NICKEL Enterprise Solomon Islands Ltd [NESI] has stepped in to help the Rennell Provincial Government stop the spread of the invasive Giant African Snail (GAS) in the hope of providing communities there with food security.
NESI is the mining company, which began an extensive bauxite prospecting program on Rennell in recent months. It said it was surprised at the extent and how fast the infestation spread on the island.
“It is not our responsibility to mount an eradication program but we fear that if no one steps in, the potential danger to food crops cannot be ruled out,” a company spokesman told Solomon Star this week.
“So, we dived in only to find a week later the Provincial government is helping Florida Mines – another mining company to compete with us. In situation like this, collective collaboration is what we need, not giving a few bags of rice to villagers. Such an effort is unsustainable in the long run,” the spokesman said.
It is understood the Rennell Provincial Government had chartered a landing barge which distributed foodstuffs and other items to communities in support of Florida Mines.
