Eileen Collins
Northern News Services

HAY RIVER (July 19/99) - The GNWT has approved the application by Ice Diamonds to receive training dollars to develop a Northern workforce in the secondary diamond industry emerging in the territories.

Sirius Diamonds has received the same approval and is now in operation in Yellowknife.

Mayor Jack Rowe of Hay River indicates the next step will be to have Ice Diamonds approved by BHP to buy diamonds from the BHP mine.

Rowe thinks the approval by the GNWT for training dollars sends a strong signal to BHP that the GNWT would like to see the secondary diamond industry continue to develop in the North.

"Hay River is definitely interested," says Mayor Rowe.

"Minister Stephen Kakfwi is to be commended for all of his work and particularly for mentioning Hay River as a possible location for Ice Diamond's proposed plant," he added.

In May of this year, Mayor Rowe, other town and government officials and representatives of BHP met with Jim Miller and Barney Schumacher of Ice Diamonds in Yellowknife. Afterwards, Miller and Schumacher visited Hay River and met members of the business community. They also looked at properties for lease that would be suitable for the cutting and polishing of diamonds.

What remains to be determined is whether Ice Diamonds will be sanctioned to buy diamonds from BHP and whether Hay River can successfully attract the company to Hay River given the aggressive approach the City of Yellowknife is putting forth in the wake of the division of the territories.