Agovaka blames mining company for “illegal miners”

Sponsored Advertisement

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Central Guadalcanal, Peter Shanel Agovaka, has sharply criticized Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML), blaming the company for the surge in illegal mining activities on its site.

Speaking in Parliament this week, Agovaka claimed the company itself was responsible for the issue.

“The problem can only be solved by those who created it. The illegal mining is created because the company has not met its obligations,” he said.

Agovaka argued that if GRML had fulfilled its commitments to landowners, including fair compensation and environmental safeguards, the local communities would have protected the site from illegal miners.

The issue came under scrutiny in parliament after the Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Wale, questioned the government’s actions to eliminate illegal miners operating within Gold Ridge’s mining lease areas.

Representing his constituents from the area directly affected, Agovaka alleged that the company has failed on multiple fronts:

• No compensation or royalty payments to landowners

• Unresolved environmental issues including river pollution and lack of waste management

• Breaches of labour laws

• Failure to conduct Annual General Meetings for the past decade

• Poor mining practices, unlike the former operator Ross Mining, which he praised for maintaining higher standards.

“The environment today is not what it used to be under Ross Mining,” Agovaka lamented, further accusing the responsible ministries of failing to act on repeated complaints and reports.

Gold Ridge Mining Limited is currently owned by Wanguo International Mining Group (70%), AXF Resources (20%), and the Gold Ridge landowners through their investment arm, Goldridge Communities Investment Ltd (GCIL), which holds a 10% stake.