By Hassan Bruz
Although the fact that Sierra Leone is endowed with immense deposit of all sorts of Minerals stands as a clear reason why Foreign Investors have often expressed the desire to operate in this West African State. But it appeared there are manty more reasons why most of these Investors would prefer to continue their operations even in the most trying situations.
One obvious reason to this is that, the Investors do enjoy transacting with Regimes / Leaderships that are either so short-sighted to see beyond certain levels or that are just too concerned about their selfish gains. The other reason that can be safely attributed to it is the total trust and respect the Locals have for their Leaders – which also zeroed down to the low levels of understanding and expanding poverty.
One would therefore wonder whether there are better reasons why Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans have not had a real trace of Legacy from most, if not all the Mining Companies that operated in the Country all these decades. Certainly, Kono and Port Loko have no tangibles from the several years of Diamond and Iron Ore Mining Activities in their respective Districts.
It can even be aggravating to any well – meaning Sierra Leoneans in knowing that Companies like – Leone Rock and the Marampa Mines Limited are being heartily hailed for paying what can be referred to as pittance to Government and Landowners, compared to the quantum of Riches these Companies cart away from the Country on daily basis. It is even difficult if not clumsy, for an Ordinary Person to ascertain whether these so-called payments are actually done in time and are useful enough.
For instance, the Symbolic Payment of Surface Rent to Landowners in both Marampa and Maforki Chiefdoms in the North West District of Port Loko by the Marampa Mines Limited [MML] – the Company that Mines Iron Ore in that Area, was over one year ago and a second payment is even getting overdue. It is a naked fact that the money said to have been paid is far from being accessed by the Locals almost more than a year since that Symbolic Ceremony.
As a result, most of the Projects slated as Community Development – including the Rehabilitation or Construction of both the Community Hall and Clock Tower in the Chiefdom Headquarter Town of Lunsar are at a standstill. Equally painful is the Fact that these Landowners can no longer carryout their Farming Activities on those Pieces of Land. It is even difficult for them to travel to the neighbouring Towns and Villages as a result of the activities of these Mining Companies which has led to Flooding.
This was precisely the main concern raised by the People of Lower Marampa Chiefdom when they gathered at Lal – Soso Village for the payment of their Surface Rent for the vast Acres of Land being used by CTC. It is the Company that Mines Bauxite in that part of the District. Even though it commenced operations only a little over one year ago, Landowners are already apprehensive about a foul deal and were sceptical to accept the Surface Rent Payment.
Many observed that the payment in question ought to have been done in January this year and were therefore determined to reject it if it were not for the love and respect of their Paramount Chief – Bai Koblo Queen the Second of Marampa Chiefdom. The Paramount Chief himself had earlier prevailed on them to make the development of their respective Communities a priority. Mustapha Kabia of Magbainlay Village and Marie Kabia of Lal – Soso 2, are some of the Owning Families of the Land being used by CTC at Lower Marampa Chiefdom. The Landowners said even though they will continue to adhere to the advice of their Paramount Chief, yet it would be good for the Company to ensure that the Payment of the Surface Rent be done as scheduled and on fixed bases.
Meanwhile, Akim Sulaiman Sesay – the Community Relations Officer for CTC, has attributed the delay in meeting with the initial delay for the payment to a challenge the Company had with the Shipment Route. More details on the operations of these Mining Companies especially in the North West Region would be portrayed in subsequent despatches.
Specific focus would be placed on the perceived number of Chinese Nationals believed to have surfaced in Pepel without the established channels for entering into a Sovereign State, why CTC opted for 30 Days instead of the period offered by Government to commence Mining Operations and what obtains in Lunsar with the 38 Billion Leones paid by Marampa Mines Limited [MML].
This would be followed by a look at the outcomes of the incident along the Pepel/Lokomasama Highway in which a School going Pupil lost his life in a road accident involving one of the Operatives of the Mining Companies and another incident at Taindatha in the Marampa Chiefdom, where 3 young Villagers are said to have been killed by Security Personnel at the Marampa Mines
