Locals want firm to ink deal

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 28th March 2013

 By ADRIAN MATHIAS

CLOUDY Bay forest project landowners in Abau, Central, have given the developer until April 30 to sign a new commercial agreement to accommodate benefits they have missed out since signing the first agreement in 2006.

In their letter, dated Nov 8, 2012, to the management of Cloudy Bay Sustainable Forest Ltd, the landowners said they wanted the company to co-operate with them to sign the new commercial agreement in 2013, which they said was based on a customary law.

The letter, enclosed with landowners’ resolution bearing 44 signatures of tribal clan leaders in the area, stated that:

l The Cloudy Bay forest project will now be developed under the new commercial agreement with the current operator to continue operation;

l All tribal clans will not release the timber resources, unless the new commercial agreement is signed with the landowners through the Communal Land Development Ltd (CLD), a sole entity, implementing the customary law to develop the resources for fair and equal for all parties; and

l Failing to enter into the new commercial agreement would result in the current operator, the Cloudy Bay Sustainable Forest Ltd, vacating the site, leaving all fixtures and machinery plants and light vehicles on site.

“The company must now discuss a mutual agreement with CLD, who is the attorney representing the Cloudy Bay Customary landowners,” they said in the letter.

The landowners said following the new agreement, there would be an increase production quotes to the company for more benefits and failure to signing the agreement by April 30 would see their final decision on the position of the company in relation to its operation in the area.

CLD executive director David Rakilea said the company was good, saying it had built infrastructure such as road, school buildings, bridges and community halls in but they wanted the company to sign the new deal.