BY SAMIE WAIKORI
One of the key pillars of Gwaena’alu Association is conservation; to protect and manage the nature or the environment sustainably.
Founder of Gwaena’alu Association, formerly known as Moro Movement, late Chief Pelise Moro believed nature is the source that breaths life to the culture of the people of Guadalcanal.
However, whether members of the movement are serious about it is the question, when looking at reproachful investments in the province.
Speaking at the 19th anniversary in remembrance of the legacy of Chief Moro, Mr David Cornelus shared a trailing trend on conservation in the province.
He said one of the aims of Moro Movement is to conserve land and environment in Guadalcanal.
Meanwhile, the question is on how serious the people in Guadalcanal are conserving their environment.
“The terminology “conservation” begins to evade us. Conservation is becoming a non-issue, and why does it have to happen that way? One thing that stands out is because of foreign influence and law.
“Solomon Islands will continue to be exploited, mutually destroyed, because we continue to collude with foreigners,” Cornelus said.
He recalled prophecies made by Chief Moro and it’s happening now. Moro once said, in the future, a child will land in Guadalcanal.
“It will eat away our land, our resources, our culture, our laws, our ideas and our practise. The child is huge and powerful and cannot be defeated unless we come together as one.
“And I tell you, the child is right here, eating away everything. And it’s happening right in front of our eyes,” Cornelus said, referring to mining operations at Gold Ridge and Turarana.
On the same note, Premier William Atu of Guadalcanal Province shared the sad and harsh reality the province faces in the benefit sharing in the mining industry.
“There are challenges we faced on revenue sharing when comes to investment especially mining in Guadalcanal.
“But I thank the people in Vulolo, who host the Gold Ridge mining, and those in Tasimboko, who also host the Oil Palm industry in the country.
“These investments are good for the country, but as I always said, there are areas that need improvement especially revenue sharing of mining,” he said.
Premier Atu mentioned that in terms of royalty of mining, 97 percent goes to the company, 1.5 percent to the national government, 1.2 percent to landowners and 0.3 for the province.
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