By Saio Marrah
Landowners of Maforkie and Marampa Chiefdoms in Port Loko District have called on the government to make sure Sierramin Bauxite Mining Company pays the two years surface rent and salaries of 394 workers.
They made this request when officials from the National Minerals Agency and Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources went to the Marampa Chiefdom on Wednesday 8th of December 2021 to update them about the government's decision to cancel the mining license of the company.
The engagement of the landowners also includes averting the false rumours that have been going around that the government has taken the license from Sierramin and given it to another company without informing the people.
The Director of Community Affairs, Communications, and Public Relations, Ibrahim Satti Kamara said the government decided to cancel the license because it has received several complaints from the community surrounding issues that include the payment of the surface rent, payment of the workers, and not complying with their responsibilities towards the community.
He also noted that the government has received lots of interested companies for mining agreements, but is looking out for credible and trustworthy companies that will keep up its responsibilities.
He said that the cancellation of the agreement does not mean the company should not pay its liabilities.
Kamara also informed the landowners that government will consult them when it comes to an agreement with a new mining company. He also told them that government is yet to make an agreement with any new company while calling on the community to protect the equipment left by the company as according to him, they now belong to the government.
He cautioned the people against false rumours, and that the government wants revenue too.
The Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, Emmanuel Momoh Sandi, said unlike before when the government did have the adequate capacity to properly scrutinize before making an agreement, now the NMA has the expertise to do so.
He also said that Chiefs are an extension of government and that they should help protect the equipment in the community so that the new company will not have to start from scratch.
The North West Regional Commander of the Sierra Leone Police, Assistant Inspector General, Mustapha Koroma, said he was happy because the engagement will bring peace as it counters the false rumours, which will mislead the people and cause riots in the community.
While giving assurance for the protection of the properties, he said also called on the community people to assist the police in that direction.
The Paramount Chief of the Marampa Chiefdom, Koblo Queen, assured both the ministry and the police of their fullest cooperation in protecting the properties. He expressed delight in the clarification surrounding the issue of license concession.
The Chairman of the landowners, Lower Marampa Chiefdom, Shiek Alkasim Sulaiman Sesay said even though the government has seized the mining license of the company, their concern is how they will get their surface rent, as well as the payment of the salaries of those workers as the majority of them, have huge responsibilities to address.
The section Chief of the Bathpolur Section, Maforki, said they were worried about how they will get their surface rent hence the company is out of operations.
The Chairman of the landowners of the Maforki Chiefdom, Alhassan Conteh, called on the government to make sure the new company that will be issued the license shows respect to the community people as according to him, the previous company has no regard for them.
He also added that the Sierramin Bauxite limited left big holes in communities which he said are a danger to the people.
The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources on Thursday 9th December 2021 laid on the table in Parliament, the Large Scale Mining agreement between the government and the Marampa Mines Limited.
Copyright © Politico Online 10/12/21
