Govt to address mining ownership issues

MINISTER for Justice and Attorney-General Davis Steven says his priority is to deal with the outstanding ownership issues in the mining sector.
He acknowledged the work being done by the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management, Mineral Resources Authority and industry players.
“Our commitment in the law and justice sector is to make sure that the outstanding issues on ownership and benefit-sharing are dealt with,” Steven said.
“I can say that there will be a lot of challenging times ahead. What is important for the country is our underlying duty and desire to ensure that what is good for the country is preserved.
Steven said the government was about preserving the interest of the country and people.
“I think that there is a growing awareness to do exactly what we say. There is the issue of how we are protecting the national interest and there is the issue about the local content,” he said.
“I’m sure with that the leadership of the new minister (Mining Minister Johnson Tuke), you will begin to see that the achievements of policy frameworks agreed to by the National Executive Council are beginning to come to bear in this important sector.
“For instance, the policy on local content and the policy on community service obligation. These are some of the policy decisions that have been already decided, being tested out and undertaken in a carefully measured way.”