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Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services
The Toronto-based company has not been to Paulatuk in almost two years. But late last month the company sent out proposals to several western exploration company's asking them to help fund a $26 million, two-year diamond exploration project in five identified areas near Paulatuk.
The projects, encompassing 3.1 million acres of land, are Diamond Rock, Parry Peninsula Diamond, Bull's Eye Base Metal, Biname Lake Diamond and Horton River Diamond.
Leon La Prairie, president of DBR, said his company has spent "approximately $7 million on diamonds" in the area so far and are ready to go once again. "I was hoping to have it underway by now," he said. "We're working away at it and we want to take advantage of this field season."
A report released by the company states an aeromagnetic survey of Diamond Rock in 1997 "revealed numerous kimberlite targets similar to those at Lac de Gras."
A more detailed survey of the area then identified 94 kimberlite targets, 28 of which have been selected as priority drill targets. La Prairie said 12 have been drilled so far, 10 intersected kimberlite and six are diamondiferous.
But Paulatuk Mayor Keith Dodge and former SAO Albert Ruben said they are tired of waiting to see some action from Darnley Bay Resources.
"They came into the community, they made a lot of commitments and promises ... but since then nothing is moving. The people in the community are very upset and I'm upset too," said the mayor who is also a shareholder in DBR.
Dodge said he has had conversations with representatives of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation about the company.
He said in the two years since Darnley Bay Resources has been to the community, "All I get is, every two or three months, a quarterly report ... and it's not looking prosperous. It's looking worse."
"They owe a pile of money to the Inuvialuit because they are on their land. And you can't run something from Toronto in Paulatuk," he said.
Dodge said the company has been trying to raise funding for exploration for years.
"They visited the United Kingdom and all over the world to raise funding.
"We would welcome them back, but the fact is we don't want to keep reading about it. We would like to see some action. Quit sending us the bloody mail."
Desperately seeking work
Paulatuk residents are in desperate need of employment, he said, and they can't afford to wait around any longer.
Ruben said he agrees with the mayor. He said residents have not heard anything from DBR in years, and were not informed about current exploration plans.
"You know more about what they are trying to do than we do," he told News/North.
"Basically we're like 'Darnley who?' "
Ruben said the company has made many development and employment promises in the past "and they, for the most part, haven't come through."
Peter Green, spokesperson for the Paulatuk Community Corporation, came to the defence of Darnley Bay Resources.
"It's understandable, given what the world markets are right now. Nobody wants to invest in anything and that's a legitimate reason for me.
"People get mad and I don't think that's right. They are trying to raise money," he said.
La Prairie said there will be jobs available for local residents if the project gets off the ground, but that will depend on whether or not they get financial support from other exploration companies.
