By Nasratu Kargbo
Chief of Makorkie Chiefdom in Port Loko District Bai Forkie Fainka II has called on the Minister of Mines of Mineral Resources Timothy Kabba to ensure that the over ten thousand pits that he claimed were left open by Sierramin Bauxite the former mining company be covered.
He revealed that as a result of the mining activities by the company, the community presently has those many pits. The chief stated that he is aware that mining companies have an account set aside to make sure holes dug are refilled.
The Chief explained that they are presently encountering financial difficulty, explaining that people were not paid by Sierramin. “I want to take this opportunity to ask you, how my people would get paid and how will you help me cover some of the holes”, he enquired.
The Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Timothy Kabba whilst addressing the chief stated that they now have a company which is CTC, noting that they have already given the company a legal license.
Addressing a representative from CTC, Kabba said it is important that they get the social license from the people.
He further advised that they treat the people with a humane face, given the number of holes that have been dug in the community. The Minister called on CTC to use their professional skills and assured the people of Port Loko that he will ensure the company works with the regulators to make mining safe in the district.
Speaking on the liability left behind by Sierra Min, that is the debt they owe the local workers, the Minister told the representative from CTC to make sure the locals are given priority when considering recruitment in order to ease the tension.
He was quick to note that the company will not pay Sierra Min’s debts.
Giving a background of what had happened during the first petition meeting on the 5th December 2022, the Speaker of Parliament Chernor Abass Bundu stated that the petitioners had asked and emphasized that they need a sober company in their chiefdom.
The Speaker had asked the representative from CTC and Indigenes Mining and Oil and Gas whether they could work together, stating that he wants peace, progress and development in the district.
The men were however reluctant in answering the questions being posed to them by the Speaker.
Land owners in the in the bauxite mining communities in the Maforki Chiefdom issued a petition calling for the cancellation of license given to CTC mining company.
In their petition, landowners asked parliament to investigate certain issues which include conflict of interest and questioning why a license was awarded to CTC and not Indigenes Mining and Oil and Gas.
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