-As Miners get National ID cards
By Our Staff Writer
As it is well over one year now since President George Weah’s office took over the job of the Mines Minister to review mining licenses, a process has begun to issue National Identification cards to miners in Liberia.
Since May 7, 2018 when the Executive Mansion issued the directive to the Mines and Energy Minister, the Presidency has been calling the shot, in so far as handling of licenses of applications for mining licenses are concerned.
The May 2018 statement from the Mansion said the President directed with immediate effect the Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Mr. Gesler E. Murray “to forward all applications for the issuance of Mining/Mineral Licenses to his Office for review prior to final approval.”
It was just four months after the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government took office (January 22, 2018) that the measure was taken. Since then, there have been widespread reports of illicit mining activities across the country. And miner involved, including foreigners, have been using dredges/machine in massive underground mining activities, with some local authorities and even Lawmakers saying they were not aware of their activities.
But when asked by Reporters in places like Rivercess, southeastern Liberia and Gbapolu, the miners would boast of being granted licenses, who have been mining gold and diamonds, with little or nothing ending up the public coffers.
However, in the face of the of the repeated media reports of the activities of these dredge-using mainly foreign miners, the Presidency has to date remained mute on the issue.
When measure to take over the function of the Mines Minister was announced in May last year, the Executive Mansion said the Liberian leader emphasized the need to safeguard the country’s natural resources for the benefit of all Liberians.
Earlier this year, scores of miners were trapped and died at one of several illicit mines dotted across Liberia.
Section 5.1 of the New Mineral and Mining Law of Liberia gives the Mines and Energy Minister the power to grant reconnaissance license in line with prevailing regulations.
“All Prospective Dealers must write a letter of intent, addressed to the Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy with the following documents attached: ü Two passport photographs; ü Business Registration from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; ü Partnership Agreement/Articles of Incorporation. ü Applicant must fill application form required for diamond dealership (new applicant only). Procedures for Obtaining Mineral Rights/License,” according to the Procedures for obtaining mining rights/License of the Mines Ministry.
Among other procedures, the Mining law spells out a number of requirements people involved in the mining business must follow before being finally certified to operate in Liberia at various levels.
”26. 26 v Licensing, Application & Requirements Ø Business Registration from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Ø Partnership Agreement/Articles of Incorporation; Applicants must provide a certificate from a recognized bank in Liberia confirming a capital of not less than $15,000.00 USD deposited with them as working capital. The bank statement should be RECENT; Payment of Dealership License Fee of $5,000.00 USD; Ø Obtain ID card at the cost of $100.00 USD. Procedures for Obtaining Mineral Rights/License Requirements for Gold Dealership,”” the requirements spell out.
Meanwhile, the Mines and Energy Ministry has said nearly two hundred mining agents, mineral inspectors, mineral license holders and other stakeholders in the mining sector are expected to be given the NIR cards.
Minister Gesler E. Murray said at a recent mining forum in Monrovia that “the mining sector has become a major source of income for thousands of people and it was important for the government to have information on all those involved in it.”
A press statement from the Mines Minister Ministry on September 30, 2019 said: “Murray also disclosed that the mining sector has attracted so many people from the sub-region to the country and stressed on the “economic, security and social implications of their presence in the bushes of Liberia.”
Minister Murray “described the aliens who are trooping into the country in search of gold and diamonds as “mining dissidents” and said his ministry and the NIR will involve the Liberia Immigration Service in documenting the aliens.”
The Ministry says in July this year it requested the National Identification Registry to “issue Biometric National Identification Cards to all Liberians and foreign residents who reside and work in the ASM Sector in Liberia.”