Editor,

Of all the noises our PRs have been making in the last few decades, it bothers me that their silence toward Nautilus Minerals exploration is deafening. It worries me that they are not questioning the activity that will potentially impact our resource that provide for our basic subsistence, the ocean. Nautilus Minerals' mission in the area, as they say, is for exploration. Exploration is good, but what is being done after the exploration is completed is bothersome. We have an old saying, "Ko e katoanga mo hono tutuku." Ka 'osi e katoanga 'a e Nautilus Minerals 'i hotau potutahi, who will be responsible for cleaning up?

As a young boy who frequently crossed the "'ahanga" from Foa on my countless trips to Lifuka, I learned about the nature of the "current or 'au." The current can move things farther than one can imagine. Once Nautilus Minerals stir up the ocean floor, the current will move those tailings and they will have no control where they will go or what those will do to our fishing grounds. That's the importance of an environmental impact study; to determine the impact of the mining on the surrounding environment. This is the village idiot trying to use common sense.

Then again, Nautilus Minerals may have done the proper environmental impact study before they convinced our Government for its permit. I wonder why modern countries are avoided and poor countries are chosen for this type of mining. I find it hard to fathom that gold is found on land in Australia but the Great Barrier Reef has none. Will Nautilus Minerals ever ask for a permit to explore the Great Barrier Reef? When pigs fly! You see why it is hard for us village idiots to understand these things?

I am not anti-business or being an environmental fanatic. I am only concern because once the damage is done; Mr. Lowe will be in Australia thinking of another poor country to exploit and a gullible local geologist to be his partner. But if the operation is safe as they say, my trust is with Mr. Lowe, Mr. Paula Taumoepeau and a billion dollar bond and added insurance, just in case. I may trust those two guys, but I always have my doubt about nature. Nature can wreak havoc without notice or advance warning. Those dollars and insurance will help us with the aftermath.

But, am I being suspicious or plain negative about this new endeavor? Well, I must have missed the public hearing to see how people feel about this endeavor. I must have also missed the release of the environmental impact study. In addition, the devil is always in the detail. Remember the passport scheme? What about the Royal Clown who disappeared with the royal pot of gold from the passport scheme? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I am tired of being fooled and shamed by those who are supposed to be looking out for me.

In July 2008, the Bismarck Solomon Seas Indigenous Peoples Council met to protest Nautilus Minerals exploration in the Solomon Islands. According to this council, the people are neglected and are not given the opportunity to involve in the process. Sounds familiar? As the process unfolds in Tonga, did someone conveniently forget our environmental experts in the kingdom?

It also bothers me that Mr. Jonathan Lowe; the Nautilus Exploration Manager who is based in Brisbane, Australia claims its ok to mine the seabed of Tonga for there are not too many living things down there. Excuse me? I may be the idiot of the village, but I still can tell when stinketh cometh; it still stinketh.

TamaFoa

tevita [dot] u [dot] langi [at] us [dot] army [dot] mil