BY BEN BILUA
GIZO
Communities within the Thousand Ships Bay, in Isabel Province are at risk of food poisoning if government continues to turn a blind eye on mining issues in the province.
Nurse in charge of Talise Rural Health Centre made the revelation to Island Sun earlier this year.
In an interview, Cominis Tada said the current situation is frightening as mining wastes spill to the ocean, rivers and also mangroves.
“I’ve just return from my visit to two of the mining sites and what I saw was frightening. I saw inappropriately dumping of crude-oil and solid wastes which spill over to the ocean. I strongly believes that we will have cases of food poisoning soon, I mean very soon,” he said.
Tada said the situation not only puts the lives of this generation at risk but many more generations to come if responsible authorities fail to take immediate action.
He said thousand ship bay is a life-line to most communities from Bugotu to Hograno providing much needed protein like fish and other eatable marine resources for the people.
Tada stressed that failure to address the situation now means putting the lives of thousands of people at risk.
Chief of Lelegia, Vahi alleged that his community’s source is at risk as exploration activity now reaches the community’s water source.
He also alleged that some of the streams that people used to drink from are now contaminated.
“My community will suffer very soon in the hands of these miners. We are concerned but we have very limited power to stop such destructive development.
“We know that if we take the law into our hands, we will also be penalised for what we think is the best way to stop mining.
“It is our request for the government to ensure our important resources are not damaged by mining,” Vahi said.
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