The Solomon Islands, a nation of hundreds of islands in the western Pacific, is one of the poorest on earth, with an unstable Parliament that frequently changes hands. Honiara is on Guadalcanal, the site of pitched fighting between the United States and Japan during World War II. “West Rennell was mined because people were tricked and misled,” said George Tauika, chairman of Lake Tegano World Heritage Site Association. “You can see the damage with the naked eye.”“People are desperate and believe mining and logging is the only alternative,” he added. In March, Rick Hou, the Solomon Islands’ incumbent prime minister, said the country was essentially not benefiting from the Rennell mining operation, which was approved under a previous administration.

Source: International New York Times April 26, 2019 18:33 UTC