Landowners call for review of Mineral Resources Bill 2025

However, they are calling for stronger legal protection, meaningful consultation and a fair share of the benefits from mineral resources found on customary land.

The petition is jointly supported by recognised Gold Ridge tribes, the Gold Ridge Community and Landowners Council, the Kolobisi Tailings Dams Association, chiefs, elders, women and other community leaders.

Among their key requests, the landowners are calling for the government to:

• Clearly explain the legal and constitutional basis for the proposed mineral ownership framework.
• Return the current Mineral Resources Bill to stakeholders for meaningful and adequate consultation before it proceeds further.
• Ensure equitable ownership, participation and benefit-sharing among the 17 recognised Gold Ridge tribes.
• Clarify the proposed Sovereign Wealth Fund and explain how revenues from minerals and other natural-resource sectors will be treated.
• Review the proposed free-carry and state-owned enterprise arrangements to ensure customary landowners are not excluded from meaningful ownership.
• Establish clear legal protection for customary ownership, consultation, consent, compensation, equity participation, community development and environmental protection.
• Ensure compulsory acquisition powers cannot be used to undermine or displace customary landowner rights without proper negotiation and agreement.
• Develop a stable and predictable legal framework that protects customary landowners, the national interest and responsible investors.

The concerns were raised during a meeting today at the Paul Tovua Complex between the landowners and members of the Bills and Legislative Committee (BLC), including Opposition Leader, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, Independent Leader, Hon. Peter Shannel Agovaka and Public Accounts Committee Chairman, Hon. Paulson Bosawai.

Chairman of the Gold Ridge Landowners Council, Walton Naezon, said the landowners understand that the bill has already gone through consultation.

However, he questioned why new amendments had been included in the latest version without further consultation with stakeholders.

“But what we could not understand and draw a fair line as to why a new amendment has been put on. We understand that there are about three to four chapters of the Bill. It is a new version that has not been to the stakeholders’ consultation.

“It has not been to us. We don’t know. That is why we are coming to you. We have to find a way to be able to stop this bill in Parliament,” Naezon said.

Naezon described the proposed legislation as a “greedy bill”, claiming it could undermine landowners’ rights.

“A bill that’s going to steal people’s rights. There is no provision as to where the landowners are going to go.

“Part of our petition, we are so fearful about ownership of minerals. This is what the people right now have been asking: fairness and sharing.

“We asked for federalism, our statehood. Where is it?” he said.

BLC Chairman Jaimee Lency Vokia said the committee had written to the Prime Minister on Tuesday requesting that the bill be withdrawn.

He told the landowners that further consideration would be given to the issues raised in their petition and that a meeting between the BLC and Gold Ridge representatives could be held next week.

The landowners also visited the Prime Minister this morning before meeting with the BLC.

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