I believe you are both half right. To pursue the mining first option was their best initial approach. They were given the original permit from Hugo so why would he not grant it further. However GW is right that the process should not have taken 3 years to figure out we are spinning our wheels. Once we had finished our obligations as quickly as possible, if the permit was not forthcoming, the line in the sand should have been drawn, financing arranged and a corporate sustainability program be introduced to reduce expenses. That would not have stopped them from trying the Chinese route but would have put them into a less risky scenario.

Hind sight? yes but, being the CEO of a company with the ability to mine 17 million ounces of gold should be second guessed the whole way. It is OUR investment in this company and Fung has messed up to get us here. I am not a CEO but in management and risks are always wighed AND prepared for.

MHO.