The quote that you ascribe to Kharima, I am the one guilty of it (@ 15:21 yesterday).

I questioned the delay regarding the air strip permit. I doubt that there was anything wrong with the air strip itself. No info on my part, just an assumption.

Someone mentioned that the problem is not so much with the air strip permit as the Ministry of Natural Resources was aggrevated due to lack of permission to the natives of doing the clearing in the forest? Again I question the logic of clearing even thousands of trees in relation to what is gained by having an all year air strip.
Is there ecological damage done? Not practicly, just burocratically.
That is hardly a reason for holding the permit back.

Any ways, an air strip had to be built, it is more a matter of where, when and by whom. They jumped the gun, probably to forestall anyone else building one and even more probably for THEM to be the ones providing services to the companies as soon as possible.

Personally I have nothing against them doing so and if anything would congratulate them for taking the initiative. Their action is a testament to them wanting to participate in the local development, all in my opinion.

Ed G.