Skip to content
SIBC, Voice of the Nation
Opposition Group

Opposition Leader: Prime Minister must stop misleading the country on gold dealer licences

By Eliza Kukutu

Share

Leader of Opposition Manasseh Sogavare

The Leader of the Official Opposition Hon. Manasseh Sogavare MP, says the Prime Minister has misled the public by announcing that licences for all gold dealers have been cancelled, when in fact no lawful cancellation process appears to have been invoked and gold dealer licences remain in operation under the law.

Hon. Sogavare said, under the Mines and Minerals Act, a gold dealer’s licence is valid for one year from the date of issue and may be renewed on payment of the prescribed fee. The Act also states that a gold dealer’s licence may be cancelled by the Minister if the licensee is convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Minister, renders the licensee unfit to hold the licence.

More importantly, the Act provides a general legal process for suspension or cancellation by the Minister: the Minister may suspend or cancel a permit, licence or mining lease only in the event of contravention of the Act, material breach of licence conditions, or insolvency-related events, and before exercising that power the Minister must call upon the holder to show cause within a reasonable time why the rights should not be suspended or cancelled.

If that process has not been started, then the Prime Minister’s public announcement is not a cancellation in law. A public statement is not a substitute for the statutory process required under the Act.

He adds, as of today, there are still 10 Gold Dealer Licences operating, and no Gold Dealer Licence has been cancelled. No show-cause process has been invoked, no lawful cancellation procedure has been activated, and no evidence has been presented that any of the statutory grounds for cancellation have been established.

The Prime Minister therefore owes the country an explanation. Solomon Islanders deserve facts, not headlines. If the Government intends to reform the gold trading sector, it must do so lawfully, transparently and honestly.

The Opposition says this is not a minor slip of the tongue. It is a serious public misrepresentation on a matter affecting miners, dealers, investors, provincial stakeholders and public confidence in the administration of the law.

The Leader of the Official Opposition calls on the Prime Minister to immediately correct the record and tell the nation:

  • Which specific Gold Dealer Licences have been cancelled.
  • On what date each cancellation took effect.
  • What statutory ground was relied on in each case.
  • Whether each licence holder was issued a show-cause notice as required by law.
  • Whether any appeal rights have been triggered under the Act.

If the Prime Minister cannot provide those answers, then he should withdraw his statement and apologise for misleading the public.

The Opposition supports genuine reform of the mining and minerals sector. But reform cannot be built on false announcements. The rule of law must come first, and ministerial power must be exercised according to the law enacted by Parliament.

ENDS///

– OPPOSITION PRESS STATEMENT

TopicsOpposition Group
Share

More in Opposition Group

More