BY MORRIS NAFU

Members of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) have raised concerns over unpaid allowances in the ongoing removal of illegal miners’ operation from the Gold Ridge mining lease area in Central Guadalcanal.

An informant who asks to remain anonymous expressed the officer’s frustration, saying it’s almost 3 months now and yet, authorities are still holding on to the payments.

“The work we have done during the operation is tiring and We have sacrificed a lot during the operation and almost 5 fortnights now yet still nothing has done.

“We have made several attempts to informed our seniors but they have turned deaf to our issues.

“We are plotting to boycott the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) operation. If the Government and the Ministry of Mines continue to hold on to the payments, we will certainly boycott the event,” he said.

The informant confirmed that the team that initiated the plan to boycott are Police Response Team (PRT) officers.

Meanwhile other groups from other Police stations have given greenlight to join to boycott the PIF with approximately 100 Policers officers in total.

The operation was deployed in teams and only the first group have received their allowance while remaining teams have been unpaid to date.

The spokesman urges the government and the ministry to stand accountable and fulfil their duties.

Island Sun has reached out for comments to the RSIPF however RSIPF remained silent.

Minister of Mines, Energy and Electrification, Derrick Manu’ari in a recent parliament sitting, revealed that the Government has supported the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in removing illegal miners from the Gold Ridge mining lease area in Central Guadalcanal.

He said the program has successfully engaged with illegal miners, explained the legal implications of their actions, and developed a peaceful removal strategy.

This strategy is now being implemented by the RSIPF with continued government backing, at an estimated cost of $0.7 million per month.

“To date, an estimated $4.2 million has been spent, and costs are projected to reach $9 million if operations continue for the full 12-month period,” Minister Manu’ari said.

At the moment, the operation is in now in 6 months of operations and is expected to continue up to it’s 12-month period.

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