The House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to invite the management of Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC) to show reason why the company has turned its back on the implementation of the mineral development agreement (MDA) entered into between the company and the Government of Liberia (GOL).
The decision to invite BMMC management is predicated on a communication to the plenary of the House by Grand Cape Mount County’s lawmaker, Representative Bob Sheriff.
The mineral development agreement signed with the government several years back compelled the company to undertake meaningful development initiatives to benefit the people in the county and provide incentive for employees, among other benefits.
In his letter to House Speaker, Bhofal Chamber, read in plenary on Tuesday, January 13, 2022 the Grand Cape Mount County lawmaker complained that none of the provisions in the agreement has been implemented by the company.
Grand Cape Mount Representative said BMMC, in total disregard of the agreement, is still hiring “people of color” from other countries to perform tasks set aside exclusively by the MDA for citizens.
The communication also states, among other counts, that the management of Bea Mountain Mining Company has refused to make itself available to authorities to review MDA, despite understanding reached to review the document every five years.
Representative Bob Sheriff said it has been over ten years now since the mineral development agreement was signed, but underscored that it has not been reviewed as expected.
He expressed the hope that by citing the management of the company to the plenary of the House of Representative pressure will be mounted on the company to restore the rights of the citizens under the provisions of the agreement.
Delay by BMMC to fully implement the mineral development agreement has led to a series of protest by workers, demanding better care and incentives.
Police tear-gassed several employees and their dependants during a peaceful protest at the company’s headquarters in King Joy recently to attract public attention to their plight.
Several protesters were detained and released later following the intervention by members of Grand Cape Mount Legislative Caucus, who arrived on time to prevail on their citizens to abandon the strike.