BY BEN BILUA
THE most anticipated Mineral and Resource Bill has been criticized by landowners in Isabel who describe it as a “Bill full of rubbish”.
Chairperson of San Jorge Island Resource Owners Association, Wilson Tohidi said the Mineral and Resource bill is no different from the existing Mines and Mineral Act.
He said the bill is vague in many aspects especially on the ownership of minerals, processes of obtaining license and sharing of benefits.
“Well, this bill would be better if landowners are recognised and capture good benefit for the people like royalty percentage increase.
“Stronger guidelines should be stipulated in the bill for investors to abide to when conducting operation in mining, for example there are other types of minerals which have value yet these other minerals are not beneficial to landowners,” Tohidi said.
He said the Mineral and Resource bill is crafted to satisfy the government’s agenda.
“What we landowners see is that the government is shaping this bill according to their interest.
“It is not in the interest of landowners. We never been consulted and this is unfair to resources owners in this the country,” Tohidi said.
He calls on the government to carry out proper consultation before tabling the bill in parliament.
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