PHOTO: Officials of MNG Gold meeting with citizens
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
BOINSEN, BONG, Liberia- The Management of MNG Gold Liberia has clarified that it’s not closing its operations, but it is rather slowing its operations in this West African nation due to the downward trend in the price of gold on the world market.
MNG Gold is one of the biggest gold mining companies in the country.
Speaking through an interpreter during a major meeting organized by Boinsen district citizens in the central Bong County, its General Manager Mr. Curak also admitted that they’re transporting equipment to Bea Mountain in Grand Cape Mount County.
He justified that they initially borrowed equipment from Bea Mountain.
Apart from the plant processor or processing machine, he says, all machines were borrowed and are being returned.
Mr. Curak told the gathered citizens that the company will return to full operations when there’s an upward price of gold. He failed to state the full date of active service.
According to him, the facility will remain intact, admitting that they’re committed to their social responsibility- although many citizens have complained of receiving little or nothing from the company since 2015.
Since full operation in 2015, the company has an employment record of over one thousand (1000) people, the General Manager noted.
He didn’t provide any documentary evidence to substantiate.
Reading the citizens’ petition to the company earlier, Mr. Duwah M. Kangar, a prominent son in the district mentioned that MNG Gold Liberia is closing in the midst of unfulfilled promises, and lack of benefits.
Locals not pleased
According to the citizens’ statement, the unceremonious departure of the company is a total violation to section nine (9) of the Memorandum of Understanding between them and the company.
The section is summarized as “any party that intends to depart must submit a written communication to the next party”.
They citizens want the completion of the ongoing vocational school, clinic facility, road rehabilitation, fulfillment of international scholarship that is yet to commence, provision of livelihood plans for them, amongst others before any exit.
In the absence of these, the affected communities want the company plan halted.
At the same time, electoral district#1 Representative Albert Junior Hills who graced the intense meeting requested MNG Gold Liberia to complete the projects in portion.
According to representative Hills, the company has overpowered herself by commencing all the projects once and can’t complete them over seven years.
He wants a swift timeline to each project, although the company has admitted to slowing down due to the international decline in the price of gold.
Also in attendance was Senator Prince Kermue Moye. The Bong County leader agreed with Representative Hills for the projects to be completed in phases.
He announced that he will fully communicate with the Ministry of Lands and Mines on the latest development from the company.
“We will pursue the law and do our best. These people will do the needful. You have to protect that MoU,” Senator Moye assured.
“You have violated the section nine (9) of the MoU that you signed with the community in 2015. They will tell us when the clinic and school will be opened. They will also tell us when the various roads will be completed,” the Senator concluded.
The company is slowing down its operation with immense dissatisfaction being expressed by ordinary people or victims.
Many are still wondering about the future of the district where MNG Gold Liberia has been exploiting its natural resource for years, with nothing tangible to sure after its exodus.
Being a formerly a gold rich area, the district, many say is a death trap evidenced by their underground mining.
Many residents say there’s no save drinking water in the entire district based on the huge quantities of cyanide spilled in the district.
Their water sources have all been heavily polluted- thanks to the cyanide.
In 2018, a reservoir facility containing chemicals belonging to MNG-Gold, overflowed with rainwater and later spilled into the nearby Sein Creek-a major water source for residents in district which has now over spilled into other water sources in the Saywehta Town, Kokoyah Statutory District, Bong County.
Earlier, Mr. Conteh Yallah, Kokoyah Statutory District Superintendent, said since the chemical spillage, some of the citizens have complained of suffering from persistent stomach pain, running stomach, skin disease, rash and bloody stool.
Yallah said residents heavily depend on the creek for livelihood.
He narrated that authorities of MNG-Gold have failed to provide proper medical treatment to those poisonous chemicals had allegedly made sick.
It can be recalled on September 29, 2017, about 30 persons were admitted at the Phebe Hospital for exposure to a chemical spillover from MNG-Gold reservoir in Saywehta Town. The incident took place at one of the mining sites of MNG-Gold in the Kokoyah Statutory District after a heavy downpour.
Another sad reflection is the detention of over 50 persons from the district in 2018, as a result of a violent protest in the district.
These people, report say are being kept behind bars in Grand Gedeh County.
Their subsequent arrest followed the killing of five (5) citizens on commercial bike by one of the company’s official vehicles.
The scene was chaotic, thus triggering their arrest and detention to present.
It’s not yet clear when the people will be released to their families.