Barrick Gold's flagship project at Pascua-Lama in Chile is in jeopardy; last week we learned that the project will be "frozen for at least 1-2 years" while Barrick apparently builds better water containment systems. We've also heard more than once that Barrick is considering suspending the entire project while it evaluates "the impact of a regulatory decision" (by the Chilean courts). Is it reasonable that a fine levied against Barrick by Chile's Superintendent of The Environment on May 24th would cause Canadian regulators to halt trading of ABX and Silver Wheaton? Or is there something else that hasn't (yet) been revealed to the marketplace?

In fact there is a much larger issue burning for Barrick and it's red hot! From the folks at Mountain Star Gold we've learned that on the very same Friday that the Chilean superintendent levied their $16M fine against Barrick, a separate ruling was issued by the Chilean courts that will push forward the criminal charges against Barrick lawyer Ms. Laura Phyllis Maria Emery for falsification of the Pascua Lama Protocol. The next court date is June 21st. Perhaps it was this ruling, and NOT the faulty water containment systems that caused regulators to suspend trading of ABX and SLW? Is Barrick using the environment to help cover-up the fact that the Pascua 'protocol' has been shredded? Is there merit to the claim that Jorge Lopehandia is the proper title holder to the Mina Pascua concessions and that Barrick's paperwork is a fabrication? If a fraud has been perpetrated by Barrick Gold no doubt the higher-ups are feverishly working now to twist it, spin it, and cover it up to buy time. How fortunate that the key actors in this drama were all together last week for the Munk Debates while the Chilean President was in town for a visit. Following is some recent commentary about Barrick and the folks at the very top of this operation today.

Thornton is Harvard Class of '76, a member of the CFR, sits on the board of HSBC, and is the Chair of The Brookings Institute.

Nigel Wright is the godfather of Peter Munk's grandson and a close friend of Anthony Munk, also an ABX board member.

In 1994, Mulroney's phone calls to the Presidents of Chile and Argentina, and the prime minister of China, helped Barrick move into gold mines in those nations. His "advice'' was rewarded with $1.2 million in stock options and $300,000 in fees.