Liberia: Sen. Dabah Varpilah Demands Review of Bea Mountain Mining Agreement Amidst Discrepancies in Local Living Standards - FrontPageAfrica

Source: Front Page Africa
Author: Obediah Johnson

MONROVIA -- Grand Cape Mount County Senator Dabah Varpilah has expressed disappointment over the extraction of millions of dollars' worth of minerals by Bea Mountain Mining Company (BMMC) operating in the county, while the living conditions of vast majority of the citizens in its operational areas remain appalling.

By Obediah Johnson

Senator Varpilah is a National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the governing Unity Party (UP) of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.

According to her, leaders of the county continue to wonder why the company situated in Kinjor is mining minerals, including gold, but its operations are not having a direct impact on the socio-economic improvement of the citizens.

She made these comments in an interview with FrontPage Africa at her Capitol Building office in Monrovia recently.

Senator Varpilah observed that Bea Mountain and other companies are getting "so much" from the communities, but citizens in those areas have not been able to reap the benefits.

She expressed dismay over the payment of US$250,000 by the company as annual Social Development Fund (SDF) to the county.

"This is our concern as leaders (on why minerals are being extracted and citizens living conditions are appalling). We have seen this even before I came to leadership. Why are companies operating and getting so much out of our communities and our county, but we don't see the returns."

She stated that the manner and form, in which the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) Bea Mountain signed with the government was crafted, may be responsible for the current situation.

"We have heard and read some portion of it (MDA) that they have agreed to give US$250,000 to the county annually. But when you talk about taking (or extracting) millions of dollars, US$250,000 is just a drop in the ocean. How can we evaluate the value of the minerals that are coming from our county and what is coming back."

She recalled that in the past, companies which operated in Grand Cape Mount helped to improve the living conditions and the economy in the area. Senator Varpilah made specific reference to LAMCO.

According to her, investments at operational areas by concessionaires would discourage citizens from staging protests.

"LAMCO provided a very good environment for its workers; very good schools and hospital for the kids and women. These kinds of investments in the concessional areas alone encourage the people."

"When surrounding communities have health issues-like in the case of LAMCO, people used to leave from Sanniquillie and other areas to go to LAMCO hospital. If you go to Cape Mount right now, you will not see any of those things."

Senator Varpilah emphasized that the lack of basic social services, including hospital and school to provide quality education to the citizens, in the operational areas of Bea Mountain remains concerning.

She frowned at authorities for their failure to ensure that the MDA signed capture these infrastructures for the benefits of the citizens.

Meanwhile, Senator Varpilah has called for the review of the MDA signed between the government and BMMC.

She said this will enshrine "good things that were left out" to benefit the citizens.

She observed that the current MDA does not clearly commit to infrastructure development and the education of young people in the county.

"Some of the communities that these companies are taking millions of dollars are dark as in the tunnel. And sometimes, you will see several trucks or one or two dozen bringing minerals to Monrovia. It's affecting even the roads in those areas."

Senator Varpilah further stressed that though there is quietude following a violent protest which led to the loss of lives and properties in the county, demands, including elevation of the contracts to permanent employment, good working atmosphere, and provision of healthcare delivery, made by the citizens should be handled and addressed by national government and the company respectively.

She observed that the huge presence of armed officers at Bea Mountain Mining Company continue to instill fears in the locals.

"The citizens grew impatient because this is a padlock of issues. The Kinjor issue is not just yesterday. It's just recently they gave us their petition. And at that time, we didn't have Ministers at the appropriate government ministries and agencies. We are very committed to sit with authorities at the table to ensure that their demands are met."

Senator Varpilah observed that citizens have the right to peacefully assemble or protest, but they should remain peaceful at all times in exercising this right.

"The citizens have legitimate concern, but how to address it-we will sit around the table, look at the issues, but we will not support violence."