Director Of Mines Must Explain

Director Of Mines Must Explain Why Gold Licence Was Issued For Phoenix Conman: SINWU

The Solomon Islands National Union of Workers (SINUW) today called on the Director of Mines to explain why an alluvial gold mining license has been granted to relatively the highly questionable firm, Phoenix International.

The General Secretary of the Solomon Islands National Union of Workers, Tony Kagovai, said that the union was very concerned about the issuing of the license without proper checks being done on the individuals involved in the venture.

Mr Kagovai said that SINWU had done their own checking and it would appear that Phoenix International is headed by a shady and dangerous character whose full story is not really known in Solomon Islands.

“There is no evidence that Kelvyn Alps even knows anything about mining operations,” Mr Kagovai said. “Instead what our investigations have shown is that Alps has been involved in setting up an organisation known as the New Zealand Armed Intervention Force which clearly had very bad intentions.”

Anyone wanting to verify this could read Mr Alps own words on the following link http://www.thebriefingroom.com/archives/2007/10/day_of _the_jack.html

In a press statement released in Honiara today Mr Kagovai said the union had uncovered evidence that in 1996 Kelvyn Alp set up an organization known as New Zealand Armed Intervention Force which was basically a mercenary organization.

It later transformed into a paramilitary type of force with a weird agenda. “SINUW understands that this organization is now defunct, but the point is that this information shows the true character of Kelvyn Alp.

“Alps wild promises to land owners in Central Guadalcanal about unheard of wealth should be viewed with great caution in light of this information,” Mr Kagovai said.

It raises some very serious questions about what Alps true motivations are in getting involved in the affairs of Central Guadalcanal at this time Mr Kagovai said.

SINWU is concerned that if these promises turn out to be nothing more than the false promises of a conman that it could have a bad impact on nearby Gold Ridge mine and the workers employed there.

“It is the duty of our government officials, in particular the Director of Mines, to take every care and make sure he is fully informed and not unduly influenced by other factors when deciding to grant a licence,” Mr Kagovai said.

“SINWU calls on the Minister of Mines to explain how and why Pheonix International was issued a licence.”

For further information or interviews contact General Secretary of the Solomon Islands National Council of Workers, Tony Kagovai. Ph: 22516 Mb: 78219

ENDS

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