The Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) says it has written to Prime Minister Matthew Wale, asking him to withdraw the Mineral Resources Bill 2025.
BLC Chairman Jamie Vokia revealed this yesterday when Gold Ridge landowners presented a petition to his committee at Parliament House.
The landowners, who host the country’s biggest mining operation, are seeking more time to consult on the Bill and its proposed amendments.
The Bill was recently tabled in Parliament, but debate was halted to allow the BLC to conduct further consultations with the public.
Vokia told the landowners that the Committee had concerns about the relationship between the original Mineral Resources Bill 2025 and amendments incorporated into the current version.
“We are not comfortable with the Bill in its current form, particularly with the newly incorporated amendments,” he said.
“These need to be addressed through the parliamentary process,” Vokia added.
The landowners also presented their petition to Prime Minister Wale and the Guadalcanal Provincial Government.
The Mineral Resources Bill 2025 is intended to modernise the country’s mineral sector and replace the Mines and Minerals Act, which has governed the sector for more than three decades.
Among other things, the Bill seeks to establish clearer rules for mineral exploration, licensing, extraction, processing, reporting and compliance.
It is also intended to increase the involvement of landowners and affected communities in mining activities and benefit-sharing.
Walton Naezon, Chairman of Gold Ridge Community Investment Limited (GRCIL), a partner in the current Gold Ridge mining operations, led the landowners’ delegation to Parliament.
Naezon said the landowners did not oppose the Bill.
However, he said they were concerned that significant amendments had been incorporated without sufficient consultation with the customary landowners whose land contains the country’s mineral resources.
“We came here representing the women, youth, children and the next generation,” Naezon told the Committee.
He said landowners needed more time and clear explanations about the proposed amendments before Parliament proceeded with the legislation.
Naezon questioned why provisions affecting landowners had been introduced without adequate consultation with customary resource owners.
He said the landowners were particularly concerned about provisions that could affect their rights and interests in mineral resources, including those relating to compulsory acquisition.
The delegation said such provisions could adversely affect customary landowners if retained in their current form.
Naezon also raised the longstanding issue of mineral ownership, saying Guadalcanal communities had raised concerns about fairness, ownership and benefit-sharing for decades.
He referred to concerns dating back to 2000 and warned that the Bill, in its current form, could diminish the rights and interests of landowners in Guadalcanal and elsewhere in Solomon Islands.
