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Fiji’s interim Government says it will continue to support the Vatukoula community until Westech Gold Mines becomes fully operational.
A Cabinet meeting yesterday endorsed supporting initiatives via multi-agency coordination to assist the Vatukoula community and the mining industry.
Minister for Lands, Mineral Resources and Environment Netani Sukanaivalu told Cabinet
yesterday that Westech has demonstrated a commitment to bringing the mine to production proper as per the obligations as mining lease holders, under the Mining Act, through activities deemed to be prerequisite to actual mine production.
He said that to facilitate achievement of production targets, Westech has recruited around 530 employees to date, in a number of areas including mining.
However during tripartite meetings between Government, Westech, and the community, it is also quite clear that Westech at this stage cannot be recruiting all the workers, he pointed out.
“As a result, Government will continue its assistance through the Vatukoula Trust Fund as required under the Deed.”
He said that to enable the funds to be channelled to the community, a Board of Trustees is to be constituted in accordance to the Vatukoula Trust Fund Deed.
“This board will consist of three government representatives, and a representative each of former employees, the Westech Company, and the community.”
The Minister said that to facilitate much-needed assistance to the needy, Government will coordinate its activities and pool its resources amongst ministries to ensure the Vatukoula community can find alternative sources of livelihood and basic essentials such as housing, education and water supply and food security.
