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DIGGING BENEATH SURFACE: Audit found China's Aurum Bauxite Mining didn't give fair share of payment to landowners, over extracted bauxite in breach of lease  - Bainimarama had gifted lease to Aurum!

23/2/2015

17 Comments

 
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PM Bainimarama - Address at the Official Handing-over of Nawailevu Bauxite Mining Lease 5/30/2011 COMMODORE JOSAIA VOREQE BAINIMARAMA, CF(Mil), OStJ, MSD, jssc, psc

Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, Public Service, Peoples Charter for Change and Progress, Information, i-Taukei Affairs, Provincial Development, Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Sugar Industry, Lands and Mineral Resources


Address at the Official Handing-Over of Nawailevu Bauxite Mining Lease

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Banyan Room                                                                                                                                  
Fri. 13th May
, 2011
Holiday Inn, SUVA                                                                                                                         
Cabinet Ministers;

Your Excellency Dr. Han, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China;
Executives of Aurum (Fiji) Limited;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Bula vinaka and a Good Afternoon.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Lands & Mineral Resources issued the first surface lease to Aurum Explorations (Fiji) Limited at Nawailevu under the Land Use Bank.

Fijileaks: The lease was given at the directive of Bainimarama in his capacity as the unelected coupist Prime Minister

Bainimarama speech: "Today, Aurum is being issued its licence to commence mining for bauxite.

This occasion is significant and indeed a milestone for a number of reasons. The issuance of a surface lease under the Land Use Bank has meant that the landowners will receive a higher return for the lease of their lands than what they would have received through the iTaukei Lands Trust Board. In addition, the investor is assured of a secure tenure through a simplified land leasing arrangement."

Fijileaks:
Audit noted that no fair share payments have been received from Aurum Exploration (Fiji) Limited since commencement of the leases in 2011, thus depriving LOUs of their just dues. Non remittance
of fair share by the mining company indicates a lack of monitoring by the Unit to ensure timely compliance with requirements of the Agreements. The mining company has finally remitted $600,000 to the Department of Lands in November 2014 (refer RR 263725 of 3/11/14) and which is still being held by the Department of Lands in trust for onward transmission to the LOUs.


Bainimarama speech: "The grant of the Mining Lease heralds the beginning of a large-scale bauxite mining in Fiji. It is projected that this mine will provide significant returns not just to Aurum, but to the Fijian economy as a whole."

Fijileaks:
Third party confirmations were obtained from Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (FRCA) on tonnage of soil extracted by the company by customs officers when soil is ready for shipment. However audit verifications with data obtained from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (FRCA) revealed that a total of 1,287,843.7 tonnes of bauxite had been extracted as at 14/10/2014 indicating that the company had extracted volumes in excess of the allowable quota for bauxite extraction as per conditions of the Memorandum of Lease.

Bainimarama speech: "My Government, as you are aware, is focussed on developing the North and the commencement of this mining operation will contribute to that stimulus and initiative.

The mining sector has the potential to significantly increase not just Government revenue but also increase our GDP. It has the potential to provide increased employment opportunities, upskilling and provide spin-off investment opportunities.

However, the issuance of mining licences must be through a modern regulatory and transparent system. Through such a process of ensuring the best investor, the Mining Industry can equal our other traditional revenue earners such as tourism and sugar.

I look forward to Aurum becoming a partner with Government to bring mutual benefits to both parties, and also becoming a good corporate citizen. I also acknowledge the assistance and facilitation provided by the Chinese Government, in particular through the tireless efforts of His Excellency, Ambassador Dr. Han.

I take this opportunity to once again reiterate my Government’s commitment to providing a transparent and efficient investment platform and environment for the benefit of foreign and local investors, and all Fijians.

Vinaka vakalevu."

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THROWING DUST IN OUR EYES: JUST READ LIES PEDDLED BY AURUM'S MANAGING DIRECTOR AND ALSO MINISTER FOR LANDS AND MINERAL RESOURCES MERESEINI VUNIWAQA:

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See also Fijileaks archive: http://www.fijileaks.com/home/protecting-environment-sodelpa-calls-on-regime-to-allow-free-fair-and-open-public-consultations-during-the-review-of-the-mining-act-1978
17 Comments
So
23/2/2015 02:06:43 pm

So now we know why the Chinese velly happy with Bainimarama's dictatorial rule.

Reply
Bai's financiers ?
23/2/2015 04:11:21 pm

Are they Bai's post coup financiers as Bua wanted to preserve its region and not develop it only to export its mineral filled soil to China?

Why would the company not process Bauxite in Bua to give Bua development?

Because there are diamond and gold and other expensive minerals that they are taking with them by taking away the "soil" to leave behind shit to landowners to deal with.

Reply
Fiji First Party
23/2/2015 10:53:06 pm

1.5 Million tonnes of Soil would surely be a few Bua Mountains - moved from Bua to mainland China with all its diamonds, gold, some obi, Lapita, some old Fijian bones and yes, nearly forgot to mention, a little bit of Bauxide, as well.

Isa, Moce Mountains !

Reply
Symbolyic
23/2/2015 11:20:42 pm

Areh.. mere desh ke dharthi ..

Reply
rajend naidu
23/2/2015 04:46:05 pm

China's huge appetite for energy and minerals to fuel it's expanding economy has strained international markets for oil, natural gas, iron ore, coal, copper, nickel, aluminium and other resources. To satisfy China's hunger for raw materials, Chinese companies backed by the government, have been acquiring equity stakes in natural resource companies , extending loans to mining and petroleum investors and writing long term procurement contracts for oil and minerals in Latin America,Africa,Australia ,Canada,and other resource rich regions.As Chinese foreign direct investments(FDI) have grown so have concerns about the practice of Chinese companies.
Read full article Do Chinese mining companies exploit more? In Quarterly Americas.
What is happening in Fiji is not unique. Chinese capitalist exploitation is global!

Reply
rajend naidu
24/2/2015 02:11:01 pm

Just in case someone mistakenly jumps to the conclusion that I am anti- Chinese let me say this. At least the Chinese often make a pretence of acquiring a contract and giving the resource owners a fair go of sorts by paying for what they take,even if they short change the owners. The early white colonialist did not often go through the pretence.they simply plundered.

Reply
Oh...
24/2/2015 11:08:56 pm

...So you are anti-White ?

So
25/2/2015 02:17:10 pm

Whites have a black history,no?

rajend naidu
25/2/2015 04:10:47 pm

No, I am not anti- White. I condemn the wrongdoings of the white colonialists as many conscientious new generation white men and women do. Read for instance Professor David Day's Claiming a Continent. He is among the historians not afraid of " challenging Australia's accepted historical narratives". And I applaud the many white men and women who fight for the cause of human rights, human dignity and decency, justice and freedom and the protection of the natural environment from capitalist greed. I deplore the many black leaders who took over power from the white colonialist after independence and started to treat their own people like dirt. People who treat their fellow human beings with disrespect and disregard for their inherent human dignity are a disgrace to humanity - regardless of their colour.

Stopmining
25/3/2015 02:34:56 pm

You are right Rajend

Reply
Look North policy
23/2/2015 05:28:54 pm

Now they are reaping their full support of baini govt. Good on them yavu ulukau squad.
Learn the hard way nut shell. Free this,very good govt. ulukau, cultivate your land and call govt to by your produce.

Reply
Eio Saka !
23/2/2015 11:04:45 pm

Was there a man who was manning the 'days of work' of the 'moku-siga' tallyman record keeper ...?

...Well another way of determining the tonnage would be asking the elders 'Well, Ratu ..how many mountains are actually missing in Bua Now?

Reply
KaiSe E ?
23/2/2015 11:55:59 pm

Bhai Victor, Bainimarama and his Chinese gang STOLE /BUTAKO/ CHORI a whole Mountain and the funny thing is Bainimarama even made a speech before they did it!

KaiSe E ? not kaisi!

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Ungrateful Lot
23/2/2015 11:16:34 pm

The Chinese have moved mountains for us to now plant pine and pawpaw and we ungrateful lot are still complaining. The Minister for Tourism says the pawpaws are in big demand in the industry and he is planning in requesting more Chinese assistance in flattening a few more of our mountains.

Reply
BUTAKO # 1
23/2/2015 11:58:24 pm

Chinese Company supported by Military of Fiji out to grab LAND and its resources.

Not onbly they breached the lease agreeement on lease money BUT they iIN FACT took out more bauxite than agreed under the Lease agreement.

The COWARDS are ALL quite about it BUT were fast at overthrowing Indian backed Political Parties after each election sighting threat to the Fijian Land.

And Fiji First say Fijian land is secured ... yet they allow stealing of bauxite that they DID NOT own under lease agreement ... and RFMF and CORRUPT Fiji First are not responsive as much as when they tried to march RFMF to take over Fiji Waters lease land for breaching their lease.

Maybe that time Aiyaz was after taking ownership of Fiji WAters but is not so interested in Bauxite lease!!!

Reply
CORRUPTION
24/2/2015 12:07:03 am

Bainimaram's Govt said will stand by resource owners. Is that prooving to be FALSE?

Will Fiji First take action against Chinese licence holders / investors or were they verbally approved to draw more bauxite than the licence by Teleni who has been tainted with corruption?

Reply
james bond
25/3/2015 03:47:19 am

The land from Bua where it was leased to the Chinese Company for bauxite excavation should be given back to the land owners.. Because those lands were given to the Chinese by Voreqe in 2011,when he was not a elected prime minister then..Now when we have a elected prime minister,then it is proper to re-look at the land lease again.And this time the land owners should be the first priority in the list,the government should be the second in the sequence..The owner should have a 50% share in the lease of their land..The owner should have 50% royalty in the minerals extracted from their land...And there are many more issues that should be considered ,such as security and safety of the environment and living things.And not forgetting the safety of the people...Note - There should not be any land be taken away to China;which means a factory should be constructed here in Fiji..

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