold Mine on their land.
“We will not sign any access compensation agreements with the Vatukoula Gold Mines,” they said.
They said they believe that landowners have the autonomy and the right to choose a company they want to work with.
“The Government must respect our right to do so,” they said.
They said they had many issues with the previous government where their voices were never heard.
“We know and respect the Coalition Government’s position on the position and rights of the landowners, and we have placed our trust and faith, the wrongs in the past will be corrected now.
“We are anxiously waiting for the decision by Government on the issuance of the license without any further delay, to our chosen company.”
In response, Mr Vosarogo told the Fiji Times that he has had many constructive and positive meetings with the landowners.
“I have held meetings with them in Suva and in Yanawai,” he said.
During their meetings, he said he had provided the landowners statutory steps under the mining laws.
“These are law which the Ministry of Mineral Resources Department are guided by,” he said.
The landowners, he said, understood the reasons why the department had to complete application processes.
“Also to provide opportunities for objection, and powers of the director to award license to the most suitable applicant,” he said.
He said they are assured that the Government would negotiate for them with the awardee on community responsibilities that are necessary for the peaceful coexistence of the awardee and the landowners.
“It is at the special prospecting licence stage and not mining,” Mr Vosarogo said.
