Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jun 13/01) - A group of diamond experts has been working in the shadows, helping the federal government and aboriginal organizations make sure they get the most from the North's new diamond wealth.
WWW Diamond Consultants' three-year contract expires this September. It could be extended. The company's job is to calculate the value of diamonds coming out of the ground, and those scheduled to be dug up.
Their figures are used by the government for royalty calculations, said spokesman Warren Boyd.
The London-based company formed a joint venture with Aboriginal Diamonds Group called Diamonds International Canada (DICAN).
"We represent the business interests of Deton'Cho, Nishi-Khon and Kitikmeot Corporations," Boyd said.
Deton'Cho represents the interests of Yellowknives Dene, Nishi-Khon represents the Dogrib First Nation and Kitikmeot the Inuit of Nunavut.
"Diamonds are a unique product. They require specialists to value it," he said.
The company's roster includes former De Beers employees and has ties with key diamond industry centres such as Antwerp and Moscow.
"DICAN tends to operate quietly because our contract with the government requires us not to talk much about what we do," Boyd said.
A team of nine qualified "evaluators" rotate into Yellowknife to examine production at the Ekati mine.
